Rouzling around over Easter

                                                   Bredon Hill

                                 Common Redstart (Cleeve Common)

                                      Ring Ouzel (Cleeve Common)

                                          Ring Ouzel (Cleeve Common)

                                         A very elusive Ring Ouzel

                                 Common Redstart (Cleeve Common)

                     View of Cheltenham Racecourse from Cleeve Common

                                            Female Wheatear 

                                            Green Woodpecker

                                             Redshank (Grimley)

                                               Garganey (Grimley)

                                          Yellow Wagtail (Grimley)

                                              Lapwing (Grimley)

                                          White Wagtail (Grimley)

                                         Yellow Wagtail (Grimley)

                                                 Teal (Grimley)

                                             Black-necked Grebe

                                             Black-necked Grebe

                                              Birding in Oldbury

Easter holidays gave me extra time to get outside and undertake some quality birding.

I broke up on Thursday so I visited the pits very early where I recorded the sites first House Martin, a female Merlin (flushed on farm building) & 4 Little Ringed Plover. Rob Evans noted a valuable year tick when he picked up a Curlew flying through.

On Friday, Mrs D and I did a 3.8 mile circular romp around Bredon. The walk was actually better than the birding due to a cold north easterly wind blowing in our faces. We were hoping for an early Ring Ouzel but searching was difficult. We had to satisfy ourselves with a Common Redstart, 4 Red Kite, Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrush and finally a singing Blackcap.

Blackcaps had arrived at the pits Saturday morning and there were three Willow Warblers in song. From there I met the Squire for a steep 4 mile walk up Cleeve Common near Cheltenham. As we headed up we passed many singing Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and a very showy male Common Redstart. When reaching the summit the walking wasn't over as we needed to do a great deal of searching for a Ring Ouzel. We did find a male but the bird was very elusive so we had to be satisfied with some distant views. 

After a quick recharge of batteries we headed to Grimley in the afternoon where the reported Chanel Wagtail had moved on to pastures new but there was an excellent cast of birds including a Cattle Egret, Yellow Wagtail, drake Garganey & Redshank.

Sundays count at the pits noted an increase of the LRP's to 5 and a female Wheatear was new. I managed to finally get a photograph of the Green Woodpecker that has teased me for weeks.

The weekend was wrapped up with a visit to the Chemical Pool close to my office near Tipton where a Black-necked Grebe has been found. The bird was in stunning summer plumage however viewing was very limited so I made a hasty retreat to the M5 & headed home.

Chicks galore at Upton Warren

Redshank chick

Redshank

Redshank chick

Egyptain Geese 

Egyptain Goose

Mute Swans

Common Terns

Avocet

Coot family

Last day of freedom before my operation (which will take me off my feet for a week), I opted for morning at Upton Warren for a guarantee fest of chicks, good birds & good company.

Starting at the Moors there looked to be six Common Tern chicks on the rafts. As I reached the sailing pool two Egyptain Geese were a welcome addition to my Upton list. They are certainly not an easy species to catch up there however these two showed vey well enabled me to take a few nice shots.

Next stop was the hen hide where Andy Pit and I watched at least three Water Rail chicks with their parents trying to keep them rounded up as best as possible.

Down at the Flashes it was brilliant to witness the recently hatched Redshank chicks exploring the habitat. I do hope they don't wander to far and catch the eye of the large gulls hanging around. Avocet young were recorded at 15 whilst there were seven Shelduck ducklings.

Little Ringed Plover & Manadrin fly into Salford Priors

Little Ringed Plover

Patch Gold

Redshank

Frisky Monday

The old Jack Snipe lagoon

February league table

After a very productive February, March has been a real disaster in terms of new species at Salford Priors. After three weeks of cold biting winds, three days of consecutive visits and the easing of the weather we now see spring migration picking up pace.

Saturday saw me finally catch up with the Redshank that has been playing a very good game of hide and seek with me. I first saw the bird on Pophills with a Green Sandpiper but it is also using the main pit. At the bottom of the reserve the first migrant Chiffchaff was singing, an additional two birds could be heard on Monday. Four Wigeon, probably from Abbots Salford, were around for most of the day.

Sunday looked liked a good day with clear skies but the passage seemed to be going on way above the pits. Wildfowl numbers included 46 Teal, 12 Gadwall and 10 Shoveler.  The Water Rail was again by the reeds on the main pit. 

I had two trips on Monday as Paul (The Alcester Squire) was on the main pit when a pair of Mandarin ducks flew in. Patch gold of the highest order. I couldn't stuff my sandwich quick enough ! The Mandarins kindly hung around for my arrival, its a first for me on the site although I've seen one at Abbots Salford. Just as I was snapping the Mandarins our first Little Ringed Plover landed, just brilliant. Having looked at sightings it could well be the first returning bird to Warwickshire.

Beautiful Otmoor

 Beautiful Otmoor

 Yellowhammer

Common Tern

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

With the lads tied up with friends this enabled me to plan a few hours down at RSPB Otmoor for some quality birding. Setting off at 7.15am it took us just over an hour to land in the car park. Garden Warblers and Blackcaps greeted us whilst Skylarks were singing high above us as we walked up the path past the feeders. 

The main pasture had a nice selection of birds including Red Kites, Buzzard, Snipe, Lapwing, Tufted Duck and Little Egret. Many of the Lapwing took flight above their nests when any corvids were getting close to warn off the predators. 

On approaching the wildlife hide a Yellowhammer was feeding with a flock of Linnets on the gravel allowing some great views. From inside a Shoveller was on the pool and a Redshank was feeding on the waters edge.

Stepping outside we picked up a Cuckoo calling which I manage to find with my scope although it was a long way away. Further along the walk way we found pairs of Common Terns at different places.

As we walked back towards the car park we heard our first Turtle Dove of the day purring. Fantastic ! It wasn't long before we had located the bird sat up and being very comfortable with us and other passers by watching him go about his early summer routine.

Spring arrivals at Salford Priors

A couple of new arrival and patch ticks last weekend comprised of a Wheatear and a Redshank. The Wheatear was on the old landfill area towards the hidden pools whilst we observed the Redshank in Snipe Meadow, the main pit and also Pophills Pit.

A Goosander was on the spit of the main pit, the first one I have seen land on the patch. Three Jack Snipe were flushed from the old lagoon.There hasn't been any warbler movement as yet but we were very surprised to find a Cetti's Warbler in the reeds by the hidden pools. We were disappointed that we didn't pick any raptors moving through the area but I did check in to see the Little Owl on the way home whilst the normal Sparrowhawk and Peregrine were recorded during the morning. 

Looks like it will have to be Osprey next week !

Turtle Dove and Glossy Ibis at Otmoor

Arrival

Over looking Otmoor

 Glossy Ibis

 Turtle Doves

Which sign is worst ?

After missing the beautiful Turtle Doves in Norfolk I opted to take the 40 mile trip down the M40 to RSPB Otmoor on Sunday. A relatively easy drive was instantly rewarded as I got out of the car to hear a Cuckoo calling and then a Red Kite soar over after an early breakfast.

Heading up the main path the bird song increased with every step with Whitethroats and Blackcaps taking the honours. Before heading left I noticed a Glossy Ibis feeding in the fields to the left. Sadly he wasn't quite as sociable as the one I'd seen earlier in the year at Brownhills and it was difficult to get any sort of decent image.

I didn't find the Turtle Doves instantly however on my returning journey I picked up their purring call but not just one bird but three in close proximately to each other. These dainty doves looked amazing through my scope and it's superb to see the colours and patterns of their backs and wings in detail. It's difficult to imagine how difficult their migration must have been back to Otmoor given the absolute carnage over Malta which was highlighted brilliantly by Chris Packham. Once the European elections are complete I think it will be time to write to my MEP once again.

Elsewhere on the reserve there were many Lapwing with young, Redshank, Ruff, Greylags and Warblers. As I turned back for the car park a full family of 6 badgers crossed the path five yards in front of me without giving me a second glance.