Valentines birding

                                                 Fieldfare flock

                                              Valentines breakfast

                                                       Little Owl

                                        Golden Plover flock (Middletown)

                                                    Redwing

                                                      Kestrel

                                                  Grey Wagtail

                                                     Fieldfare

                                                     Fieldfare

                                                     Shelduck

                                              Pink-footed Goose

                                          Returning Oystercatcher

                                       Long staying White-fronts

                                                Stunning Corvid

                                                   Tawny Owl

                                       Goosanders (Dennis Sinton)

Sadly not a great deal of birding in the last fortnight with a major project at work very much underway. The best sighting locally is a flock of 510 Golden Plover at Middletown on the edge of Studley.

Arctic conditions were waiting for me on Sunday for the WeBScount around the pits. When I arrived the White-fronts were in our old access field by the plantation but soon took flight. I discovered the reason why, as I crept round the plantation there was an individual in full shooting gear, binos and a rifle. Thankfully I saw him first so retreated and got access to main pit from Dunnington side. It was probably a poacher trying to score some easy partridges. The full count was as follows:- 8 Little Grebe, 15 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan, 8 White-fronted Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 410 Greylag, 270 Canada Geese, 4 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 220 Mallard, 21 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 106 Tufted Duck 1 Goosander, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail, 85 Coot, 6 LBB Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 25 Black-headed Gull, Green and GS Woodpeckers, 34 Lapwing & 7 Snipe. Large numbers of Redwings & Fieldfare. Geese were very on edge and mobile. When I arrived they were in our old access field by plantation but soon took flight. Big increase with Tufties. Other sightings from the pits submitted by the local group have included a top count of 21 White-fronts, 1 Shelduck, 1 Oystercatcher, 6 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, Grey Wagtail, Cettis Warbler & 6 Goosander.

Heart of England forest morning walks

Barn Owl

                                           Fantastic habitat here

Tawny Owl

Stonechat

                                                  Better views

Lets make it a pair

                                                 Lesser Redpoll

I am are always pleased that habitat is being left to support wildlife by farmers at various locations. The farm by the pits and at the Hen Harrier location are great examples but I wonder if there were any hidden areas closer to home I am not aware of. The Heart of England Forest continues to expand so it might be best to try areas between Studley & the forest.

After a bit of mooching I found two super fields that looked brilliant for wildlife. After recording 20+ Lesser Redpoll & a pair of Stonechat I picked up a Barn Owl in flight which landed in the hedgerow between myself and the castle. The public right of way skirts the field which is good and viewing is possible for a central gate.

Good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing were flying over and the hedges had attracted Goldcrest & Long-tailed Tits. On the far side of the field I found a roosting Tawny Owl. I took a couple of record shots before moving on. Certainly an area that is worth checking more often. 

Studley Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

 

Spotted Flycatcher

Grasshopper Warbler

Spring views

Studley Castle

Young Roe Deer

"I think I've got a Flycatcher", now that's a text I like to see on our local sightings group. This was quickly confirmed as a Spotted Flycatcher in the south grounds of Studle Castle. 

With the Castle closed due to COVID-19 we all managed to get up and enjoy the bird at close quarters.  Studley is having a fine year with 88 species recorded in a small area. The Grasshopper Warbler is also still present within a couple of miles. It was great find by Mark Clarke who had never seen the species before.

Gropper stars on week 7 of lockdown

 Grasshopper Warbler

 Many angles was possible

 And various poses

 Probably my favourite

 Down low

 Up high

 Close up

Garden Warbler

                             West Mids All dayer result - thanks to Phil Andrews

Very little change at the pits this week with the only addition being our first Swifts of the year, taking us to 101 species. The numbers varied pending on the weather but there was continued good movement of Swallows, House & Sand Martin. The Cuckoo count increased to two and a Garden Warbler was recorded again.

The best species of the week was a Grasshopper Warbler at Morgrove Coppice in Studley. This bird showed amazingly well enabling me to get some pleasing images. I popped down again on Saturday to record it's attendance as part of the West Midlands All Dayer event. A total of 134 species were recorded as part of the day. 

The Studley count moved to 88 with a Swift whilst my home lockdown walk list is stuck on 61.

Studley additions

Kestrel

Tawny Owl

Stonechat (Mark Clarke)

Mandarin (Mark Clarke)

River Arrow

One of the locals

Marsh Tit

Greylag

Both Mark & myself have visited Studley a few times this week where we were rewarded with some useful additions to the site, year & patch lists.

The Tawny Owl was a fabulous find by Mark as we were both convinved this whole area would be good for Owls. Mark got a fantastic image of Marsh Tit & Stonechat midweek on his circuit. 

This weeks sightings have included 8 Mandarin, 25 Teal, Bullfinch, 2 Coot, Peregrine, Common/Black-head/LBBG/Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, Kestrel, Buzzard & Sparrowhawk. 

On the edge of the sewage works there is a large flock of Pied Wagtails that I'm scanning closely. I can't remember actually seeing large flocks together on the previous days.

We are now up 70 species for this location this year which is amazing  and only a few behind the pits which has a large expanse of water. Most definitley an area to keep perservering with. On Friday I was there for over three hours and didn't see another person other than Mark who was parking by the church as I was about to leave.