What with this being my first birding trip out for three weeks for various reasons I decided yesterday was an ideal occasion to visit the wonderful Middleton Lakes RSPB nature reserve in Warwickshire.
The main incident of the day was when c.100 Greylag Goose took to the air circling around and making a right racket, they were presumably 'spooked' by a predator of some kind, maybe a raptor or fox, after flying around in the air for about ten minutes they eventually settled at the other end of the reserve to which they originally were, whatever the reason for them flying up it was a great visual and aural occasion to witness. It was great to see so many Mute Swan, Grey Heron and Lapwing in particular on the reserve as well as sightings of Snipe, Little Egret and Shoveler. Off the water it was great to see Stonechat, Reed Bunting, House Martin, Green Woodpecker and it was also great to get up close and personal with Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal, Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Robin at the unofficial feeding station by the boardwalk just before you reach the reserve.
Birds seen today were, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Wren, Stonechat, Nuthatch, Reed Bunting, Starling, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Pheasant (cock and hen), Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Lapwing, Snipe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Shoveler. Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose and Canada Goose.
Trip out to North Warwickshire today to visit a very damp, misty and foggy Kingsbury Water Park where the highlights were seeing the hundreds of House Martin either flying just above the water on the lakes or high up in the air, seeing a Kingfisher dart over the water from the a tree on the waters edge to another tree on an island on the middle of a lake which was visible through binoculars, what an amazing bird ! Seeing Sedge Warblers in the bushes, especially as they be off to far away climes soon, seeing many flocks of Long Tailed Tit including a mixed flock together with Blue Tits of which there were at least fifty birds and finally seeing two juvenile Great Crested Grebe as well as Pied Wagtail and Woodpigeon juveniles.
Birds seen today were, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Kingfisher, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose and Canada Goose.
Another trip back to North Warwickshire to visit Shustoke Reservoir where the highlights were seeing forty three Mute Swan which including eight juveniles which was a great sight because on lots of visits here you don't see any at all, c.600 Coot and c.50 Canada Geese who flew in shortly after my arrival.
Apart from seeing many waterfowl it was very quiet but it was great to see a Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and House Martin who may have all gone by my next visit.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, House Martin, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Canada Goose/
