Shustoke Reservoir.

Perfect morning today for a spot of birdwatching, beautiful blue skies, a slight touch of frost and the leaves falling in earnest in all their Autumnal splendour, so I decided to pay Shustoke Reservoir in North Warwickshire a visit.

On the whole it was very quiet but it was still great to see a flock of Lapwing at the beginning of my visit and a flock of Redwing towards the end of my visit.

Other than those it was pretty standard fare including, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, Jay and Mistle Thrush, saying that I'm not snobby like some people who have to see a certain bird when they're out birding, I love to see them all regardless whether it's the first time I've seen them or the ten thousandth time.

Birds seen today were, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Redwing, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Canada Goose.

As per usual the only thing that spoilt the visit was the amount of inconsiderate dog walkers, even though there are notices around the pool stating that 'dogs are welcome just as long as they are kept under strict control and on a lead at all times', not one person had them on a lead, one person was deliberately throwing a ball towards the waterfowl for his dog while another pair of women were letting six dogs run amok all over the place including into the water, I detest these people !

Ward End Park.

Nice early morning walk around Ward End Park today, it was very quiet bird wise but it's great to visit locations when they are in their Autumnal splendour.

It was a shame not to hear any House Sparrow near the flats, maybe they were quiet, had a visit from a predator and more likely because I didn't notice the presence of any feeders which is a real shame as they probably struggle for food around that area especially at this time of the year.

There were plenty of Gulls, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Canada Goose present though, it was a shame to see no Grey Heron or Mute Swan though even though I have seen them when passing by the park at other times of the year, I also didn't see any Great Spotted Woodpecker or Song/Mistle Thrush which are normally 'staples' when I visit this site.

Thankfully most of the park was clean but there was still a large amount of cans, bottles and takeaway refuse to be found all the same in certain areas, aside again from a few plastic bottles the pool was clean which is amazing as it's normally never like that even when a Prime Minister visits as I was told by the council workers once 'we don't clean the pool as the camera's won't go down there.

Birds seen today were, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Moorhen, Coot and Canada Goose.