Shawell Tip

[nexstarneil]

Shawell is back on stream, bird-wise and Saturday p.m looks like a good time to visit.The tip was open but I don't think it operates in the afternoon. By the time I arrived around 14:30 the birds were fairly undisturbed and settled. During the week a combination of machines, humans and falconers often makes viewing difficult although the balancing lakes are good at any time. One change since last season is that the footpath opposite the Redland site has been diverted so it's about 250m along the old path before it's possible to see anything.
There are LOTS of gulls there. There are a few Yellow-legged at least one Caspian. It will only get better!

[Hippo]

Shawell is back on stream, bird-wise and Saturday p.m looks like a good time to visit.The tip was open but I don't think it operates in the afternoon. By the time I arrived around 14:30 the birds were fairly undisturbed and settled. During the week a combination of machines, humans and falconers often makes viewing difficult although the balancing lakes are good at any time. One change since last season is that the footpath opposite the Redland site has been diverted so it's about 250m along the old path before it's possible to see anything.
There are LOTS of gulls there. There are a few Yellow-legged at least one Caspian. It will only get better!


Despite only being "up the road", this is a site I rarely visit. Must put this right! Previously, I have only viewed the balancing lakes from the road to Shawell, and the other lakes from the A5 by the Newton turn. Is the tip accessible as it has always been working on my few visits?

[nexstarneil]

Despite only being "up the road", this is a site I rarely visit. Must put this right! Previously, I have only viewed the balancing lakes from the road to Shawell, and the other lakes from the A5 by the Newton turn. Is the tip accessible as it has always been working on my few visits?

There's no access to the tip but the face they are now working on is at the western edge so it's easy to see from the footpath. On the Google maps link below there is a footpath/bridle path running south to north on the obvious boundary between the 'workings' to the east and farmland to the west (north of Gibbet Lane). There is a diversion notice and a timber screen but as I'm thinking it is for future expansion and the site is still fenced off I just walked along the old path to view. Hope this helps, cheers Neil

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=shawell&ie=UTF8&gl=uk&ei=n8raSu7PA86u4QaM4bH1Bg&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA&hq=&hnear=Shawell,+Lutterworth,+Leicestershire,+United +Kingdom&ll=52.422667,-1.217294&spn=0.00738,0.01929&t=h&z=16

[Hippo]

Cheers, Neil - maybe see you there one day :t:

[nexstarneil]

Lesson number 2 .... Sunday is not so good, although I did expect that. Probably 200-300 gulls with a lot of coming and going. Only one Yellow-legged but a stunning adult Caspian which was different to yesterdays bird.

[nexstarneil]

Managed to get down to Shawell this afternoon. Very few gulls at the tip but 2 Woodcock flushed from the hedge line on the walk down and the pale rumped Buzzard seen again as it flew from the same hedge. Lots of gulls on the pool by the A5 but most of them were departing (to Draycote?) as I was arriving. A first winter Caspian Gull dropped in, drank and bathed before heading off south. Most surprising bird of the day was a Brent Goose on the pool. Along with the other wildfowl it was flushed by something at about 3.35 and flew north.

[nexstarneil]

Managed a quick look early afternoon at the main A5 pool only. It was covered with gulls today. At least 4 Yellow-legged but couldn't see anything better. Several nice darvic rings visible on birds out of the water, I will try to note some when I have more time.

[Richard Powell]

Great to see a thread for the Shawell area! :t:

When I and some muckers of mine visited this area last winter, looking for Kumlien's Gull (which didn't appear), instead we found an adult Med Gull and Red Kite. :t:

[nexstarneil]

Too windy to see much today but managed a quick look before a meeting in Kilworth. At least 3 ad type Y-L Gull and 1st winter Med Gull. Also a B H Gull in near full breeding plumage was a bit of a surprise . A good place to look just now is near the access to the tip where lots of gulls day roost on a newly flattened area fairly clos to Gibbet Lane. Several LBBG's with darvics just out of range of my 30X EP. The pale rumped Buzzard was there again and could be mistaken for Rough -legged.