[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by rollingthunder

Agree Martin - what i really meant was dissapointed but maybe it's all the cr@p weather? Only just had my 1'st Swifts aound Stourbridge ystda.

The waders were a real surprise especially when i only thought of the possibility of LRP's - gone are the days when the place was being worked on and i could pop down there and have a record count of.......30 Common Sandpipers followed by a megafind like Purple Sandpiper!

Coverage is well down unfotunately, on my visits posted i have not seen another birder at all

ATB Laurie

Dont worry Laurie
After my exams in 2-3 weeks, i'll be able to 'work' sheepwash again aswell!
MB

[rollingthunder]

Good - and a nice start to Page 3 of the Sheepwash thread!

Laurie -

[Martyn Yapp]

Arr Laurie I know who you are now.

Nice to see back down there. Alas I don't get there very often now, but still realise the big potential it still has

Of course Sheepwash has a fine history withrarities (Purple Sandpiper and Pom Skua before my time), remeber this one...

Originally Posted by rollingthunder

Good - and a nice start to Page 3 of the Sheepwash thread!

Laurie -

[rollingthunder]

I certainly do........and the Pom - the place had a purple patch of about 3-5 years when all the 'landscaping' work was being carried out. Certainly during Springl and Autumn migration periods it was fairly buzzing, with a lot of species, particularly waders which just do'nt get recorded these days as the 'edge' habitat has gone and the dynamic aspect has changed to a more 'stable' phase. I do think the tree cover needs some drastic coppicing now in order to vary the structure, the place still has loads of potential but without the regular coverage, led by Geoff who knows what passes through? During May i used to visit 3 times a day but i am not so local now but will visit as frequently as i can.

Having said that, i am off to Geoffs' new patch - Middleton Hall, great place just wish it was closer.

ATB, if you are in touch with Ian Whitehouse pass on my best, i hear he is a fixture at Spurn these days.....

Laurie

[Martyn Yapp]

Cheers Laurie, off on trip with Ian to Turkey next Saturday.

I used to do Sheepwash before work, loved it. My best find there was Long-tailed Duck.

Originally Posted by rollingthunder

I certainly do........and the Pom - the place had a purple patch of about 3-5 years when all the 'landscaping' work was being carried out. Certainly during Springl and Autumn migration periods it was fairly buzzing, with a lot of species, particularly waders which just do'nt get recorded these days as the 'edge' habitat has gone and the dynamic aspect has changed to a more 'stable' phase. I do think the tree cover needs some drastic coppicing now in order to vary the structure, the place still has loads of potential but without the regular coverage, led by Geoff who knows what passes through? During May i used to visit 3 times a day but i am not so local now but will visit as frequently as i can.

Having said that, i am off to Geoffs' new patch - Middleton Hall, great place just wish it was closer.

ATB, if you are in touch with Ian Whitehouse pass on my best, i hear he is a fixture at Spurn these days.....

Laurie

[rollingthunder]

LTD - excellent find! - enjoy your trip and just in case you do'nt click with Cream Coloured Courser get over to Kington............It's a cracker.......28 years of pain........unblocked

ATB Laurie

[geoffw1946]

I did a now rare visit to SUP yesterday afternoon, it was good to see a pair of Common Tern taking an interest in the place still, but it's a pity that all the rocky islands that they used to nest on are all overgrown with bramble and trees and I hear that Rattlechain Pool is likely to be filled in.
Also there was a Cormorant, a brood of Little Grebe and 5 circa Gt Crested Grebe.
Geoff

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by Martyn Yapp

Cheers Laurie, off on trip with Ian to Turkey next Saturday.

I used to do Sheepwash before work, loved it. My best find there was Long-tailed Duck.

My best finds here were Crag Martin (with D.Waite) and Bonelli's Warbler! it's a shame they didn't stay longer for others to enjoy (they weren't accepted by BBRC), however Dusky Warbler, Pomarine Skua and a flock of Spoonbill (4 actually) were nearly as good.
Geoff

[midlands birder]

Manadged to get down Y'day afternoon after a couple of revsion sessions at 6th form.
Rather quiet on the Bird front, a brief HOBBY with a hirudine sp in its tallons flew over Pumphouse pool towards the chemical pool and seemed to drop down into trees, unfortunatly i didnt see where as i was borrowing my bins to my friend (to watch the Terns) at the time.
4 Common Tern moving in and out.
However, highlight was finding 2 male Green Hairstreak butterflies, which i didnt know were around at Sheepwash. A couple of female Brimstone, a single Gatekeeper, Common blue were noted, among numerous 'white' butterflies. Lots of Orange Tips also.

MB

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

Manadged to get down Y'day afternoon after a couple of revsion sessions at 6th form.
Rather quiet on the Bird front, a brief HOBBY with a hirudine sp in its tallons flew over Pumphouse pool towards the chemical pool and seemed to drop down into trees, unfortunatly i didnt see where as i was borrowing my bins to my friend (to watch the Terns) at the time.
4 Common Tern moving in and out.
However, highlight was finding 2 male Green Hairstreak butterflies, which i didnt know were around at Sheepwash. A couple of female Brimstone, a single Gatekeeper, Common blue were noted, among numerous 'white' butterflies. Lots of Orange Tips also.
Attachment 386010
MB

Nice sighting of Green Hairstreak Craig, I have informed the Midland Butterfly recorder Nigel Stone. Which VC County is it, probably Staffordshire.

Regards, John

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by JHDraytonbassettpits

Nice sighting of Green Hairstreak Craig, I have informed the Midland Butterfly recorder Nigel Stone. Which VC County is it, probably Staffordshire.

Regards, John

Its in west mids county, in the middle of Great Bridge
Cheers
MB

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

Its in west mids county, in the middle of Great Bridge
Cheers
MB

Hi Craig,
The West Midlands County is a modern recent County which is an area of high population and receives more resources, which was at one time made up of the vice counties of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. I know this are is not in VC38 Warwickshire so I would guess it's VC Staffordshire then the record would go to David Elmely the Staffordshire recorder, as Biological recording goes to the vice Counties (this should also mean birds).

regards, John

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

Its in west mids county, in the middle of Great Bridge
Cheers
MB

Craig, I have now had a return e-mail from Dave Elmley the Staffordshire moth recorder and he collects Staffordshire Butterfly records to the old vice County, Dave said he has no records from Sheep Wash Urban park.
As anyone seen Green Hairstreak there in the past, some people breed native butterflies and release them into areas they assume is suitable as no license is required, however the majority soon die out. Although releases of Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary, wood White in South Warks have been successful. Warwickshire Butterfly conservation attempted to establish a colony of Marsh Fritillary at Ryton Meadows but was not successful.

Regards, John

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by JHDraytonbassettpits

Craig, I have now had a return e-mail from Dave Elmley the Staffordshire moth recorder and he collects Staffordshire Butterfly records to the old vice County, Dave said he has no records from Sheep Wash Urban park.
As anyone seen Green Hairstreak there in the past, some people breed native butterflies and release them into areas they assume is suitable as no license is required, however the majority soon die out. Although releases of Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary, wood White in South Warks have been successful. Warwickshire Butterfly conservation attempted to establish a colony of Marsh Fritillary at Ryton Meadows but was not successful.

Regards, john

Hi John and Craig,
Green Hairstreak was first recorded here in 1994 and also in 1998 but as far as I know not since,however it can easily be overlooked.
Wall Brown were quite common until 1993 then suddenly disappeared to be replaced by Gatekeeper which then became common, presumably because of climate change. In 2004 Ringlet appeared.
Clouded Yellow were almost annual as there was plenty of Goats Rue everywhere, probably still is?
Since 2006 I have more or less ceased visiting the reserve so it's good to hear of any records, keep up the good work Craig.
Geoff

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Originally Posted by geoffw1946

Hi John and Craig,
Green Hairstreak was first recorded here in 1994 and also in 1998 but as far as I know not since,however it can easily be overlooked.
Wall Brown were quite common until 1993 then suddenly disappeared to be replaced by Gatekeeper which then became common, presumably because of climate change. In 2004 Ringlet appeared.
Clouded Yellow were almost annual as there was plenty of Goats Rue everywhere, probably still is?
Since 2006 I have more or less ceased visiting the reserve so it's good to hear of any records, keep up the good work Craig.
Geoff

Thanks Geoff, A good resume here. John

[rollingthunder]

Irritating is'nt it Geoff? With regard to the unaccepted records. On paper you would be more likely to get Dusky Warbler rejected but fortunately lots of people saw it so it get rubber-stamped. Whereas birds that are familiar abroad, relatively common and not difficult to identify e.g. Crag Martin and Bonelli's Warbler get threaded on a piece of string and hung in the toilet! Had it been in Norfolk and a known birder there probably would not have been a problem. All the more annoying when something good turns up in the Mids as a bit of payback for all the time spent local patching.......

I smiled wryly to myself on Monday whilst watching the CCC in Herefordshire with superb weather and a stunning backdrop thinking of all these East Coast birders fretting and sweating at having to come all the way over to the Mids out of their 'comfort zone' - what with Marmora's Warbler and Desert Wheatear all within 18 months or so - whatever next?

ATB Laurie

[geoffw1946]

Originally Posted by rollingthunder

Irritating is'nt it Geoff? With regard to the unaccepted records. On paper you would be more likely to get Dusky Warbler rejected but fortunately lots of people saw it so it get rubber-stamped. Whereas birds that are familiar abroad, relatively common and not difficult to identify e.g. Crag Martin and Bonelli's Warbler get threaded on a piece of string and hung in the toilet! Had it been in Norfolk and a known birder there probably would not have been a problem. All the more annoying when something good turns up in the Mids as a bit of payback for all the time spent local patching.......

I smiled wryly to myself on Monday whilst watching the CCC in Herefordshire with superb weather and a stunning backdrop thinking of all these East Coast birders fretting and sweating at having to come all the way over to the Mids out of their 'comfort zone' - what with Marmora's Warbler and Desert Wheatear all within 18 months or so - whatever next?

ATB Laurie

Hi Laurie,
I suppose it is a bit irritating but understandable( I wouldn't like to be on BBRC and have to decide which bird is real or imagined).
Since doing Lincs. on a regular basis and occasionally finding rarities I made the decision to stop submitting rarity forms. Now I just put out the news and hope other birders get to see the bird, (the only bird I did a finders report on was for a Terek Sandpiper for the Lincs Bird Club 2009 annual report and only because they asked me to, I didn't put a description in though).
Geoff

[rollingthunder]

There are a few records each year of well-watched rarities that do'nt get published because the original finders do not submit them altho BBRC do put out requests for details from anybody who saw the record. You have found enough stuff now but birds away from the coast that are'nt seen by anybody else and that are smaller than a White Stork are going to be difficult to get accepted!

Laurie

[rollingthunder]

A quick visit last Sunday - good amount of shoreline on the far side of the main pool and around the island - litter adjacent should be picked up really....

Migrants -

Willow Warbler
ChiffChaff 2+
Blackcap - lots
Whitethroat - single male singing on embankment
Reed Warbler - 3+ singing males
Swallow - single bird the only hirundine noted

Oystercatcher - single bird circling, calling before flying off
Raven - one bird calling, in the distance, somewhere.
Buzzard

No other waders or Common Terns seen.

Laurie

[midlands birder]

Birdwise very quiet, 2 Common Tern
But lots of Damselflies.
3 Red-Eyed Damselflies showing on the small fishing pool north of the main pool, on the lilly pads. Common Blue everywhere, and the same can be said for Blue-tailed.
Single Brimstone butterfly
Highlight though was a female Black-tailed Skimmer at the small marshy pools near the 2nd tunnel.
Photos to follow
MB

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

Birdwise very quiet, 2 Common Tern
But lots of Damselflies.
3 Red-Eyed Damselflies showing on the small fishing pool north of the main pool, on the lilly pads. Common Blue everywhere, and the same can be said for Blue-tailed.
Single Brimstone butterfly
Highlight though was a female Black-tailed Skimmer at the small marshy pools near the 2nd tunnel.
Photos to follow
MB

MB

[rollingthunder]

Quick visit, 11.30-12.15 -

Quiet, water levels up as expected, very little shoreline exposed.

Migrants -

Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Common Tern 2
Swift
LRP 1

A couple of LBB Gulls were the only Larids plus the resident 'plastic'

ATB Laurie

[rollingthunder]

Forgot to add, a well-grown brood of 7 Mute Swans - that's not a bad size...

Laurie

[geoffw1946]

I had planned to go to Grimley to try and find some waders but had a call from Dave Waite to say he had found a new species of butterfly for Sheepwash, Marbled White. I managed to see two up by Newtown school, Marbled White had also recently been discovered on the Rowley Hills so maybe they are moving slowly north. Also seen were Comma, Ringlet and Meadow Brown.
Birdwise it was quiet but a Common Tern and a Shoveler were noteworthy. The adjacent Rattlechain Tip and pool still look as though they could attract Wheatear or something, on the pool were a few Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull which no doubt nest on the warehouses nearby and a family of Little Grebe and Coot were seen but I don't know if Common Tern have bred this year, Dave said one of the terns was eaten by a Peregrine.
Geoff

[rollingthunder]

An hour ystda, very quiet but the weather was OK.

Single Common Tern, singing Reed Warbler and Blackcap and Mr Plastic still maintaining a lonely vigil........Sandwell V prior to that for a couple of hours again quiet, a juv Common Tern being fed by adults. Presume local breeder?

Laurie