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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Bittell Reservoirs and Hopwood area (1 Viewer)

This afternoon I could see two Little Grebes diving to hide from me by the wall.
A Shoveler was in the distance.
I couldn't see a Kingfisher so I tried a few Ray Mears style Kingfisher whistles, after a short while much to my surprise I heard a Kingfisher calling but I couldn't see it and then it went quiet.
So I whistled again, much to my surprise again it called back.
Then I whistled again, it called back again and this time I saw it over by a tree at the side of the reservoir.
It flew up and around in a u turn to go back to the canal.
With that I thought I best leave it to it. Great!
 
From what I can work out theres NO ACCESS to Upper for 21 days ...presumably from the date on the notice...although I walked here yesterday...26th...

The solid red line is the path with no access.
 

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Hawfinch Flock
Wast Hill Lane
6+. 4 big bright males superb birds
Parking very limited couple of dodgy laybys Do not park in Autism centre or block drive.
Feeding in tree tops of Hornbeam in wood at back of Autism Center. Take North Worcs path through 2 field then as it enters wood by broken stile it join tarmac path by metal gate I saw them feeding up to right but to be fair the whole wood is filled with Hornbeams which is why I went!
 
Poppd back to Wast Hill about 3pm and still no Hawfich...did had a few Fieldfare fly through though.

Around Bittell...

Mill Shrub..
Little Egret in tree on right - then flew down to canal.
The Wigeon are still keeping to the far end (out of biting wind).

Upper...Cant get to resa but with work going on there shouldnt be anything to see.
Small party of Goldfinch and Siskin in tree tops between car park area and 1st cottage....also had Redpoll by Boat Club on Monday
 

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Made a decision today......went to Upper and the path is now closed with a barrier across the gate...apart from a section that was inviting me to climb over.....I would have liked to see what work they are doing.....BUT there was a CCTV sign so I looked and turned around and came home......

....on the way back along the lane a Transit type Police vehicle passed me.....never seen a police car anywhere near there before.....that was close.....lol
 

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From Thursday.....
 

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Mill Shrub / Lower.....

Water level very high and its coloured.....the usual Wigeon on MS.

Does anyone know if we are able to get to Upper yet......the heavy plant is still by the barn.
 
The footpath to Upper is open again. The plant yard looked to be pretty empty, as though much of it has already been taken away. Still a fair amount of infrastructure in place around the base of the dam. Couple of cameraphone shots attached.

Bird-wise the combination of the windy weather and the work at Upper meant it was very quiet everywhere.

Only thing of note at Upper was a single Barnacle Goose with the Canadas.

Lower - plenty of Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Mallard but not a lot else.

Mill Shrub - a few Mute Swans, plenty of Coot and Moorhen, small group of Canada Geese including one hybrid bird which has all its front-end white parts as a sort of beige colour, and all its front-end black parts as dark brown. Very odd-looking thing.

Two Buzzards in their usual spot, along the freshly-laid track between Upper and Lower.
 

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Another very quick visit....

Mill Shrub....1 M and 2 F Wigeon

Lower.....1 M Pochard

Loads of Tufted and G.C. Grebe between both.
 

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YIPPEE......They have " trimmed " the hedges around Lower/Mill Shrub....Thanks....

Mill Shrub
Could only locate a Pair of Wigeon....not sure if other Female around.
5 Cormorants on the water and shore/trees.
 

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