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

RSPB Middleton Lakes (2 Viewers)

Seen today were 2 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 8 Goosander, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 4+ Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 or 2 LRP, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew reported, 3 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper on Hall Lake, 1 Dunlin, Kingfisher reported, 2 Cetti's Warbler singing, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Stonechat, 1 possible Water Pipit distantly on JWs, 1 Lesser Redpoll at feeders.
The highlight was the 2 Common Cranes flying over the reserve this afternoon per KT and Fergus.
Geoff
 
Middleton lakes

Arriving at the reserve today on getting out of the car the weather was sunny with colmbus nimbus clouds but with a 20 mph SW wind and thus cold.
Water Rails could be heard on the marshy pools on the play meadow.
On the feeders were 3 Lesser Redpolll and a much larger bird of the same plumage (browner mealy).
A Tree Bumble Bee and Comma Butterfly were seen along mill plantation and also Wood Anenome in flower, by Fisher's mill bridge in a ivy covered Hawthron was a male Blackcap in full song.
On Jubilee wetlands breeding waders were feeding on the mud, the cold wind took pleasant out of the walk, 2 Small Tortioseshell and a Peacock Butterfly managed in the winds. Cornflower and Red Dead nettle were in flower by the East Screen, good numbers of winter wildfowl were still about with 14 Goldeneye on Dosthill NR and 2 Goosander seen. 27 migrant Pied Wagtail were feeding on the short grass areas on the East side of Dosthill lake.


Regards, John
 
Seen today were 2 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 8 Goosander, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 4+ Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 or 2 LRP, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew reported, 3 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper on Hall Lake, 1 Dunlin, Kingfisher reported, 2 Cetti's Warbler singing, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Stonechat, 1 possible Water Pipit distantly on JWs, 1 Lesser Redpoll at feeders.
The highlight was the 2 Common Cranes flying over the reserve this afternoon per KT and Fergus.
Geoff

Geoff,
What plumage was the possible Water Pipit in Winter or Summer.
 
Geoff,
What plumage was the possible Water Pipit in Winter or Summer.
Summerish.
9 species of wader were seen this morning including 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Dunlin.
The Stonechat was still by the new reedbed pool, 4 Cetti's Warbler were singing, 5 Lesser Redpoll were on the feeders and 20 Yellowhammer were by the Pheasant feeders. A brood of Coot were in the Heronry watchpoint Pond.
A Wheatear was reported.
Geoff
 
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Very springlike this morning. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the north pit and a White Wagtail on the JWs.
Waders seen included 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 6 Redshank and 4 Dunlin. Also seen were 6 Shelduck, 9 Goldeneye, 7 Goosander and 2 Siskin.
Geoff
 
01/4/14 Visiting the reserve today ready to knock up another Summer migrant for Middleton lakes. The Mealy was on the feeders still, 3 Blackcap singing along Mill plantation. Usual waders on the reserve, a Willow Tit in the East pools jubilee wetlands. A very pleasant day to be on the reserve Orange-tip and Green-viened White seen. The Adult Med Gull had taken over some islands on the North pit, that's until the next downpour, the Med Gull was bullying the local Black-headed gulls. I got speaking to John Sear in the hide he said he was a former WMBC chairman, he lives at Wem Shropshire but is about to move to North Wales.
Having gone all over the reserve, not a Willow Warbler in sight, nor a Swallow not even a Sand Martin seen. However a surprise was when a Yellow Wagtail flew north through the Reserve.

Regards, John
 
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What will be the next migrant at Middleton lakes Willow Warbler, Swallow, there's House Martin and even Sedge Warblers are now being reported in the Midlands. With Geoff on the East coast, who's covering Middleton lakes.
 
A single Swallow was over the feeder area this morning at 07:30 and a Willow warbler was feeding in the trees over the bridleway through the woodland.

Little ringed plover, Ringed plover and Redshank also present after a quick scan.
 
A single Swallow was over the feeder area this morning at 07:30 and a Willow warbler was feeding in the trees over the bridleway through the woodland.

Little ringed plover, Ringed plover and Redshank also present after a quick scan.

I'm glad someone is covering the reserve Fergus, Swallow maybe a returning farm breeder, Willow warbler they breed South side of the silt pool.
The next summer migrants could be House Martin, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Tern, Whitethroat or the more rare Garganey. There's also a possibility of the odd earlier bird like the Yellow Wagtail.
 
That's almost 'local' for some people John - it's nearly 60 miles round trip for my mate and i, coupled with the Mud etc it's not now feasible so we stick local which is a pity as the potential is excellent.

Laurie:t:
 

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