RSPB Middleton Lakes (4 Viewers)

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

30/6/11 Drayton Bassett pits Geoff Williams later saw 5 Black-tailed Godwit on the North pit, they were either resting on an island unseen in vegetation when I was present or they came in later.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

6/7/11 Drayton Bassett pits sightings Alan Dean Little Egret on the north pit which has been present since 2/7/11, Black-tailed Godwit on reedbed pool.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

7/7/11 Drayton Bassett pits now 2 Little Egret on site, second brood of Small copper now showing with 2 seen. Roesels bush crickets singing, on the North pit Ringed plover called, Oystercatcher seen, brood of Tufted Duck with 5 small young and another brood of Gadwall with 8 small young plus one of the Tufted duck brood so Tufted has 6.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

13/7/11 Drayton Basset pits southern pool Common Sandpiper, LRP.
Heading towards the North pit 2nd brood Peacock butterflies now out, flowering Gypsywort, Great Willow Herb and Tufted Vetch noted.
The North pit overgrown 3 broods of Tufted Duck noted of 1,3,6 also a male Teal.
The Reedbed pool showing mud now and should attract waders.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

RSPB Middleton Lakes, Drayton Bassett pits

20/7/11 Walking along the track to the North pit a dead Common Shrew was found , sometimes these are abandoned by their predators because a liquid produced from glands in their skin is foul tasting.

Flowers seen along the track included Common Storksbill, Small flowered Cranesbull and also a Common Blue Damselfy.
The North pit overgrown with little mud showing with poor visibilty ideal for hiding ducklings with 6 broods of Tufted Duck seen, water flowers included Marsh Woundwort, Purple Loosestrife and Water forget-me-not.
However the new reed bed pool where 50,000 reeds were planted and only a handful of reeds have grown, the upside now is, loads of fresh mud attracting today 4 Dunlin, Common Sand, Green Sand, with local bred 3 juv Redshank and 2 Ad and 2 juv LRP.
The downside is it will be many years before this pool is ready for Breeding Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Beared Tit.

Regards, John

 

[Brian Stretch]

An extensive photo gallery of Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve is now online here: http://www.birdingtoday.co.uk/middleton_lakes_rspb_100.html.

Brian
________________________________________
Birding Today Midlands Birding Review June 2011

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

1/8/11 New Reed Bed pool which is split by the Staffordshire/Warwickshire county boundary. Juv Wood Sand, 9 juv LRP, Ad Dunlin, Greenshank, Green Sand.
DBP North pit 5 Greenshank and 2 Hobby over. 2nd brood Common Blue butterflies and a small copper seen

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

3/8/11 Following a report of 2 Wood Sand on reedbed pool today, a visit later I saw only juv LRP.
Hobby over DBP, winter birds are building up now with 42 Grey-lag geese on the north pit and 70 Lapwing.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

9/8/11 Drayton Bassett pits Sand Spurrey in flower on the tracks no doubt this has spread from Sutton Park and flowering Rush on the small pools by the footpath south of North pit.
New Reed Bed pool 2 Yellow Wagatil over, Greenshank, Ringed plover and 2 juv LRP.
However, later JKLA juv Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 2 juv Dunlin, Ringed Plover and LRP.


Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

12/8/11 Drayton Bassett pits New Reed bed pool juv Wood sand, juv LRP, 4 Greenshank. Earlier AGW 3 Ruff
DBP North David Dennis 3 Black-tailed Godwit over.

Regards, John

 

[suthyyy]

going to be heading up here tomorrow for my first time. Any tips as to the best spots on the reserve would be great? :t:

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

RSPB Middleton lakes

going to be heading up here tomorrow for my first time. Any tips as to the best spots on the reserve would be great? :t:

Hi, If you drive in Middleton Hall way check the pool to right Middleon Hall pool you should see 2-3 Green Sand on the mud at the back.
Check mill plantation past Heronry viewing platform for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, however you need a bit of luck.
The new Reed bed pool is ideal for waders at the moment best viewed from the bench on the East side near the river.
North pit water levels high at the moment and poor visibilty due to vegetation, far better in Spring, but always worth checking on the circular walk.

Regards, John

 

[suthyyy]

Hi, If you drive in Middleton Hall way check the pool to right Middleon Hall pool you should see 2-3 Green Sand on the mud at the back.
Check mill plantation past Heronry viewing platform for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, however you need a bit of luck.
The new Reed bed pool is ideal for waders at the moment best viewed from the bench on the East side near the river.
North pit water levels high at the moment and poor visibilty due to vegetation, far better in Spring, but always worth checking on the circular walk.

Regards, John

Thanks very much for these tips, will definitely check out these tomorrow when im there :t:

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

15/8/11 My first Brown Argus for the Reserve a male seen along the track by the canal to the North pit.
New reed bed pool 3 Greenshank, Juv LRP, Ringed plover, juv Common Tern. Wood Sand reported earlier.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

RSPB Middleton lakes

19/8/11 New Reebed pool 2 juv Wood Sand together 14:37 also Greenshank, juv LRP and Ringed plover with 2 Green Sand and Little Egret DBP North. Along the track by the canal a female Brown Argus.

Regards, John

 

[The Moore-hen]

First trip to the reserve just, looks impressive, always enjoyed Drayton Bassett so let's hope I'm back pretty soon this autumn for a rare wader...:t:

Juv Wood Sand, Greenshank, Dunlin, Ringie, 3 juv LRP, 2 Common Tern & male Wheatear on reedbed pool, Green Sand at Drayton Bassett north. 10+ Swift over.

Failed with Brown Argus John, were they near to Fishers Mill or as far along the track as the north pit? Cheers.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Hi, Wheatear is the first I have heard of this year on return passage.
Regarding Brown Argus 15/8/11 male SP19952 99387
19/8/11 female SP19979 99305 I would advise using wheresthepath on the internet to locate.
The north pit has disappointed most locals who liked the layout before the RSPB re-landscaping. The RSPB have made more island's which are full with vegetation and only cleared in winter, so good visibility in Spring only. Pre-RSPB landscaping the middle area when water levels were low was full of mud and visibility excellent. Although, when the hide is constructed you should be much higher and get better views.
The new reedbed is good for waders this year because the water levels are low not so last year and eventually this area is planned to be a reedbed.
Could you please send your name to my e-mail so I can put on the Wheatear record.

Thanks, John

 

[Periwinkle]

Whinchat by Reedbed Pool this morning as well as Wheatear. Please check my blog for latest sightings.

Cheers

Tom

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

22/8/11 New reedbed pool Greenshank, juv LRP, Green sand over heading north.
Along the river a male migrant Hawker.
DB North another 3 Greenshank, Yellow Wagtail over.
Wildfowl Greylag geese now winter flock of 105 and Mute Swan 52.
Probable Brown Argus in flight along the track by the canal.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

25/8/11 DBP (WJE) pre-dusk 4 Greenshank flew up river. New reedbed pool 5 Ringed Plover and another wader unidentified Wood sand size resting by a pebble never moved in 45 mins.
26/8/11 First Autumn flush of Curlew sand and Little Stint as expected hit Blithfield and prime wader habitat of New Reedbed pool Curlew Sand, 2 Little Stint today (Geoff Williams)

Regards, John