RSPB Middleton Lakes (2 Viewers)

Piccalilli · Aug 19, 2016

Joggers - There's a canal tow path and a running track at Tamworth - Please use either of them and not the West side path as all the action is on canal scrape at the moment. Thanks for clearing out all the birds with your pounding feet and pink Lycra.

Still on the scrape briefly tonight were Spotshank, 2 Wood Sand, Redshank and 3 Snipe. All returned within an hour or so should be good for tomorrow. Marsh Harrier was hunting at the North end of Dosthill NR but never crossed the river. Also Barn Owl, several groups of Terns through (presume Common) and 19 Egret in the new roost by 8.20pm with still several birds out on the reserve.

Snipe are so under rated - pity I didn't get a chance of a proper picture joggers

Steve

Piccalilli · Aug 21, 2016

The Spotshank is now getting so close I'm struggling to crop out the vignetting. Also this afternoon Greenshank, Dunlin, LRP's and RP's, 2 Wood Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier chased North through the reserve by a group of Starlings.

Steve

Dick-E-Dipper · Aug 21, 2016

Another lovely day out at Muddleton! (quite dry considering the amount of rain).
As Steves sightings above (but dipped on the Greenshank). Had two brilliant shows from the Marsh Harrier over North Pit, flushing everything, including the Greylags & 6 Snipe. Green And Common Sand on NP.
A couple more p0hotos of the Wood Sand & Spot Shank together and Marsh Harrier

Richard

SteveAtkinson · Aug 22, 2016

Here's one of mine from yesterday.

Piccalilli · Aug 28, 2016

We ought to have a proper name for the scrape on the West side next to the picnic bench. Tweeting out "The scrape to the North of Canal Scrape and just to the South of the pool formally known as South Pit" is just too much. Officially it's called West Scrape but people also refer to canal scrape as West Scrape - l've been guilty of that in the past. Perhaps we should call it Garganey Scrape - suggestions please but not "Scrapey MacScrapeface".

Steve

Piccalilli · Aug 28, 2016

No real change tonight. On River Scrape was the Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and 4 LRP. The only other birds of note were Hobby and Barn Owl. 19 Little Egret roosted on the East of Jubilee.

Steve

Piccalilli · Aug 29, 2016

I was hoping for so much more today especially as I packed the wife off early to London and there were no time constraints. Did a morning session that was poor so went back this evening for more.

The Wood Sandpiper appears to have gone. It flew high and to the North (strange direction) Sunday night so I assumed it was just going to roost. New in this morning was the Blackwit which came in from the North at 9.15am. It was still on Canal Scrape on my way out tonight but had gone on my return. Also tonight an adult and juvenile Ringed Plover have appeared and are with the 4 LRP's on River Scrape. For those inexperienced, like myself, in identifying the two in their juvenile forms then below are a couple of snaps from tonight. If I've got it correct the Ringed Plover is the one on the Left (white behind the eye).

Wally had 12 Little Egret on the Kingsbury roost tonight and myself 19 in the Jubilee roost last night so there is a good 30 birds already in the valley.

Steve

Periwinkle · Aug 30, 2016

The blackwit was seen on Sunday as well.

geoffw1946 · Aug 30, 2016

Piccalilli said:
We ought to have a proper name for the scrape on the West side next to the picnic bench. Tweeting out "The scrape to the North of Canal Scrape and just to the South of the pool formally known as South Pit" is just too much. Officially it's called West Scrape but people also refer to canal scrape as West Scrape - l've been guilty of that in the past. Perhaps we should call it Garganey Scrape - suggestions please but not "Scrapey MacScrapeface".

Steve

Officially there are only two scrapes on JWs, East and West both controlled by sluice gates. For me the rest is just JWs but if you wanted to be precise you could say North, South, East or West. I think if you give them names like Garganey Scrape then you'll get people asking where it is.
There used to be a Spoonbill Pit but now it's got a sign calling it Dallows Lake north of RSPB North Pit. Dosthill Lake is now called Cliff Lakes see, www.clifflakes.org but perhaps it's best to keep the name Dosthill Lake or the Water Ski pit, according to the locals it was always Cliff Lake.

The reserve was very quiet this afternoon, the highlights being 5 Wigeon, 5 Little Grebe, 1 adult and 2 juvenile Ringed Plover and a juvenile LRP together on East Scrape. 2 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper on NP.
I didn't check out Hall Lake.

Piccalilli · Aug 30, 2016

geoffw1946 said:
................ For me the rest is just JWs but if you wanted to be precise you could say North, South, East or West.......,..,.

Geoff - Thanks for the clarification I will refer to it as Jubilee West in future.

ps - Are you or anyone else reading this available for the bird race on Saturday.

Steve

geoffw1946 · Aug 30, 2016

Piccalilli said:
Geoff -

ps - Are you or anyone else reading this available for the bird race on Saturday.

Steve

I'm likely to be around on the morning of the race.

geoffw1946 · Aug 31, 2016

I thought the JWs would be quiet with the work party on there so a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on the East Scrape was a nice surprise. Also seen were 2 Garganey on FMP, a Mallard x Pintail hybrid? 5 Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, 5 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail on the river. On the Hall Lake were 2 Green Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit.

SteveAtkinson · Aug 31, 2016

Here's a picture of this afternoon's Curlew Sandpiper.

Dick-E-Dipper · Sep 1, 2016

Piccalilli said:
We ought to have a proper name for the scrape on the West side next to the picnic bench. Tweeting out "The scrape to the North of Canal Scrape and just to the South of the pool formally known as South Pit" is just too much. Officially it's called West Scrape but people also refer to canal scrape as West Scrape - l've been guilty of that in the past. Perhaps we should call it Garganey Scrape - suggestions please but not "Scrapey MacScrapeface".

Steve

Just a thought to throw into the mixing pot, The RSPBs own map of the site shows West & East Scrapes and also JW `North & South`.

Why not Post Code/sub-divide the areas, as per pic.! Just a thought...

Richard

geoffw1946 · Sep 1, 2016

Dick-E-Dipper said:
Just a thought to throw into the mixing pot, The RSPBs own map of the site shows West & East Scrapes and also JW `North & South`.

Why not Post Code/sub-divide the areas, as per pic.! Just a thought...

Richard

Re the Post Codes, it could be useful, especially if the RSPB stick posts in the areas concerned.
Augusts monthly total was just 100 which was up on 2014 and 2015 but well down on 2013 =112. Missing were Shelduck, Oystercatcher and Swift which all left unusually early, Raven, Skylark and Treecreeper unless anyone knows differently.
Other totals for August were Upton Warren 104 and Sandwell Valley 98
September started well with some goodies, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Water Rail, Ringed Plover, LRP on the reserve and 2 Black-tailed Godwit on Hall Lake.

Piccalilli · Sep 1, 2016

Autumn All Day Birdwatch

Autumn All Day Birdwatch this Saturday (3rd). All welcome, the more the merrier. I intend to start at 7.30am from the RSPB car park. We already have 8 confirmed but mainly for the morning only. Could really do with a bit more afternoon and evening cover. I intend to post a full Autumn list here and update it on an hourly basis. Any sighting you have that are not on the list then could you please report via Twitter @Piccalilli123.

See you Saturday

Steve

SteveAtkinson · Sep 2, 2016

Good luck to all taking part in the all-dayer at Middleton tomorrow. Sorry I can't be there this time but I'll be following your progress online.

Steve

Piccalilli · Sep 2, 2016

Autumn All Day Birdwatch

AUTUMN 2016 ALL DAY BIRDWATCH - SATURDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER

Red - Not Seen Green - Seen

1 Avocet
2 Barn Owl
3 Barnacle Goose
4 Bittern
5 Black Tern
6 Blackbird
7 Blackcap
8 Black-headed Gull
9 Black-necked Grebe
10 Black-tailed Godwit
11 Blue Tit
12 Bullfinch
13 Buzzard
14 Canada Goose
15 Carrion Crow
16 Cetti's Warbler
17 Chaffinch
18 Chiffchaff
19 Coal Tit
20 Collared Dove
21 Common Gull
22 Common Sandpiper
23 Common Tern
24 Coot
25 Cormorant
26 Cuckoo
27 Curlew
28 Curlew Sandpiper
29 Dunlin
30 Dunnock
31 Feral Pigeon
32 Gadwall
33 Garden Warbler
34 Garganey
35 Goldcrest
36 Goldfinch
37 Great Crested Grebe
38 Great Spotted Woodpecker
39 Great White Egret
40 Great Tit
41 Green Sandpiper
42 Green Woodpecker
43 Greenfinch
44 Greenshank
45 Grey Heron
46 Grey Wagtail
47 Greylag Goose
48 Herring Gull
49 Hobby
50 House Martin
51 House Sparrow
52 Jackdaw
53 Jay
54 Kestrel
55 Kingfisher
56 Knot
57 Lapwing
58 Lesser Black-backed Gull
59 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
60 Lesser Whitethroat
61 Linnet
62 Little Egret
63 Little Grebe
64 Little Owl
65 Little Ringed Plover
66 Little Stint
67 Long-tailed Tit
68 Magpie
69 Mallard
70 Marsh Harrier
71 Meadow Pipit
72 Mediterranean Gull
73 Mistle Thrush
74 Moorhen
75 Mute Swan
76 Nuthatch
77 Osprey
78 Oystercatcher
79 Peregrine
80 Pheasant
81 Pied Wagtail
82 Pintail
83 Pochard
84 Raven
85 Red-legged Partridge
86 Redshank
87 Redstart
88 Reed Bunting
89 Reed Warbler
90 Ringed Plover
91 Robin
92 Rook
93 Ruff
94 Sand Martin
95 Sedge Warbler
96 Shelduck
97 Shoveler
98 Siskin
99 Skylark
100 Snipe
101 Song Thrush
102 Sparrowhawk
103 Spotted Flycatcher
104 Spotted Redshank
105 Starling
106 Stock Dove
107 Stonechat
108 Swallow
109 Swift
110 Tawny Owl
111 Teal
112 Tree Sparrow
113 Treecreeper
114 Tufted Duck
115 Water Rail
116 Wheatear
117 Whinchat
118 Whitethroat
119 Wigeon
120 Willow Tit
121 Willow Warbler
122 Wood Pigeon
123 Wood Sandpiper
124 Wren
125 Yellow Wagtail
126 Yellowhammer
127 Red-crested Pochard
128 Tree Pipit
129 Golden Plover
130 Goosander

TOTAL - 97

geoffw1946 · Sep 3, 2016

All I can add is Collared Dove and Song Thrush .

geoffw1946 · Sep 3, 2016

There was a Kingfisher on the river.

RSPB Middleton Lakes (2 Viewers)

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