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

RSPB Middleton Lakes (3 Viewers)

Morning visit to the Dosthill side of the reserve. I should do it more often as you get a better view of Midd Lakes from the bund hills.
There wasn't much on the pools this side but a drake Pochard and 2 Little Grebes were good to see. On the new reedbed pool were 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret and the Stonechat was still on reeds. 4 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark were on the bund hills.
 
geoffw1946 said:
Morning visit to the Dosthill side of the reserve. I should do it more often as you get a better view of Midd Lakes from the bund hills.
There wasn't much on the pools this side but a drake Pochard and 2 Little Grebes were good to see. On the new reedbed pool were 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret and the Stonechat was still on reeds. 4 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark were on the bund hills.
Click to expand...

Hello Geoff,
having no transport i don't travel far at the moment. Like to see what's been seen at middleton. Considering the size and quality of the habitat, I find it quite unbelievable that the area is not getting larger numbers of passage waders/migrants as well as scarcer species. Is this down to coverage/habitat management? You might see more at Sheepwash on a good day, which is where I will have to concentrate my efforts for the time being. All the best.

Gavin
 
Gavin Allan said:
Hello Geoff,
having no transport i don't travel far at the moment. Like to see what's been seen at middleton. Considering the size and quality of the habitat, I find it quite unbelievable that the area is not getting larger numbers of passage waders/migrants as well as scarcer species. Is this down to coverage/habitat management? You might see more at Sheepwash on a good day, which is where I will have to concentrate my efforts for the time being. All the best.

Gavin
Click to expand...
Hi Gavin,
The lack of waders and rarities at Midd Lakes is to do with both habitat changes, i.e vegetation taking over and also coverage, I hardly see any of the once regular birders now the reserve is open to the public.
I have always found the first few years at a reserve are the best and although the reserve only opened this year the RSPB started work on it in 2007. In the years up until the opening we have seen Gt Northern Diver, Gt White Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Pectoral Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope etc. on or around the reserve but this year the highlight has been a flyover Spoonbill. There is still time for some goodies though.
I don't think you'll find much at Sheepwash, I gave up on the place several years ago (lack of management by the council). But I hope you do find something, if you do,please let me know, I'd love to see 200 species there ( I'm on around 180 at the moment.
Geoff
 
geoffw1946 said:
Hi Gavin,
The lack of waders and rarities at Midd Lakes is to do with both habitat changes, i.e vegetation taking over and also coverage, I hardly see any of the once regular birders now the reserve is open to the public.
I have always found the first few years at a reserve are the best and although the reserve only opened this year the RSPB started work on it in 2007. In the years up until the opening we have seen Gt Northern Diver, Gt White Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Pectoral Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope etc. on or around the reserve but this year the highlight has been a flyover Spoonbill. There is still time for some goodies though.
I don't think you'll find much at Sheepwash, I gave up on the place several years ago (lack of management by the council). But I hope you do find something, if you do,please let me know, I'd love to see 200 species there ( I'm on around 180 at the moment.
Geoff
Click to expand...
Hi Geoff
Its like upton at the moment, a lot of coverage weekend's, Tuesday's and Wednesday's when the old time regulars are there. Years ago, every evening was covered by birders visiting after work. However these days only Thursday evenings are covered. There are hundreds of people visiting Upton every week, but this autumn has been useless. This can be attributed to the 'dry' 2nd Flash. I also think places go through phases, when a rarity appears more coverage follows and more birds get found. I'm sure like Upton a rarity will appear at Middleton and you will be on cloud 9 again. The important factor is don't give up on your local patch.B :)John
 
apologies for a lack of input on my behalf over the past week or two.
back at college now studying a levels so have had a busy last few weeks and unfortunately havent got over to middleton at all! :eek!:

Will hopefully manage a few hours this week, doesn't look like a huge amount has happened though over the past week or two.

Keep up the great work though geoff! Still managed time to keep up to date with sightings via here. :t:
 
Agree, Geoff - remember the halycon days of Sheepwash? Purple Sandpiper, Pom Skua, Dusky warbler...........regular coverage is the key altho at SW there is no management for passage birds at all - Middleton bodes better, at least the RSPB will manage and listen to people (i hope) it's a pity it is not nearer!

Greetings from Sunny Malaga - had a tremendous passage of over 500 Booted Eagles with about 30 Short Toed at Algeciras Bus Station today!!!

C u @ Middleton over the Winter......

Laurie -:t:
 
A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported on RBA today at 12:30 on Fishers Mill Pool, anyone know anything about it? I can't check it out as I'm in Lincs.
Geoff
 
30/9/11 Pec Sand flew from Fisher's mill 17:21 and headed to DBP North pit. New reedbed pool still 2 juv Little Stint and 7 Ringed Plover.
DBP North along fence line Wheater and earleir Whinchat (Chris Cook).

Regards, John
 
1little Stint, 2 Little Egret, 8 Ringed Plover new reedbed pool, 2 Sandwich Tern (1 adult + 1 1st w ) north pit.
 
Morning visit.
A Little Egret was on Fishers Mill Pool. The Little Stint and 8 Ringed Plover were still on the new reedbed pool. A Snipe flew from the north pool where 2 volunteers were striming, it should make a difference to be able to see some waders, thanks Ross and co.
There was plenty of mud showing at Hall Lake and the silt pond, yet there was no sign of any Green Sandpipers, maybe they've moved on early this year.
A Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail were on the riverside walk.
In the woodland areas were 2 Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, Nuthatch and a Treecreeper.
 
Not much showing today in the breezy conditions, though a Common Sandpiper was good to see on the extensive mud flats of the hall lake.
I could only see 2 Ringed Plover on the now drying out new reedbed pool but Little Stint, Greenshank and LRP had been reported earlier. A Hobby and a few Swallows flew through. A Little Egret was still on Fishers Mill pool and 100 ca. Wigeon flew around. Peregrine and Lesser spotted Woodpecker were also reported.
Nick Martin the RSPB project manager was showing some Polish reserve managers around the site and I escorted a couple of Upton Warren birders around, when I left them they'd seen 41 species with hopefully a few more to go.
 
geoffw1946 said:
Not much showing today in the breezy conditions, though a Common Sandpiper was good to see on the extensive mud flats of the hall lake.
I could only see 2 Ringed Plover on the now drying out new reedbed pool but Little Stint, Greenshank and LRP had been reported earlier. A Hobby and a few Swallows flew through. A Little Egret was still on Fishers Mill pool and 100 ca. Wigeon flew around. Peregrine and Lesser spotted Woodpecker were also reported.
Nick Martin the RSPB project manager was showing some Polish reserve managers around the site and I escorted a couple of Upton Warren birders around, when I left them they'd seen 41 species with hopefully a few more to go.
Click to expand...
Give me their names they should be at upton finding stuff8-P :-O :-O
B :)John
 
upstarts1979 said:
Give me their names they should be at upton finding stuff8-P :-O :-O
B :)John
Click to expand...

Sorry John, I don't know their names although I've seen them many times at Upton. They said they'll be at Upton tomorrow though.
Isn't it time you came along to check out how a nature reserve should be? 8-P
Geoff
 
4 Green Sandpiper have returned to Hall Lake, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Stint and 2 Dunlin were on the new reedbed pool plus another 2 Dunlin on middle east pool.
New in was a Jack Snipe on north pit. 2 House Martin flew south.
 
Not much change from yesterday but Little Egret had increased to 4 birds on Fishers Mill Pool. The Little Stint and 4 Dunlin were on new reedbed pool, 2 Green Sandpiper on Hall Lake.
A Cetti's Warbler was singing from across the River Tame from Dosthill.
 
Highlights this morning were 5 Grey Plovers that stayed for around 30 minutes on the north pit also there were circa 12 Snipe that were put up by Jo and co as they strimmed the area. The north pit is starting to look much better with the weeds cut back, which is probably why the Grey Plover came down for a rest. 2 Ringed Plover were on the new reedbed pit until the volunteers started planting phragmites.
3 Little Egret were around and new for the month for me were Willow Tit and Redpoll. A Redwing was reported by another birder.
Back in a weeks time.
Geoff
 
09/10/11 8:30-11:00am

Mill Plantation - Redwing
Fishers Mill Scrape - 2x Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, Little Egret, Siskin
North Pit - 4x Swallow

steady flow of single Skylarks and Siskins over reserve thoughout the morning
 

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