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RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Ringing studies have shown are wintering blackcaps come from the continent so not British breeders at all. And in the Nuneaton/Tame Valley area all the wintering Chiffchaffs are from Siberia.

collybita (Vieillot, 1817) - breeds British Is E to S Sweden, and from France and E Spain to W Germany, S Poland, Balkans and NW Turkey; non-breeding around Mediterranean (sporadically to S Ireland, C England and Netherlands) and from NW Africa (including Canary Is) to Middle East.
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
I've never seen Fisher's mill meadow looking so bare with soil and rubble showing through, 3 Wheatear liking this terrain.
Lesser Whitethroat calling from scrub on the Staffs side of Fisher's mill bridge again today. Speaking to an EA contracter, the RSPB have lost control of land management now over this area of the new EA bund, they will mow this area twice a year to prevent scrub encroachment, habitat that brought in the Lesser Whitethroat. A Sedge Warbler was noted singing away in bramble by the river East of the North pit.
Jubille wetlands and the north pit are looking good to attract passage waders over the next few days until the next flood, looks again like Lapwing have nested in the dock fringe this time mobbing a crow on the west side of jubilee wetlands. No sign of Geoff, he's probabaly gone to the East coast again.

Regards, John
 
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JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
With Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler seen/heard over the weekend.
Your next migrant to be recorded at Middleton lakes could be Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, House Martin, Arctic Tern, Whinchat, Hobby, Swift.
You've got more chance seeing an Osprey then a Spotted Flycatcher at Middleton lakes in Spring.

Regards, John
 

fergus617

Member
Glossy ibis landed on Jubilee Wetlands this morning around 7:30 but was chased off by the gulls.

It has been showing very well from the riverside screen at 11:00.

Other birds present 3x Grasshopper warblers, Lesser whitethroat, Redshank, 12+ Ringed plover, Black-tailed godwit, Avocet, adult Mediterranean gull and Yellow wagtail.
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
With Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler seen/heard over the weekend.
Your next migrant to be recorded at Middleton lakes could be Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, House Martin, Arctic Tern, Whinchat, Hobby, Swift.
You've got more chance seeing an Osprey then a Spotted Flycatcher at Middleton lakes in Spring.

Regards, John

Reed Warbler and Whitethroat seen today by the wardens Katie Thorpe and Fergus Mosey. Garden Warbler reported per TVB between carpark and Fisher's mill.
Had Garden Warbler in previous years in area left of entrance to Heronry view usually much later though, never saw or heard one along mill plantation to Fisher's mill bridge.
Had them before along the track heading north from Fisher's mill bridge in Staffordshire.
These new wardens are very good at getting information out.
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
17/4/14 Glossy Ibis showing very well today infront of the Eastern screen, 4 Avocets moving around jubillee wetlands and the north pit, all unringed.
3 Grasshopper Warblers reeling one particulary showy bird SW of the West screen in the ditch.
A winter plumaged Sanderling seen, full account on the Staffs and Warks RSPB threads.


Regards, John
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
We are experiencing a widespread movement of Whitethoat and Sedge Warbler into the UK at the moment and to a lesser extent the scarcer breeder Grasshopper Warbler.
Checking the Birdguides reports database so far in the UK there are only 2 reports for Garden Warbler and both down South.

Regards, John
 
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JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Not that many new summer migrants to look out for now Garden Warbler, Arctic Tern, Whinchat, Hobby, Swift. Wader migraton, the main movements have only just begun and should continue until the end of May or sometimes early June.
jubilee wetlands is in it's first Spring migration, rough areas around jubilee wetlands in previous years cut are attracting singing Grasshopper Warbler which have proved popular.

Regards, John
 

geoffw1946

Well-known member
The Glossy Ibis was still present on the JWs and an Avocet on NP. Other waders seen were 2 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and several Ringed Plover and LRP.
A Swift was reported and the Med Gull was still on NP.
Geoff
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
The Glossy Ibis was still present on the JWs and an Avocet on NP. Other waders seen were 2 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and several Ringed Plover and LRP.
A Swift was reported and the Med Gull was still on NP.
Geoff

I saw my first Swift today at Shustoke with 20 House Martin, I bet Arctic Tern went through Dosthill lake today.
 

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