RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

[The Moore-hen]

No sign of the WRS by Geoff this morning then John? Guess it will be flooded out by tomoz anyway - it's torrential still here in Wolvo.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

No sign of the WRS by Geoff this morning then John? Guess it will be flooded out by tomoz anyway - it's torrential still here in Wolvo.

Hi Ian, Geoff Said he did the Dosthill NR side yesterday he could see from Dosthill bunds water entering the new workings from the West side although Steve Gibson (SG) went to DBP North. Today Geoff did not manage to go that far up the track to the north pit. No good either trying the short cut over the Drayton Brick bridge way because the ditch will be full of water.

Regards, John

 

[The Moore-hen]

Hi Ian, Geoff Said he did the Dosthill NR side yesterday he could see from Dosthill bunds water entering the new workings from the West side although Steve Gibson (SG) went to DBP North. Today Geoff did not manage to go that far up the track to the north pit. No good either trying the short cut over the Drayton Brick bridge way because the ditch will be full of water.

Regards, John

Thanks John - sounds like it's pretty bad that way as well! Set of waders needed then for anyone looking at the weekend...

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Thanks John - sounds like it's pretty bad that way as well! Set of waders needed then for anyone looking at the weekend...

Hi Ian, Today from the RSPB carpark it's very difficult to get to Fisher's mill Bridge I was told it will go over your wellies by RSPB Volunteers who tried it yesterday with the water levels the same or higher today, so I did a detour and followed the canal along to Fisher's mill bridge. Managed to get up to the north pit in wellingtons, the new workings and the north pit are completely flooded. I flushed 3 Redshank on a pile of soil on the north pit they then flew over to a soil pile at the East side of the New workings. 4 Little Egret were about and 60 Lapwing over. Dosthill NR water along the track here also, from the high bund at Dosthill lake I could see 3 birders going to the norh pit. It may well be Steve Gibsons (SG) sighting on the 21/11/12 could be the last we see of the White-rumped Sandpiper.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

RSPB Middleton lakes in flood

Pictures:- Track to the North pit by the canal, new workings and the North pit.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

29/11/12 Water levels high on the River Tame, still water going through the system. Water levels on the River should start dropping by Saturday, so work may resume Monday which would mean blocking off the channel to the North pit again, let the north pit drain and then pump water into it from the new workings. Mud will show again and attract waders, wader passage is not noted at this time of year, however recent events prove small numbers of Dunlin are moving but normally with no mud showing they won't stop.
Geoff Williams had a Dunlin flying around the north pit today and at dusk I saw a Dunlin fly north from Kingsbury Water Park with 45 Lapwing. A Little Egret seen and 24 Snipe towards dusk and 2 Goosander north.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Monday 3/12/12 DBP The workman are back on site and the pumps are working again.
2 Brambling were in the hedge bordering the canal they then flew East. DBP North pit 2 Little Egret and 3 Shelduck, Geoff Williams reporting 9 Shelduck and a Green Sand earlier. A Chiffchaff was along the River and 70 Redpoll landed in Alder's on the southern area of Dosthill NR.

Regards, John

 

[Grasper]

From Fishers Mill bridge up to North Pit this afternoon, 3 Little Egret. On North Pit, pair of Goosander, 3 Shelduck and a Green Sandpiper. Still a lot of water in pools and in the River Tame. Pumps working on the second pool from Fishers Mill but not at the pool where the WRS was.
Brian J

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

10/12/12 DBP Water levels down on the North pit Green Sand, Shelduck, 2 Little Egret. 13:45 2 juv Whooper Swan flew over heading south and calling.
Water level high on new workings, the contractors are working on sloping the East bank.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Frozen Middleton Lakes

13/12/12 DBP South 150 Coot in 2 small open patches of water.
Dosthill NR 19 Goldeneye were flushed from the river as Geoff Williams walked along it, 14 went on a small patch of unfrozen water on Dosthill NR. Geoff also 2 Little Egret along the river a Cetti's singing in the Northern area, 2 Goosander flew over and a flock of 100 small finches on the east side (probably Redpoll).

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Bittern

Delayed information due to poor feeding conditions for Bittern after contacting the RSPB management, 13/12/12 Dosthill NR Bittern Geoff Williams.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

18/12/12 DBP South Cetti's in reeds by Fisher's mill bridge. North pit Shelduck, 2 Little Egret and 100 Lapwing a Yellowhammer in the western hedge. Contractors still sloping the steep banks of the pools, water levels up. Last winter was a dry winter, this winter is quite wet so far.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

21/12/12 Viewing the Reserve from the Dosthill lake side today water levels up on all pools so water has burst through the temporary dam to the north pit. The River Tame not to far from bursting it's banks and water on the path Dosthill NR, the river flooded over here earlier.
2 JCB' still working in the centre of the reserve, could be big floods tommorrow. 120 Lapwing flying around the reserve, but moved off south.

Regards, John

 

[Grasper]

Merry Christmas to all on here and have a great birding New Year. It can only get better ........... can't it??

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

2/2/12 DBP North pit Geoff Williams a Grey Plover. Over on the Warks side Dosthill lake fem/imm Long-tailed Duck still, a Birdguides report of Great Northern Diver was checked by Warks County Recorder Steve Haynes. Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

3/1/13 DBP pits mid section a pair of Stonechat, Hare on the west arable, north pit 2 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, Goldeneye, Goosander over south.
Another 2 days and the water levels should be low, not much work needed by the RSPB vols this year to clear the islands of vegetation a number are already bare due to the flooding.
Dosthill NR Cetti's singing, 3 Goldeneye, fisherman with 3 rods.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

6/1/13 DBP Water levels down on New scrapes and north pit any migrating waders should drop now. Today North pit 2 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, 225 Lapwing.
Dosthill NR 2 Goldeneye.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

DBP North pit 7/1/13 Geoff Williams Oystercatcher and 3 Pintail (2m+ f).
DBP North pit 9/1/13 2 Shelduck, Little Egret and 350 Lapwing. RSPB vols reporting Long-tailed Duck on the Staffs section last Thursday and this moring Warks/Staffs County Boundary pool opposite Fisher's mill Bridge. I noticed on Warks Rare and Scarce ANDY R saw the bird this moringing on Dosthill lake Warks I also saw it there in the afternoon with a Great Northern Diver still present.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

14/1/13 9 Ad Whooper Swan DBP North pit also Barn Owl and 5 Little Egret SLC. Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

DBP yesterday evening 11 Little Egrets over SW at dusk. WJE Regards, John