West Midlands/Warwickshire local patches. (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Clements]

Two Black-winged Stilts at Clayhanger Marsh

Birds still present at 5.40pm. Excellent county first!

 

[punta]

I hope they are still there in the morning.............please ||

 

[andyr]

I hope they are still there in the morning.............please ||

They flew off around 6.50pm, but I left soon afterwards. So I don't know if they returned later or simply dropped down out of view. Either way, I hope they show again for you to see them Punta.

Cheers

Andy R.

 

[gareth_blockley]

Good day at Draycote today!

RBA reports of Little Tern, Black Tern, 20 Little Gulls and 130 + Arctic Terns!

Gareth

 

[alrewasbirder]

Hi.
I have been made aware from a work colleague of the presence of a Hoopoe west of Brownhills. It has been seen a few times on the Cannock extension canal on the weekend of 14th/15th April. Just wondered if anone has been made aware of this and to inform the locals to get hunting.
I will try and get some more information from my contact.

 

[discors]

The male Dotterel was showing well early this morning Nr Banbury off A422 still in field at c.SP390423 viewable from metal gate by the road just after veiwing screen for Balscote Quarry NR. It took about 30 mins to locate as it normally associates with the Goldies and there were none about and it was assummed to have flown with them. however with persistant scanning I managed to locate it crouching low in the wind. It did eventually perform well feeding in short bursts running back and forwards across the centre of the field doing a good job hiding behind small dock plants. Also seen Whimbrel Golden Plover Wheatear White Wag and LRP.
Quick dash down to Oxford rewarded by incredible views of 6White Storks. Fantastic morning!

 

[baggie_dave]

Hi All

This is my first post but thought i should flag this to people who know more about id'ing birds than i do!!

On our way to Harborne this morning we caught sight of a very large bird flying overhead. My first impression was that it must have been a crane or some kind of stork. We pulled over to see it being mobbed by a Jackdaw/Crow (not sure which).

Although i am a bit of an amateur at birding i have seen enough birds to know this was not something i have ever seen before. It had very broad wings and didn't have a long neck. It had what looked like a fanned tail which, from a long way away also looked like it had a spike in it similar to a bee-eater or a long-tailed skua from underneath.

There was also potentially some barring underneath and colourwise i would say it was mainly light grey but it was close to the sun and we really couldn't see it too well at that point.

I would have said size-wise it was bigger than a buzzard say but flew more like a crane/heron/stork etc. The only reason i think it was more likely to be a bird of prey was because it was being mobbed by other birds and its neck/legs were not really visible like they would be with a stork/heron/crane.

Anyway, this was about half 10 on Court Oak Rd in Harborne, this bird flew towards Birmingham, possibly heading more north.

I have since checked Edgbaston Reservoir for anything different but no signs there. This is really a warning to others to keep your eyes peeled to the skies if you are around say Middleton Lakes or anywhere around north Birmingham as it may be heading your way!!

I doubt i will ever know what it was and am well aware that the bird i have described sounds like some freaky amalgamation of 5 different birds but if someone else sees it, please let me know!!

Thanks

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Mystery bird

Hi All

This is my first post but thought i should flag this to people who know more about id'ing birds than i do!!

On our way to Harborne this morning we caught sight of a very large bird flying overhead. My first impression was that it must have been a crane or some kind of stork. We pulled over to see it being mobbed by a Jackdaw/Crow (not sure which).

Although i am a bit of an amateur at birding i have seen enough birds to know this was not something i have ever seen before. It had very broad wings and didn't have a long neck. It had what looked like a fanned tail which, from a long way away also looked like it had a spike in it similar to a bee-eater or a long-tailed skua from underneath.

There was also potentially some barring underneath and colourwise i would say it was mainly light grey but it was close to the sun and we really couldn't see it too well at that point.

I would have said size-wise it was bigger than a buzzard say but flew more like a crane/heron/stork etc. The only reason i think it was more likely to be a bird of prey was because it was being mobbed by other birds and its neck/legs were not really visible like they would be with a stork/heron/crane.

Anyway, this was about half 10 on Court Oak Rd in Harborne, this bird flew towards Birmingham, possibly heading more north.

I have since checked Edgbaston Reservoir for anything different but no signs there. This is really a warning to others to keep your eyes peeled to the skies if you are around say Middleton Lakes or anywhere around north Birmingham as it may be heading your way!!

I doubt i will ever know what it was and am well aware that the bird i have described sounds like some freaky amalgamation of 5 different birds but if someone else sees it, please let me know!!

Thanks

The only known unusual bird around at present is an escaped Adult Night Heron. Regards, John

 

[draycotebirding]

Sounds like a Grey Heron, Storks and Cranes have their necks stretched out when flying. The pointy bit you describe beyond the tail would be the Herons feet out the back.

Regards

John

 

[Phil Andrews]

Sounds like a Grey Heron, Storks and Cranes have their necks stretched out when flying. The pointy bit you describe beyond the tail would be the Herons feet out the back.

Regards

John

Must admit that was my initial gut reaction - occasionally I see Grey Herons flying west to east (from Woodgate Valley to one of the reservoirs?).

Phil (in Harborne)

 

[Duck_Pond]

Saw an escaped (jessies on) white-tailed eagle perched on a street lamp this morning, on a main road into Leamington Spa. Looked so out of place up there and massive!

I've contacted Warwick Castle about it, as they have display birds but it's not one of theirs. Also reported to Birding Today, but wondered if I should let any other places know, in case it's a missing bird?

Not that it was going unnoticed! Loads of cars slowing down to gaze up at it.

Seemed a strange time for a Falconer to be out flying such a bird, and not the most obvious location for it too...

 

[spuggyhawk]

Saw an escaped (jessies on) white-tailed eagle perched on a street lamp this morning, on a main road into Leamington Spa. Looked so out of place up there and massive!

I've contacted Warwick Castle about it, as they have display birds but it's not one of theirs. Also reported to Birding Today, but wondered if I should let any other places know, in case it's a missing bird?

Not that it was going unnoticed! Loads of cars slowing down to gaze up at it.

Seemed a strange time for a Falconer to be out flying such a bird, and not the most obvious location for it too...

Report it to the IBR, they should locate a nearby falconer to recover the bird then once they have the ring info they can locate the owner.

Heres the link.... http://www.independentbirdregister.co.uk/website/Home.html

Jon

 

[rollingthunder]

Today at Withymoor Pool, Anblecote - pop in if you are visiting Sainsburys....

Reed Warbler - male singing in Willows at Northern end.
Common Sandpiper - single bird feeding on the 2 or 3 suitable 'edge' areas moving between the 2 inflow culverts on the same side as the Reed Warbler.

OK, no great shakes but 2 good birds for that area.

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

Common Sandpiper still at Lakeside, Withymoor for a record.........3rd day!

Laurie -

 

[DaveJones]

Hi Phil


Little late in replying, especially to a neighbour!

What you noted was most probably a Grey Heron. There is a good roost at Edgbaston SSSI, and Birds do wonder far and wide from there.

Where i am, just near to Grove Park, one can usually be seen during the early morning or late evening, perched on the railings of a small ornamental pool behind my home. You can actually get to within a couple of inches of it!!!

 

[Pam_m]

Today at Withymoor Pool, Anblecote - pop in if you are visiting Sainsburys....

Reed Warbler - male singing in Willows at Northern end.
Common Sandpiper - single bird feeding on the 2 or 3 suitable 'edge' areas moving between the 2 inflow culverts on the same side as the Reed Warbler.

OK, no great shakes but 2 good birds for that area.

Laurie:t:

I popped in today Laurie, what a delightful Pool in such a built up area! An Oasis of tranquility! There were Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen on and around the pool and a Buzzard circling overhead, I didn't sight a Common Sandpiper but having said that I didn't take my binoculars so may have missed it as I didn't have time to walk all around the pool today as Sainsburys beckoned!

Thanks for the heads up on this pool, I will certainly visit again!:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

I'll post anything that i consider 'notable' - there might be the odd wader or the possibility of a 'gull' - one has to be optimistic.......

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

1 1/2 hours at Bittell and an hour at Bartley ystda - very pleasant in the nice weather but nothing notable, plenty of Blackcaps, single Whitethroat in front of the picnic tables at the latter site.....

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

Oh and a solitary Bee Orchid at Bartley along the canal bit where the moorings are - i do'nt know how frequent they are in that area? Nice specimen, about a 6in spike with the lower 3 flowers out and about 7 or 8 on the way, would have thought the plant might put on another inch or so..........

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

Sorry, bit confused i obviously meant Bittell not Bartley!

Laurie:t: