RSPB Middleton Lakes (2 Viewers)

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

8/3/12 2 Avocet DBP North pit this morning with 1 remaining and resting still at 3:19 p.m also 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Oyst, Green Sand, Redshank, Little Egret and 5 Fieldfare over. No Male Green Winged Teal seen by any of the birders on site today.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

15/3/12 DBP not much sign of migration on the reserve today, Goldeneye and Wigeon still present, a pair of Great Crested Grebe displaying. North pit Jack Snipe, Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover and finally I caught sight of the Bittern at Dosthill NR.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

18/3/12 DBP North pit LRP and 3 male Wheatear AGW Geoff Williams and on the drive into the reserve Middleton Hall way Warwickshire side Drake Garganey on Hall pool Paul Hyde.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

19/3/12 DBP 2 Chiffchaff singing along the canal, mid section Little Egret and 3 Hare (2 boxing) seen at 150 foot, they seem to be getting used to people.
North pit LRP, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 8 Shelduck, 11 migrant Pied Wagtail.
Dosthill NR Cetti's singing.
Male Garganey on Warks side Middleton Hall pool.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Garganey

19/3/12 DBP 2 Chiffchaff singing along the canal, mid section Little Egret and 3 Hare (2 boxing) seen at 150 foot, they seem to be getting used to people.
North pit LRP, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 8 Shelduck, 11 migrant Pied Wagtail.
Dosthill NR Cetti's singing.
Male Garganey on Warks side Middleton Hall pool.

Regards, John

Some nice pictures of this Drake Garganey link from Warwickshire RSPB Middleton lakes thread.

John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

23/3/12 DBP Orange Underwing moth off the track by the canal, a group of 25 Linnet, Lapwing tumbling by newreedbed pool, Redshank mid section.
2 Avocet not present early morning but seen later by Paul Hyde at 11:15 and still present late afternoon also 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, LRP and Ringed Plover, 13 Shelduck.
Dosthill NR Cetti's singing and 2 Chiffchaff, Goldeneye, Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on Blackthorn flower and an Orange Underwing in flight.
Warks side Drake Garganey still Middleton Hall pool.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

24/3/12 DBP South 2 Oystercatcher, mid section Little Egret, 6 Goldeneye, Redshank, 3 Sand Martin above.
North pit Dunlin, 2 Oyst, 2 Redshank (1 display flight), Ringed Plover copulating.
Dosthill NR 2 Cetti's singing
Warks side Drake Garganey Middleton Hall pool Tom Perrins.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

28/3/12 DBP Male Blackcap singing along the canal. North pit 3 Redshank, LRP, Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 7 Shelduck. Hare on private arable, west end of the north pit many Coltsfoot in flower. Male Brimstone, 2 Peacock and 2 Small Tortoiseshell in the North pit area.
Dosthill NR a male Orange-tip, fishermen again with a tent. Male Blackcap singing in the plantation Dosthill.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

2/4/12 DBP North pit Male Wheatear reported this morning Paul Smith. On the West side of the North pit a bird scarer propane gas gun has been placed by the boundary hedge by the farmer, first noticed Sunday by volunteers who did not report this to the head warden, when it went off today whilst I was present 8 migrant Pied Wagtails vacated the area. I have notified the head warden by e-mail this evening.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

5/4/12 DBP Mid section Goldeneye. Redshank North pit and a Weasel West side. The bird scarer (gas gun) has been moved by the farmer from the other side of the western hedge boundary to the Northern hedge boundary no crops in sight only pools, Monday here was a thriving Black-headed Gull colony, today it appears the constant gas gun explosions have caused them to vacate the nesting area. Little Egret in the distance over the private area and 4 Hare with 2 boxing on private arable.
End of the Tax year 5 th April however no bridge to Dosthill, I don't envisage any hides now going up until the end of the breeding season. Dosthill NR 2 Oystercatcher on island and 2 Swallow above Willow Warbler brief song on the eastern side. Local man said it's like a country park at Dosthill NR people fishing, people riding around on quad bikes.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

8/4/12 DBP 20 Goldeneye dropped onto the mid pools. North pit Yellow Wagtail over NW, Swallow, 4 Sand Martin, 4 Redshank, LRP, 2 Oystercatcher. Earlier Barbara Valentine Wheatear. Gas Gun bird scarer still at the North boundary hedge.
Dosthill NR fisherman tent and car.

Regards, John

 

[djaphoto]

Are there any decent photo opportunities at middleton?

I have been once when it had just opened, just wondered if many good photo spots have appeared.

I suspect the big log is good for great spotted woodpecker's?

Cheers, looking to get down again soon

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Middleton lakes

Are there any decent photo opportunities at middleton?

I have been once when it had just opened, just wondered if many good photo spots have appeared.

I suspect the big log is good for great spotted woodpecker's?

Cheers, looking to get down again soon

Hi, There is no hide up at present, there is a feeding station near the Carpark a nice male Reed Bunting seen the other day. Many people carry camera's walking around the reserve. I have seen some nice photo's on the RSPB Middleton lakes facebook.

Regards, John

 

[djaphoto]

Thanks John, might have to pencil in another walk round and see what i can find

 

[punta]

You would of got some cracking pictures of a SEO this evening

 

[djaphoto]

You would of got some cracking pictures of a SEO this evening

Oh lovely, now that I would have liked to see and photograph!

Saw one and got some pics at chasewater once, but back when my kit wasn't as good as it is now as the focal length wasn't too great so I'd like to retry now

 

[punta]

I just had my little compact with me, so did a few digibin photos and this is the best of a real rubbish bunch.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

12/4/12 DBP Short-eared owl and Wheatear North pit WJE. Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

13/4/12 DBP South Greenshank, Common Sand, 2 LRP.
mid section 2 Little Egret, 2 Hare.
North pit 4 Common Tern, LRP.
Along the river 7 Orange-tip, 2 Green-veined White and a Peacock.

Regards, John

 

[djaphoto]

I popped along yesterday had a really good day, plenty of Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher up and down the river Tame, x2 Buzzards hunting around the Heronry corner, a Kestral hunting nr the Meadow Trail, managed a snapshot of what looks like a Blackcap (will post for confirmation), Redstarts calling in many locations, Willow Warblers.

All in all i had a great afternoon there and lost track of time, managed to hit Drayton Manor Park kicking out time, traffic nightmare.

Here's my buzzard from Heronry Corner