RSPB Middleton Lakes (2 Viewers)

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

15/5/12 DBP North 2 Ad Long-tailed Skua low over heading North West came in from the South.
4 Ringed Plover (flew NW) and later 3 Dunlin (flew West) unseen on the north pit until they took flight, also a Little Egret.
Mid section Short-eared Owl.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

17/5/12 DBP Short-eared Owl, North pit Dunlin and Common Sandpiper. John Mallinson.


Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

18/5/12 DBP Grasshopper Warbler and a Garden Warbler singing along the Western ditch. North pit a nice plumaged m Ruff, 2 Dunlin and ringed plover (probably 1 of the resident pair), also a pair of Shoveler and a Little Egret. Western arable a Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose and 2 domestic type Snow Goose lookalikes with Canada's, Mute Swan and Grey lags..
DBP South Osprey at 4 p.m Geoff Williams.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

19/5/12 DBP Grasshopper Warbler reeling in West ditch by the canal, Garden Warbler singing in scrub by the river. North pit Ruff from yesterday remaining, 8 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover (may be resident pair), Little Egret.
Western arable Egyptian and Barnacle Goose also 4 Hare.

Regards, John

 

[Periwinkle]

The Barnacle Goose is a hybrid by the way.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Barnacle Goose

The Barnacle Goose is a hybrid by the way.

Having seen the goose closer today the goose is a hybrid with a Canada Goose as described by Steve Haynes. So one less for Geoff's year list.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Barnacle x Canada Hybrid

DBP Usually seen in arable West of the North pit feeding with larger wildfowl.
Size good for Barnacle however more Black markings on head and generally dark tones to the plumage whereas Barnacle has light tones.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

26/5/12 DBP North pit 3 Adult Little Stint from early afternoon ( 2 full summer and an intermediate), Common Sandpiper calling from the private area, 2 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot intermediate plumage dropped in at 14:11 also Little egret, m Wigeon and a male Teal seen, Adult Greater Black backed gull..
West side of the north pit a Mother Shipton moth and 2 Small Copper butterfly on the track to Fisher's mill bridge.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

28/5/12 DBP Little egret, 2 male Pochard, m Teal, 3 Shoveler (2m), Ringed Plover calling, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Dingy Skipper seen also a Common Blue butterfly a few male Banded Demioselle and a Weasel,
Sandy Spurry in flower.

Regards, John

 

[Grasper]

2 Little Egret, 2 Cuckoo from the copse in the wheat field to right of track from Fishers Mill. Flew to large oak on the track and then to Middleton Hall copse. One calling, flying as a pair assumed the the other bird may be a female. 2 pairs of Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat in Willows by river east of North Pit. 5 Common Terns. 2 Oystercatcher.

BJ

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

31/5/12 The 'Brummies'' had more rain than I though last night as the water levels had crept up on the north pit. Geoff Williams said he saw a 1st summer Little Gull before I arrived.
A male LRP was doing a display flight around the north pit thinking of having another attempt at breeding, Ringed Plover called and a Hare on the West arable.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

After the floods

On the North pit a Little Egret and a male Teal seen, a family of Mute Swan relaxing by the new flash, a Painted Lady and 3 Large Skipper seen, a Chimney Sweeper moth, Four-spotted Chaser a female or immature male Black-tailed Skimmer and 20 + Banded Demioselle.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Return of the floods

Main track to the north pit today by the canal. Regards, John

 

[geoffw1946]

Main track to the north pit today by the canal. Regards, John

Is the reserve still open?

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

RSPB Middleton lakes

Is the reserve still open?

Yes Geoff, Don't forget your snorkel.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

9/7/12 DBP North pit Common Sand, 5 Oyst, Little Egret, 4 Common Tern, 35 Lapwing, 50 moulting Mute Swan, Black-tailed Skimmer, Small Tortioseshell and Peacock larvae seen.
John Hughes reported 2 Black-tailed Godwit earlier which flew over to Dosthill.
Those of you getting on a bit maybe with a painful hip or knee may be pleased on seeing the new bench on the north pit and looking forward to a sit down, there's one big problem it's always plastered with bird ****, Black-headed Gulls I believe.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

16/7/12 Due to the failure by Hanson's to put up the new bridge to Dosthill by the 5th April 2012, the RSPB have not received the HLF Grant which they would have received on the bridge going up. As a result planned projects have had to be delayed, although a new hide is still on the cards. The re-landscaping of the mid section of the wetlands area, the RSPB have already secured the money from a different source of grant which they won, called the Jubilee wetlands. Work will start shortly, however no-one has stuck their neck out from the EA and given permission for the floating sluice as yet.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

21/7/12 DBP Along the track by the canal a Grasshopper Warbler brief reeling, a Hobby seen Hawking dragonflies. 2 Broods of coot with small young despite the floods.
North pit 3 Little Egret, an Oystercatcher and a Cockatiel flying with 3 Common Tern after sunning itself in an Oak tree. Geoff Williams AGW noted Tufted Duck broods.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

24/7/12 DBP North pit WJE Snipe, Green Sand and 4 Ringed Plover. Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

28/7/12 DBP North pit Paul Smith 25 Black-tailed Godwit and a Wheatear.
On the Warks side by the feeding station Middleton Hall a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the farm paddock Oak.
29/7/12 DBP North pit Paul Smith 12 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ringed Plover.

Regards, John