West Midlands/Warwickshire local patches. (2 Viewers)

[Dave Hutton]

Reported again today on Birdguides from Draycote bank!!!

 

[Reader]

This may be nothing but on my way to work over the past week I have seen a distant roosting Buzzard that appears to have a dark belly patch that suggests Rough-legged Buzzard. I have not had any chance to see any other part of this bird as it has always been looking toward me. I may be way off the beam here, as there is no way I can stop to give it a good look, but I have seen it three times over the last week and would love to know if it is just a common buzzard or something else.

My path to work from Coventry to Leamington Spa takes me past The Toll Bar island through Baginton, past the back end of the airport, forking right just past it and onto Leamington. I have put a link to where I meet the A445.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idmap.sr...st=4&ar=Y&mapp=idmap.srf&searchp=ids.srf&lm=0

I have seen this bird near here on trees to the right of this road from a few hundred yards past this corner (Leamington side) right up to about a quarter of a mile from the first island.

Is there anyone else that patch watches around this area that could possibly give it a bit of a look. It shouldn't be so busy on a Saturday. I normally see it around 08:15am but I have no idea how long it stays there (bearing in mind I didn't see it today, nor Wednesday).

The three times I have seen it have been in different trees that are well away from each other. I know of two Buzzards that I regularly see here on most days and this bird definitely isn't one of them.

John

 

[Duck_Pond]

Where do you work in Leam Spa? I work there.

 

[Brian Stretch]

Hi Matt/Pam,
If the Hawfinch was seen in Worcestershire, then it might not have attracted more attention because I think it is a good county for seeing them. Great sighting nonetheless :t:. Not sure if you do this already, but I'm sure the county recorder would be interested in your sighting, especially as you have photographic evidence and (I'm guessing) just you two saw it.
I'd love to see one.

Matt

Hi Matt,

The Hawfinch record was promptly submitted by Pam, but it was just outside Worcestershire so I have forwarded the record to the West Midlands County recorder. It looks as though we may be in for a good winter for this species as in addition to the above record, one was seen at Marsh Lane NR and another four were discovered yesterday at Croome Park (Worcs) and no doubt more will follow. During the influx of 2005/2006 this latter site proved a reliable place to see them. Other sites in the county worth trying are in the Wyre Forest, particularly around Lodge Hill Farm, and at the south end of the Malvern Hills at Chase End Hill.

By the way, for anyone who hasn’t been for the Hen Harrier near Evesham, it’s well worth a visit as it often performs very well. For a stunning image of the bird see here: http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/hen_harrier_60.html

Brian

www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

 

[Pam_m]

Hi Matt and Brian,

Sorry, Matt, I meant to get back to you regarding the County recorder. I hope you get to see one, they are a super looking bird!

Thanks, Brian for replying to Matt with the information! Best keep a watchful eye whilst out and about for the Hawfinches, looking good around and about the counties!

That is a superb image of the Hen Harrier, thanks for the link! Perhaps a ride to Evesham will be on the cards over the christmas period!

 

[jeff]

Jeff,
I know it's an old post but if you still want Marsh Tit at Coombe Abbey (Showing well from the hide,best time from about 9am onwards dropping off after about 12 when they only seem to come in about once an hr)

Dave (More pics from today on my site)

Dave,

Cheers, sorry was only joking when i said i aint seen any, Coombe is prob. the best place locally to see Marsh tits, and the feeding station is topped up every morning by the rangers, so no shortage of food for them.

Had one also at little paxton last weekend, where i went looking for nightingales, heard it was a good spot for them, not one ((

 

[jeff]

I had a female Mandarin at Brandon at 08.30 today on East Marsh but couldn't find it an hour later. It must be over 20 years since I saw Mandarin at Brandon.

Mike.

Nice!

They seem to be annual at Brandon over the last 5 years or so but don't normally stop very long. My last one was Sept 2006, a male on EMP.

 

[Matt Griffiths]

Pam's Hawfinch

Thanks for the info Brian. Hawfinch and Waxwing are the two species I'd particularly like to see atm, so I'll try to visit at least one of those sites if I can.

Thanks for your reply Pam. Good on you for submitting the record :t:. I know not all birders do so.

Matt

 

[Reader]

Close to Whitnash, almost on the corner of the Queensway and Tachbrook Road.

John

Where do you work in Leam Spa? I work there.

 

[Reader]

Obviously no interest in this Buzzard species I see, although it was there again this morning. I was late for work and it was 08:35 when I reached the corner where the arrow is on the link in my earlier post. This time it was on the second tree from the corner and I only saw it as I was accelerating away from the junction I had just come out from.

I can't go for it tomorrow as I have to be in Birmingham early in the morning but will probably try to find it on Sunday morning.

Is there anyone else that can give this area a look tomorrow. If there is a chance of it being a R L Buzzard isn't it worth checking it out. Surely an excellent record for Warks if it is.

John

 

[senatore]

Obviously no interest in this Buzzard species I see, although it was there again this morning. I was late for work and it was 08:35 when I reached the corner where the arrow is on the link in my earlier post. This time it was on the second tree from the corner and I only saw it as I was accelerating away from the junction I had just come out from.

I can't go for it tomorrow as I have to be in Birmingham early in the morning but will probably try to find it on Sunday morning.

Is there anyone else that can give this area a look tomorrow. If there is a chance of it being a R L Buzzard isn't it worth checking it out. Surely an excellent record for Warks if it is.

John

Hi John,
If I go the country route to Ice Station Draycote I turn left at this junction along the A445.I often see Buzzards in the field on the left so I will have a good look next week hopefully on Monday and try for some pics.

Which trees are you referring to.I come from Stonebridge past the golf club upto the A 445.

Max.

 

[Reader]

Hi Max

Sorry I didn't come back earlier but I have only just got back from Birmingham.

I'm trying to work out where you will join the A445. If you click on the link to the map then make the map larger you will see where I mean you to be. If you are coming from the Leamington side the trees will be on the left, just before the junction to the left (about a mile after the last island coming out of island).

Be aware that this bird has now been seen by me at four different locations out of the last six days (twice I haven't seen it). It was always on the left, as you come away from Leamington).

The trouble is the bird has always been facing me so I have never seen anything of the rest of the plumage (even then I have only had fleeting glimpses as I flashed by).

I probably will not bother again if I see anything again as I really am surprised that it has created no interest on this thread.

John

Hi John,
If I go the country route to Ice Station Draycote I turn left at this junction along the A445.I often see Buzzards in the field on the left so I will have a good look next week hopefully on Monday and try for some pics.

Which trees are you referring to.I come from Stonebridge past the golf club upto the A 445.

Max.

 

[Dog]

I almost went that way today John but got to the Stoneleigh gatehouse & turned left towards Bubbenhall then went up Western Lane to look at a job in Southam. If you were sure it was a Rough-legged wasn't it worth going to work 10 minutes earlier & stopping to have a look. I see so much variation in Buzzards that it takes a lot more than an odd looking bird to get me out, if you had said I saw this Buzzard hovering I might have taken more of an interest.

Mike.

 

[draycotebirding]

John

I don't think this thread caters that much for the rarer birds eg the Lesser Scaup at Lea Marston has not got a mention. Now if you had seen it from the Carlton Hide at Brandon--------

John

 

[Reader]

Hi Mike

I'm not sure it is a Rough legged but it certainly isn't any of the Buzzards that are usual in that area as I see those most days I go to work. All I can say is that has a black belly patch on a white chest. That is what stands out to me, but each time I see it I am going at speed on a road that there is no chance of parking on.

Going ten minutes earlier is no chance. It is almost dark still and in any case that is a road that you just wouldn't want to walk along in the rush hour. There is no pavement and it is a fairly narrow road. You would be taking your life in your hands if you tried walking it, plus this bird has been ranging for up to a mile from that corner. Where would I park and where would i start.

John

I almost went that way today John but got to the Stoneleigh gatehouse & turned left towards Bubbenhall then went up Western Lane to look at a job in Southam. If you were sure it was a Rough-legged wasn't it worth going to work 10 minutes earlier & stopping to have a look. I see so much variation in Buzzards that it takes a lot more than an odd looking bird to get me out, if you had said I saw this Buzzard hovering I might have taken more of an interest.

Mike.

 

[Reader]

To be honest I would have thought that a R L Buzzard would generate an interest well above a Lesser Scaup. After all we have had a few of those in the area over recent years. How many Rough Legs have we had?

It probably isn't one but there is a chance that it is. I was gutted when I had to go to Birmingham today but I am going to try and find it tomorrow morning (unless it was anything like this morning, as I ain't walking up and down that road in torrential rain).

John

John

I don't think this thread caters that much for the rarer birds eg the Lesser Scaup at Lea Marston has not got a mention. Now if you had seen it from the Carlton Hide at Brandon--------

John

 

[draycotebirding]

In Warwickshire
Rough-legged Buzzard 10
Lesser Scaup 4

You won't get any interest out of 90% of Warwickshire birders until it’s confirmed I'm afraid, but just you see how many turn up if you clinch it

John

 

[Dog]

Now if it was blue & orange & showing from the Carlton Hide that would attract a lot of people.

Mike.

 

[Reader]

I did say recent John. All four Lesser Scaups have come in the last three years whereas Rough-legged Buzzard has only been seen once recently and that was a fly over at Kineton, near the Oxfordshire border in March 2007. I can't recall the one prior to that but I'm sure someone will enlighten me.:-O

There was a probable flyover at near Polesworth, at Birchmoor earlier this year but it was never confirmed as far as I can remember

John

In Warwickshire
Rough-legged Buzzard 10
Lesser Scaup 4

You won't get any interest out of 90% of Warwickshire birders until it’s confirmed I'm afraid, but just you see how many turn up if you clinch it

John

 

[Reader]

I have just got back from searching around the area. I couldn't see any sign of it and I searched along the road up to the Island at Cubbington, down and along to the Royal Show Entrance, through Stareton and back up to the junction again. I also drove back up the the Cubbington island and back again as well as checking my route back to Baginton.

I did see one of the resident Buzzards but that is all.

I will let you know if I see it on my way back to work this week.

John