Friday 17 April 2009 - Alvecote Pools SSSI - 17/04/2009

Friday 17th April 2009

Alvecote Pools SSSI

An excited Roy Smith called me this afternoon to advise me that he'd had a ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD over Teal Pool.  As usual his description sounded spot-on but there is a very pale Common Buzzard knocking around the area still so his sighting probably relates to this individual.

On Mill Pool an Arctic Tern showed well all afternoon until dusk when it wasn't being chased off by the now resident pair of Common Tern.  Also on Mill Pool a single Little Ringed Plover visited the beach briefly.  The Oystercatcher was still present in the Pretty Pigs Pool area.  Around Gilman's Pool a Lesser Whitethroat was new in and there are now two pair of Blackcap in this area.  Another new addition to the Alvecote year list was a Common Reed Warbler in song along the River Anker between Pretty Pigs Pool and Laundry Lane.

South View, Polesworth

With natural food scarce at this time of year Buntings have started to arrive at the feeding station in pretty good numbers.  At least 4 different Reed Buntings are present on and off all day and a pair of Yellowhammer usually visit early morning and late afternoon.  A small flock of Linnet are also knocking around the house but never drop in to feed unfortunately.  A single female Eurasian Siskin is still visiting in order to feed on nyjer seed and at least 2 pair of Bullfinch are also coming into feed occasionally.