Kevin: Year ticks involved Chiffchaff (4th), Jackdaw (4th), Woodcock (8th, flying in a blizzard!) and Lesser Redpoll (14th).

The other significant sighting was of 76 Tufted Duck on Netherton Reservoir during heavy snow on 8th, but nothing else amongst them!

Gareth:

Kevin: 62 species, Gareth:

On 2nd we travelled to Yorkshire for a good day’s birding. Firstly, the Pacific Diver performed well at Farnham GPs, where five Pink-footed Geese were also present; the American Robin at Bingley was only our second (after the Godrevy bird in December 2003); and the Shore Lark eventually revealed itself at Pule Hill.

On 15th at Chasewater, the wintering Snow Bunting and one Great Northern Diver were present.

On 18th, the Wolverhampton RSPB Local Group coach party saw two Great Northern Divers, 35 Barnacle Geese and three Cackling Geese(!) at Carsington Water and juvenile Iceland Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and four Ravens at Ogston Reservoir.

Kevin:

1st – Common Sandpiper, plus another Wheatear.

2nd – Sedge Warbler, plus Common Sandpiper still.

9th – House Martin.

14th – Whinchat (five females and two males), plus four Common Sandpipers and two Wheatears.

15th – One Whinchat still present.

Gareth:

On 20th, Wolverhampton RSPB Local Group coach visit to Glaslyn was perfectly timed to see the third Osprey chick hatch, whilst the male presented a fish to the female. Single Whooper Swan, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Sandpiper were also in the area. At South Stack, six Choughs and five Ravens peformed aerobatics, whilst Hooded Crow, Peregrine and three species of auk were also seen. A brief visit to Holyhead Harbour produced the fourth auk of the day, one Black Guillemot. Having returned home for 8pm, a quick dash to Barton GPs was rewarded with excellent, but brief, views from 9.10-9.20pm of the Great Reed Warbler, a county first – well done Steve Richards and Ian Moore.

On 24th, a pair of nesting Peregrines were seen at an undisclosed location in the Black Country.

Kevin: 84 species, Gareth:

Kevin: 
6th – Blackcap and Rook.

11th – Skylark, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Tawny Owl and Shoveler.

13th – Wheatear, Ring Ouzel (male) and Greylag Goose.

16th – Swift and Lesser Whitethroat.

21st – Common Whitethroat.

25th – Common Tern.

27th – Garden Warbler.

Gareth:

On 22nd, we went to Frampton and managed to see all 17 Glossy Ibis, though the most that we saw at any one time was a flock of ten in flight. We also saw the drake Marbled Duck for insurance, plus at least two Little Stints, Whinchat, Wheatear, nine Whimbrels, three Yellow Wagtails and at least three Little Egrets, and heard Cuckoo, at least four Cetti’s Warblers and at least three Water Rails.

On 29th, RSPB Wolverhampton Local Group coach visit to Lake Vyrnwy produced at least nine Redstarts, at least five Pied Flycatchers, single Wood Warbler and Ring Ouzel, two Dippers and two Common Sandpipers.

Kevin: 80 species, Gareth:

Kevin: Gareth came along for a late morning visit and duly picked out three resplendant drake Garganey on Netherton Reservoir – at first, I thought he was winding me up! Also two Common Terns there, and a Reed Warbler sang from a nearby reedbed, but was not seen.

Gareth:

Kevin: 85 species, Gareth:

Kevin: Year ticks – Red-legged Partridge, Meadow Pipit (24th) and Sand Martin (27th).  

Gareth:

On 3rd, we went to South Wales, picked up brother/uncle Niel near Llanelli and arrived at Ferrsyide at 7.15am. After two hours of seeing some Little Egrets, one Avocet and a few other waders, we drove round to the other side of the Twyi estuary - two Welsh Red Kites en route. Having seen three Peregrines and at least two Ravens, and searched through hundreds of gulls off Wharley Point, Steve Nuttall ‘phoned us at about 3pm to say that the Glaucous-winged Gull had just landed off Ferryside! After a run of a several hundred metres to get to a vantage point to look back across the estuary, and with Steve’s help, we eventually picked out the bird! Although it was nearer to Ferryside than to us, we had the light behind us and actually saw the gull for longer, as we could still watch it as it flew into the Gwendraeth estuary. Had we driven straight back, we probably would not have seen the bird at all!

On 4th, having driven overnight from South Wales, we reached Copperhouse Creek by 7am and were watching the White-billed Diver down to five metres from the car! We also saw Spotted and Common Sandpipers, five Great Northern Divers (including one alongside the White-billed Diver later in the day), eastern Lesser Whitethroat, five plus Mediterranean Gulls and Spotted Redshank around Hayle Estuary. The Gyr Falcon coming in to roost at Stepper Point that evening rounded off an excellent weekend!

On 11th, the most significant sightings during the RSPB Wolverhampton Local Group coach vist to Rainham Marshes were a Black Redstart and three Little Egrets.

On 29th, a two day business trip for Kevin to Shetland(!) brought drake Ring-necked Duck, Merlin, at least 20 Black Guillemots, three Whooper Swans, two Rock Doves and several Hooded Crows and Ravens.

On 30th, the drake Ring-necked duck was seen again, plus three first-winter Iceland Gulls and one Great Skua.

Kevin: 65 species, Gareth:

We’re back!

Have been unable to keep the blog updated due to having to spend time completing the West Midlands county section of the West Midland Bird Club 2005 Annual Report. Now that has been done, we should be ableto focus ob this, at least until the 2006 report gets written!

Kevin: The last three days of January were quiet at Netherton Reservoir, with eight Dabchick, four Tufted Duck and three Great Crested Grebe the highlights!

Gareth:

Kevin: 58 species, Gareth: 67 species.

Gareth: At Dunstall Park, the four Coot were still present, whilst gulls included 464 Black-headed, 27 Lesser Black-backed and ten Herring.

Kevin: This morning was slightly better for the RSPB Garden Birdwatch, with three Blue Tits, two each of Great Tit, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon, and single Robin and Magpie.

This afternoon at Netherton Reservoir saw fewer gulls than on Friday, presumably because the local tips were closed, but an adult Great Black-backed flew through, as did 930 Black-headed, 55 Lesser Black-backed and just one Herring. Two Great Crested Grebes were still present, and some 270 Wood Pigeons roosted in Saltwells Wood.

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Gareth: At Dunstall Park this morning there were four Coot and seven Meadow Pipit.

Kevin: Spent an hour early morning surveying our small urban garden for the RSPB Garden Birdwatch: two each of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Wood Pigeon, and single Blackbird and Robin (not American!). I went to Belvide Reservoir for the rest of the day, joining ten others in the morning work party and stayed for the gull roost, which was disappointingly poor after excellent numbers of gulls roosted the last few days.

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Gareth: 32 Golden Plover flew over Dunstall Park this morning.

Kevin: At Netherton Reservoir this afternoon, some 1,500 Black-headed, 330 Lesser Black-backed and 20 Herring Gulls, most of which came in from the west and flew straight on towards Bartley Reservoir; so frustrating, anything could have been with them! Also present were three Great Crested Grebes and some Dabchick, but no sign of the Tufted Duck or Canada Geese. Whilst watching the gulls from the car, a bird flew past so closely that I heard its wings cut through the air - a Sparrowhawk, which very nearly flew in through the open window!

Gareth: 67 species. Kevin: 58 species.

Kevin: Quiet on Netherton Hill this lunchtime, though two Canada Geese and a drake Tufted Duck were new at Netherton Reservoir, where there are still three Great Crested Grebes.

Gareth: College today.

Kevin: 58 species. Gareth: 67 species.