Garganey at Middleton Lakes RSPB

A view of North Pit at Middleton Lakes RSPB.
Photo by Adam Archer

'Nice weather for ducks', as the saying goes. After studying the weather forecast I thought it wise to head off to Drayton Bassett early before the worst of the rain hit. The plan was to have a thorough scan of Jubilee Wetlands and then take shelter in the hide before the predicted downpour. 

At the Canal Screen there were a number of Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover utilising the scrape there that tends to remain flood free during wet weather. Elsewhere on Jubilee Wetlands though it was a different story with just the odd plover, 2 Shelduck and 6 Shoveler. From the River Screen my attention was drawn to a small duck that was fast asleep on the far side. Following a quick head shake from the bird in the light rain, my initial suspicions were confirmed, it was a female type Garganey. Unfortunately the bird remained both asleep and obscured so sexing it with any confidence was difficult.

As I searched through the swifts, martins and swallows I then heard the distinctive dry, rattling display call of a drake Garganey. I assume it had flown in from elsewhere around the reserve unless it had been hiding asleep amongst the vegetation. It promptly swam over towards the other Garganey but failed in its quest to impress her (or him). Looking pretty disappointed with itself it too tucked its head under its wing and decided to have a nap.     

Garganey (summer plumaged male) - Middleton Lakes RSPB
Photo by Adam Archer

As the rain became heavier I took a brisk stroll around to 'The Lookout' to dry off. As with Jubilee Wetlands, the water levels on North Pit were quite high and still rising during the few hours I was there. Unfortunately there was not a lot to see however a single Sanderling flew around for a while but soon continued its migration northwards. Other species included 2 Shelduck, a pair of Oystercatcher, a few more Little Ringed Plover and unfortunately a drake Teal with an injured right wing.

Talking of injured wildfowl I was concerned to see a couple of scumbags with guns make a brief appearance in the corner of North Pit near the reserve border. One of them had binoculars, looked straight at me as I sat in the hide and made a sharp exit. I had heard shots earlier but had assumed it was just from the gun club over the other side of the river at Dosthill. Maybe they thought that because of the adverse weather conditions there would be no birders out and about. I reported the matter to the reserve warden who in turn got in touch with the police. Hopefully that will be the last we see of them on site.

The Pectoral Sandpiper at Middleton Lakes RSPB

It was a late start at Middleton Lakes RSPB this morning due us having Nadia's brother, sister-in-law and our beautiful baby niece Ellie in tow. Not a great deal was spotted in the mid-morning heat other than a couple of Little Ringed Plover and Common Redshank. Unfortunately we missed a couple of snazzy male Ruff in their fine breeding plumage on Jubilee Wetlands and it was way too hot to walk Ellie all the way over to North Pit to see a female Ruff. We decided to head back home for a while and I would make my way back down to Drayton Bassett later in the day.

Around tea time I received a text from the self proclaimed 'Voice of the Tame Valley' Tom Perrins stating that him and Julian Allen had located a probable Pectoral Sandpiper feeding around North Pit. A few minutes later the identification was confirmed and I wasted no time in getting on site.

Yellow Wagtail (male) - Middleton Lakes RSPB, Staffordshire.
Photo by Dave Hutton

Whilst undertaking the long stroll around to the new Lookout Hide a few Oystercatcher and Common Redshank could be seen defending their territories from a marauding Carrion Crow or two and the confiding Yellow Wagtail was found again singing from his usual perches. Upon entering the hide the scarce Nearctic wader could be seen feeding out in the middle of the pit thanks to some excellent directions from Andy Hale. 

This was my first ever Pectoral Sandpiper for the Tame Valley area after missing the last spring bird on Fisher's Mill Pit on the 26th May 2002 (PD Hyde). This particular individual was initially misidentified as the LEAST SANDPIPER that had been present for the previous few days. There have also been further records of this species in the autumn on 2nd October 1999 (J Allen & AG Williams) and the 30th September 2011 (many observers).

Other birds on site included 22 Ringed Plover, 8 Little Ringed Plover, a single Dunlin and a couple of singing male Grasshopper Warblers, one of which showed tremendously well as we made our way back to the car park. It was a great finale to a fantastic weekend of sunshine, birds and insects, all within a few miles of home.

Grasshopper Warbler (male) - Middleton Lakes RSPB, Warwickshire.
Photo by Dave Hutton

It's Hotting Up at Middleton Lakes RSPB

With the clear windless skies and the temperature hitting the 25 degrees centigrade mark, it was never going to be a great day for fresh migrants at Middleton Lakes RSPB today. Not surprisingly the only waders present were the usual potential breeding species like Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank.

It was however a great morning for singing warblers with plenty of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler in evidence. There was also the odd Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler marking out their territories.

With it being pretty quiet and the heat haze disrupting the views, Dave and I turned our attention to looking for insects instead. A few stunning, fresh Small Copper butterflies had emerged and could be spotted along the dusty tracks around the main pools. Better still though were our first Banded Demoiselles of the year. There must have been at least forty individuals zipping around the vegetation alongside the River Tame.   

Banded Demoiselle (male) - Middleton Lakes RSPB, Staffordshire
Photo by Adam Archer

The highlight of the morning though was a showy male Yellow Wagtail singing along the ditch that skirts the wheat field to the west of Jubilee Wetlands. It would fly off occasionally in order to mark out its patch, however it would eventually return to its favourite singing posts near the track. This handsome fellow was often too engrossed in belting out its tune to be bothered by a few birders loitering around admiring it.

'Bird Hogger' Dave Hutton gets in the way of my perfect shot again!

Western Yellow Wagtail (male) of the race flavissima.
Formerly known as 'British Yellow Wagtail'
Photo by Adam Archer

Western Yellow Wagtail (male) of the race flavissima.
Now known in Europe as 'Yellow-crowned Wagtail'
Photo by Adam Archer

During the slow stroll back to the car park a Cuckoo was heard calling from the direction of Dosthill Nature Reserve. My first Hobby of the year was also spotted as a pair of birds hawked for insects above the canal near Fisher's Mill Pit. It was time to grab a bite to eat and continue in our quest to find some more interesting insects later this afternoon.

A 'waderfest' at Middleton Lakes RSPB

A view of North Pit from the new 'Lookout Hide'
Photo by Adam Archer

With a Temminck's Stint being reported at Middleton Lakes this morning I decided to drop in on my way back from Cannock Chase. Unfortunately there was no sign of the semi-rarity, however there was a grande selection of other shorebirds to admire. On Jubilee Wetlands my second Wood Sandpiper of the year at this site showed well along with a pair of Common Sandpiper. On my hike around to North Pit I stumbled upon not one, but two Whinchat, a species that is unfortunately hard to find in the region these days. A couple of Northern Wheatear also showed quite well.

Northern Wheatear at the edge of North Pit
Photo by Adam Archer

From the 'Lookout Hide' a Little Stint could be found scampering around with a flock of around 20 Dunlin and winter plumaged Sandering. A Bar-tailed Godwit was also feeding on North Pit where a drake Goosander could also be found. Other species included a Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 18 Ringed Plover, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, a first-summer Little Gull, 100+ Common Swift and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Bar-tailed Godwit on North Pit.
Photo by Adam Archer

A couple of Hobby were also present before I arrived and after I left the site a Whimbrel passed through this evening. The 'Minsmere of the West Midlands' is really starting to attract those sought after waders and long may it continue.

The GLOSSY IBIS at Middleton Lakes RSPB

Bluebells at Middleton Wood.
Photo by Adam Archer

Good Friday was spent mainly around my local RSPB reserve at Middleton Lakes near Tamworth with Dave Hutton. Our aim was to log a few more Spring migrants and hopefully connect with a GLOSSY IBIS that has been present in the vicinity for a while. I initially found what may have been the same bird way back on the 28th February when I spotted it flying low over the M42 near Kingsbury Water Park, whilst on the way to work. The sightings in the Tame Valley may also relate to the same bird that had been present near Brownhills, West Midlands on and off over the winter period.

Our first new migrant of the day was a Reed Warbler, singing at Silt Pool where numerous male Blackcaps were in song. Our second was one of four singing Sedge Warblers near Fisher's Mill Pit. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard briefly and further along the track, my first Common Whitethroat was also seen. Out on Jubilee Wetlands there were 15 Ringed Plover, 8 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin and a single Redshank but there was no sign of the GLOSSY IBIS. Around the North Pit, a pair of Common Tern were present and an Angle Shades moth was found lurking around one of the windows inside the Lookout Hide. Above North Pit around 20 House Martin dropped in to feed briefly along with 4 Sand Martin.

Angle Shades moth in the hide!
Photo by Adam Archer

Whilst walking back around to Fisher's Mill Bridge our second Reed Warbler of the day was heard singing and a number of Linnet were feeding along the track. We then stumbled upon our first singing Grasshopper Warbler of the year. The bird was initially quite elusive but eventually, with a bit of patience, showed quite well reeling from the low vegetation near the path. I then left Dave to concentrate on his photography whilst I did another circuit of the pits. 

A singing Grasshopper Warbler at Middleton Lakes RSPB
Photo by Dave Hutton

There was still no sign of GLOSSY IBIS, however another Grasshopper Warbler was heard singing between Jubilee Wetlands and the River Tame and at least 8 White Wagtails were feeding around the scrapes. A female Red-crested Pochard was present on the river itself. Also in the area of the Tame, a Kingfisher whizzed by, numerous Willow Warblers were in song, a female Wheatear was found and dozens of Orange-tip and Green-veined White butterflies were on the wing. On the way back to the car park we also found our first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year.

Green-veined White butterfly (female) at Middleton Lakes RSPB
Photo by Adam Archer

We then made the decision to head up to Cannock Chase for the afternoon in order to add to our migrant list for the day. Unfortunately the only new species located was Tree Pipit, with two singing males between Seven Springs and the Stepping Stones. At least 8 Siskin were also seen, as were 4 Common Crossbill 'chipping' their way over the tree tops. A search of the Freda's Grave area of Sherbrook Valley produced just the odd Raven but at least 8 Green Hairstreak butterflies were out, taking advantage of the sunshine and the calm weather conditions. A couple of Common Lizard were also spotted darting away as we went about our business.

It was then back to Middleton Lakes RSPB for the evening shift. After a bit of perseverance and some directions from our pal Jules Allen, I eventually located the elusive GLOSSY IBIS feeding out in the middle of Jubilee Wetlands. A thoroughly enjoyable day indeed, I wonder what delights tomorrow will bring?

This is the GLOSSY IBIS at Brownhills earlier in the year.
There is every possibility this could be the Middleton bird too.
Photo by Dave Hutton

For those local birders (mentioning no names) who are not yet members of the RSPB then shame on you! You have TEN days to join up otherwise I will publicly 'out you' on this blog. Therefore, to prevent embarrassment I recommend you fill one of these out pronto, it costs less than a months supply of Dominos pizza for one particular Tame Valley birder.

The GLOSSY IBIS at Middleton Lakes RSPB - 19 April 2014
Photo by Dave Hutton 

Saturday, 19 April 2014

I received a phone call from Steve Nuttall this evening asking whether the Middleton GLOSSY IBIS had two primaries missing from the left wing. If it did, this would provide confirmation that the bird which had been present at Belvide Reservoir from the 10th to the 13th April (see HERE) was the same  as ours at Middleton Lakes RSPB. 

Luckily Dave Hutton managed to obtain some excellent photographs of the Middleton bird today, one of which showed an open wing. None of the primary feathers are missing in the left wing of the Tame Valley bird meaning that this and the longer staying of the two Belvide birds relate to different individuals. 

Dave also stated that from forensic analysis of his photographs the Middleton individual is almost certainly the very same bird that was present in the Pelsall and Brownhills areas of the West Midlands on and off from the 17th December 2013 to the 6th April 2014. This bird did go missing from the Brownhills area from 2nd February until the 28th March 2014 which would tie in nicely with my sighting of a bird in flight near Kingsbury Water Park on the 28th February 2014. Maybe the bird was lurking undetected somewhere in the Tame Valley during this period.