SATURDAY 19th APRIL
Heath Lane, Shenstone, Worcs - Most of the action this morning was in the fields opposite the Islamic School. Highlights 7 Corn Bunting (year tick), 5 Grey Partridge (year tick), Linnet, Yellowhammer, several Skylark, 1 Lesser Redpoll, Stock Doves, Lapwing, Curlew (over), Green Woodpecker (heard) and we found 2 Redstarts found in the hedgerow which was a nice find and another year tick.
The afternoon was less productive. Looked for Ring Ouzels at Wassel Grove, Worcs, but didn't see any so over we went to Stourbridge to see if we'd fare any better with the ones reported there....we didn't and I'm still not sure we were in the right place. Popped back to Wassel Grove to hear one had shown during our absence. A horse tried to eat a birders bag to get at his apples and then he tried to eat my bins. The weather took a turn for the worse so we headed home.
SUNDAY 20th APRIL
Arrived amid fog, icy wind and drizzle. Our main target of the day was Yellow Wagtail, a big embarrasing bogey of a bird for me. But no more! I found one on Draycote bank (lifer 209), then shortly after had three more. By the end of the day we'd had 8...why is it that a bird can elude you for so long, then suddenly they're everywhere? Other birds of note; Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Little Gull and lots of really common stuff.
No time to get up to Toft, instead decided to have another go at year ticking Ring Ouzels, this time at Napton on the Hill, just a few miles south of Draycote. Once we'd found the right place to look we had three nice male Ring Ouzels in the quarry. I find these birds very charismatic and mysterious. Also present Kestrel, Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker.
Next stop Brandon Marsh. Two Gargeney had been reported this morning and thats what we were after. No sign but 3 Common Tern furnished us with another year tick. Also notable were; 1 Yellow Wagtail (see?), 2 Dunlin, Redshank, 6 Ringed Plover, Snipe, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, and 5 Blackcap.
It would have been rude not to return to Draycote for the Gull Roost, especially as it's contained a Franklin's Gull of late. The visability was very bad and the Franklin's Gull came in late and stayed distant, it was extremely hard to see and we wouldn't have seen it at all if it wasn't for the help of some very good gullers at the roost - thanks guys! (lifer 210). Also of interest 3 Little Gulls, thankfully much closer in and fairly easy to pick out. And 3 more Yellow Wagtails on Draycote Bank.
MONDAY 21st APRIL
Upton Warren - Visited after work, things are really hotting up there at the minute. At The Moors - Black Tern (Lifer 211) - awesome bird! Also Arctic Tern (year tick), Little Gull, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, a good view of a Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Leucistic Mistle Thrush again, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
At The Flashes there was a Curlew Sandpiper (year tick), Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, Redshank, 8 Avocet, 1 Curlew, Lapwing, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Green Woody.
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