Monday 30 November 2009

30th November

The Marsh tit was around the bat box this morning with a small tit flock. The only other bird of note was a single siskin.
L Johnson...

A good count of Coot this afternoon totalled 372 birds.
S Haynes...

Friday 27 November 2009

27th November

A Marsh tit was again present to the east of the fishing lodge, in with a small group of LT Tit. The flock also held single Goldcrest and Treecreeper. Otherwise the site was generally quiet, with a 1st winter Hering Gull present off the car park, and a small group of Siskin along the railway line to the north of the small pool.
L Johnson...

Wednesday 25 November 2009

25th November

An adult Kittiwake flew north over the west end of the main pool just after 9am. This represents the only record of this species for the site so far this year.
S Haynes...

A Peregrine flew west over the main pool at midday, before heading off towards Coleshill quarry. A Grey Wagtail was also noted.
L Johnson, S Haynes...

Tuesday 24 November 2009

24th November

A first winter Little Gull was found at 14:00 on the south side of the main pool, and was seen briefly twice over a period of 10 minutes. A Goldeneye was also present.
S Haynes...

There was no further sign of the Little Gull by 15:15. A single adult Greater black backed Gull was present in a small group of LBB Gull at 15:00. A Common Gull was also noted.
L Johnson, S Haynes...

22nd November

There was no sign of either of the Divers today.
Many observers...

21st November

The two GN Divers flew off seperatley during the morning, but both returned soon after and were present for the rest of the day.
T Perrins et al...

20th November

Both adult and juvenile GN Divers were still present on the main pool. 7 Yellowhammer flew south over the small pool mid morning. A Kingfisher was also noted.
L Johnson...

Thursday 19 November 2009

19th November

A juvenile Great Northern Diver was located just off from the car park at midday, followed 15 minutes later by an adult bird, just beginning to moult out of summer plumage. As these represent the first twitchable birds in the Tame Valley for over 10 years, and are the first birds at Shustoke since 1986 (as far as I am aware), the birds were very popular. Over 20 people had travelled to see them by mid afternoon. Aside from the two Divers, 2 Common Gulls were present early afternoon and a large group of mixed Siskin and Goldfinch were present at the eastern end of the site.
L Johnson...

Friday 13 November 2009

13th November

The pools were generally very quiet today, with only a Grey Wagtail of note around the main pool. 30+ Siskin were in the alders at the east end of the site, with Treecreeper, Coal Tit and 2 Goldcrest between there and the eastern rail crossing. Some visable migration was evident, with 72 Fieldfare, 1 Skylark and a single Redpoll all heading south.
L Johnson...

Wednesday 11 November 2009

11th November

The good run of Scoter at the site in the last month or so continued this morning, with a single female/immature present by the boat on the main pool. 2 Shovler were the first for several weeks, also present on the main pool, but became rather mobile by late morning. 2 Gadwall were on the small pool. Other species of note included Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher.
L Johnson...

Tuesday 10 November 2009

10th November

3 Common Scoter were present in the centre of the main pool around midday. The group consisted of one drake and two female types (one of which was rather dull brown on the cheeks, possibly suggesting a first year bird). A Raven flew over the southern side of the main pool at 12:30. A single Redpoll flew west along the river at 11:30, followed by a group of around 20 Siskin.
L Johnson...

Wednesday 4 November 2009

4th November

A single Redpoll flew over the eastern end late morning. A Marsh Tit called twice from a large tit flock south of the road bridge. 2+ Siskin flew west. A flock of around 40 Wigeon flew over the main pool mid morning, heading towards Ladywalk. The only other thing of note was the Chiloe Wigeon, still just off the car park.
L Johnson...