Birds of Shustoke Reservoir Warwickshire .

June 30th - 14th July

2009-07-14T20:11:00.002+01:00

Usual story for the summer months with the site being generally very quiet. Highlights of the last few weeks have included 3 Common Tern (including 1 juvenile), several records of up to 3 Oystercatcher and a single fly over Redshank. There have been good numbers of Meadow browns and Ringlets around the site, and the last week in particular has been exceptional (especially given the low numbers last year) for Small tortoiseshell, with up to 40 in the meadow.

As wader passage begins to gather a little more momentum locally and large numbers of crossbills move through the country, hopefully it will only be a matter of time before something a little more reasonable turns up.

L Johnson...

June 30th

2009-06-30T20:20:00.002+01:00

4 Oystercatcher were present briefly late morning. A Red admiral butterfly was along the north shore of the main pool, with good numbers of Ringlets and Meadow browns around the site.

During the last two weeks numbers of Lapwing and BH Gulls have increased on site. The hot weather has produced good numbers of Common blue and Azure damsels, with a single Southern Hawker also noted.

L Johnson...

June 5th

2009-06-05T16:17:00.002+01:00

New additions to the site yearlist are rather rare during June and July, so a singing Reed Warbler was nice surprise this morning. Although this species is relativley common throughout the Midlands, due to the lack of habitat on site this represents just the second site record of the species. Also noted today were 3+ Painted Lady and a Small copper butterfly, 1 Black tailed skimmer, 5+ Blue tailed Damsels and 30+ Common blue damsels.
L Johnson...

End of May to June 4th

2009-06-05T16:06:00.002+01:00

Visited the site several times since my last post, but as spring migration draws to a close, the number of interesting species at the site decreased rapidly. Very little of note has been present in the last fe weeks. Highlights have included a pair of Gadwall on one date only and single Oystercatchers over on several dates. A Large Red Damselfly was by the bridge earlier in the week. Butterflies have been relativley thin on the ground, with the exception of Painted Ladies; with the highest count being at least 50. Small Copper has also been noted on most days.
L Johnson...

May 20th

2009-05-20T15:58:00.001+01:00

Again very little to report today. A Common Tern was present briefly mid morning. Due to the sunny weather numbers of Swift had dropped.
L Johnson...

May 19th

2009-05-19T10:21:00.002+01:00

Passage through inland counties seems to have slowed somewhat in the past few days and this was clearly reflected by the distinct lack of birds on site this morning. A Common Tern flew high north as I arrived, with a drake Gadwall being the only other species of note.
L Johnson...

May 16th

2009-05-16T13:24:00.002+01:00

1 Whimbrel arrived at the west end at 8:30 and circled low over the main pool, before gaining height and departing in the direction of Ladywalk. Other species noted included 2 Gadwall and 500+ Swift.
L Johnson...

May 14th

2009-05-16T13:22:00.001+01:00

1 Black Tern and 2 Ringed Plover were present
D Hutton...

May 8th

2009-05-08T22:25:00.002+01:00

A Red Kite was reported during the day per WMBC. I have however not recieved any further details of this sighting.

May 7th

2009-05-07T12:23:00.003+01:00

Again large numbers of Swifts were present over the main pool for most of the morning. Numbers of Garden Warblers around the site had increased, however most other warblers were quiet in the strong breeze. The first damselfly of the year was noted, however the individual had only just emerged and views were brief so ID could not be clinched.
L Johnson...

May 6th

2009-05-06T19:34:00.002+01:00

2 Common Sandpiper were present at the east end of the main pool this morning. Heavy cloud brought down around 200 Swift, but the site was otherwise quiet.
L Johnson...

May 4th

2009-05-04T10:50:00.001+01:00

A Cuckoo was singing distantly to the south this morning. Also noted were single Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper.
L Johnson...

May 3rd

2009-05-03T18:58:00.002+01:00

An early start this morning didn't prove to be very productive. 4 Shelduck were present until 7:30 along with 7 Gadwall. A single Oystercatcher was on the sailing club slipway, but had also departed before 7am.
L Johnson...

April 28th

2009-04-28T19:23:00.003+01:00

An unusually large flock of about 40 Bar tailed Godwit flew high east over the main pool at 9:45. Not only does this record represent only the second record of the species at the site as far as I am aware, but is one of the largest groups to ever be recorded in Warwickshire. A Yellow Wagtail flew over the eastern end of the main pool at 9am. Also noted this morning were 3 Gadwall and at least 7 Swift.
L Johnson...

April 25th

2009-04-25T10:25:00.003+01:00

1 Arctic Tern dropped in to the main pool during a heavy shower @ 9:00 and was still present until 9:30 at least. 3 Common Tern flew through at 8:30. The showers also brought down a Swift and a Yellow Wagtail flew west over the main pool at 9am. Also noted were 2 Gadwall.
L Johnson...

Late Morning:
6 Swift, 2 Oystercatcher
K Wimbush...

April 24th

2009-04-24T12:35:00.001+01:00

The first Swifts of the year were present this morning, with 2 over the western end until 10am. A common Tern flew high south over the main pool mid morning, and a Common Sandpiper was present on the north shore. Other species noted were 7 RL Partridge and 5 Gadwall.
L Johnson...

April 23rd

2009-04-23T17:25:00.003+01:00

Once again there was very little of note (especially given the time of year). The only new migrant was a rather silent Lesser Whitethroat, which was being harassed by Blackcaps at the eastern end. This addition to the site year list now brings this years total to 100 species so far. Other species of note were 1 Curlew, which flew south over the main pool at 8:30 and a Kingfisher.
L Johnson...

April 21st

2009-04-21T10:54:00.002+01:00

The site was very quiet this morning, with the only exception being someones escaped Cockatiel which circled the car park calling for several minutes before flying off south. The only other birds of note were 2 Oystercatcher which flew over mid morning and a Whitethroat.
L Johnson...

19th April

2009-04-20T22:25:00.002+01:00

2 Little Gulls were present in the evening.
D Galletly...

April 17th

2009-04-17T19:39:00.003+01:00

2 Yellow Wagtail were present briefly early morning at the western end before flying off west. Shelduck were up to 4 and Gadwall to 7. With large movements of Little Gulls and Arctic terns over the last two days, it is interesting that none have been recorded at the site, dispite several observers visiting at regular intervals on both days and the sites good track record for both species.
L Johnson...

Late update for 12th April

2009-04-17T19:34:00.002+01:00

A Common Sandpiper was present in the morning. This represents the first for the site this year.
P Forbes...

April 16th

2009-04-16T11:49:00.002+01:00

After a few days away I was hoping that some more migrants would have arived, however the site was relativley quiet this morning. 2 Shelduck were again present on the main pool along with a drake Shovler and 3 Gadwall (2 drake). There were good numbers of Swallows brought down by the rain but very few Martins and no sign of any Terns (dispite some passage through other Midland sites yesterday and today).
L Johnson...

April 15th

2009-04-16T11:47:00.001+01:00

A late 2nd summer Common Gull was present in the afternoon
Many observers...

April 11th

2009-04-11T22:35:00.002+01:00

A Sandwich Tern arrived from the west at 6:40. After flying around the centre of the res and settling on one of the bouys, the bird flew off north west at 7:10. The first Redshank to be recorded at the site this year was present early morning at the western end, along with 2 White Wagtail. A probable Mealy Redpoll was present for just a few minutes high in trees along the streamline before flying off east. Also noted this morning were Little Owl, 5 Shovler (4 drake), 2 Shelduck and 4 Gadwall (3 drake).
L Johnson...

April 9th

2009-04-08T20:04:00.003+01:00

2 Shelduck were present again at the eastern end of the main pool briefly early morning. A Peregrine flew east mid morning, and a Willow Tit was noted around the small pool.
L Johnson…