29/01/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On my walk around Hatherton Reservoir yesterday I saw – Long-tailed Tit 4, Black-headed Gull 144, Greenfinch 1, Collared Dove 2, Wood Pigeon 2, Buzzard 2, Coot 3, Mallard 59, Moorhen 2, Tufted Duck 3, Mute Swan 4, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 3, Blackbird 3, Crow 6, House Sparrow 6, and the highlight was 20 Siskin, which made up for me missing these on Monday!

There is now a Friends Group for the Reservoir and work parties are being organised to clear litter and damaged trees etc.  More volunteers are welcome.

24/1/2011 Croxall Lakes

Today we all met up at Croxall for a cold mornings birding – we saw Little Egret, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Grey Heron, Great-crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Cormorant, Coot, Magpie, Crow.

Then we went over to Whitemoor Haye where we saw – Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Wigeon, Pochard, and Mallard.

After the meeting and a hot drink to warm me up I had a walk around the Memorial Arboretum I saw – Canada Geese, Coot, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe, Chaffinch, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit.

And that was about it, it was very quiet.  

I headed for home via a very short stop on Cannock Chase where I saw – Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon.   

17/01/2011 Branston Water Park

Today was our first outdoor meeting of the year and we all met up at Branston Water Park for a mornings birding we saw- Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, Cormorant, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Gadwall, Wigeon, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Magpie, Crow, Shovler, Chaffinch, Lesser black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Wren, Collared Dove, Rook.  Also spotted were Siskin and Redpoll but unfortunately I missed these!!

Whilst I was sitting in my car having my lunch I could hear a tap tap tap on my car. The culprit is pictured below

a cheeky hungry Swan

After lunch I went over to the National Memorial Arboretum and saw – Little Grebe, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Great-crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Crow, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin, Mallard, and Grey Heron. 

14/01/2011 Park Hall CP Stoke

On a short walk around Park Hall CP yesterday I saw 2 Long-Eared Owls, Willow Tit, Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Robin, Magpie, Crow, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, House Sparrow.  Though I would have missed the Owls if a kind chap hadn’t pointed them out to me, many thanks to him.

12/01/2011 Local Patch

On a short walk around my local patch this afternoon I saw – Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Magpie, Crow and 1 female Goosander.

02/01/2011 Local Patch

On my first walk around my local patch of the year the first birds I saw were 4 Goosanders on the reservoir, its’ the first time I’ve seen them there!  other birds seen were- 15 Black-headed Gull, 6 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 40 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swan, 7 Blue Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 16 Wood Pigeon, 6 Magpie, 4 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Crow, 3 Bullfinch, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackbird, 2 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 5 House Sparrow.  The reservoir is still frozen in most parts and the other pool is still completely frozen.   I extended my walk to include a new area along a disused Canal where I added a Little Egret and another 3 Mute Swans to my days list.  Not a bad start to 2011.