Middleton Moor Update

 Considering we are moving towards mid-summer, and the high temperatures have not been conducive to spending a lot of time out doors, I've had a pretty good run this week.

I started the week with a superb Black-tailed Godwit on the 4th and then had several sightings of both adult and juvenile Water Rail, which confirmed that they had bred there.

Black-tailed Godwit

Water Rail - juvenile

On the  8th I saw two juvenile Little Egrets which, perhaps surprisingly, were the first records for the year but only stayed a day.

Little Egret

Yesterday I was surprised to first hear, then see an adult Wood Sandpiper and a little later a Greenshank put in an appearance.

Wood Sandpiper

So I'm hoping the second half of July is just a productive, and hopefully a little cooler!

Middleton Moor Update

I've been a little slow to post recent sightings so here's a short update,

Hen Harrier

Adult female on 16th and 26th November

Hen Harrier

Jack Snipe

One on 16th November

Caspian Gull

Adult on 10th November

Caspian Gull - adult

Caspian Gull x European Herring Gull

One on 8th November

Pochard 

Two on 4th November, increased to 4 on 10th November

Common Pochard 2 male, 2 female

Black-tailed Godwit

One on 29th October

Black-tailed Godwit

The only other birds of note were 3 Little Egret on the flooded fields just north of Rowsley on 16th November and a Brambling flock on Bent Lane which has increased to over 100 birds.

The Cetti's Warbler is still at Middleton having survived the colder weather.

Black-tailed Godwit - Middleton Moor

Making regular visits to Middleton Moor paid off again yesterday with a superb adult Black-tailed Godwit. It was present when I arrived and I watched it for about an hour but after an arrival of about 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls it departed.

Black-tailed Godwit

There has been some big movements of Black-tailed Godwits in the last few weeks, a flock of thirty were  seen at Carsington yesterday, and I'm not sure what they are doing. You would expects adults to be breeding now.

Five Yellow-legged Gulls were also at Middleton which perhaps marks the start of the summer arrivals of this species.

Black-tailed Godwit - Ogston Reservoir

Whilst sat at Ogston in the the rain earlier today a Black-tailed Godwit flew through, an occasional visitor to Ogston during Spring and Autumn I have once seen one on a small pond by Screetham Lane. 
In addition to the Ospreys, see photo below, I also had Hobby and an adult Yellow-legged Gull so well worth the trip.

Black-tailed Godwit

Yellow-legged Gull - adult