Thornton Reservoir Birthday Treat

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As a birthday treat for my friend and her husband we took them for a walk around Thornton Reservoir as they had never been before; we set out walking around half past 12, as we were taking them for lunch (included in the treat).

It was extremely windy and the water was very choppy. There were a lot of families and dogs but the walking is easy.

It didn't appear very promising at first, we had parked in the Reservoir Inn (lunch venue) and taken the path through the church yard. We walked clockwise around the water and soon spotted about 15 tufted ducks, some Coots, a couple of Moorhens and then the little family of Mallards. There was a tree a bit further on with some little birds flying in and out but I'm not very good on bird song and my eyes were watering with the blowing wind so couldn't focus with the binoculars! Next I spotted what I think were two Little Grebes, can't confirm as my friend's husband had gone off with his decent camera. We were accompanied all the way round by a Robin. We then saw the Heron and as we walked on he flew overhead. Then my favourite water birds, two Great Crested Grebes. We didn't have time to walk all the way round so returned the way we had come. We walked up as far as the car park and that was where the Cormorant was spreading his wings. Guess who was waiting 'The Robin' I think he'd cheated though and flown across

We then walked to the restaurant for a well earned lunch.

A lovely location in the heart of Leicestershire.

Wendy.

RSPB Middleton Lakes, Warwickshire, 23rd April 2017

Pheasant Female

Reed Bunting

Chiffchaff

Little Ringed Plover

Avocet

Gadwall

Lesser Whitethroat

Sixteen BBC members gathered on our Sunday outing on a beautiful Spring morning, the sun shining with a blue sky and cotton wool clouds, starting in the picnic area listening to the chorus of a dozen different bird songs. A real treat for this birder was the reeling song of Grasshopper Warbler, what a way to start the day.

We spent time on the boardwalk looking over the pond and feeding station, together with the usual suspects in that area good views of the nesting Heron’s and Little Egrets in a large Oak.

Continuing on (past a number of Cockerel and Hens from the farm scratching around the footpath for titbits looking splendid in an array of colours) listening to singing Goldcrest, Blackcap, Robin & Wren, good numbers of Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler from the woodland path.

At this time of year were looking for our summer migrants returning, and after a early start to the season with the warm March weather the recent cold Northerly winds seem to have slowed the expected numbers, so we spend some time listening for the variants of Reed & Sedge Warblers. Then following some information from an obviously pleased fellow birder we hurry onto get sightings of two male and a female Gargany; probably “bird of the day” for most of our group.

Looking over the ponds and scrapes were a raucous colony of Black Headed Gull, good numbers of resident duck with one or two waders, including Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and to our surprise four Avocet which I’m told are a first for Middleton. Finishing of our morning walk we found Common and Lesser Whitethroat, a bonus!!!

A fantastic return of 66 different species for this maturing reserve, a good mix of open scrub, woodland and wetland habitat. So all in all an enjoyable and rewarding day out in good company.

Well done Julie for organising and leading this walk.

(Pictures by Lee Loveridge)

BBC Walk - Middleton Lakes - 23/04/17

Sunday's walk will be a lovely spring walk at Middleton Lakes

Nestled in the beautiful Tame valley, just south of Tamworth on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border, Middleton Lakes is the RSPB's latest nature reserve to open to the public.

Good weather is shown for the day, although this can change on a whim!

Middleton Lakes is off the A4091, just six miles from the M6 and four miles from the M42, north-east of Birmingham. By car, take the A446, the AA4091 and then Bodymoor Heath Road.

• Postcode: B78 2AE

• Grid reference: SP192967

Meet at Middleton Lakes at 09:15 am

Those requiring pickup from the Sapcote base, there is 2/3 seats available with Lee Loveridge, contact him to arrange pickup.

Standard entry is £3 but RSPB members go free.