13th May 2009

Braved the slight rain and arrived at the lakes at roughly 1:45 pm, and quickly saw that there were 4 Black Terns over Windmill Pool!!! Brilliant - another lifer! Also present were 12 Common Terns and 80+ Swifts, with the Mute Swan back at Terry's Pool. Going along Malthouse Lane, I saw 2 Collared Doves fly out of a tree, and there in the tree was a Sparrowhawk. At the scrubland south of Windmill Pool, I saw 2 Common Whitethroats near the installation, but best of all heard a Cuckoo at Windmill Pool, then saw it heading southwest over the scrubland, calling (first time I've actual seen one!). Returning to the causeway at c. 4:20 pm, saw that Black Tern numbers had increased to 6.

The 6 Black Terns were still present at Windmill Pool when I returned at c. 6:10 pm. Phil Carter was already there (nice to meet you) and 2 other birders arrived whilst I was there - these birds seem to have been enjoyed by quite a few birders today, probably because the species appears to have only been reported from 2 other places in the WMBC region. I also saw a Common Sandpiper flying over Windmill Pool, though a birder there was sure he saw 2.

Leaving Earlswood, I then checked out Trittiford Mill Pool (Birmingham) to see if any terns were there, but none were and a Kingfisher was the only notable bird seen.

John Yardley got to Earlswood during the evening, and had 6 Black Terns also. They've been reported on BirdGuides but I don't know details and assume no more than 6 were seen today.

M.P. Griffiths