25th-31st March 2010

As I'm really behind with this blog, here's a summary of my sightings, with a few from Bob Roberts and Steve Lloyd, for late March:

25/03/2010 = 2 Pochards, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Goldcrest at Terry's Pool, with 26+ Redwings in trees to the north. 2 Mute Swans at Engine Pool. 2 Swallows and 7+ Chiffchaffs (most silent but seemed to be this species) at Windmill Pool.

26/03/2010 = Bob Roberts had just 1 male Pochard at Terry's Pool, plus 2 Mute Swans apparently nest-building again, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Nuthatch.

27/03/2010 = After helping with the nestbox project at Blythe Valley, Humphrey Miller kindly dropped me off at the lakes. There was no sign of any Pochard, but Terry's Pool held a male Gadwall (only my second sighting of this species at the lakes!) and 12 Tufted Ducks. 2 Mute Swans at Engine Pool and 2+ Chiffchaffs at Windmill Pool also noted.

28/03/2010 = Presumably the same male Gadwall was still present, at Windmill Pool. Also 26+ Golden Plovers flew over the lakes (my first this year), heading towards the Hungry Horse but no sign of them by the time I got there. Otherwise, 3 Greylag Geese landed on Engine Pool, and a Chiffchaff was near the causeway. I wasn't able to check Terry's Pool.
Bob Roberts did check Terry's Pool and had 5 Greylag Geese and 9 Tufted Ducks there, plus a female Common Pheasant and 2+ Chiffchaffs along Gypsy Lane (track from Malthouse Lane to Windmill Pool).

Greylag Goose, 28/03/2010 (© Bob Roberts)

Song Thrush, 28/03/2010 (© Bob Roberts)

29/03/2010 = 3 small horses grazing on the lawn in my front garden were a big surprise this morning!!! Hightlight at the lakes was a male Blackcap singing from south side of Engine Pool. Also noted were 4 Swallows (flying through), 1 Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher at Windmill Pool; and 2 Mute Swans at Terry's Pool. 2 Chiffchaffs heard around lakes.
Steve Lloyd had a Swallow over Engine Pool as he drove past at 6:15 pm.

30/03/2010 = Someone reported 10 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins at the lakes on BirdGuides, which I only found out about later through Warwickshire Birding.
At Windmill Pool I too managed to see up to 10 Swallows, but up to 7 Sand Martins, plus a Sparrowhawk appeared to have a go at them. 1 Kingfisher and 2 Bullfinches noted at Terry's Pool, as well as 2 Mute Swans at Engine Pool. 3+ Meadow Pipits flew over lakes. A notable increase in Tufted Duck numbers was apparent with 21 counted, and after an absence the "three musketeers" (small domestic ducks) had returned.

31/03/2010 = Highlight was a very early Common Tern showing well from the causeway. Also noted were 6+ Swallows and 4 Sand Martins at Windmill Pool, with a Chiffchaff near the causeway. 2 Mute Swans were back at Terry's Pool - this pair look set to breed this year so seems little point in keep mentioning them here.

Earlswood Lakes have been pretty good for migrant birds this month, with perhaps Warwickshire's first Common Tern this year, and Sand Martin and Swallow sightings possibly only preceded by sightings at Draycote as far as Warwickshire is concerned. Not a single House Martin though, unlike last year.

M.P. Griffiths