Earlswood all-dayer - Autumn 2019

The Earlswood autumn all-day birdwatch took place earlier this month, on Saturday 7th, and the team recorded a total of 63 bird species over the course of the day. This was our joint-second highest autumn total, last year's result (when the habitat at the lakes and especially Engine Pool was excellent) being the highest to-date. Previous autumn species totals have been 69 in 2018, 63 in 2017, 57 in 2016 and 56 in 2015.

Despite the fairly high water levels and scarcity of terns at the lakes so far this year, we noted Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper and Common Tern, which were amongst the most notable species found, along with a fly-over Yellow Wagtail. Also, 13 Shoveler at Engine Pool was a high count for the patch, the most I'd personally seen at the lakes since 13 way back in 2008! A new element of the all-dayer this time was the use of a nocmig recorder by John Oates to detect birds calling as they fly over the area, which might otherwise be missed by observers, particularly at night-time; this picked up Tawny Owl, which was also reported by Yvonne in the evening, but still it was worth a try and will hopefully be used in future all-dayers!

There were a few species which were likely around the patch but missed, including Pheasant, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Linnet and Reed Bunting. Unfortunately I had to throw in the towel mid-afternoon, as I got a bad headache; otherwise I'm sure the list would've gone up by a couple at least. ;)

Many thanks to Jon Chidwick, Yvonne Heward, Janet James, Mike Jeeves, John Oates, Tony and Barbara Philp, Jenny Renowden, John Sirrett and Jim Winsper for participating. Many thanks to John Sirrett also for collating the species recorded during the day, the full list was as follows:

1. Mute Swan
2. Greylag Goose
3. Canada Goose
4. Teal
5. Mallard
6. Shoveler
7. Tufted Duck
8. Little Grebe
9. Great Crested Grebe
10. Cormorant
11. Grey Heron
12. Sparrowhawk
13. Buzzard
14. Moorhen
15. Coot
16. Oystercatcher
17. Green Sandpiper
18. Black-headed Gull
19. Lesser Black-backed Gull
20. Herring Gull
21. Common Tern
22. Feral Pigeon
23. Stock Dove
24. Woodpigeon
25. Collared Dove
26. Tawny Owl
27. Swift
28. Green Woodpecker
29. Great Spotted Woodpecker
30. Sand Martin
31. Swallow
32. House Martin
33. Meadow Pipit
34. Yellow Wagtail
35. Grey Wagtail
36. Pied Watail
37. Wren
38. Dunnock
39. Robin
40. Blackbird
41. Song Thrush
42. Blackcap
43. Chiffchaff
44. Willow Warbler
45. Goldcrest
46. Long-tailed Tit
47. Blue Tit
48. Great Tit
49. Coal Tit
50. Marsh Tit
51. Nuthatch
52. Treecreeper
53. Jay
54. Magpie
55. Jackdaw
56. Carrion Crow
57. Raven
58. Starling
59. House Sparrow
60. Chaffinch
61. Greenfinch
62. Goldfinch
63. Bullfinch

It was very nice to have a few drinks with John Sirrett, Jim Winsper and Mike Inskip in the Red Lion at midday, and I think we should make a pub meet a regular part of future all-dayers! :)

Within the West Midlands as a whole, a record-breaking 24 sites participated in the all-dayer on the same day, but Earlswood didn't fare so well from this perspective. Some of the patches are smaller than ours, and I can't help wondering how much better our total might be if our bits of farmland were better for wildlife (no Yellowhammer records so far this year!). Still, as they say, it's the taking part that counts! Well done to all who took part, and thanks to Phil Andrews who has collated the following results:

100 - Belvide Reservoir

  99 - Middleton Lakes

  95 - Branston GP

  92 - Ladywalk

  92 - Grimley

  88 - Sandwell Valley

  84 - Upton Warren

  81 - Chasewater

  77 - Bittell Reservoirs

  74 - Brandon Marsh

  74 - Dairy Farm NR

  73 - Marsh Lane

  72 - Venus Pool

  70 - Salford Priors GP

  69 - Alvecote Pools

  69 - Sutton Park

  66 - Doxey Marsh

  65 - Elmdon Park

  64 - Shustoke Reservoir

  64 - Morton Bagot

  63 - Earlswood

  63 - Whitemoor Haye

  60 - Saltwells / Fens Pool

  55 - Draycote Water

Till next year...