3rd August 2008

Visited all 3 lakes today, and found that the water levels of Engine Pool and Windmill Pool have been lowered considerably, causing areas of lakebed to become exposed. There was no sign of the Turnstone, but I met a birdwatcher who'd seen the bird yesterday. I saw the island that he'd seen it on, which was an area of exposed lakebed and not one of the reed islands, in Engine Pool. During the morning, I saw a Common Sandpiper fly over Engine Pool 2 or 3 times; around midday I saw probably the same bird along the southern side of Windmill Pool, where I sneaked up on it and was able to observe it quite closely and for several minutes foraging at the water's edge there. During that time, I was fortunate enough to see a Kingfisher fly over Windmill Pool and land in a bush little more than a few metres from the sandpiper, though the bush obscured my view of the little blue bird. I also saw 3 Common Tern at Engine Pool and Windmill Pool during the early afternoon, including a juvenile that was being fed by an adult. However, Lee J (BirdForum) tells me that he saw 5 Common Terns, as well as 3 Herring Gulls, at the lakes during the afternoon.

Great Crested Grebe numbers are currently low at Earlswood, with a grand total of just 11 counted. Coots also are not abundant there at present, with 3 pairs seen on Terry's Pool and 1 pair on Windmill Pool. Grand totals of 43+ Canada Geese and 3 Cormorants were also determined.

With the exception of Mallards, breeding waterbirds at Earlswood do not appear to have done well this year (so far?). I saw several pairs of Great Crested Grebes and at least a couple of Coot pairs building or sitting on nests earlier in the year, but saw no young of these species today (though Terry's Pool is difficult to watch at the moment with much vegetation surrounding it, so might be hiding young birds). Also, a pair of Mute Swans and their clutch have all mysteriously vanished from Engine Pool (I last saw 1 parent with 4 cygnets on June 17th).

There was a female Mallard with 4 quite-young ducklings on Windmill Pool today.


Addendum for yesterday:
The birdwatcher I met told me that he last saw the Turnstone at 6pm yesterday, and thought that it must've flown off during the night. Interestingly, he said that this was the 3rd individual of this species that he'd seen at the lakes, the previous being one in 2005 (the site first, according to the West Midland Bird Report) and another seen sometime in the 1980s. He also mentioned that he'd seen 3 Common Sandpipers at the lakes yesterday
An Arctic Tern was also at the lakes yesterday and reported on BirdGuides (per S. Seal, Warwickshire Birding).

M.P. Griffiths

2nd August 2008

One Turnstone reported at the lakes today on BirdGuides (per S. Seal, Warwickshire Birding). It was seen in the early afternoon on one of the islands in Engine Pool (per KayD, BirdForum).

This is possibly only the second time this species has been seen at Earlswood Lakes, as one on September 16th 2005 was the first for the site and I am not aware of any subsequent records.
M.P. Griffiths

11th June 2008

During the early afternoon, 3 "Commic" Terns (including 1 Common Tern) were seen at the lakes. Also, a pair of Common Whitethroats were located in the area.
M.P. Griffiths

29th May 2008

10 "Commic" Terns counted at the lakes during the early afternoon today.
M.P. Griffiths

8th May 2008

No terns seen at Engine Pool or Windmill Pool during early afternoon up to c. 4:20pm, but a number of Mallard and Canada Goose broods noted.
M.P. Griffiths

7th May 2008

Nil of note between 4:15pm and 5:00pm approx at the lakes today.

6th May 2008

10 Black Terns reported at the lakes today on BirdGuides (per S. Seal, Warwickshire Birding).

5th May 2008

An hour's worth of scanning from the causeway between the Windmill Pool and Engine Pool, between 7:00am and 8:00am, produced 3 Common Terns and a Grey Wagtail. Nothing else of particular note.

No sign of any lingering Black Terns following yesterday's influx.

4th May 2008

Black Tern reported at the lakes today on BirdGuides (per S. Seal, Warwickshire Birding).

1st May 2008

Two Arctic/Common Terns were at Windmill Pool again today. Unfortunately, I hadn't brought my scope with me and was only able to watch them for a little over 5 minutes, so I couldn't ID them properly. They were still there at c. 4:45pm, when I left.
Besides the terns, not a great deal of waterbirds present, though a 4th Mute Swan has appeared at the lakes and there was a Mallard pair with 3 ducklings on Terry's Pool. There was no sign of the male Shoveler. I saw 3 Reed Buntings around Terry's Pool and Engine Pool, and a 4th bird was seen by the couple who regular watch the lakes. Also, saw my 1st Earlswood Green Woodpecker near Terry's Pool, and my 1st Swift of the year over Clowes Wood.
M.P. Griffiths