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Notable records during the month included the first county record of Woodchat Shrike for Staffordshire, an Aquatic Warbler in Gloucestershire, a Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, while a Whiskered Tern and a White-winged Black Tern both graced Rutland Water, the Lapland Bunting invasion reached the region and there was a marked influx of seabirds towards the end of the month.
Pink-footed Goose
The first returning migrants were noted in Staffordshire on 17th when 41 flew over Black Bank and ten were at Chasewater while in the same county, eleven lingered at Belvide Reservoir from 21st to 24th. Larger numbers were noted migrating over the East Midlands with 80 over Carr Vale (Derbys) on 18th, 125 over Holme Pierrepont (Notts), 100 over Willington Pits (Derbys), 100 over Belper (Derbys) and 60 over Mansfield (Notts) all on 25th, 160 over Watermead Country Park (Leics) on 26th while a juvenile arrived at Slimbridge Wetland Centre on 30th.
Eurasian White-fronted Goose
The first two arrived back at Slimbridge Wetland Cente (Gloucs) on 30th.
Brent Goose
Three were at Bartley Reservoir (W. Mids) on 29th.
Garganey
At least sixteen were recorded across the region.
Ferruginous Duck
An adult drake was noted at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on various dates from 3rd to 11th.
Greater Scaup
Two were at Annesley Pit Top (Notts) on 15th and a drake was at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) on 29th.
Lesser Scaup
An adult drake at Draycote Water (Warks) from 24th was presumably the same individual present during the winter of 2007/08 and in October/November 2009.
Common Scoter
The long-staying drake remained at Doxey Marshes (Staffs) early in the month, while a female was at Shustoke Reservoir (Warks) on 26th, a juvenile was at Priorslee Lake on 27th and four were present at both Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs) and Carsington Water (Derbys) on 29th.
Slavonian Grebe
An adult was at Rutland Water from 16th in to October.
Black-necked Grebe
Records comprised two at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 1st, 2nd and 7th, two at Rutland Water for most of the month, two at Westwood Pool (Worcs) from 5th to 7th, one at Attenborough NR (Notts) on 14th, one at Girton Pits (Notts) from 19th to 20th, one at Draycote Water (Warks) on 20th, two at Stanwick Pits (Northants) on 26th while up to five had gathered at Idle Valley NR (Notts) by the end of the month.
Manx Shearwater
One was off Severn Beach (Gloucs) on 19th while one was picked up moribund at Longley Green (Worcs) on 24th but had to be put down due to a maggot infestation.
Leach’s Petrel
Singles were noted at Coton Lakes (Warks) on 15th and Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) on 16th.
Gannet
One was reported at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) on 5th. Following a period of northerly winds, a notable influx took place on 25th and 26th and comprised eight over Walgrave (Northants), two over Summer Leys NR (Northants), one over Kislingbury Pits (Northants), one over Hanging Houghton (Northants), one over Stanford Reservoir (Northants), at least one at Rutland Water, one over Otmoor RSPB (Oxon), one over Horton (Shrops) and one over Draycote Water (Warks).
Bittern
One was noted on numerous dates throughout the month at the traditional wintering site of Upton Warren NR (Worcs).
Great White Egret
One remained at Idle Valley NR (Notts) from 10th in to October.
Glossy Ibis
Following a small invasion along the south coast, at least three made it to the region: one was at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) briefly on 17th, at least one of the two birds present on the Wiltshire side of the Cotswold Water Park occasionally strayed over the county boundary in to Gloucestershire and one was present at a private site in Herefordshire on 27th.
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Glossy Ibis at Avonmouth. Photo: Carl Day. This bird was present just outside the region but at
least three birds made apearances in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Northamptonshire.
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Spoonbill
One was present at Rutland Water for a short time on 6th.
Honey Buzzard
A juvenile flew over Groby Pool (Leics) on 11th and a dark morph flew north-east over Nottingham on 18th.
Marsh Harrier
A fairly poor showing with around seventeen birds noted across the region.
Hen Harrier
At least four were noted: singles at Swallow Moss on 4th, East Moor (Derbys) on 5th, Shenstone (Worcs) on 25th and Clifton (Notts) on 30th.
Montagu’s Harrier
An immature male flew south at Egleton (Rutland) on 11th.
Osprey
At least 16 birds were noted across the region.
Spotted Crake
Singles were at Willington Pits (Derbys) from 2nd to 9th and Radley Pits (Oxon) from 3rd to 12th.
Corncrake
A juvenile at Priorslee (Shrops) was caught by a cat on 12th but died in care on 14th.
Common Crane
One was seen at various sites in Nottinghamshire: at Hoveringham on 17th, at Gunthorpe on 22nd and over Holme Pierrepont on 25th.
Avocet
Two were noted at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 4th while what was presumably the same bird flew south over Westport Lake (Staffs) on 5th arriving at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) later that day. In addition, one was reported at Sandwell Valley (W. Mids) briefly on 12th.
Dotterel
One flew south over the Malvern Hills (Worcs) on 22nd.
Grey Plover
Singles flew over Shustoke Reservoir (Warks) on 8th and Drakelow NR (Derbys) on 26th.
Knot
Single juveniles were noted at Drayton Bassett Pits (Staffs) on 2nd, Carsington Water (Derbys) on 10th, Belvide Resevoir (Staffs) on 15th and Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 24th.
Little Stint
At least 45 were during the month with the largest counts being six at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) from 10th to 14th and up to 18 at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 27th.
Pectoral Sandpiper
An excellent showing of this species produced two at Hollowell Reservoir (Northants) on 7th and 8th which then relocated to nearby Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) from 8th to 16th being joined by a third bird from 12th to 15th. Elsewhere, one was at Slimbridge Wetland Centre from 14th to 22nd being joined by a second bird from 17th to 21st, while further singles were at Willington Pits (Derbys) from 19th to 25th, Rudyard Lake (Staffs) on 23rd and 24th and Upton Warren (Worcs) from 24th in to October.
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Pectoral Sandpiper at Upton Warren NR, Worcs. Photo: Chris Cook
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Curlew Sandpiper
Over 80 were recorded across the region with the highest count being 29 at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 9th.
Purple Sandpiper
One was at Uttoxeter Quarry (Staffs) on 2nd.
Bar-tailed Godwit
Eight flew over Ogston Reservoir (Derbys) on 11th, two were at Carsington Water (Derbys) on 27th, one flew over Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 27th and one was at Port Meadow (Oxon) on 28th.
Spotted Redshank
An excellent showing of around 30 individuals (predominantly juveniles) across the region was a welcome return to form of this increasingly scarce passage wader.
Wood Sandpiper
Singles were Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) from 3rd to 12th, Drayton Bassett Pits (Staffs) on 3rd and Williamthorpe Ponds NR (Derbys) on 3rd.
Turnstone
A poor showing with one lingering at Brandon Marsh NR (Warks) from 11th to 16th and three at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 29th.
Wilson’s Phalarope
A juvenile was at Dowdeswell Reservoir (Gloucs) on 29th and 30th.
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Wilson's Phalarope at Dowdeswell Reservoir, Gloucs. Photo: Brian Stretch
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Red-necked Phalarope
A juvenile present at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) from August 31st remained until 12th while further juveniles were at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 1st and Draycote Water (Warks) on 7th and 8th.
Grey Phalarope
Two juveniles were noted in Worcestershire on 15th: one at Grimley and one at Upton Warren NR which remained until 21st.
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Grey Phalarope at Upton Warren NR, Worcs. Photo: Stuart Andrews
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Arctic Skua
An adult flew over Attenborough NR (Notts) on 11th, one was reported at Cropston Reservoir (Leics) briefly on 26th and a dark morph juvenile was at Westwood Pool (Worcs) briefly on 29th.
Great Skua
A juvenile was at Upton Warren NR (Worcs) briefly on 24th while further individuals were noted at Stretton Sugwas Pits (Herefords) from 26th to 28th and both Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) and Draycote Water (Warks) briefly on 27th.
Sabine’s Gull
A juvenile was at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) during the evening of 24th.
Kittiwake
In Derbyshire, single adults were at Pleasley Colliery on 5th and Carsington Water on 15th, while the French-ringed second-summer continued to linger in the county being noted at Pleasley Colliery on 16th and 20th.
Little Gull
Single juveniles were noted at Stanwick Pits (Northants) on 2nd, Tittesworth Reservoir (Staffs) on 7th, Daventry Reservoir (Northants) from 12th to 20th, Shustoke Reservoir (Warks) from 14th to 21st and New Passage (Gloucs) on 19th, while two juveniles at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) from 20th were joined by a third bird on 21st, an adult was at Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs) on 18th and an excellent count of eight occurred at Shustoke Reservoir (Warks) on 29th.
Caspian Gull
Single adults were reported at Draycote Water (Warks), Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 4th and 9th and Hollowell Reservoir (Northants) on 16th and 28th. Juveniles were also reported at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 5th and 9th and Daventry Reservoir (Northants) on 7th.
Little Tern
Singles were at noted Summer Leys NR (Northants) on 2nd, Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 6th and Oldbury-on-Severn (Gloucs) on 12th.
Whiskered Tern
The long-staying juvenile first discovered at Rutland Water on August 31st remained until 16th and a juvenile was present at Annesley Pit Top (Notts) briefly on 4th.
White-winged Black Tern
A juvenile was at Rutland Water from 7th until 16th while it or another was present there on 24th.
Sandwich Tern
Two were at Ogston Reservoir (Derbys) on 6th, two flew over Wigston (Leics) on 11th and one was at Venus Pool NR (Shrops) briefly on 29th.
Short-eared Owl
One was at Pleasley Colliery (Derbys) on 20th.
Wryneck
One discovered at Northwick Warth in late August was still present on 2nd and 3rd, while further singles were noted at Long Eaton Pits (Derbys) on 7th, Great Glen (Leics) from 3rd to 5th, Tidenham Chase (Gloucs) on 9th, Nailsworth (Gloucs) on 12th, Carsington Water (Derbys) on 13th and 14th, Heanor (Derbys) on 15th and 16th, Charwell (Oxon) on 17th and one flew south over Lutley Wedge (W. Mids) on 21st.
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Wryneck at Lutley Wedge, West Midlands. Photo: Craig Round.
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Woodlark
Two migrants flew over Beacon Hill Country Park (Leics) on 30th.
Black Redstart
One remained at Titterstone Clee Hill (Shrops) until at least 4th with it or another there on 17th while another was at Berry Hill Fields (Staffs) on 28th.
Ring Ouzel
One was on Bredon Hill (Worcs) on 28th.
Aquatic Warbler
An elusive juvenile was present at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 1st.
Wood Warbler
A passage bird was reported at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) on 20th.
Firecrest
Singles were noted at Frampton-on-Severn (Gloucs) on 3rd, Walton Hill (Worcs) on 4th and Napton Reservoir (Warks) on 6th.
Pied Flycatcher
A migrant was noted at Burrough Hill Country Park (Leics) on 5th.
Woodchat Shrike
A juvenile seen and photographed at Whitemoor Haye (Staffs) on 8th was an excellent find and constituted the first county record.
Crossbill
Seven flew over Bredon Hill (Worcs) on 22nd and eleven flew north-west over Marsh Lane NR (W. Mids) on 23rd.
Lapland Bunting
Following the unprecedented numbers present in Scotland from late August, a number began to filter through the region. The first of these was one that flew over Slimbridge Wetland Centre on 9th, followed by three over Annesley Pit Top (Notts) on 16th and one over Holme Pierrepont (Notts) on 18th. The first to linger were five on the Malvern Hills (Worcs) on 20th with one present the following day rising to two on 24th and one still on 26th, and finally singles at Carsington Water (Derbys) on 22nd, Saul Warth (Glos) on 26th and over Carsington Water on 30th.
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Lapland Bunting on the Malvern Hills, Worcs. Photo: Pete Walkden
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