20-3-11, Alrewas GP.

Another evening on the beer so I decided to head outx on my push bike armed with everything I needed for birding and photography. First place was the gravel pit by the A38. Birds noted were Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Blackbird, Wren, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Coot, Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Black-headed Gull, Chaffinch, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail and Pheasant. Not too bad but was hoping for the odd warbler.

20-3-11, National Arboretum.

Under the rail line then onto the arboretum. Birds noted were Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Wren, Redwing there was about 250 to 300 in the trees proberbly gathering to make the big flight overseas, Greenfinch, Cormorant, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Coot, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher, Mistle Thrush, Collared Dove, Lesser Redpoll, Long-tailed Tit and Dunnock. Again, pretty quiet but nice views of the single Redpoll.

20-3-11, Junction Pit.

I keep looking here hoping the water levels change and the birds return but still very poor. Birds noted were Moorhen, Canada Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Greylag Geese, Coot, Mallard, Grey Heron and Great Crested Grebe,

20-3-11, Croxall Wides.

I was not planning to visit Croxall GP today but I did have a look at the new islands in the river hoping for a Little-ringed Plover or Sand Martin. Neither of them showed and I only saw Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Carrion Crow and Canada Geese.

20-3-11, Whitemoor Haye.

After finishing the Arboretum I headed over to Whitemoor Haye and noted Carrion Crow, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail and Yellowhammer when entering the lanes. I stopped off at the quarry pool and added Mallard, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Grerat Spotted Woodpecker, Starling, Redshank, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, a single Dunlin, Reed Bunting, Magpie and Great Crested Grebe. Onto the lanes and birds noted were Mistle Thrush, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Cormorant, Blue Tit, Mute Swan 34, Chaffinch, Robin, Tree Sparrow, Kestrel, 213 Fieldfare and a couple of Buzzards. Not a bad list for midday.

20-3-11, Fradley Junction Nature Reserve.

I had to come here as I put out paper for people to write down any bird sightings. Unfortunately most of the comments include Ostrich, pink elephant, a pair of great tits, sad bastard etc. It was funny to begin with but a few thousand later its gets a tad dull. I did stop for quite some time but Im giving it another go. Whilst here I walked around and noted Robin, Mute Swan, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Rook, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Moorhen, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Fieldfare over.
I then heard the pub calling and so enjoyed several pints of Black Sheep before biking home, not in a straight line!!!!!