I know it's my own fault, but my determination to keep exploring new ground has left me stuck in a rut whilst being aware of potentially "new" birds elsewhere in the Circle.
Birds I could have seen had I made the effort include Redstart (Haselor Scrape and Lower Bittell), White Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, and Common Tern (all Earlswood). I'm gambling that I should catch up with all those species later this year. Mind you Spring is not a month you can afford to play it too cool. Migrating birds generally don't hang around, they are anxious to get to wherever they intend to breed asap. Ignoring those Redstarts in particular could come back to haunt me.
My first jaunt this week was to Asplands Husk. This is a patch of woodland, probably part of the Ragley estate just off the road south of Astwood Bank. Naturally its private, but fortunately a footpath is sufficiently close to allow part of it to be examined. Not that I saw much. A Raven slunk silently away, probably from a nest, while a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs sang to announce their presence. The highlight was probably a Swallow which flew from around buildings along the road.
It was good for mammals though. Plenty of Brown Hares lolloped about in the fields beyond the wood, and a Roe Deer paused for quite some time.
This morning I decided to pay a pre-breakfast visit to Morton Bagot hoping to jump start the year list. Mike Inskip had been down on Monday and had seen no Avocets and six Shovelers. I saw no Shovelers and two Avocets. Both were on the furthest flash, so it looks as though the flock has moved on.
I also failed to see any passage migrants, a distantly singing Willow Warbler being the only new bird. At least there are still 36 Teal, a Green Sandpiper, and six Lapwings present in the flash field.
Tomorrow I plan to explore the bird life of an industrial estate in Redditch. Happy days.
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