Introduction
Birdwatchers, and their forefathers the bird shooters, have been contributing to the history of bird recording in the Circle since the beginning of the nineteenth century. I find this history fascinating and have decided to extract the records covering a 10 kilometre ring around our house in Redditch Worcs. The plan is to build up an archive of all the birds seen within my area and post it in instalments on this page. Lower Bittell is included as far as possible, the problem being that Upper Bittell is outside the Circle. I have done my best to research the Bittell records to at least tease out the Lower Bittell records. In the 1930s and 1940s most records stated which reservoir the birds were on, and this treatment resumed from 2000. The intervening years are problematic, but I have my personal records from 1979 to 1999 (although even I didn't always make the distinction clear).
Brent Goose - Four records.
The first I can find is one which was recorded by F Coburn as having been shot at Earlswood on November 6 1897. Almost exactly a hundred years later one was found grazing on a football pitch at Arrow Valley Park on February 3 1997 by N Evans. What a sight that must have been. The third was a first winter bird found by Alan Dean at Earlswood on January 13 2002. Finally, the most recent was one found by Mike Inskip at Box Trees on December 27 2006.
There are 13 records for Bittell Reservoir up to 2022, of which ten were definitely on Upper. The largest count is five on October 18 2020.
I suspect there has never been a record on Lower Bittell.
All my data is sourced from the West Midland Bird Club annual reports or from published sources such as "Notes on the Birds of Warwickshire" published in 1947 and written by C A Norris.
Canada Goose - Introduced into the UK during the nineteenth century, they were scarce in Warwickshire and Worcestershire until well into the twentieth. The date of the first record in the Circle is unclear, but the earliest I can find refers to a pair breeding at Tardebigge Reservoir in 1939 AJMartin. AJHarthan writing in 1946 referred to breeding pairs at Hewell Grange and at Tardebigge Reservoir. The first fully dated record I can find relates to a pair found breeding at Hewell Grange on May 21 1947, (birds were also breeding at Bittell in 1947, but which reservoir is unknown) and since then breeding sites have included Arrow Valley Lake, Batchley Pond, Earlswood, Hewell, Lodge Pool, Lower Park Farm, Morton Bagot, Shortwood Roughs, Tardebigge, and Wythall Park.
The numbers seen remained modest in the 1950s and 1960s, with peaks of 63 at Hewell Grange in September 1956, and 55 at "Redditch" on November 20 1969. This last record was before work on Arrow Valley Lake had been completed, but may still relate to the partly constructed lake.
Each subsequent decade saw more and more Canada Geese being counted, leading to the two largest counts in recent years, 346 at Earlswood in August 2021, and 320 over Redditch on September 23 2017.
The record for Bittell stands at 855 in Sep 2004, but these were probably mostly on Upper Bittell.
Barnacle Goose - It is doubtful whether any of the Barnacle Geese seen since the first, at Hewell Lake on March 15 1975, can be considered to be anything other than an escape.
Each winter thousands head into western Scotland from the arctic, while thousands more winter in the low countries. Some of the latter make the hop across the North Sea into East Anglia, particularly in cold weather, and it is these birds which might just have occurred naturally within the Circle.
The best candidates are a party of 24 discovered at Earlswood Lakes on December 6 1980. There had been an influx into eastern Britain at the time and surely these birds were part of that movement. Unfortunately they were described as being rather tame, and remained in ever diminishing numbers until March 4 1981. Let's just say the jury is out.
Barnacle Geese, as well as being frequent escapes, also breed in parts of England, and perhaps the flock of 10 seen flying over the M42 near Hopwood on June 7 1998 were feral birds rather than being part of a mass break out from a collection.
Since the first published record, singles or pairs were seen at various waters within the Circle in most years between 1979 and 1997, and again in most years from 2008 to 2019.
My only Morton Bagot record flew over in a flock of Canada Geese on September 18 2016.
Feral birds are occasionally seen at Upper Bittell (and possibly some from Lower), but there was a strange period from 1983 to 1988 when what was originally assumed to be a small feral flock kept returning to Upper Bittell each winter in ever larger numbers peaking at 146 on October 28 1988, by which time it was generally accepted they were wild birds. There were also probable wild birds in 1963 (two with White-fronted Geese) and 1989 (six in late September which "looked nervous".)
Greylag Goose - If you see a grey goose around these parts today it will almost certainly be this species. They breed in northern Scotland, and each winter that population is augmented by the arrival of the Icelandic population. But these birds have probably never occurred here, and I'll wager that neither have any of the large European breeding population turned up unaided. But they are now common here because birds kept in collections escaped decades ago, found England very much to their liking, and started to breed. The exponential growth in their numbers has been a remarkably recent phenomenon.
The first record for the Circle appears to be three at Arrow Valley Lake on May 14 1986. For the next decade there was still only a handful recorded at such places as Earlswood, Arrow Valley Lake, and Great Alne, but they were breeding at Great Alne by 2000, four goslings being seen that year.
The first double-figure count was 10 at Earlswood on September 21 2002. In 2003 30 were counted at Great Alne, and the pools there seem to have been the base from which the Circle's population has grown. By 2005 they were also breeding at Morton Bagot (there were five broods in 2021), and a regular flock has been seen there each autumn, rising from 74 in November 2007 to 200 in November 2011. By this time there were substantial flocks at Kinwarton/Haselor, Arrow Valley Lake, and Lower Park Farm Pools. Given the relatively small area covered by this portion of the Circle, it is quite possible that there was a large roving flock accounting for most of these reports.
The largest count to date at Morton Bagot is 334 in October 2013, and since then the population there has stabilised, or even reduced slightly. However, on February 6 2019 a flock of 654 was reported near Alcester, and this is the largest count in the Circle to date.
Curiously, Earlswood in the north of the Circle has been less favoured, but a count of 280 in September 2021 suggests that it is catching up.
Although Greylag Geese do occasionally appear at Lower Bittell, all published records refer simply to "Bittell" and the majority are likely to be for Upper Bittell. The first record appears to be eight on Apr 21 1971, and the largest count up until 2021 was 300 in October 2016.
Pink-footed Goose - This species has a fairly restricted world range, and a large proportion of that arctic population winters in Scotland, Northern England, and East Anglia. It seems to be on the increase, and each year sees large skeins crossing north Staffordshire. You would think that some would penetrate down to this area, but annoyingly some are kept in captivity and most of the birds we get are probably escapes. To claim a genuinely wild bird the ideal circumstances would involve a flock seen between October and April. Failing that, a wary bird on a cold winter's day might also cut the mustard. I can find one record which undoubtedly qualifies:
A skein of 52 flew over Tardebigge on November 4 2012.
The rest are all let down by involving singles or pairs, and most were either at the wrong time of year or were described as feral, implying tameness.
The most convincing was one at Arrow Valley Lake in cold weather from December 27 2018 to January 1 2019, although it also spent time with the local Greylags at Abbey Fields. Another was seen on three occasions at Kinwarton and once over Morton Bagot, on January 10 and 24, February 5, and March 10 2010. Unfortunately it or another was seen at Lower Park Farm on June 12 2010, damaging its credentials completely if it was the same bird.
The first for the circle, described as tame, was one at Batchley Pond from March 12 to 26 1991 seen by Roger Hill and Steve Whitehouse. The next was one at Earlswood on January 2 1996, but was reported as feral despite the promising date. Other venues recording feral birds are Great Alne, and Beoley, with further birds at Earlswood, Lower Park Farm, and Arrow Valley Lake.
In 2022 one appeared at Tardebigge Reservoir on September 18, three flew over Morton Bagot on September 20, and one was at Wootton Pool on October 4. Another appeared at Arrow Valley Lake and Shortwood Roughs in January, February, and March 2023.
These recent records seem to accord well with the expected arrivals of birds into the UK in autumn.
Up until 2022 there had been 11 records from Bittell. Seven were definitely on Upper, and four are unknown (but almost certainly also on Upper). The largest party was 21 on October 9 2020, and were surely wild birds.
I know of no records at Lower Bittell.
Tundra Bean Goose - breeds in the Arctic and visits Eastern Britain in small numbers in winter.
Prior to the 2022 bird there were two records for Upper Bittell (March 1941, and November 2011). The latter bird, found by Pete and Marjo Lewis, visited Lower Bittell on November 12 2011. This is therefore the first record for the Circle.
The second was a bird which had turned up at nearby Upper Bittell Reservoir in late August 2022, and then proceeded to overwinter with the goose flock there "paired up" with a Pink-footed Goose which arrived there in early October, and both birds finally ventured into the Circle during 2023.
The first time was when it was found by Mark Islip on ice at Arrow Valley Lake on January 25 2023. Fortunately for me Stuart Hares relocated it at Shortwood Roughs in mid February, and it remained until at least March 6 2023.
Full details, and thoughts on its provenance will appear in print in next few years.
White-fronted Goose - This Arctic breeding Goose is less common in collections than the preceding species and almost all of the seven records within the Circle stand a chance of being wild birds. There is a wintering flock at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire but unfortunately that population is getting smaller, probably due to global warming, and wild occurrences in the Circle may become a thing of the past.
The first was an undated nineteenth century bird shot by a Mr Baker at Earlswood Tomes 1910.
Nearly 100 years later R F E Butler saw one at Arrow Valley Lake on February 22 1985, and he and L Carter reported another there from December 23 1987 to February 11 1988. Records within Redditch do raise the eyebrows of suspicion that they might not be wild birds, and the next one, found at Batchley Pond by Roger Hill on November 8 1997 also falls into that category. In their favour are the dates which are exactly the time of year you would expect.
Much better credentials are shown by an unknown number of calling birds heard over Winyates Green by myself on the night of February 20 2007, six at Lower Park fishing pools on Dec 29 2009, and a herd of 52 seen by Simon Dix over Church Hill on November 2 2011. Next were two adults I saw flying with Greylag Geese over Morton Bagot on November 13 2011.
A juvenile was seen by John Oates at Earlswood on December 9 2020, and he then found one there on February 10 2021.
There had been 18 records at Bittell up to 2021. Eight were definitely on Upper, eight were at "Bittell", and two were definitely on Lower. These were:
14 reported from January 30 to February 2 1935 by HLl Wilson, Miss MleS Simpson, Miss CK James, and EStG Betts and one seen by Mike Inskip on January 7 1967.
Other geese - There are two other Goose species I have seen in the Circle, but as they are not on the British list due to the escape likelihood I will merely mention that they are Bar-headed Goose and Snow Goose. Both have been seen at Morton Bagot on one occasion each. Of the geese which are on the British List a few are such rarities that they are unlikely to occur, and if they did would immediately be deemed escapes. There is one however which just might turn up, the Taiga Bean Goose. It has wandered into the Midlands from its mainly European wintering grounds, so it could be one to consider for the future.
Mute Swan - This species neatly illustrates the difficulty of trying to put together a historical record of a species within an area of your own design. For a start the older authors largely ignored the species because it was perceived to be an ancient introduction which was largely semi-domesticated. In fact there is archeological evidence putting it in East Anglia before the water was muddied by subsequent introductions from Eurasia. This means for me that the earliest reference to birds within the Circle comes from 1952, when they were simply described as breeding at Earlswood. Obviously they would have been well-established long before that.
The next issue is that in a West Midlands context, the waters of the Circle are pretty insignificant. This means that many records may have been edited out of existence by recorders anxious to convey the bigger picture. Nevertheless there is a long list of sites recording breeding pairs which I will "edit out of existence" by summarising as breeds on most lakes and pools in the Circle.
Finally, when larger gatherings do occur, they are only large in a local context. Nevertheless, Arrow Valley Lake stands out in this regard and the three largest counts come from there, the biggest being 38 in March 2021. Earlswood probably has the second highest counts but the only one to survive the County recorder's editing was 13 in 2012 (the actual date didn't make it into print).
As far as Morton Bagot is concerned my highest total was a modest 10 on April 19 2015. Needless to say the report was too insignificant regionally to get into the regional Bird Report.
Bittell Reservoirs present me with a problem. Numbers there are usually quite small, but in recent years have grown to provide, potentially, a higher figure than any reported elsewhere in the Circle. The question is how many of the 50+ recorded at Bittell in September 2021 were at Lower Bittell. I suspect it was most, or all of them. But at the moment I don't know.
Bewick's Swan - Back in the day, this was the most likely "wild swan" to turn up around here. Breeding in the high arctic, large numbers wintered every year at Slimbridge and some of them paused en route. But like the White-fronted Goose a tendency towards milder winters this century is gradually turning the tap off. With fewer birds even reaching England let alone Slimbridge, the writing seems to be on the wall.
There have been 17 published records since the first, a party of five at Wootton Wawen (probably Wootton Pool) from December 26 to 27 1941. All records of birds which landed have involved fewer than seven birds, the localities being Wootton Wawen (twice), Earlswood (twice), Arrow Valley Lake (twice), Ullenhall, and Tardebigge Reservoir.
The decades of occurrence illustrate the decline: one in the 1930s, two in the 1940s, four in the 1950s, none in the 1960s, four in the 1970s, four in the 1980s, none in the 1990s, none in the 2000s, and two in the 2010s.
The largest parties have all been of birds flying over (presumably south); 40 over Ullenhall on January 28 1959, herds of 32 and 53 over Preston Bagot on November 7 1970, 50 over Redditch on November 21 1988, 15 wild swans thought to be this species over Earlswood on October 19 1989, and 11 over Morton Bagot on January 12 2014. The only record of a singleton flying over is also the only record for Lower Park Farm and was on January 6 2010.
The months of arrivals have been October (one), November (four), December (six), January (five), and April (one). Most have involved birds present for a single day, but there are three exceptions; five birds at Wootton Wawen from April 2 to 8 1955, one at Earlswood from November 23 to December 24 1956, and two at Lower Bittell from November 28 to December 26 1979.
There have been three confirmed records at Lower Bittell which are included in the statistics shown above, but additionally there are 27 records for "Bittell" and only one for Upper Bittell between 1933 and 1995. It seems likely that a good proportion of these records were from Lower Bittell.
Several of these Bittell records have involved substantial herds, the largest being 33 on Mar 24 1985, 32 over on December 1 1973, 29 on January 23 1985, and 26 over on December 10 1992.
I was one of three observers who got lucky with the 11 over Morton Bagot (seen at Salford Priors Gravel Pit later the same day), but for the most part this is a species that would be on every local birder's Christmas list.
Whooper Swan - The other arctic breeding swan to have occurred within the Circle has a very different story to tell. They breed less far north than the preceding species, and traditionally also wintered further north, Icelandic birds barely reaching North Wales and Northern England. Now there is a substantial wintering population on the Ouse Washes, and they have overtaken the declining Bewick's Swan as the regular wild swan in the Midlands.
All this change is relatively recent and the first for the Circle concerns two birds reported by Graham and Janet Harrison, and J A Norton which remained at Wootton Pool from at least January 22 to April 20 1983. This late stay might be considered to cast doubt on the wildness of the birds, but it is more likely to have been because one of the birds had sustained an injury.
The next was found by John Chidwick at Earlswood on September 30 2001, its relatively early date leading to the comment that it might have been feral. Actually the date is consistent with an early arrival of a wild bird.
Fly-over wild swans are a nightmare for observers because they can be difficult to distinguish from the previous species. The next four records in the Circle were all seen in flight only.
Matt Griffiths saw six over Earlswood on December 11 2009, and another south-west over Earlswood on November 14 2012 (that bird had been seen at Marsh Lane Gravel Pit near Packington 15 minutes earlier where it had been identified as this species). I saw three over Morton Bagot on October 13 2013 but made such a mess of my original report that the Recorder felt it best to publish them as wild swans thought to be Whoopers. Finally four wild Swans seen over Crabbs Cross on October 31 2017 were probably Whoopers.
On January 4 2021 14 adults were found on Engine Pool Earlswood, and on October 15 2021 another nine adults turned up on the same pool.
The most recent is one at Lower Bittell from October 15 to November 8 2022.
There have also been 21 records at Bittell of which 10 were at Upper Bittell, but 11 were at "Bittell", some of which may have been at Lower. The largest count was 37 at Upper Bittell on March 7 1953.
Egyptian Goose - is another scarce bird in the Circle whose numbers are at best wanderers from the naturalised population in East Anglia, but more likely escapes.
The first record is one found by Steve Payne on the golf course at Arrow Valley from October 15 to November 12 2006, being present with a second bird on October 29 2006.
There were six at Lower Bittell on January 4 2012.
The only other records are from Earlswood. Singles on October 18 and November 8 2018, a group of three on March 23 2019, and one on April 7 2021.
One flew over Lye Meadows near Alvechurch on January 12 2023, and another (or the same) was at Earlswood in early April 2023.
I suppose I should mention that back in the early 2010s at Morton Bagot (it was pre-blog so I don't know the date), the chap who saw the Brent Goose later told me he had seen an Egyptian Goose there. Very plausible but again nothing in print.
There were also six records from Upper Bittell by 2022.
Common Shelduck - has seen its status change in a positive way since the first record which concerned a party of four found by Tony Norris at Earlswood on November 6 1936 which moved to Wootton Pool later the same day. At this time the species was described as a straggler to Warwickshire, and was basically a purely coastal bird.
For the next five decades occurrences were few and far between, and almost exclusively at Earlswood. There was no real pattern, with birds as likely in autumn and winter as spring.
Things started to change from the 1990s with a strong trend developing towards spring arrivals. The largest flock ever seen in the Circle was at the start of this up turn, when 11 appeared at Earlswood on April 20 1996.
On a wider regional scale the driver of this change was the fact that Shelducks started to breed at inland localities. The actual nesting takes place underground, for example in rabbit warrens, so the first proof of breeding will be the presence of ducklings. While Earlswood has the most records (Shelducks have been seen there in 18 years since the first) there has never been any suggestion of breeding there. However, a new player came onto the scene from 2009 when the first pair turned up at Morton Bagot. In 2011 the pair bred successfully, but although one or two pairs have been seen there every subsequent spring, the only other confirmed breeding success came in 2019. Occasionally flying juveniles have been seen with adults in July and August, so it just possible that another breeding site remains to be discovered.
The county line dividing Worcestershire and Warwickshires runs more or less down the middle of the Circle, but records on the Worcestershire side are almost unknown, despite the presence of several waters far more substantial than the much favoured Morton Bagot. The only record I can find is four at Old Yarr on May 7 2011. (I have deliberately ignored a series of reports from Arrow Valley Lake in 2018).
Other sites to have recorded small numbers of Shelducks within the Circle are Great Alne, Hewell Grange, Haselor, Mappleborough Green Flash, Kinwarton, Middle Spernal and Studley.
The species is almost annual at Upper Bittell, but many records just refer to Bittell. It is possible that a few have occurred at Lower Bittell.
Ruddy Shelduck - I was very tempted to leave this species out because it has a tenuous claim to be on the British List. I think it's in Category B which means not seen within the last 50 years, although several recent "influxes" have been claimed to involve wild birds, though the powers that be have not (yet) relented. All this is pretty irrelevant when it comes to the Circle, because both records undoubtedly involve escapes.
But for the record they are as follows:
One at Great Alne from March 30 to April 12 1999.
One at Abbey Golf Course Pool on October 18 2003, and perhaps the same at Lower Bittell on November 13 2003.
There is also one record at Upper Bittell.
Mandarin - is another example of a naturalised species which has taken hold within the Circle. A native of China, I've heard it said that there are now more in the UK than in the Orient. As far as our area is concerned the story starts with one at Earlswood on January 2 1975.
This isolated record was probably an escape, and there was a wait until 1982 for the next two (Studley and Earlswood), and a further gap to May 16 and 20 1996 when a male and female were spotted at Earlswood. More singles turned up at Earlswood in 1999 and 2000.
From the mid 2000s things started to gather pace, and they were annual from 2007. Breeding took place at the Mill Shrub (Lower Bittell) in 1990, Old Yarr in 2008, and has since been confirmed at Coughton, Spernal, on the River Blyth at Earlswood, and near Umberslade.
The species is well adapted to small fast-flowing rivers, and breeds in tree holes and even Owl boxes. It has been recorded at 20 sites within the Circle since the first record, but its riverine habits restrict the numbers seen so that by 2021 the largest count within the Circle was five at Studley on May 15 2011, and another five at Middle Spernal on March 14 2014.
In fact, I beat that figure in 2020 with a party of eight flushed from the Arrow at Spernal STW on February 5 2020, and a further six were counted at Trap's Green on June 10 2021.
As far as Morton Bagot is concerned the species is surprisingly scarce, but has turned up in singles or pairs on several occasions since the first there on August 28 2010.
There is every chance that Mandarins will become even more common here in future.
Garganey - is a rare thing in more ways than one. It's scarce within the Circle and is a summer visitor, unlike the other British wildfowl.
The first record was one found by John Sears at Earlswood on August 13 1949. They averaged one a decade until the end of the century, but about one every two years since 2000. This apparent increase is largely explained by the emergence of Morton Bagot as a venue since 2007.
In total there have been at least 29 records within the Circle, split as follows: nine at Earlswood, nine at Morton Bagot, seven+ at Lower Bittell, two at Tardebigge Res, two at Hewell Grange, one at Norgrove Court Pool (a pair), and one at Middle Spernal.
The earliest arrival (and also the largest count) was three drakes at Tardebigge Reservoir on March 14 1955. The latest departure was one at Morton Bagot on September 22 2019.
The species was almost annual at Bittell, but is slightly less regular now. At least eight records specifically refer to Lower Bittell, but it is probable that at least half of the "Bittell" records are from Lower Bittell.
Shoveler - is a rather scarce breeding species in the UK, but numbers are swelled at passage times and in winter.
The species bred at Bittell in the nineteenth century, but I do not know which reservoir that took place at.
It has probably been visiting the Circle in small numbers since there were lakes they could settle on, but the first record I can find was six at Wootton Wawen on June 22 1947. This is also the largest count at that locality (it probably refers to Wootton Pool), and is also unusual in being a mid-summer record. Apart from at Bittell, there has never been any suggestion that the species could breed in the Circle, but if it were to do so, then Hewell Grange would be the most likely venue.
Pretty much every substantial area of water has at least one record, and most concern fewer than a dozen birds. However, numbers have increased in the last few years, peaking with a count of 127 at Hewell Grange on February 25 2017. This locality, which is unfortunately within the grounds of a large prison complex and therefore difficult to visit, is emerging as the favoured locality for the species.
Nearby Arrow Valley Lake did well in 2018 (36 in December), Earlswood's peak was 17 in October 2022, Morton Bagot reached 14 in September and October 2019. Even the small pool at Middle Spernal had a double figure count (ten) in 2017.
The numbers at Bittell have also increased in recent years to a peak of 89 in December 2016. Unfortunately there is no breakdown of how many of these were on Lower Bittell, but my guess would be all of them.
Gadwall - is a fairly common breeding species in much of the UK. It remains relatively scarce in the Circle, but was once positively rare.
The first record was one at Earlswood on March 24 1949, but there were no more until one at Tardebigge Reservoir on January 8 1973. From the mid 1980s small numbers occurred at Earlswood Lakes in most years, and the largest count in the Circle was 11 at Earlswood on December 31 1998.
No other counts have exceeded double figures, the nearest being seven at Arrow Valley Lake on February 1 2012. Other localities to have recorded Gadwall include Morton Bagot, Hewell Grange, and most surprisingly Southcrest Pool where there was one on January 2 2000. Unfortunately, as the numbers seen are very small, records are sometimes summarised by the County Recorders resulting in their absence from the County Bird Report, for example at Haselor Scrape where I saw one in 2016.
The situation at Bittell mirrors the rest of the Circle, and the largest count there was 33 in January 2019. How many of these was on Lower Bittell is not published.
Eurasian Wigeon - is a fairly common breeding bird in northern Britain, but is a very common winter visitor throughout the UK, particularly on estuaries.
It has probably always been a regular winter visitor to the Circle, but goes under the radar because the numbers are small in a regional context. The first mention I can find is from a paper on the birds of Earlswood published in 1952 which simply described it as a regular visitor.
This statement remains true today, particularly for Earlswood and many other waters in the area. The only time its status threatened to improve came in a couple of winters from 2009/2010. In November and December 2009 numbers at Lower Park Farm Pools reached 17 birds, followed by an impressive 50 in January 2010.
The following winter saw 45 at Morton Bagot on December 31 2010, and then the highest Circle count to date, 79 in January 2011. Subsequently the numbers have slipped back to the usual below double figure counts.
However, new players emerged in 2018 when Haselor Scrape and Kinwarton saw a figure of 34 in March 2018, and my recent counts suggest that similar numbers are still turning up there.
The situation at Bittell is completely different. The highest count there is 250 in late December 1945, and in more recent times 206 on January 5 1985. Some of these birds will have been on Lower Bittell, but the Upper reservoir is generally favoured.
Mallard - is a very common breeding bird throughout the UK, and even more arrive to spend the winter.
It is easily the commonest duck within the Circle. The first mention came from a comment in 1947 that numbers at Wootton Wawen were 400 on October 4, but had reduced to 70 by October 26 1947 due to shooting pressure. The "sporting industry" has always exerted its influence on Mallard populations. Many are reared for release each autumn, and although there is likely to be inward migration in winter, the high winter numbers may be largely due to releases.
The highest counts, apart from that 1947 total, are mostly at Earlswood where there seems to be a long term trend of stability. The peak was 491 at Earlswood in February 2012. A distant runner-up is Morton Bagot where the largest count, 303 in November 2014, was certainly influenced by birds released for shooting.
By Spring the totals reduce, but almost every possible watery habitat contains breeding Mallard, no park lake is without them. This is a bird which it is easy to ignore, the Feral Pigeon of the aquatic world.
The largest count at Bittell is 506 on December 26 1959, but there is no record of how many of these was on Lower. My guess would be most of them. Numbers there remain in the low hundreds but nothing like that 1959 figure.
Pintail - is a particularly beautiful duck that favours estuaries in winter but occasionally turns up on inland lakes. There is a tiny British breeding population but it is essentially a Northern European (and American) species.
The first records in the Circle concern a series of single drakes at Wootton Wawen (probably Wootton Pool) on February 4, March 26, and October 22 1939. There have since been at least 32 records spread at irregular intervals to the present day. Most have been at Earlswood (14 records), followed by Morton Bagot (seven), and Wootton Wawen (six).
The largest count is 36 at Lower Bittell on January 8 1949, followed by 23 at Beoleylade on January 19 2003. I'm not actually sure where this locality is or was, presumably near Beoley just north of Redditch. It will be interesting to see if it still exists. These counts stand head and shoulders over the next largest; five at Arrow Valley Lake on February 26 2016, five at Lower Bittell on December 1 2008, followed by parties of four at Earlswood on December 31 1995, Morton Bagot on October 11 2020, and three at Tardebigge Reservoir on October 3 2020.
Other locations to have seen odd birds are Hewell Grange, Kinwarton, and Haselor.
The species is almost annual at Bittell including counts of 16 (1971) and 14 (1999). Some of these records may have been at Lower Bittell.
Eurasian Teal - is a common species of duck, overwhelmingly a winter visitor in this area, for which the phrase "horses for courses" could have been invented.
The first mention came in the 1952 paper Birds of Earlswood in which it was described as occurring in small numbers. The species is then ignored until 1985 when Earlswood features again with the phrase "noted in small numbers".
A pair bred at Lower Bittell in 1953, and this was followed by the most noteworthy and surprising occurrence in early May 1993 when a female with seven ducklings was found at Feckenham Wylde Moor. These are the only breeding records within the Circle. Pairs have remained into the summer at Morton Bagot in recent years, but there is yet to be any proof of breeding.
Lower Bittell has been a good locality with a maximum of 263 in October 1985. However in recent years numbers there have tended to be much lower.
A new player came onto the scene in the mid 2000s with the discovery of scrapes at Morton Bagot, and the later completion of scrapes at Haselor and Middle Spernal. The first hint of this came in 2004, when 20 were seen at Morton Bagot. On March 6 2006 52 were counted at Spernal (probably the sewage works), and 30 at Morton Bagot on March 8 2006. Numbers at the latter quickly increased through successive winters, reaching 176 in December 2009. Since then the site has seen numbers peak at over 100 in every year until 2016, with a maximum of 250 in February 2012. The last few years have seen a decline there, although the peak of 155 in November 2022 was an uptick.
Although not as attractive to Teal as Morton Bagot, Middle Spernal/Haselor managed 120 in November 2013, Middle Spernal 95 in 2014, and Haselor 68 in January 2022. These sites are all shallow grass-fringed pools ideal for Teal to feed in.
Throughout this period, many other waters in the Circle have recorded small numbers. Earlswood Lakes became attractive in 2018, with a peak of 70 in October 2018.
The highest count at Bittell was 270 on December 26 1959, but there is no information relating to which reservoir these were at.
Green-winged Teal - is the only North American species to have been found in the Circle to date.
On March 16 2014 Dave Scanlan and myself discovered a drake at Morton Bagot. It remained on the flash field until April 9 2014, and was seen by numerous birders during its stay.
This is a regular but scarce visitor to the UK in small numbers, and the Morton Bagot record was the 10th for Warwickshire.
Red-crested Pochard - is largely an escapee in the UK, being popular in collections. There is also a feral population, and no doubt the odd one does occur as a genuine migrant from southern Europe.
By 2022 there had been ten records for the Circle, mainly from Lower Bittell.
The Lower Bittell records were a drake on June 4 1989, one (sex not stated) on August 10 1995. and another from October 16 to 24 1995, a drake from November 29 to 30 2012, a duck from October 26 to 29 2013, a duck on November 6 2014, and a drake from November 17 to 23 2019.
The other record was a pair at Tardebigge Reservoir on November 8 2020.
A drake was found by Mark Islip at Arrow Valley Lake on April 25 2022.
A pair was at Earlswood on October 21 2022, and another pair there on October 21 2023.
In addition to the above there had been ten records on Upper Bittell and five at "Bittell" by 2021.
Common Pochard - is a diving duck which was never especially common in the Circle, but is in steady decline, a picture mirrored across the West Midlands.
The species has always wintered at Bittell, and the largest total specifying Lower Bittell was 60 on February 9 1935. Sixty-five years later a count of 52 at Lower Bittell on January 23 2000 implied that little had changed. However, this was deceptive and the species has become a lot scarcer at Lower Bittell, as elsewhere, in the last twenty years.
The first mention away from Bittell comes from the 1952 report on the birds of Earlswood, where it was described as a regular visitor. Over twenty years later, 84 at Earlswood Lakes on November 23 1977 remains the largest count there. Since then, each successive decade has seen smaller peaks there; 45 in January 1989, 42 in winter 1996, 11 on December 24 2007, and 12 in both January and October 2014.
The other site to attract Common Pochards is Hewell Grange. In a decline that equates to the situation at Earlswood, the largest count was 40 on January 29 1977, and this was followed by decade peaks of 21 on January 19 1995, 12 on December 4 2002, and six on January 17 2012.
There has been no double-figure count within the Circle since 2014.
There has never been much evidence that the species has tried to breed here, the only significant report being a breeding season presence at Wootton Pool in 2002.
Other sites to record single figure wintering birds are Arrow Valley lake, Lower Park Farm, Wootton Pool, Great Alne, and Beoley.
Morton Bagot's only record was a female on November 29 2020.
Returning briefly to Bittell, there are a lot of records which do not specify a reservoir. These include the largest count there; 300 on January 13 1947. My guess would be that they were indeed on Lower Bittell, but the recent count of 85 at Bittell in February 2020 almost certainly relates to Upper Bittell.
Ferruginous Duck - This southern and central European species vacillates between scarce migrant and National Rarity, which is where it currently resides.
There are four records from within the Circle and these missed the periods when the species was considered a rarity in the UK.
A drake was found at Earlswood on February 13 1949 by PEvans, and later seen by Arthur Cundall, JMS Arnott, AAKWhitehouse and other observers.
Next was one found at Lower Bittell on September 9 1968 by Alan and Brian Dean.
Then a first year female was said to have been shot at Sambourne on November 20 1969 per Tony Harthan. Given the detail supplied I imagine it found its way to a taxidermist or a museum.
The third was a drake found by myself and Mike Inskip at Lower Bittell which remained from October 25 to 29 1989.
The reasons this species has yo-yoed in its treatment as a National Rarity is partly that numbers reported were sometimes deemed too high, and partly that it was popular in collections. Many apparently good records could well be escapes.
There is also an accepted records from "Bittell" which I think is very likely to have been on Lower Bittell. It found by Bill Oddie on October 3 1961.
Ring-necked Duck - is a North American species which is now classed as a scarce migrant to the UK.
A drake was found at Lower Bittell by Ken Clifford on March 28 1990. It was successfully twitched by many before it departed overnight.
Tufted Duck - is a common breeding species which also winters in modest numbers. It's hard to believe that it was ever scarce, but in fact that was once the case.
They didn't really start breeding in Warwickshire and Worcestershire (apart from one record near Coventry in the nineteenth century) until the 1930s and so the first report, which was of 16 at Earlswood during April 1938 may actually have been the first record.
The first breeding record within the Circle was at Hewell Grange in 1954, and not at Earlswood until 1968. Nowadays they utilise almost any small pool deep enough for them to dive for food in, and these have included such unlikely sites as Barrells Park near Ullenhall, Henley Golf Course (three pairs in 2009), Lower Park, and Lapworth Park. The strongest breeding populations have been at Earlswood (five broods in 2016), Lower Bittell (no data), and Morton Bagot (five pairs in 2016).
Outside the breeding season the numbers seem to increase each year. Many localities have recorded up to 30 birds, but the largest counts have been at Earlswood (53 in March 2019), Hewell Grange (50 in November 2008), and Tardebigge Reservoir (69 in November 2020).
Unfortunately I have no data specific to Lower Bittell, but the highest counts at "Bittell" are 300 on January 2 1966 and 239 in December 2018. It is likely that many of these will have been on the Lower reservoir which still tends to be favoured by Tufted Ducks as a wintering destination.
Greater Scaup - is a north European diving duck which typically winters off the coast of UK and western Europe. It is an occasional, but probably declining visitor to larger Midland reservoirs.
The Bittell Reservoirs dominate the statistics. There have been 39 records there since the first; a female at Lower Bittell from February 22 to April 29 1934. Eleven reports were from Lower Bittell, eight at Upper Bittell, and the remaining 20 could have been at either but if they reflect the known figures then just over half will have been at Lower Bittell. The largest number seen was a party of six (including an immature drake) at Lower Bittell on October 31 1993.
Elsewhere, the few medium sized lakes within the Circle are just large enough to attract the odd bird, and there have been seven records in all, as follows:
One at Wootton Pool on February 4 1951.
One at Earlswood Lakes from April 1 to 3 1956.
One or two at Earlswood Lakes on January 5 and 13 1957.
A female at Arrow Valley Lake on January 21 1973
A female at Earlswood Lakes on January 17 1996.
A first-winter male at Earlswood Lakes on December 27 2001.
A first-winter female at Hewell Grange on November 7 2012.
Common Eider - is a true sea duck which is very rare inland, so it's all the more extraordinary that on May 7 2001 Mark Islip found an adult male at Arrow Valley Lake. It stayed for a little over an hour allowing several twitchers, including me, to catch up with it before it flew off to the north.
There is also a record from Upper Bittell; a female on April 21 1948.
Common Scoter - is a true sea duck for most of its life, but is occasionally met with at lakes within the Circle. It has a long history of reservoir stop-overs (usually just a day) in the Midlands, but recent technological advances (Nocmig recorders) seem set to transform its status to regular overnight passage migrant.
The first record was a party of eight at Earlswood on October 22 1950. Small groups are not unusual, but this remains the largest in the Circle to date.
By 2022 Earlswood Lakes had received ten records (three involving small flocks). Arrivals were spread typically for the species; one record in April, three between late June and early August, and the rest from September to November.
Arrow Valley Lake has had two records, singles on September 1 1973, and on July 29 2019.
Tardebigge Reservoir hosted one from November 2 to 10 2019, and the oddest record was a drake found injured at Great Alne on November 7 1998.
Although the species is annual at Bittell, virtually all of them have been on the Upper reservoir. The only record to specifically refer to Lower Bittell is a drake from November 12 to December 7 2008, which was joined by two ducks on November 23 2008.
It is possible that some of the many records which refer only to "Bittell" may have been at Lower Bittell, but I doubt it. A flock of 25 which circled Upper Bittell on March 25 2022 was the largest count there at the time.
The lockdown year saw a boom in Nocmig ownership, and these detected a huge overland movement one night in early April 2020. In the midst of this movement, calls were heard (not recorded) over Winyates at 03.55 on April 4 2020.
Long-tailed Duck - is a northern duck with a coastal distribution in winter, but it is prone to occasionally turn up at inland reservoirs. There are five records within the Circle.
A male at Lower Bittell on October 22 1925 was mentioned in a 1930s article on the birds of Bittell.
A male was found by GBJackson and Tony Norris at Earlswood Lakes from May 5 to 11 1938.
An immature was seen by GWRaynor and LSalmon at Earlswood Lakes from October 23 to 26 1948.
A male in summer plumage was found at Earlswood Lakes by Alan Dean on May 24 2004.
An immature male at Lower Bittell on November 7 1999 was attributed to Roger Hill, Keith Wheatley, and Steve Whitehouse. It later moved to nearby Cofton Reservoir outside the Circle and I think only Roger saw it on Lower.
It may seem surprising that two of the five records were in May, but while October/November is more typical, this month has accounted for several other Midland records.
There are four other records from "Bittell" and one definitely at Upper Bittell.
Common Goldeneye - is an example of a species which probably occurs most winters, but reports of its presence get scant treatment in the County Bird Reports because it is regular and common in winter at most larger waters in the region.
Records for Bittell Reservoir stretch back to the early twentieth century and probably beyond. These include a count of 11 at Lower Bittell on February 13 1937. These are probably birds disturbed from Bartley Reservoir, which was a well known phenomenon in the 1980s and 90s. So the largest count at Bittell Reservoir; 21 on January 7 1951 is quite likely to refer to Lower Bittell. In recent years the numbers there are down in low single figures.
The first dated record I can find away from Bittell is two at Wootton Wawen on December 27 1941, this is also the only record for that site. Writing in 1952 the authors of The Birds of Earlswood said it was present there in most winters.
Since then not much has changed. Earlswood Lakes and Hewell Grange are the most regular sites, with Arrow Valley Lake a distant third. More surprising one-off venues are Norgrove Court in 1987, and Great Alne on December 20 2005.
There is very little detail published, but almost all records are of singles or pairs, and the largest party was four at Earlswood on February 27 2011, with "two to four" present in the 2012 winter.
Smew - is another wintering north European diving duck, but it is quite scarce in the Midlands. Numbers are higher in cold winters as birds which would have wintered in the low countries move south-west to Britain in search of open water.
There are at least 33 records for Bittell (although it was described as an occasional visitor prior to 1934). At least 10 were definitely seen at Lower Bittell, with a maximum count of two from March 2 to 9 1985. Only four are attributed to Upper Bittell, so it is likely that a high proportion of the 19 records which refer simply to "Bittell" are in fact from Lower Bittell. These may include parties of four on January 4 1987, and four again on November 21 1991. It is also worth saying that there have been none at Bittell since 2013.
There are just six records for the rest of the Circle.
The first record comes from Hewell Grange where someone called WWilkinson found a drake which stayed from December 25 to 29 1938.
Nearly twenty years later one was found at Earlswood from March 23 to 31 1956.
Almost thirty years passed before the next one turned up. This time the venue was Arrow Valley Lake where a female was present on February 22 1985.
Over twenty years later the second Earlswood record, a female from November 25 to 28 2008.
Earlswood hosted another female on November 10 2010.
Finally a pair was found at Arrow Valley Lake on February 1 2013.
In recent years a trend towards milder winters has reduced the flow of Smews spending the winters in the Midlands. Perhaps it will be a long time until the next one is found.
Goosander - breeds in northern parts of the UK, and winters in ever larger numbers.
The first hint that they could start breeding locally came in May 2015 when a pair remained at Middle Spernal until May 9, with one bird being seen to May 18. There were further records in 2020, and breeding was proved at Studley in 2021 and at Oversley Green in 2022. This species breeds in hollowed trees along rivers, and the rivers Arrow and Alne look very suitable for its breeding status to go from strength to strength.
As a winter visitor it has massively improved its status in the last twenty years.
The first records were singles at Wootton Wawen on March 14 and 21 1936, and at Earlswood on December 18 1936. There would be a long wait for the next one, which was found at Earlswood on December 27 1958.
It is probably fair to say that the species was no commoner than Smew in the Circle during the middle years of the twentieth century.
Things began to pick up in the 1990s, but even then it was only recorded in seven years of the decade. The year 2000 was the last with no records, and the increase has been rapid. There are almost no lakes where this species has not turned up during the last twenty years, and multiple counts in winter have become the norm.
The largest locality counts so far are 61 at Hewell Grange in February 2012, 46 at Earlswood in December 2012, 35 at Arrow Valley Lake in February 2013, and 33 at Lower Park Farm Pools on January 11 2011.
The driver of this recent increase in the wider region may be the proliferation of commercial fishing pools, the species having a similar diet to another increasing species, the Cormorant.
The situation at Lower Bittell mirrors the general pattern except that there it is a case of boom and bust because since the Upper reservoir was temporarily drained in 2018 the numbers have failed to recover. There is also considerable movement between to the two reservoirs so the highest figure for Lower Bittell; 28 on January 23 2000 is unlikely to be the actual peak. The zenith for "Bittell" came with a count of 111 on February 21 2012.
Needless to say, fishermen hate them.
Red-breasted Merganser - has the most coastal wintering distribution of the three Sawbill ducks, and accordingly is the rarest in the Circle.
That said, it is perhaps scarcer than might have been expected given that it is annual on the larger reservoirs in the region.
There are three records from Earlswood, and are as follows:
An immature or eclipse drake seen by John Chidwick and Alan Dean on November 17 1996.
An adult male seen by John Chidwick, Matt Griffiths, and Graham Mant from December 25 to 27 2003.
A first winter drake found by John Oates on December 8 2018.
And three records for Lower Bittell, as follows:
A female from January 30 to February 27 1937, which also visited Upper Bittell was reported by EStG Betts and Miss CKJames
A female on May 3 1991 reported by Gavin Peplow and Graham Mant
A female from November 24 to 26 2010 found by Mike Jeeves.
By 2021 the Bittell Reservoirs had hosted 15 in total (including the three above). Five were only at Upper Bittell, but seven were reported as "Bittell", so it's quite likely that some of those were on, or at least visited, Lower Bittell.
Ruddy Duck - is a North American species which became naturalised in the UK following escapes from Slimbridge in the 1960s. Unfortunately a few started to migrate to Spain where a proportion bred with the scarce European species, White-headed Duck, producing viable hybrid offspring. Conservation concerns led to the controversial decision to eradicate the entire UK population. It is now effectively extinct within the Circle (and in the UK).
The first to be recorded around here were noted at "Bittell" in the early 1960s, followed by singles at Tardebigge Reservoir on October 7 and December 11 1975. Records followed from Hewell Grange in 1977 and 1978, and at Earlswood from 1979. They bred at Earlswood from at least 1983 to 1986, at Lower Bittell in 1997 and 1999, and the BTO Atlas had them breeding somewhere within SP06 (the Redditch square, probably Hewell Grange) between 1988 and 1991.
The numbers in the Circle were never large, and it may be that some records never made it into print because it was a relatively common naturalised species in the wider region during the 1980s and 90s. The largest count I can find is six at Earlswood in July 1986. Their habit of wintering on large reservoirs and dispersing to smaller water bodies in the breeding season made them commoner in the summer in the Circle.
However, the maximum at "Bittell" was 37 in January 2006. I suspect these birds were on Lower Bittell.
Other sites to have recorded birds were Wootton Wawen (2002), and Henley golf course pool (2007). The last records were two at Earlswood on October 14 2009 and a female at Lower Bittell on October 12 2009. The last on Upper Bittell was a drake on March 29 2010.
Odd birds do still turn up in the region, but if that were to happen in the Circle, any on-line reporting of their presence would lead to their immediate culling by the government agency responsible. This happened in 2021 in Leicestershire, so its probably best to keep quiet about any found while they are still present.
Other Ducks - There are quite a few ducks which do not feature in this history. a
A European sea duck that has yet to turn up is Velvet Scoter. This species has occurred on Upper Bittell on four occasions (two of them technically Bittell) and at Upton Warren, so why not Earlswood or Arrow Valley Lake? Surf Scoter from America seems less likely but there is a record from Westwood near Droitwich.
Other American species which may turn up one day are Lesser Scaup (there are several Worcestershire and Warwickshire records), Blue-winged Teal, and American Wigeon. I could imagine either of the last two at Haselor or even Morton Bagot (in my dreams).
There are at least seven other very rare ducks on the British list which could technically appear, but of these, only Bufflehead has occurred in the West Midlands, and I'm not holding out much hope.
Grey Partridge - is an indigenous British gamebird and is now in serious decline throughout its UK range.
It was commoner than the preceding species in the early twentieth century, and the first mention of it within the Circle came with a comment in 1952 that they had decreased at Earlswood over the previous five years.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in Atlas counts in 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91. They bred at Preston Bagot in 1988, and birds were present near Alcester in 1993, at Norgrove and Rowney Green in 1997, at Coughton and at Great Alne in 1999, and at Coughton Fields and Tardebigge in 2012.
The state of the natural population has been masked by releases for shooting. At Morton Bagot, for example, 200 were released in autumn 2007, and there were also releases at Spernal. However, these actions did not translate into a sustained population. At Morton Bagot coveys on 20 in autumn 2007, and 2008 were the last to be seen, although odd birds persisted until 2013.
A party of eight was at Middle Spernal in 2013, but again these may have been the survivors of earlier releases.
The species is easy to miss, and there is evidence that small numbers are still out there. At least 30 were released at Lower Park in 2016, some was seen at Rowney Green/Lower Park Farm in 2018, then a breeding season report came from Alcester in 2020, one was Haselor in 2021 and another was caught on a camera trap at Hopwood on May 7 2021. There were up to five birds at Rowney Green/Lower Park Farm in January 2022.
Common Pheasant - goes largely unremarked upon in the Circle because of its abundance in rural areas and the fact that the "natural" population is supplemented each year by birds released for shooting.
It was recorded as confirmed breeding in all the Atlas counts carried out since the 1960s. The only regular breeding population assessments come from Morton Bagot where there were 30 territories in 2006 and 22 territories in 2019. The slight decline could be due to the cessation of releases there since Heart of England Forest acquired the site (but releases continue in nearby non HOEF woods).
To give you an idea of the scale of the shooting industry's impact, 1000 were released at Morton Bagot in 2006 (580 were subsequently shot).
The largest accumulations recorded are undoubtedly influenced by these releases, but for the record the largest count was 350 at Alcester Heath in autumn 2014.
Common Quail - is a scarce summer visitor to arable fields in the UK, and the Circle has actually done quite well for them. There are 20 published records to 2021.
There is nothing in the literature to suggest that the species was any commoner in the nineteenth century, if anything it seems to have been rarer.
The first record in the Circle was one flushed "near Redditch" in September 1933 per AJHarthan. This record is atypical in being an autumn occurrence.
Subsequently the earliest report was two calling at Morton Bagot on May 14 2005, and the rest were all heard, rarely seen, before the end of July.
The most favoured site is Morton Bagot with five accepted records (all since 2005) and one pending, next comes Tardebigge with three in the 1960s and 70s, and then Alcester with two records. Sites with a single record are Bentley, Crumpfields, Tanworth-in-Arden, Coughton, Oldberrow, Kinwarton, near Alvechurch, Lower Bittell, and Middle Spernal.
The latest bird was one I flushed at Morton Bagot on October 25 2020. This was an exceptionally late record for the region.
There were two records at Morton Bagot in 2023 (awaiting acceptance and publication).
There are also four records at Upper Bittell.
Red-legged Partridge - is a species introduced from the continent by shooting estates, and now common in the UK.
There is little information available from the early part of the twentieth century except that it was considered scarcer than the indigenous Grey Partridge.
The first record I can find is one at Earlswood on April 14 1950. Birds were recorded at Aston cantlow in 1965, and Feckenham in 1969. They were described as probably breeding in SP06 from 1966 - 68 (Lord & Munn), and confirmed breeding in the BTO Atlas of 1968 - 72.
The first mention of a flock was 12 at Tardebigge on October 12 1974, and 18 at Spernal in 1999. The Morton Bagot area came to the fore when the number released for shooting was published in the early twenty-first century. For example 750 were released in autumn 2007, of which 123 were shot, and 200 were seen on October 3.
The Kinwarton area has also recorded substantial flocks in autumn, and 85 were at Haselor on September 24 2020.
Breeding data from Morton Bagot suggests a population of up to 25 pairs forming territories in the spring following releases, although since the cessation of shooting (and farming) there, recent years have seen a reduction. The population in 2019 at Morton Bagot was just six territories.
Other Gamebirds - I can think of no other gamebirds which could occur naturally as they are all upland non-migratory species. I suppose an escaped exotic Pheasant like Golden Pheasant may one day turn up as an escape.
European Nightjar - is a summer visitor with a patchy UK distribution centred mainly on areas of extensive coniferous woodland and heathland.
Within the Circle there is one accepted published account. This relates to a bird seen by AD Warren as it hawked moths near Henley-in-Arden railway station on July 4 2006.
There is a possibility that the species formerly bred. I recently learned that it may have had a presence in Coughton Wood during the 1940s, although the precise details elude me. Writing in the 1950s Norris stated that he knew of only one record in South Warwickshire, but he did not give any other details. There is also a curious "probable breeding" dot in the SP06 square during the 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas. There was no mention of any in the WMBC Report for the time, and I wonder whether it was just a misprint.
The species' crepuscular habits and summer visiting status could well lead to under-recording and so it is one to look out for.
There is also a record of one on the dam at Upper Bittell on August 24 1948.
Common Swift - is a familiar summer visitor to the UK, although there are concerns that numbers may be declining.
Within the Circle the species has probably always been a presence, but the first documented record I can find was one at Alvechurch on May 8 1934.
In 2021 an opportunity was taken to assess a local breeding strength. At Henley-in-Arden the population was established to be 18 to 20 pairs, occupying 13 different buildings.
The earliest and latest records are not well documented because large reservoirs (not in the Circle) usually claim the prize. The earliest I can find is five at Earlswood on April 15 2021, and the latest one at Earlswood on October 6 2020.
No accumulation has ever been estimated as more than 200, but there are several which have reached that figure, namely: 200 over oilseed rape at both Henley-in-Arden and Wootton Wawen on July 16 1976, 200 at Earlswood on May 19 2009, and 200 at Earlswood on May 15 2017.
Almost as impressive are movements. The largest to date are 347 flying south in two hours over Winyates East on August 11 2021, and 300 over Earlswood in two hours on both April 28 and May 1 1961.
Finally, the most intriguing record is of a "white-rumped" Swift over Arrow Valley Lake on June 12 1996. Modern day digital cameras might have been helpful there!
Numbers at Bittell have sometimes topped 200, with maxima of 700 on May 29 1991, 600 in June 1978, and 400 at Upper Bittell on June 8 2019. Unfortunately none of these counts was explicitly made at Lower Bittell.
Other Swifts - are possible. The most likely is Alpine Swift which has been recorded as near as Upton Warren. All the others are extreme rarities and have white rumps (see above).
Common Cuckoo - is a familiar summer visitor to the UK although there is a recent feeling that the southern British population is currently struggling to maintain its numbers, while the more northern birds are doing OK.
Within the Circle the first documented record was a singing bird at Alvechurch on April 23 1934, although this is no reflection on its prior status which can be assumed to have been buoyant.
Although the first of the year is much anticipated, thereafter there is precious little to pick out. They do not form flocks, and they are widely distributed. Whether this situation continues remains to be seen.
The earliest record I have noticed was one at Astwood Bank on April 3 2007. Most arrive towards the end of April, and leave during July. The latest record I can find is one at Umberslade on September 4 2009, but I suspect there will have been later ones.
There have been records of three singing birds at Alcester Heath, Spernal, and Earlswood, but the prize for abundance goes to the six heard singing between Spernal and Morton Bagot in May 2004.
It will be interesting to see how the species is faring in ten years time.
Other Cuckoos - two American and one southern European Cuckoo species are on the British List but none is expected to turn up in the Midlands, let alone locally.
Feral Pigeon - is a common sight in cities and towns across the world, but is regarded as only an honorary wild bird by many birders.
The apathy towards it is reflected in the paucity of records within the Circle.
There is no mention of it before the BTO Atlas 1988 - 91 which confirmed it was breeding within SP06.
Every now and then someone counts a flock of the things, and there are reports of up to 30 at Alcester Heath and Kinwarton. The fly in the ointment is racing pigeons which occasionally rest up or get lost mid race.
The largest count of Feral Pigeons in a more typical setting is 105 in Redditch town centre on August 21 2011.
Stock Dove - is a common British breeding bird which has been increasing steadily in numbers.
Within the Circle the species has been ever-present. The first mention I can find comes from an article on the birds of Earlswood in 1952 which simply lists it among the species which probably breed.
The WMBC Atlas 1966 - 68 gave its status in SP06 as present with no evidence of breeding, and the BTO Atlas 1968 - 72 recorded it as probably breeding in SP06.
So the likelihood is that the species was not particularly common at that time. Confirmed breeding status was not published for SP06 until the BTO Atlas 1988 - 91.
Outside the breeding season there is a record of 60 on maize stubble at Tardebigge on January 10 1976.
In the present century the species has been given a lot more attention. Regular monitoring at Morton Bagot began in 2006, when three pairs held territory. By 2017 that had risen to 12 pairs.
Outside the breeding season more evidence for the increase in numbers becomes apparent. 85 were counted at Morton Bagot on September 21 2004, but ten years later there was a flock of 400 there on March 5 2014. Other notable flocks include 66 at Box Trees on March 17 2013, a regionally significant count of 900 at Haselor on March 25 2018, 300 at Umberslade on December 11 2020, and 300 at Ham Green on January 25 2022.
I'm not really sure why the species has done so well when other farmland birds have struggled. It may be that it is a generalist feeder like the Woodpigeon, and an opportunist breeder. They often move into nest boxes designed with owls in mind.
Woodpigeon - is one of the commonest and most easily seen birds in the UK.
In the Circle it formerly got scant attention due no doubt to its familiarity. In the Birds of Earlswood in 1952 it is simply referred to as a regular breeding species.
There isn't very much to add to that today in terms of breeding season abundance. Regular monitoring at Morton Bagot suggests a stable population, with 36 pairs recorded in both 2015 and 2017.
In autumn and winter the species becomes even more obvious. Stand around in calm conditions for the first couple of hours of the day from late October to late November and you are likely to witness spectacular movements of birds heading south-west. The assumption is that they are migrating, but possibly just within the UK.
The most impressive movements have been south-west over Earlswood, where Matt Griffiths counted 5400 in two hours on November 10 2012, and 5130 in 90 minutes on November 10 2013. Elsewhere there are counts of 2325 over a garden in Oakenshaw on October 30 2022, and 2610 over Old Yarr on November 4 2020. A possible alternative explanation for these movements could be that they refer to birds leaving overnight roosts, and there was a count of 1500 roosting at Earlswood on November 4 2017.
Birds feeding in fields can be almost as impressive (but probably very unwelcome if you're a farmer). Evidence that this is not a recent phenomenon comes from Tardebigge, where 400 were counted on December 30 1968, and more recently from Beoleylade where there were 500 on October 24 2002.
Other large counts include 900 at Morton Bagot on December 16 2016, 1000 at Haselor on January 18 2015, and 1000 at Bushwood on April 16 2021.
So there you are, even the most taken for granted species can make for a spectacular day.
Turtle Dove - was once a common bird over much of England and parts of Wales. It is a summer visitor which has to run the gauntlet of Mediterranean hunters every year. As the species is declining everywhere, the EU is under pressure to bring in hunting bans. Whether these could ever be enforced is open to question. While hunting is an issue, the most likely cause of the decline is modern agricultural monoculture which is impacting the bird's food supply.
Within the Circle it has gone from a tolerably common summer visitor to functionally extinct since the first mention of its presence was made: In 1935 singles were reported at Hopwood and Alvechurch during May.
The species was probably taken for granted for the next forty years, and the only flock I can find mention of was 14 at Tardebigge on June 25 1968. However, in 1979 it was still said to be numerous in the Tardebigge area, and three were singing at Wootton Wawen in 1989. After this time the decline was starting to be noticed, and as a result every sighting got published.
Breeding records came from Tanworth-in-Arden in 1990, with additional reports from Coughton Wood (four pairs in 1993), Spernal Park, Henley-in-Arden, and Umberslade, but in the first ten years of the present century it was largely confined to the Alcester area. A singing bird was at Morton Bagot on April 26 2008.
With increased rarity comes a heightened fear that the species might be targeted by a small, but persistent rump of egg-collectors. As a result the WMBC stopped publishing the localities of potential breeding birds in 2013, so the present status is a secret. It may be extinct, or it may not.
There was, however, a migrant over Morton Bagot on May 9 2019.
Collared Dove - provides one of the more remarkable stories of the twentieth century. Formerly a bird of south-east Europe and Asia it began an unexpected range expansion north-westwards from the 1930s, reaching the UK (Norfolk) in 1955, and the West Midlands in about 1961. It is now resident and non-migratory throughout most of the UK.
The first Circle record comes from Alcester in summer 1966, followed by one at Ipsley in 1967, more in Alcester in 1968, and then Upper Bentley in 1969. Shortly afterwards, they transcended from noteworthy scarcity to being too common to bother with.
The species does well in suburbia, but the largest flocks to date relate to farmland. The prize for the most is currently held by Banks Green (not far from Upper Bentley), where there were 48 in February 1998. Other substantial counts include 30 at Cobley Hill in August 13 1999, 25 at Coughton Fields on October 31 2011, and 36 at Castle Farm, Studley in January and February 2016.
As a breeding species the bird is well established in Redditch and Alcester, but there is not much detail. At Morton Bagot there have generally been four pairs, but the latest assessment (2016) found only two.
Other Pigeons - are very unlikely to occur, comprising just two extremely rare migrants (one from North America, and one from Asia). Of the two, the Asian Oriental (Rufous) Turtle Dove has been found in gardens in winter in unexpected parts of the country, but will almost certainly never reach us.
Water Rail - is sparsely distributed in summer, and more widely in winter in the West Midlands.
This situation is reflected in the Circle. Breeding was confirmed with SP06 in the 1968-72 BTO Atlas, but the record is not mentioned in the WMBC reports for those years. The only other confirmed breeding record was at Arrow Valley Lake in 2018 where a juvenile was seen on August 9. There were also breeding season records from Kinwarton in 2016, Earlswood in 2019, and Morton Bagot in 2021.
Outside the breeding season the first mention was for Earlswood between February and April 1950, and subsequently there are records for Tardebigge, Beoleylade, Beoley Mill Pool, Hewell Grange, Ipsley Alders, Arrow Valley Lake, Morton Bagot, Dickens Heath, Kinwarton, Wootton Pool, and Feckenham.
The largest gatherings have been five at Ipsley Alders on November 21 2017, and four at Hewell Grange on January 8 2017.
Five at "Bittell" on December 7 2002 are likely to have been at Lower Bittell.
Corncrake - once bred over much of the country, but was pretty much wiped out when farming became mechanised. Its UK breeding range is now largely restricted to the Hebrides, although there is a reintroduction programme centred on the Nene Washes, and it is a migrant so there is the potential for further records.
Taken at face value there are nine records for the Circle. But four of these, published in the relevant WMBC Reports, from Alvechurch in 1934, 1938, and 4 June 1959, plus one (admittedly a second hand account) from Rowney Green involving a bird apparently breeding in a rockery in 1948 were all reported by the same person, a Miss ME Pumphrey. The author of Birds of Worcestershire AJ Harthan writing in 1947, ignored both of the earlier records whilst giving the WMBC Reports as a source. The inference I get from that is that he didn't rate those observations.
This leaves five untainted reports.
One near Lower Bittell on May 11 1934 by HG Alexander
One was heard in a cornfield near Studley by John Sears on May 13 1956.
One was heard by AW Bennion near Henley-in-Arden on May 13 1961.
One was heard near Tardebigge by JR Hutchings on June 8 1970.
One was found dead at Wythall by GC Hunt on September 11 1988.
There is also a report that a pair bred "near Bittell" in 1933. This may have led to the discovery of a bird near Lower Bittell the following year.
I would like to think that another record is a possibility, but I'm afraid it's a long shot.
Spotted Crake - is a very scarce breeding bird in the UK, but is also a slightly less scarce passage migrant on its way from Scandinavia to Africa. They are less than annual in the West Midlands and seem to be on the decline.
Despite an apparent paucity of Crake-friendly habitat within the Circle there have been three records, all from Earlswood Lakes.
The first is the most strange. John Sears, Arthur Cundall, and P Evans reported one in December 1948, and presumably the same bird in February 1949. Although winter records are not unknown, they are very unusual in the UK.
Six years later Messrs Sears and Cundall found another one at Earlswood. This time the dates were September 3 to 4 1955, which is a far more typical date for the species to occur.
Technology now allows us to record nocturnal migration, and Crakes and Gallinules always migrate at night. Nevertheless John Oates' recording of this species' whiplash call as it migrated over Earlswood Lakes just before midnight on May 25 2019 came as a massive surprise.
There may well be a long wait for the next one.
Moorhen - is a very common breeding bird in the UK.
It has probably always been common within the Circle, but the first reference I can find is that it was listed among the regular breeding species at Earlswood in 1952.
There cannot be any water body or water course within the Circle which does not have Moorhens breeding on it, so I won't be listing all the published records.
However, one particularly interesting observation came from Ullenhall where the breeding population in the parish fell from 10 pairs to nil following the exceptionally cold 1962/1963 winter.
They don't really form flocks outside the breeding season, but as they have several broods through the season, numbers do accumulate at particularly favoured locations. The highest count recorded so far is 54 at Earlswood on November 25 2018.
It should be said that 60 at Bittell in Sep 2020 probably relates mostly to Lower Bittell, but exactly how many were there is not published.
Other locality records are 15 - 30 at Wootton Wawen in 2000, 25 at Southcrest on September 3 2000, 20 at Arrow Valley Lake on February 4 2007, 18 at Hewell Grange on February 21 2002, 19 at Morton Bagot on August 4 2020, 17 at Beoleylade in January and February 2003, 14 in the Kinwarton area on March 18 2013, and 17 at Matchborough on September 10 2021.
Common Coot - is a common breeding bird in the UK.
Within the Circle Lower Bittell dominates the scene. Dozens bred in the 1920s and 30s while elsewhere it breeds on suitably sized pools, and is rather less widespread in winter.
The usual issue with Bittell is particularly obvious with this species. In the past, including the 1980s and 1990s when I was a regular visitor, most occurred on Lower Bittell, but recently the situation is reversed.
Fortunately an early estimate of 150 to 200 on January 14 1939 were at Lower Bittell. Since then, the highest counts all come from "Bittell". 275 on December 31 1962 were more likely to have been mainly on Lower Bittell, but 312 at Bittell in November 2020 were much more likely to been on Upper Bittell.
The first reference comes from Earlswood where about 25 were present in the early part of 1947.
Breeding season reports have since included pairs at Ipsley Alders, Lodge Park, Shortwood Roughs, Wootton Wawen (six in 2005), Morton Bagot (four in 2008), Lower Park Farm Pools, Earlswood Lakes (eight pairs in 2011), and Wythall Park. There will have been breeding attempts at other sites but not all reach the county recorders.
The largest counts are 41 at Earlswood in June 2019, 50 at Arrow Valley Lake in January 2011, and 27 at Morton Bagot on March 23 2018.
Common Crane - formerly a purely European species which occasionally strayed to the UK on its way back and forth between Scandinavia and Iberia, it is now a scarce British breeding bird. Some apparently wild birds started to breed in Norfolk in the 1990s, and then odd pairs in Yorkshire and Scotland. An introduction scheme was subsequently sanctioned in the Somerset Levels, and as a result birds have started to appear fairly regularly in Worcestershire particularly.
There are three records for the Circle.
A pair circled over Church Hill North at 09.50 on April 11 2011, and a very fortunate TWells was on hand to watch them.
The following spring produced one seen by PSJones flying north over Sambourne on April 2 2012, and later seen in Staffordshire.
A party of six flew south over Wythall late in the morning of September 24 2021 where they were watched by SRichardson. This same party had been seen the previous afternoon over Northumberland and earlier in the morning of the 24th over Derbyshire....making a beeline for the south coast. Pretty good provenance for wild birds.
Most of the British breeding birds are ringed, but obviously you can't detect a ring on a flying bird (unless you nave a very good camera).
There are also two records for Upper Bittell. Singles in 2019 and 2020, neither was judged to have been ringed.
Little Grebe - has long been a resident within the Circle and is particularly well represented at Lower Bittell. Unfortunately most counts refer to "Bittell" but the species has always favoured Lower Bittell, so the highest count: 40 on September 3 1961 is very likely to have been from there. The species also breeds on Lower Bittell.
As for the rest of the Circle, I have found breeding records for 12 localities, mostly on small pools. There appears to be no trend in abundance one way or another, although the data is limited.
The highest count by a country mile is 31 at Kinwarton on November 22 2020. The also-rans are eight at Earlswood in 1955, and seven at Haselor in 2014, although the actual dates are not published. A count of six at Hewell Grange on March 30 1974 is the one fully detailed record.
Red-necked Grebe - has occurred at least twice in the Circle.
An adult was at Lower Bittell from September 15 to 18 1984 was seen by many observers (including me), although who actually found it is unrecorded.
One remained at Arrow Valley Lake from November 23 to December 6 1986, being reported by Brian Newsome and Steve Whitehouse.
There are a further six records from "Bittell" and one from Upper Bittell. At this stage I do not know whether any of the six Bittell records was on the Lower reservoir. It is possible.
Great Crested Grebe - has quite a long association with the Circle, perhaps partly because of its infamous rarity in the mid nineteenth century due to persecution for its plumes.
The early seeds of the conservation movement led the the gradual cessation of this persecution, and colonisation soon followed. The first mention comes from Wootton Wawen (Wootton Pool) where it bred in about 1888, also Lower Bittell where it has bred since the 1880s, and then at Earlswood Lakes and Hewell Grange in 1900.
The species requires reasonably deep expansive water, and so will always be restricted in range within the Circle. Breeding has been regular at Hewell Grange, where there were five pairs in 1900, Earlswood Lakes (12 pairs in 2011), Tardebigge Reservoir, Wootton Pool, and Arrow Valley Lake. Birds have also bred at Ipsley Mill Pool, on pools at Redditch Golf Course, Lodge Pool (1997), and Lower Park Pools (2009 and 2011). Even the canal between Alvechurch and Lower Bittell gets birds in spring and summer, with eight on April 20 2018. Obviously Lower Bittell also has birds breeding.
The highest counts were 50 at Earlswood Lakes in May 2010, 25 at Lower Bittell on May 29 1934, 20 at Arrow Valley Lake in February, March and October 2018, 14 at Wootton Pool on April 20 2004, 11 at Hewell Grange on March 24 2010, and 10 at Tardebigge Reservoir on February 21 2016.
Records at "Bittell" far exceed the above, and include a Worcestershire county record of 86 in December 2014. The majority will certainly have been on Upper Bittell though.
Morton Bagot has never had one, and I'm not holding my breath.
Slavonian Grebe - is a scarce visitor to coastal estuaries from its northern European breeding grounds. It is occasional inland and there have been five modern records in the Circle.
Back in historical times, the first record was a pair in breeding plumage shot at Wootton Pool. Tomes, writing in 1904, laments that if they had been left alone they may have bred (although to modern eyes this seems unlikely). Unfortunately, the date is not reported by Norris in his Birds of Warwickshire. He goes on to mention three early records at Earlswood (again no date) except to say that "in 1910 it was seen regularly there on migration, though this seemed unlikely." Quite.
The remaining seven records begin with the claim of one in winter plumage at Lower Bittell on September 7 1948 by L Salmon and M Larkin
Next was an adult in summer plumage on April 16 1986 seen by Graham Mant and Steve Whitehouse.
The third was the discovery of one at Earlswood by Glen Giles, which remained from March 5 to 6 1993.
Glen Giles also found the next one, again at Earlswood, this time a single on April 1 2001.
Two were found by Alan Dean at Earlswood on December 10 2004.
The most amazing record was one on the tiny pool at Feckenham, found by JHingley, and present from February 24 to 26 2010, allowing many others to go and see it.
The most recent was one at Arrow Valley Lake, discovered by Mark Islip on March 8 2018, and again well twitched by all and sundry.
I should add the caveat that there are 10 other records from Bittell. Three were definitely on Upper Bittell, but the remaining seven are just recorded as "Bittell". It would not be unexpected if some of those were at Lower Bittell.
Black-necked Grebe - is the most frequent of the scarce Grebes in the Midlands, and has even bred in the West Midlands. There are at least 11 records including the first which was in the nineteenth century.
The first was shot (inevitably) at Wootton Wawen some years prior to 1904 Tomes. As is often the case, no date is given.
Almost as long ago were two at Earlswood on September 26 1908.
One was at Lower Bittell from February 5 to 13 1937
One was found at Earlswood on November 4 1955.
One was at Lower Bittell from January 13 to 16 1968
One was at Lower Bittell from September 4 to 9 1979
One was at Arrow Valley Lake on March 3 1988.
One was at Lower Bittell from May 14 to 16 2011
Three were at Lower Bittell on May 3 2012.
One was at Earlswood from June 6 to 7 2016.
The most recent was one at Earlswood on September 17 2018.
These records probably represent the tip of the iceberg because there have been a total of 32 records at Bittell Reservoirs. Five were definitely at Lower Bittell (see above), 12 were definitely on Upper Bittell including seven from November 16 to 17 1946, and 15 were recorded at "Bittell". It seems likely that at least half of these would also have been seen at Lower Bittell.
Further records seem likely, and until the main pool at Morton Bagot was allowed to drain away I always fancied one there.
Other Grebes - There is only one other Grebe on the British list. A Pied-billed Grebe turned up at a pool in Worcestershire in 2021 but news of its arrival was suppressed due to the private nature of the site. It wasn't within the Circle.
Eurasian Oystercatcher - is a common coastal breeding bird in England and Wales, and also inland over much of Scotland. Over the last thirty years breeding has become widespread on gravel pits in the Midlands, and its status in the Circle reflects this.
The first record was one at Lower Bittell on August 18 1938.
The first breeding attempts took place at Lower Park in 2012, with successful outcomes in 2013 and 2015, and in an arable field at Earlswood in 2020. The latter was unsuccessful. A breeding attempt is being made at Alvechurch Fishery in 2023.
Records were less than annual until 2004, but they have occurred every year since 2006. They have turned up in 11 years at Earlswood, 10 at Arrow Valley Lake, five at Morton Bagot, and two at Lower Park Farm Pools.
The largest counts by the end of 2021 were seven at Earlswood in March 2021, and five at Arrow Valley Lake in both March 2018 and July 2019.
The largest count at "Bittell" was nine on July 31 1977, but these were certainly at Upper Bittell.
Pied Avocet - famously started breeding at Minsmere after WW2, and became a species of East Anglian brackish lagoons until a pair found the saline flashes at Upton Warren to their taste. The numbers of breeding birds increased, and recent developments suggest that it's getting a bit overcrowded. Birds are starting to check out the Circle.
The first record was one at Earlswood on November 16 2012.
One was at Lower Bittell on March 6 2013.
Two years later a pair appeared at Morton Bagot on April 2 2014.
A pair dropped into Arrow Valley Lake on April 28 2017.
The second for Earlswood was one on November 17 2018, almost exactly six years after the first.
Morton Bagot held a pair from April 21 to 26 2019, and again on June 2 2019.
One was "Nocmig" recorded at Earlswood Lakes on May 5 2020.
Two were at Earlswood from March 24 to April 4 2021, and up to four were at Morton Bagot from March 30 to May 16 2021, with another pair there from July 11 to 18 2021.
Morton Bagot had a pair from March 20 2022 to May 22 2022, with six on April 18.
Five were at Mappleborough Green Flash on April 12 2022, with one remaining to the next day.
If the current trend continues, the Morton Bagot records will need summarising as they seem to be a regular feature of the summer.
Northern Lapwing - is still a widespread breeding and wintering bird in the UK, but is in steady decline and this situation is mirrored in the Circle.
So common that it was taken for granted in the nineteenth and early twentieth century the first mention for the Circle was in 1951, and even then it was only to record a westerly movement (numbers unspecified) over Tardebigge on October 17.
A better indication of the numbers present in the landscape came in 1952, when about 2000 were counted "near Redditch" on January 16 1952. Even in 1953 there was a comment that breeding pairs had decreased around Henley-in-Arden and Wootton Wawen over the previous two years.
In January 1983 there was a flock of 2000 at Bordesley in March, and 1000 near Alcester in February 1984. That was the last time a flock of over 1000 would be seen.
Until about 10 years ago the numbers seemed to have found a new level, 300 at Wootton Wawen on December 13 1998, 300 at Alcester on August 21 2008, 500 at Morton Bagot in December 2011. But since then the decline has resumed. In 2019 the highest counts were 93 at Morton Bagot in January, and 100 to 200 around Alcester, although 210 were counted at Haselor on December 6 2020.
The breeding bird situation is masked by the longevity of the birds. There is a long list of localities containing breeding pairs, and the number of pairs can seem pretty consistent. There were still nine pairs at Morton Bagot in 2019. The key problem is fledgling survival. At Haselor scrape in 2014 eight pairs produce 20 chicks, but not one survived to fledge. Three fledged at Morton Bagot in 2018, but few have done so since.
Physiologically waders are geared to expect high losses, that's why they live so long. Obviously you can point the finger of blame at high predator numbers, more corvids and foxes due to the easy availability of carrion (roadkill) and maybe reduced gamekeeping, but I think the breeding species are being corralled into ever shrinking areas of suitable habitat creating killing fields for the generalist predators to prosper.
The future seems bleak for this species.
European Golden Plover - breeds in northern Europe and in upland UK habitat, and winters in favoured localities across much of England.
Locally the records suggest a core wintering population which roams the eastern half of the Circle in search of suitably large undisturbed fields to feed and rest.
There are relatively few records prior to this century, but whether this is due to lack of observer interest or a lack of birds is hard to say. The first record is one over Earlswood in December 1948. The next, over a decade later, 40 feeding on pasture at Tardebigge in January 1966, and then 22 at Bordesley on January 1 1974.
A flock of 450 west over Earlswood on January 24 1999 may have been a hard-weather movement because there were no further substantial flocks until 104 at Wootton Wawen on November 11 2007 127 at Wythall on January 27 2007, 130 in the north part of the Arrow Valley in December 2007, and 200 at Studley in November 2008.
So perhaps it was around this time that the wintering flock became established. The totals soon shot up. 403 at Lower Park Farm in December 2009, 640 at Box Trees/Hockley Heath in October 2010, rising to 900 in March 2012, and the record count of 1000 south-west of Hockley Heath in January 2013.
Subsequently this flock has reduced in size, although there were still 420 to 450 on January 23 2019. Flocks of 200 were seen flying south to the east of Morton Bagot on March 20 2016, and February 19 2017, and 510 near Studley in February 2021.
There is also a record of 1000+ at Upper Bittell in December 2006.
Odd birds and small flocks can be seen almost anywhere in winter, but pinning them down to any one place is very difficult. In winter, its a bit of a nomad.
Grey Plover - is a high arctic breeder which winters on estuaries in the UK.
There have been just six records for the Circle.
The first was one at Wootton Wawen on May 18 1948.
One over Batchley on September 11 1999.
One was heard calling over Terry's Green on January 1 2013.
One was at Earlswood on May 8 2019.
One heard calling over Earlswood on October 6 2020.
One at Lower Bittell on November 20 2022.
These records all fall within the normal pattern of occurrence in the Midlands, and the fact that two of them were only noted as they flew over their fortunate observers demonstrates that we'd probably get more if only there was some decent shoreline habitat available.
To emphasise that point there have been 52 records at Bittell, of which 14 were definitely on Upper.
The highest count at Upper Bittell was 10 on September 2 1956, and again on August 10 1975.
Ringed Plover - breeds in the Arctic and also around the coasts of Europe and the UK. In the last twenty years it has established a breeding foothold at suitable sites inland. It is also a regular and common migrant in the West Midlands.
By 2022 there had been 22 published records from Earlswood, eight at Morton Bagot, two at Haselor Scrape, two at Lower Bittell, and one from both Middle Spernal and Salter Street Flash.
The early dominance of Earlswood as a venue is illustrated by the fact that the first ten records including the first from August 31 to September 1 1938 were all at that site. Morton Bagot was only wader-ready from 2006 (and got its first two on April 21 2007).
The highest counts by 2022 were seven at Morton Bagot on May 8 2013, and six at Earlswood in May 2021.
Records at Earlswood spike during periods when the lakes are drained for maintenance, and 2020 to 2021 was just such a period and produced several.
Nearly all the records from "Bittell" relate to Upper Bittell including the maximum of 44 on September 2 1956.
Little Ringed Plover - only started breeding in the UK in the middle of the twentieth century but is now reasonably common in most of England and parts of Wales.
The Circle had to wait until April 23 1973 for its first record, which was at Sambourne. Even then there was a further gap before three were at Earlswood in 1986. Since then they have been annual and are now established in the area.
It is of course a summer visitor, and the earliest and latest records recorded are March 12 2009 at Lower Park Pools, and October 2 1999 at Earlswood Lakes. Actually, not all early and late dates are published, and these may both have been surpassed.
They are an opportunist breeder, requiring little more than persistent stony/muddy puddles in fields, and breeding was confirmed at Morton Bagot (2005 to 2007), Lower Park, Oldberrow, Shelfield, and Earlswood (when the water level drops sufficiently, such as in 2021 when there were four breeding pairs). However, they are very susceptible to predation and competition. and often occupy territory without successfully breeding.
The largest counts up to the end of 2022 were 20 at Earlswood in July 2021, six at Morton Bagot in May/June 2005, and seven at Mapplebrough Green Flash on April 8 2022.
Other localities to have recorded birds are Tardebigge Reservoir, Henley Golf Course, Kinwarton, Haselor Scrape (regular), Spernal STW, and Middle Spernal.
There are plenty of "Bittell" records, but none mention Lower Bittell. The highest count is 23 in early July 1989, no doubt on Upper.
Whimbrel - is a northern breeder, with a few on Scottish islands but most from Greenland across Scandinavia and northern Russia. They are primarily a coastal passage migrant in the UK but are also fairly common on passage across the West Midlands.
The first record for the Circle relates to Earlswood where they were listed as having occurred before 1910.
However, the next record was one at Studley on July 30 1969.
Since then there have been 18 published records for Earlswood Lakes including flocks of 10 over on May 8 2010, 15 over on April 23 2012, and 20 over on May 8 2018.
Morton Bagot has had five records, April 30 2007, April 26 2008, April 24 2010 (three), April 21 2013 (two), and April 24 2022.
Lower Bittell has had two; August 12 1990 and July 18 2010. They are much more regular on the Upper reservoir and the highest count there to date in 22 on August 2 1999.
Other records comprise one on a sports field at Kinwarton from April 27 to 28 2009, three at Lower Park Pools on April 30 2012, with another there on May 10 2012, one over Terry's Green on May 1 2016, and two over Redditch on May 1 2020.
There have been 16 spring records (April/May) and three autumn (July/August) records in total.
Eurasian Curlew - was formerly a common breeding bird over much of the UK, but is the subject of an alarmingly precipitous recent decline. It continues to be reasonably common outside the breeding season on estuaries, but it remains to be seen how long for.
The first published record within the Circle comes from a clutch of four eggs found at Beoley in 1948, a time when searching for nests was regarded as the norm. There have actually only been two other instances of confirmed breeding; near Redditch in 1956, and Aston Cantlow in 1971.
However, territorial behaviour by pairs was always assumed to relate to a breeding attempt and I could list 20 sites within the Circle to have them up to about ten years ago. Even as late as 2003 there were three territories at Spernal, and no alarm bells were ringing.
Two years later Spernal held no territories, perhaps giving the first inkling of the decline that was about to unfold. One by one, regular sites failed to record the lovely sound of territorial males calling. The last at Great Alne was in 2000, Kings Coughton, Alcester Heath, Preston Bagot, Spernal and Shelfield all in 2003, Oldberrow 2005, Alcester 2022, Studley 2009, Lower Park, Cookhill, Wootton Wawen, and Morton Bagot in 2010, and Old Yarr 2011 (there is also an ambiguous report there in 2014).
As for post-breeding accumulations, these are not often encountered. The only counts I have found are 27 at Tardebigge in late August 1978, and 18 at Lower Park Farm on June 26 2009.
Since 2011 there have only been reports of odd birds, mostly in spring at Morton Bagot and Earlswood, with no hint of territoriality.
We are now in the situation where the species is so scarce as a breeding bird that any territories that might be found, should not be immediately broadcast for fear of the invisible threat of egg-collectors getting to hear.
It should be said that the cause of the decline is probably due to a combination of habitat becoming unsuitable, inadvertent human disturbance, and generalist predators.
Bar-tailed Godwit - is a high arctic breeding which winters around coastlines from UK and Western Europe to the southern hemisphere.
Until 2022 there had been just three records within the Circle.
One at Earlswood on August 10 1949.
One at Lower Bittell on December 21 1973.
One at Lower Park Farm Pools from May 4 to 11 2012.
A large flock was seen over Earlswood in April (and a later singleton) in late April 2023 (awaiting publication).
There are 25 records for Bittell Reservoirs, 12 definitely on Upper Bittell, and all but one of the rest almost certainly on Upper, but published as "Bittell".
They are increasingly scarce in the West Midlands in common with most arctic breeding waders, but there is a distinct peak in passage in late April/early May, and late August/early September, so our two records broadly fit that pattern.
Black-tailed Godwit - has two populations which are distinct enough to be separated in the field (with difficulty). The majority of the West Midlands records seem to be the Icelandic race, while the European race, despite breeding in very small numbers in the fenlands, is much scarcer.
The species seems to be occurring more regularly, and the first Circle record was one at Earlswood Lakes on July 29 2005.
In total, by 2021 there had been 12 records at Earlswood, eight at Morton Bagot, three at Lower Bittell, and one at Haselor Scrape. I am sure there have been some subsequently.
The largest count was five at Earlswood on September 3 2021, and most other records refer to single birds. The spring and autumn passage is quite different from the preceding species. Spring records have been between March 19 and April 10, while return passage was from June 24 to October 17, with most in July and August.
There were 25 over Earlswood on April 30 2023 which will become the highest Circle count when published.
The Haselor Scrape record was one from April 6 to 10 2013. The site would certainly get more if only it didn't dry out every summer.
Out of 34 records at Bittell, only three were on Lower, 16 on Upper, and the rest unknown. It is possible some of those may be additional Lower Bittell records. The highest count on Upper Bittell was 15 on August 14 2020.
Turnstone - is an arctic breeding bird which is common on rocky coasts around the UK. They are annual on passage in the West Midlands, but there is little suitable habitat locally.
There have been six records in the Circle.
The first was one at Lower Bittell on August 19 1990
One was at Arrow Valley Lake on May 28 1993.
One was at Earlswood Lakes on September 16 2005.
One at Earlswood Lakes on August 2 2008
One at Lower Park Pools on May 15 2009.
One at Earlswood Lakes on July 23 2013.
The typical passage periods are in May, and from late July to September. This pattern is reflected within the Circle.
They are occasional on passage at Upper Bittell with maxima of five on May 16 1944, and another five on May 16 2003.
Red Knot - is an arctic species which congregates on large estuaries in winter, but can turn up in the Midlands from July onwards, with a small return passage in April and May.
There is only one record for the Circle.
One was found at Earlswood Lakes in a blizzard on March 1 2018.
It is perhaps surprising that this is the only record, and also striking that it was part of a late winter cold weather movement, and therefore outside the typical migration period. There were several other records in other parts of the Midlands over the same weekend.
There have been 46 records at Bittell, 29 definitely on Upper and the rest probably so.
Ruff - is another arctic and northern European breeding species. It is mainly a passage migrant in the UK, but a few also winter. On passage it prefers brackish and freshwater habitat, so is fairly frequent in the Midlands.
There are 18 records in the Circle.
The first was one at Lower Bittell on September 1 1937.
Two localities have dominated. By 2019, there had been seven records at Earlswood, and seven at Morton Bagot. Most were singles, but four were at Morton Bagot on August 27 2014. The other places to have seen Ruffs are Haselor Scrape, where there was one on August 28 2012, and Coughton Fields, in Alcester, where one strode around a playing field from September 26 to 28 2013.
There has only been one Spring record, one at Morton Bagot from April 17 to 22 2011. The remainder were on return passage between July 6 and September 28. However, one remained over winter at Morton Bagot in 2011/2012, being last seen on February 5 2012.
It is an occasional passage migrant at Upper Bittell, with a maximum of 13 on September 4 1991.
Curlew Sandpiper - is a high arctic breeder which is a regular but scarce passage migrant in the UK.
There is just one Circle record.
One was found at Earlswood Lakes on September 13 1998.
There have been at least 39 records at Bittell. 14 definitely on Upper, and the rest almost certainly there.
Temminck's Stint - has a breeding range which stretches across the northern palearctic from Scandinavia to the far east. There are even one or two pairs in Scotland. They occur in the rest of the UK only as a scarce passage migrant on their way to Africa.
There are two records for the Circle.
The first was found by Miss CKJames and HAKAuster at Lower Bittell from October 11 to 15 1946.
The second was one I found at Morton Bagot on May 4 2014. It stayed the day and was twitched by numerous other birders.
There have also been four other records at Bittell....one definitely on Upper and three presumed to be.
Sanderling - is an arctic breeding bird which winters on sandy coasts throughout the rest of the world. In the UK it is a coastal winterer, and can occur in on reservoir margins on passage.
In the Circle there are very few records due to the restricted available habitat, but there have still been nine records (by 2021) as follows:
Two at Lower Bittell on November 12 1946
Three at Earlswood Lakes on April 18 1948.
One at Lower Bittell on April 18 1953.
Three at Lower Bittell from November 30 to December 1 1973, one remaining to Dec 15.
One at Earlswood Lakes on July 31 1986.
One on ice at Lower Bittell on December 14 2002.
One at Lower Park Pools on May 30 2011.
One at Earlswood Lakes on May 15 and 17 2013.
One at Earlswood Lakes on May 18 2020.
Three at Earlswood Lakes on September 5 2021.
All these records accord to the established pattern in the Midlands.
It is an occasional passage visitor to Upper Bittell with a maximum of six at "Bittell" on May 18 1956.
Dunlin - is the commonest Caldris wader in the UK, and has a breeding distribution which stretches around the holarctic in both the tundra and upland areas further south. They winter on estuaries in the UK, but are also regular inland on passage and even in winter where conditions are favourable.
In the Circle the species is annual, but not common.
Writing in about Earlswood 1952, Sears et al said it was occasional there in the autumn and winter.
However, Earlswood usually does not have enough shoreline, and the first dated record there was May 16 1955, followed by the second on April 22 1973, and the third from September 15 to 16 1996. It is possible that editorial control by the WMBC in its annual reports at the time may have been partly responsible for a gap in records, because since 1996 there are published records for Earlswood Lakes in 15 years (missing in nine).
The wetland habitat at Morton Bagot was created (or maybe noticed) in 2005, and it has seen Dunlins every year since 2007, except for 2018, although most years contain only one or two records.
Other localities to have recorded the species are Lower Park Farm Pools (August 2007, August 2008 and March 2012), Lower Bittell (August 1936 and October/November 1990) Middle Spernal (August 2013, and 2015), Haselor Scrape (2014), Arrow Valley Lake on March 2 2018, and Mappleborough Green Flash in 2022.
The largest parties have been seven at Earlswood on September 8 2018, and four at Morton Bagot in February 2012.
The largest count at Upper Bittell is 70 on May 6 1944.
Little Stint - is a high arctic breeding birds which is almost entirely a passage migrant in the UK, mainly to estuaries, and mostly autumn juveniles. Like many arctic waders its numbers vary on a cycle related to good and bad lemming years, (in a good lemming year the predators eat lemmings and not chicks).
There are just five records for Circle, all from the same site.
Sears and Cundall wrote that one had been seen at Earlswood in 1910.
One was at Earlswood from September 27 to 28 1985.
One was at Earlswood on September 15 1996.
One was at Earlswood on September 25 1999.
One was at Earlswood from August 31 to September 5 2021.
Unfortunately there is a general downward trend in the inland records of all arctic waders (probably due to global warming), and there may be a long wait for the next one.
There have also been at least 56 records at Bittell, 21 definitely on Upper Bittell and the rest presumed so.
Woodcock - is both a declining resident and a winter visitor from northern and eastern Europe in the UK.
Within the Circle the woodlands seem to have gradual lost their breeding Woodcocks, so it is now exclusively a winter visitor. It is just possible that this crepuscular species may still occur in summer.
Unusually there is some very detailed information dating back to the 1930s. As a game species, its numbers would have been of particular interest to the shooting estates at the time.
So in 1935 it was found that 13 pairs bred at Hewell Park, two pairs at Forshaw Wood, a nest was found at Austy Wood and one was seen in June at Umberslade. Meanwhile, in winter the "bag" was 33 shot at Hewell, and eight to 20 per year at Coughton. An interesting snapshot into the past.
Since then most summer reports refer to roding birds (roding is a crepuscular territorial flight by males), and it is possible to map the decline of the species by year. The most recent roding birds were seen at Umberslade (1993), Clowes Wood (1989), Earlswood (1984), Bordesley (1983), Redditch (1981), and Ullenhall (1974).
Some of the localities are a bit vague, so we may need to guess that "Earlswood" may refer to Clowes Wood, and "Redditch" could mean any of the large woodlands around the town.
A further indication that the decline may have been going on for some time comes from counts of 10 roding in Spernal Wood on May 17 1971, and three roding at Austy Wood in 1970.
The species is still widespread in woodlands in winter, but nowhere near as common as it once was. For example, nine were shot on one day in late November 1946 at Coldcomfort Wood. Nowadays it is rare to flush more than one Woodcock in winter around here, but they do still occur in many woods.
Jack Snipe - is a little seen winter visitor to the UK from Northern Europe.
In the Circle the species in genuinely scarce, but regular if you know where to look and are willing to don a pair of wellies. To see them, you have to flush them.
The first record may also be the earliest autumn date I hold. One was at Wootton Wawen on September 12 1936.
Typically birds are found from October to March, and the majority of records are from Morton Bagot.
However, the Earlswood area once contained a suitable piece of habitat, and there are records there from 1947, 1978, 1997, and 2005 - 2006, and 2021.
Another place which used to get them was Ipsley Alders, with records from 1987, 1998, 1999, and 2002.
Middle Spernal shows some recent promise. Records on April 6 2013 (a late date), 2015, and 2019.
At Morton Bagot the first birds were discovered in 2007, and they have occurred every year since (apart from 2011), with a peak count of 11 in February 2015. There are signs of a recent decline due to habitat deterioration, although the "out of bounds" flash field may well support additional birds.
Other localities to have recorded Jack Snipe are Beoley Mill Pool (1987), Wythall (1990), Lower Bittell (1990), Wootton Wawen STW (2008), Lower Park (2008/2009), Ullenhall STW (2015), and Feckenham Wylde Moor (2016).
Common Snipe - breeds in many areas of the UK, but is on a steep decline in lowland habitats. Numbers are swelled in winter by an arrival from the continent.
The first mention of it I can find refers to a drumming male near Alvechurch on March 25 1934. Its exact breeding status at this time is hard to fathom, particularly as the quoted record sounds a bit early for breeding activity.
Nevertheless the Atlas survey by Lord and Munns (1966 - 68) found them to be probably breeding in SP06, and the National BTO Atlas (1968 - 1972) backed this up, suggesting they were confirmed breeding in SP06.
Drumming display was subsequently recorded at Feckenham Wylde Moor in 1982, and on a farm near Preston Bagot in 2005.
Birds have been present in May and June at Morton Bagot in 2015 and 2019, and at Feckenham in 2016.
Outside the breeding season the species is common wherever there is a suitable marsh. The highest counts have been 140 at Lower Bittell in late autumn 1977, 100 at Morton Bagot in December 2008, 50 at Tardebigge Reservoir on October 21 1972, 40 in a marsh near Earlswood on February 10 2005, and 32 at Wootton Pool on December 30 2007.
Red-necked Phalarope - A northern and arctic breeding wader with a handful of pairs in the northern islands of the UK. They winter in southern Asia and surprisingly the British ones have been proved to winter off the western coast of South America.
The first record was one shot at Morton Bagot on September 11 1910. I understand from Jonathan Bowley that there was a mill pool there at the time. The bird was apparently an adult male, which is very much at odds with modern trends (almost all autumn records in the UK are juveniles).
There have been three records at Bittell, two of which I think were on Upper Bittell. Thanks to Mike Wakeman for clarifying that the following one was in the Circle:
One on the Mill Shrub, Lower Bittell from September 8 to 10 1974 Ken Clifford, Arthur Jacobs, and Mike Wakeman.
The next one to turn up would be quite a draw.
Grey Phalarope - is the most northerly breeding Phalarope, and has a largely pelagic wintering distribution which means it is susceptible to being driven inland by storms.
There are five records for the Circle.
One was at Lower Bittell from September 16 to 20 1935.
One was at Lower Bittell on October 1 1962 found by Arthur Jacobs.
One was found by L Carter at Arrow Valley Lake on October 16 1987 having been caught up in the famous great gale/hurricane of the autumn.
One was at Lower Bittell from October 21 to 22 2002
The fifth was found by Alan Dean at Earlswood, and was present from October 3 to 5 2007.
There have also been at least seven records at Upper Bittell.
Common Sandpiper - is a summer visitor to upland areas in the UK, which occasionally breeds in the lowlands. A small number stay the winter but most head to Africa from September onwards.
The first documented record in the Circle was one at Earlswood on September 5 1938, but there is no doubt that they will have been regular there since the lakes were constructed.
Two pairs bred at Lower Bittell in 1902, and this is the only breeding record.
Spring passage is in April and May, and autumn passage from late June to September. The records are dominated by Earlswood Lakes, and the only double-figure count in spring there was 10 there in April 2012, while the highest total to date was in July 2021. There are also a couple of counts of nine in June/July (1985 and 2018).
There are records for 15 sites in the Circle illustrating that the species will pause on almost any watery edge. Other accumulations were seven at Wootton Wawen on April 18 1948, and four at Haselor on April 26 2013.
There are just two winter records. One on a pool by a pub at Lapworth in February 1997, and one "near Redditch" on November 1 1974. This is not a description species and such records are possible, but observers need to be aware that Green Sandpiper is more likely in winter.
Green Sandpiper - is a north Eurasian breeding wader which is a common passage migrant and less common wintering bird in the UK. The odd pair sometimes breeds in Scotland.
In terms of the Circle the records are dominated by Morton Bagot, but there are records for 22 sites indicating its ability to turn up on almost any small pool.
The first mention locally is of two at Wootton Wawen on August 3 1935. Sites which do well for Common Sandpipers, like Earlswood and Arrow Valley Lake, struggle to attract Green Sandpiper as the species prefers marshy rather than hard or gravelly edges.
The typical spring passage is from late March to late April, and autumn passage is from mid June to early October. Small numbers can turn up in winter.
The largest counts for the most favoured localities to the end of 2019 are:
17 at Morton Bagot on July 28 2013.
Eight at Middle Spernal on August 10 2018.
Five at Haselor Scrape on September 2 2012.
Five at Lower Bittell on September 10 1973.
Three at Kinwarton on September 8 2012.
Three at a pool near Alcester Heath on April 13 2013.
The habitat may be becoming less favourable at Morton Bagot, so numbers may decline unless another site takes the strain.
Common Redshank - is a fairly common coastal breeding bird, which also breeds in small numbers inland in the UK. It winters on estuaries around the coast.
The first record I can find was one at Earlswood in April 1949.
Since then there have been two or three breeding records; At Shelfield in 2009, and at Haselor Scrape in 2013, with a probable breeding attempt at Morton Bagot in 2009. The WMBC Report quotes a breeding record at Earlswood in 1977, but I suspect this is a misprint.
The records are almost exclusively between March and June, plus a few in July. Morton Bagot dominates the records, but there are rarely more than two or three. One exception was eight at Morton Bagot in May 2010.
The only record at Lower Bittell is also the highest count within the Circle and refers to 10 on February 17 1980.
The largest count at Earlswood is five on August 2 2021.
There are just two records outside the March - July period. One at Earlswood on October 18 1985, and one at Arrow Valley Lake on January 16 1985.
The only other localities with published records are Middle Spernal (April 17 2019), and Kinwarton in 2015.
A flock of 42 at Upper Bittell (just outside the Circle) on August 4 2010 is currently the county record for Worcestershire.
Wood Sandpiper - is a Northern European breeding wader with a tiny breeding presence in Scotland which passes through the UK when easterlies drift them from the continent on their way to winter in the tropics.
There have been 12 records up to 2022 from the Circle.
The first were in 1949 when one was found at Earlswood on April 16, and another was at Wootton Wawen from August 5 to 9.
There was then a long wait for the next one, one at Lower Bittell from August 29 to September 5 1990.
In 2004 one was seen at the recently constructed pool at Morton Bagot on August 19 2004.
Since then, almost all the records have been from Morton Bagot. The flooded scrape and spring-fed flash evidently becoming ideal. There were records in 2005, 2007, 2008 (two), 2011, 2012 (two), and 2016. Most occurrences involved just a single bird, but there were two on April 22 2011, and two from August 19 to 22 2012.
There were singles at Earlswood on August 22 and August 30 2021, and one was recorded there on Nocmig overnight on August 5 2022.
Spring records have been between April 16 and May 20, and autumn from June 13 and September 16. Obviously the June bird may actually have been a late spring stopover.
There are signs that Morton Bagot is becoming less attractive to Wood Sandpipers.
There have been 31 records at Upper Bittell.
Spotted Redshank - is a northern European and Asian breeding wader which winters in the tropics, and also in small numbers in British estuaries.
There are five records from within the Circle.
One at Lower Bittell on May 3 1938
Three were at Earlswood on August 21 1955 AWCundall JSears.
One at Lower Bittell on September 1 1990 CBLee.
One was at Morton Bagot from March 28 to 29 2012 REHarbird
Two juveniles were at Earlswood on September 5 2018 JOates JHSirrett.
There are worrying signs that the species is becoming less frequent in the UK, and it may be a long wiat for the next one.
Greenshank - is a north Eurasian breeding species including some in the flow country of Scotland. They mostly winter on tropical estuaries, but a few also winter in similar UK habitat.
They have probably always passed through the Circle on passage, but the first record I can find is one at Earlswood from August 31 to September 2 1938.
There are records from nine localities: Earlswood, Lower Park, Tardebigge Reservoir, Arrow Valley Lake, Hewell Grange, Lower Bittell, Morton Bagot, Old Yarr, and Middle Spernal.
Most passage is in autumn, from July to September, but there are a few Spring records, the earliest being one at Earlswood Lakes on April 20 2019.
The largest count, perhaps surprisingly, was six at Middle Spernal on August 12 2016. Most records are from Morton Bagot, where the maximum is four in August 2010, and from Earlswood where the largest count is just two on July 20 2008.
Three at Hewell Grange in late September 1991 is the only published record from there.
Other waders - Although there are currently 31 species of wader on the Circle list, I could probably list another 25 which have never occurred. Birders love waders because they are so diverse, and are nearly all migratory. Anything could turn up, the only issue being the limited habitat available.
Of the waders yet to occur, these are my top targets: Pectoral Sandpiper has been seen at Upper Bittell and at Salford Priors GP. This is the commonest American wader in the UK and could easily turn up at Morton Bagot or at Earlswood when the Canal Trust next drain it. The Black-winged Stilt has long legs, long enough to cope with Morton Bagot in its current state, and is turning up more regularly in the UK and even breeding. Is it the next Avocet? Stone Curlew doesn't need water, just stony fields. They breed in Breckland and Wiltshire, so not too far away. Also the rise of Nocmig technology could lead to one being recorded flying over at night. Two American species I could imagine at Morton Bagot are Long-billed Dowitcher (once seen at Upper Bittell), and Lesser Yellowlegs, seen at a Morton Bagot-like pool near Maxstoke.
Longer shots might be Dotterel (one record at Upper Bittell in 1957), Kentish Plover (one record at Upper Bittell in 1940), American Golden Plover, Purple Sandpiper (five records at Upper Bittell), White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. They have all been found in the West Midlands and are regular in the UK.
Habitat changes all the time, and who's to say that one of the existing sites will not becoming attractive to waders or even that a new place will not be created.
Kittiwake - is a common, but declining seabird which breeds on cliffs around the UK. They turn up inland in small numbers on passage or storm-driven.
By 2022 there had been 26 records in the Circle, most associated with lakes or reservoirs. The majority, 21 of them, were at Earlswood Lakes. There have also been four at Arrow Valley Lake, one at Hewell Grange (February 12 2015), and one at a small irrigation pool near Arrow on November 25 2022.
The first were two at Earlswood on December 11 1954, and this is one of only two occasions when more than a single bird was seen. The other one, the highest count to date, was four adults at Earlswood on March 13 2018.
The spread of records is remarkably broad, with records for every month except June, and surprisingly, November. The peak month was March (five records), followed by April, May, and October each with three.
Black-headed Gull - is very common in the UK, they breed in colonies in upland areas and increasingly at gravel pits in lowland Britain. Large numbers from Europe arrive every winter.
The earliest mention in the Circle comes from Earlswood when a 1952 report simply recorded it as a non-breeding bird.
The only indication that the species has ever bred within the Circle comes from the BTO Atlas 1968 - 72 where there is an unexpected dot signifying confirmed breeding in SP06. I can only speculate that this is either a misprint, or perhaps refers to the early days of Arrow Valley Lake construction.
As a non-breeding visitor the highest counts at selected sites are 1400 at Lower Bittell on December 30 1998, 700 at Morton Bagot (actually the flooded fields between Morton Bagot and Studley Castle) in January 2013, 504 at Earlswood in September 2013, 470 at Box Trees on August 30 2013, 400 at Arrow Valley Lake in September 2015, 321 at Hewell Grange on November 11 2006, and 250 at Fulford Heath on September 6 2017.
With several large breeding colonies in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, there is always the possibility that breeding will resume one day.
Little Gull - is principally a Eurasian species which migrates through the UK towards its pelagic wintering grounds, although this is an over-simplification because many spend their time in the Irish and North Sea, and there is an overland passage between the two.
This confused picture is mirrored to some extent in the Circle where there have been 45 records since the first occurrence to 2021.
That first record was at Arrow Valley Lake from September 4 to 5 1973. Remarkably, that location has seen just one other record (a first-winter on December 26 2008).
The principal site for Little Gulls by a mile is Earlswood Lakes. There have been 41 published records, and the species is nearly annual there.
Three remaining sites to have seen Little Gulls; Hewell Grange with five, two at Lower Bittell, and the one on fields near Alvechurch on January 18 1995.
Birds have been recorded in every month except February and November. Spring passage dominates, and there have been 20 records in April, and nine in May. Autumn records are spread from August to October, with three records for each of those months.
Most records have been of singles, with up to three occasionally, but the maximum counts are seven at Earlswood Lakes on April 30 1984, and 17 through Earlswood Lakes on April 24 2021.
There have been 56 records at Upper Bittell with the maximum being 15 on April 12 2016.
Mediterranean Gull - Sixty years ago this was a southern European bird which was very rare in the UK. But now they breed on many south coast estuaries and even inland, while flocks outnumber Black-headed Gulls in spring in parts of Dorset.
The only twentieth century record in the Circle was an adult at Arrow Valley Lake on August 9 1995.
Since then records have burgeoned. Earlswood Lakes has been particularly favoured, with a minimum of 15 records up to 2022. Lower Park Farm was only viable as a birdwatching place for about five years, but in that time it managed to attract four Mediterranean Gulls.
The species is usually found with Black-headed Gulls, so is not as tied to watery habitats as other Gull species. Arrow Valley Lake has two records, Lower Bittell has had two records (both in 2015), Tardebigge Reservoir recorded its first on October 9 2021, and its second on February 8 2022, while Hewell Grange had a juvenile on August 4 2014, and an adult on September 17 2022. Birds have also been found on fields with Black-headed Gulls at Hopwood (January 26 2001), at Alcester (July 16 2005), and at Box Trees (August 30 2013).
Dates of occurrence are quite widely spread, with only November and December lacking arrival records. The seems to be from July to September, with most in August. There are also four records from February.
Common Gull - breeds mainly in upland northern Britain, while there is a significant winter arrival.
In the West Midlands the bird is common in winter in certain areas, such as the Avon Valley and scarce in others, such as north Worcestershire and west Warwickshire.
Because the Circle falls firmly into the area of scarceness, the species barely gets a mention when they do turn up around here. They occur in numbers too miniscule to be of interest to the editors of the County Bird Report. They are very much under the radar.
The first mention I can find comes from the rather ambiguously worded comment that "up to four" were at Earlswood on January 25, July 18, and October 23 1948.
Since then odd records of mainly singles have been published for various sites, but there is one record which stands head and shoulders above all the others. That was of 26 at Earlswood Lakes on April 16 2018. The next largest count was just five at Lower Park Farm Pools on March 21 2008.
These two records suggest that the best chance of seeing one comes during the spring passage in March and April, although my nearly annual Morton Bagot occurrences are invariably in February or November.
Great Black-backed Gull - is a coastal species in the UK, but numbers are swelled by winter arrivals, and many of these head inland and form a small but significant component of most winter gull roosts.
As there are no regular gull roosts within the Circle, records are few and far between. They mainly involve birds flying over with other large gulls, and as with Common Gull many may get edited out of the County Bird Reports because of the small numbers involved.
The first mention is two over Earlswood on April 4 1949 (a slightly atypical date). Most occur in December or January, and the largest counts are 11 north-east over Earlswood on March 10 1956, 20 over Morton Bagot on January 9 2011, and eight at Alcester Heath on December 14 2008.
Occasionally birds are reported at odd times of the year, for example one at Earlswood on May 7 2015, and two at Arrow Valley Lake on May 4 2017.
Glaucous Gull - is a scarce arctic species which occurs in winter at coastal harbours and inland at rubbish tips and gull roosts.
Having neither a regular gull roost nor a landfill site within the Circle it is not surprising that this species is very rare.
There have been just two records.
On November 5 1972 Alan Richards saw an adult at a site recorded simply as Redditch. So exactly where that was will remain a mystery.
On January 18 2017 Mark Islip found a first-winter standing on the ice at Arrow Valley Lake.
Given the move away from landfill sites, fewer arctic gulls are turning up in the Midlands so if anyone wants to find another, they'd better get their skates on.
There have been eight records at Upper Bittell (1968 to 1977)
Iceland Gull - is a scarce arctic species from Greenland (not Iceland), and like the preceding species is found in coastal harbours, and on tips and at large gull roosts. It does have a tendency to turn up in variable numbers so "good" years do occur.
The same comments detailed for the previous species also apply to Iceland Gull, and there have been just two records.
The first was an adult seen by Steve Payne at Arrow Valley North on February 1 2009.
The other was an immature seen by myself flying south-west with other large Gulls over Morton Bagot on February 18 2012.
It could be a long wait for the next one.
There have been 12 records at Upper Bittell (1968 to 2016)
Herring Gull - was traditionally a coastal breeding bird with a regular influx of birds from the continent in the winter. Over the last thirty years the species has started to breed inland on city rooftops, and becomes common in winter at landfill sites and reservoir roosts.
Within the Circle this was once a very rare bird. The first mention I can find is one at Earlswood Lakes on May 30 1948. A useful comment on its status in the mid twentieth century comes from an observer who saw two over Henley-in-Arden on December 25 1957 and said that they were the first he had seen along the A34 in ten years of travel.
In more recent times they have become a lot more common, but suffer from the usual double-whammy of occurring in numbers too low to be of interest to the WMBC Report editors, and too common to be of much interest to birders.
From 1996 a pair regularly frequented Earlswood Lakes in summer, and on August 17 2009 a pair with two juveniles was seen at Lower Park Pools. The first report of breeding from Redditch came in 2022, but it is very likely that they were breeding there previously without being reported.
The largest published count at Earlswood is 30 in May 2021, and at Arrow Valley Lake is 20 in December 2018.
Movements over the Circle in winter of birds moving from tips to roosts can produce more birds and were responsible for the largest count to date; 120 over Morton Bagot on January 9 2011.
The maximum for the Upper Bittell gull roost is 500 to 600 on December 30 1975.
Caspian Gull - is a recent arrival to the UK avifauna. Not necessarily because it has only just started turning up, but through a taxonomic device known as splitting. The "species" had previous been considered as a race of Herring Gull, but following a split it was renamed as being a race of another split from Herring Gull, the Yellow-legged Gull. A few years later there was a further split, this time in the Yellow-legged Gull complex, and Caspian Gull was born. The actual gull emanates from eastern Europe and is probably spreading west, freely hybridising with Herring Gull as it does so.
Being an area with no gull roosts or landfill tips, it's amazing that there are any records for the Circle, but there are three, all from Earlswood Lakes.
The first was a 1st winter found by Graham Mant on December 27 2003.
Next, Matt Griffiths, John Chidwick, and BM Philp found a second-winter which remained from January 25 to March 15 2015. It then reappeared from January 1 to February 1 2016, and again the following winter when it was seen as an adult on November 6 2016. The reason we can be sure it was the same bird was that it was colour-ringed at Grabbendorfer See in Germany on June 7 2013. This is one of the colonies where Caspian and Herring Gulls hybridise, so the ringers had labelled it a Herring Gull - type species, but evidently it showed enough characteristics of Caspian Gull to be treated as that species.
There was a third-winter found by John Oates on March 16 2019.
The most recent was a second calendar year bird found by John Oates on June 3 2020.
There have been 13 records at Upper Bittell (2009 to 2020), but none on Lower.
Yellow-legged Gull - is the southern European counterpart of Herring Gull, now split and re-split (see Caspian Gull). It is a fairly regular component of large Gull flocks in the English south coast and Midlands from July onwards. The younger aged birds present an identification challenge, which for old duffers like me could be a bit too challenging!
The first Circle record was an adult at Lower Park Farm Pools on July 24 2011. Since then there have been about 22 records, and considering that there aren't that many places with large gull accumulations, the records are well spread. Earlswood Lakes has most records (five or six by 2019, and several since), Lower Bittell, Lower Park Pools and Hewell Grange have three each, and other places with one or two occurrences are Haselor Scrape, Tardebigge Reservoir, Arrow Valley Lake, Morton Bagot, and Box Trees.
Almost all records have involved single birds, but there were two at Earlswood during spring 2016, and there was an adult and a first-winter at Box Trees on September 25 2019.
Reported regularly at Upper Bittell since 1999.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - is still a coastal breeding bird in the UK, but in recent years has taken to breeding on tall, flat-topped buildings in cities. There is also some immigration from the continent involving the Scandinavian race intermedius.
Back in the mid twentieth century this gull was principally a summer visitor and was also scarce inland. There are a few 1930s records from Lower Bittell, but the first record for the Circle was one flying north over Ipsley on May 4 1949.
With no landfill tips or large roosts in the area, the largest accumulations relate to ploughed fields which have attracted the West Midlands conurbation breeding birds since they started nesting there. the largest count to date was 397 on a field at Wootton Wawen on September 9 2007, with similar habitat attracting flocks of 67 near Earlswood Station on August 23 2006, 102 at Box Trees on August 13 2018, 127 at Kinwarton on August 17 2018, and 210 at Haselor on August 20 2020.
There is in fact one substantial roost count, which was 120 at Earlswood Lakes on February 18 2019.
Surprisingly there were no recorded breeding records from Redditch or Alcester by 2020. However, I did find one breeding on a roof at Moons Moat in 2022.
There is just one record of a bird of the race intermedius. That was a fourth calendar year bird seen by John Oates at Earlswood on September 7 2018.
The maximum in the roost at Upper Bittell is 1000 in 1977.
Other Gulls - there are quite a few gull species which have occurred in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, but not within the Circle.
These include Sabine's Gull (two at Upper Bittell; 1948 and 2007), which could potentially be wind-blown in autumn to Earlswood or Arrow Valley Lake, and a number of American Gulls such as Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and even Franklin's Gull. Regularly watching gulls could produce a surprise.
Sandwich Tern - is a common summer visitor to the British coastline, but is quite scarce inland.
By 2022 here had been eleven records within the Circle, and all bar one of them have been at Earlswood Lakes.
The odd one out concerns two which strayed to Lower Bittell, after initially being seen on the Upper reservoir, on May 15 2006. There have actually been 49 records at Bittell (17 on Upper, and the rest at "Bittell"). It is possible that some of them were actually seen at Lower Bittell.
The first at Earlswood was one on April 14 1945. The next wasn't until September 2 1968, and there was a further gap in records until the third turned up on April 23 1995. The remaining records have been since the start of the present century, and all of them were seen on a single date. This surely means that the previous paucity was more due to a lack of observer coverage than a lack of birds.
Another thing about Sandwich Terns is that they are very predictable in terms of month of occurrence. Seven of the eleven records have been in April (although the range is April 1 to April 23), one was in May, and the remaining three were all in September (Sept 2 to Sept 29).
Most records were of singles, but there were parties of three on April 25 2011, and again on April 20 2018. 2011 was something of a bumper year because as well as the three in April, there were two on September 27 (the only year with two records.)
Little Tern - is a declining summer visitor to British coasts, dependent on the availability of undisturbed shingle beaches.
There have been 13 records within the Circle, which on the face of it is similar to the level of occurrence of Sandwich Tern. But appearances can be deceptive, and the future currently looks bleak for this species.
The first were singles at Lower Bittell on April 30 1946, and May 9 1956.
The next were from August 30 to 31 1956, and the fourth on September 14 1956. Both records were at Earlswood Lakes, and almost all subsequent records have been there.
The exception was one at Hewell Grange on September 12 1991.
Unlike with Sandwich Tern, the increased observer coverage since the millennium at Earlswood has not led to a surge in records. After one in 1976, there were four records in the 1990s, one in the 2000s, and two in the 2010s, the most recent being one on April 25 2012.
Another difference from Sandwich Terns is the spread of months of occurrence. There have been four in April, two in May, one in July, one in August, and three in September.
Most records are of singles, but there were two on May 7 1994, two on July 13 2007, and three on April 19 2011.
It is possible that there are additional records at Lower Bittell. There are 11 records at Upper Bittell and 23 from "Bittell".
Common Tern - is a common summer visitor to the coast, and also many inland gravel pits and lakes.
Fifty years ago this species was just an occasional visitor to the Midlands, and the same could be said of the Circle. Now it is pretty much resident in summer, but as far as I am aware has not yet found anywhere within the Circle to breed.
The first documented record is one at Earlswood on May 20 1956, while the second there, on October 6 1956 may be the latest record (although there is some uncertainty about this as not all records make the WMBC Report.)
Predictably Earlswood Lakes dominates the earlier records, being seen in 1957, 1960, and apparently not again until 1971. I suspect this is a false impression created by the editors in the 1960s cherry-picking reports of larger numbers and thus favouring large reservoirs outside the Circle.
By the 1980s they were pretty much annual, and numbers have increased year on year. However, to be sure of seeing one you will have to go to the larger water bodies.
The largest published locality counts (by 2021) are; 52 at Earlswood Lakes on August 14 2015, 30 at Arrow Valley Lake on May 8 2019, 10 at Lower Park Farm Pools in Jul 2010, six at Tardebigge Reservoir on July 24 1998, and six at Hewell Grange on July 23 2008.
The earliest arrival date I have is one at Earlswood Lakes on March 31 2010.
Typically the first arrive in April and numbers peak in May, before reducing to a rump summering population in June, and then increasing through July to peak in mid August. The majority have left by mid September.
The largest count at Upper Bittell is 95 on September 6 2008. One or two regularly visit Lower Bittell.
Arctic Tern - is a strictly coastal UK breeder, and as its name suggests it also breeds in the arctic. They migrate to the southern oceans and so are a passage migrant inland. This overland passage seems to be routine, but is usually detected when wet weather forces them to seek a large lake or reservoir.
Within the Circle, Earlswood Lakes dominates the records. Another factor is the difficulty of distinguishing them from Common Tern, and this was particularly acute until some ground-breaking identification articles gave observers some better clues about what to look for.
In light of the recent pattern of occurrence a case can be made for suggesting that many of the records between the 1940s and the early 1980s may have involved a degree of guesswork. As an illustration of this I would point to the monthly spread of records pre-1984 being as follows: None in April, four in May, none in June, one in July, two in August, three in September, and one in October.
After 1984 the pattern is one which modern birders would recognise as being characteristic of the species: 22 in April, 30 in May, two in June, one in July, six in August, nine in September, and two in October.
So bearing in mind the above, the first published records were three at Earlswood on July 24 1948, and one at Earlswood on October 30 1948.
In bad weather influxes can be spectacular, and the largest (all from Earlswood) are 150 "Commic Terns" on April 25 2012 which were thought to be predominantly Arctics, 93 on May 1 2011, 82 on May 1 1996, and 52 on April 30 1991.
The rest of the Circle barely gets a look-in, but the distant runners-up are Hewell Grange with five records (all of single birds), Arrow Valley Lake with just two records of singles, Lower Bittell has five records including two on August 24 2013, and Tardebigge Reservoir with "one or two" on May 5 1971.
Spring passage is concentrated into the period April 20 to May 10 (although obviously there are a few exceptions), while the small autumn passage is spread from August to October.
Black Tern - can probably best described as a regular spring and autumn passage migrant to the UK which drifts from the continent, particularly when the wind is in the east.
Within the Circle records are annual, but erratic in nature. This is a marsh tern so although Earlswood still dominates the records, smaller bodies of water do get a bit of a look in.
The first was one at Lower Bittell on June 27 1936, and this was followed by one at Earlswood Lakes on May 13 1942.
Earlswood Lakes have accounted for at least 71 records, well ahead of Hewell Grange (six), Tardebigge Reservoir (four), and Arrow Valley Lake (three).
Surprisingly there has yet to be a single April record. The earliest are on May 1, and the temporal split is 42 in May, three in June, four in July, 12 in August, 18 in September, and four in October. There are also a number of records which refer only to "spring" or "autumn".
Interestingly, although May dominates in terms of records, the largest day-counts have been in the autumn.
Only four counts have reached double-figures, all from Earlswood Lakes as follows: 25 on September 14 2006, 100 on September 11 1992, 11 on May 7 1988, and 28 on May 23 1959.
Elsewhere, the highest locality counts are six at Tardebigge Reservoir on May 11 1970, and six at Arrow Valley Lake on May 8 2019.
There are two records from unexpected venues; one at Lower Park Farm Pools on August 31 2008, and two over Morton Bagot on May 8 2019.
Other Terns - do occur in the Midlands, and any of them might turn up (probably at Earlswood).
The most likely is probably White-winged Black Tern which is an eastern European species which can arrive with Black Terns (but hasn't yet, although there is an 1886 record from "Bittell"). Less likely is Roseate Tern which could be overlooked as it is hard to identify, and Whiskered Tern which is just rare. Gull-billed Tern (one old undated record from Bittell) and Caspian Tern are the stuff of dreams.
Arctic Skua - breeds in the Arctic with a few pairs as far south as the Scottish islands. They are mainly a coastal migrant in the UK en route to tropical waters off Africa.
The first and only record for the Circle concerns two pale morph adults seen flying north-east at Earlswood Lakes by Matt Griffiths and Janet James on April 23 2022.
There are four records at Upper Bittell.
Other Skuas - Although they are all seabirds, it is perhaps surprising that no other Skuas have been recorded. The most likely is Great Skua which is no rarer than Arctic in the Midlands, and has occurred at nearby Bartley, Upper Bittell, and Upton Warren. Other possibilities are the much scarcer Pomarine Skua (seen at Salford Priors and Upper Bittell), and Long-tailed Skua (one record at Upton Warren) which has a habit of very rarely turning up on ploughed fields in autumn.
Little Auk - is ironically the most likely species of Auk to turn up inland. It breeds in the arctic and strong northerlies from November to February can blow weakened individuals into the North Sea. A tiny fraction of those sometimes ventures inland, a popular theory being that they latch onto flocks of the similar sized Starling.
There has only been one record of a Little Auk in the Circle, and that was long ago. In fact it was many years before 1904 that an undated specimen was picked up at Great Alne.
There are no further details available.
Puffin - is the last bird you'd expect to see within the Circle. They breed on coastal grassy slopes above sea cliffs, usually on offshore islands, and winter far out to sea.
But there have been two records.
The first was found alive near Earlswood by O Willetts on February 1 1953. Sadly it died shortly afterwards.
The second was an immature found in Redditch on August 30 1963. The record is attributed to Fred Fincher (but I suspect he merely reported the occurrence).
I am not expecting to hear of any others.
Other Auks - Guillemot (one at Bittell in 1912) and Razorbill....not much chance.
Red-throated Diver - There are three confirmed birds and one possible record within the Circle. This species is the most common of the wintering divers on the coast, but remains scarce inland.
The accepted records all come from Earlswood Lakes and are as follows:
An adult in partial summer plumage found by HGAlexander on May 5 1941.
One from January 3 to 18 1992 was credited to RFEButler et al.
One from December 28 1995 to January 2 1996 was attributed to John Chidwick and Steve Haynes et al.
The other record was at Tardebigge Reservoir and dates back November 27 1953. It was described by the finder Fred Fincher as a Diver species, probably Red-throated.
There have been six published records at Upper Bittell.
Black-throated Diver - is the scarcest of the three regular wintering Divers at the coast but nevertheless has produced three records in the Circle.
The first was watched by Tony Norris, HGAlexander, Ms CKJames, and EStGBetts at Earlswood Lakes from February 24 to March 4 1938.
Another turned up at Earlswood Lakes from February 5 to 11 1950 where it was seen by PEvans, Arthur Cundall, John Sears, and MJThomas.
The latest was found at Lower Bittell by Stuart Hares on the morning of December 22 2018. It then flew directly to Arrow Valley Lake where it was rediscovered by Gavin Peplow and myself each having heard of its departure from Bittell and taking a punt on it relocating. It remained at Arrow Valley Lake, where it was a major attraction until January 9 2019 when it was seen to fly off.
Other Divers - The strange thing is that the Diver which is most frequently seen in the West Midlands, the Great Northern Diver, has yet to put in an appearance. There are nine Bittell records, although all been on the Upper reservoir. It can only be a matter of time before one turns up at Earlswood or Arrow Valley Lake. The other two Divers on the British list, White-billed and Pacific, are pretty unlikely to get here.
Fulmar - is probably the most unlikely of the Ocean going seabirds to turn up in the middle of England, and in particular the Circle, but it has done so.
The one and only record was found at Earlswood Lakes by JClifton on June 13 1988
The midsummer date of this record is fairly typical. Fulmars breed around the coasts and the theory is that they can get disoriented in coastal mist resulting in the odd bird finding itself inland. They don't appear to be as affected by storms as other seabirds.
There is also a Bittell record (1971) which was presumably on the Upper reservoir.
Manx Shearwater - does turn up in the West Midlands at the rate of one or two a year. It is another ocean going seabird which breeds on rat-free islands off the British Isles. Unlike the previous species, most records are associated with stormy weather.
There have been six records in the Circle, and their sites of discovery are pretty random.
The first was shot at Earlswood on September 13 1895. This is a pretty typical date for an inland arrival.
Fifty-five years later one was found at Henley-in-Arden on September 16 1950.
One was picked up in Redditch, apparently undamaged, on September 29 1964.
One was found at Lower Bittell by Dave Barnes on September 20 1987.
One was found dead, but still warm, at the side of the road by EAEvans, near Rough Hill Wood at 23.30 on September 11 2002.
The most recent find was one which collided with a house window at Headless Cross reported by JFrost on September 16 2017. It was taken into care.
Exactly why the majority of these records relate to Redditch suburbia is an interesting question. It could simply be that that's where all the likely finders live. My feeling is that most birds may have been travelling at night and were perhaps attracted to street lights. Your chances of ever finding one are vanishingly slight.
Storm Petrel - has a very tenuous claim to the Circle list.
The only record is one reported by Tomes (1904) was one "near Alcester" in the winter of 1882-1883.
This record struggles on so many levels. The lack of detail regarding the date and the place doesn't help, but is typical of many nineteenth century records. Although the species breeds on offshore islands to the west of the British Isles, it is very rare inland and isn't common in British waters in the winter.
Leach's Petrel - is the more likely of the two Petrels to be wrecked in coastal storms and consequently blown inland, and there are indeed two Circle records.
The first was found dead at Aston Cantlow on September 27 1953 per ACNorris.
The second was a bizarre discovery of one staggering around Tesco's car-park in Redditch on December 8 2006. It was handed in to the RSPCA and taken into care per Simon Dix.
Rather like Manx Shearwater, this is a bird which can turn up anywhere but is unlikely to feature on your local life list any time soon.
Other tubenoses (Shearwaters Petrels etc) - To be honest we've pretty much maxed out on this group. There are plenty of other species which have occurred in British waters, but none are at all common inland, let alone around here. There is one Cory's Shearwater record for the West Midlands, but no Sooty or Great Shearwater has ever made it.
White Stork - is a scarce European visitor to the UK, or at least it should be. Unfortunately the national statistics are sullied by the popularity of the bird in collections and its propensity to escape.
The three records for the Circle all have question-marks against them in varying degrees.
The strongest contender for being a wild bird was the first one, seen by Gary Farmer as it circled high over Feckenham before drifting north on July 18 1995. The only issue with it is the date, which is more mid-summer than might be expected. April/May and September are the ideal months to be claiming wild birds in the UK.
One reported by Paul Curry along the canal at Earlswood for a few days until April 4 2005 was a known escape, which just goes to show that even an April bird can fail on provenance.
The most recent was a pair seen by John Oates high over Earlswood on May 15 2019. Surely these must be OK? But no, they were thought to be the same as a pair at Tewkesbury earlier in the day, and which turned up at Nottingham in the evening. One of the birds had been ringed and was believed to have come from a collection.
Northern Gannet - is a true seabird which has nevertheless found its way to the Circle on three occasions. The species is less than annual in the West Midlands.
The first was an adult reported in the Daily Telegraph to have been found dead in Tanworth-in-Arden in early March 1947.
Almost as bizarre was the second record which was of two immatures (thought to be second-years) seen flying south-west over Henley-in-Arden by Alan Dean on October 2 2008.
The most recent was one seen flying over Studley by John Yardley on October 11 2013.
There are also two Bittell records which I believe to have been on Upper Bittell.
Great Cormorant - Formerly a coastal species, it is now common in land and if left unmolested would probably start breeding. Unfortunately the interests of fishermen conflict, and successful breeding within the Circle may be resisted by the angling industry.
The earliest record I can find is an undated record of six at Earlswood Lakes in 1950, and this seems to have been pretty unusual at the time. Even by 1970s individual birds at Earlswood and Tardebigge were deemed worth reporting and publishing.
Gradually the situation changed. The first double-figure count was 10 at Earlswood Lakes on December 17 2004. The irony is that the increase this century has been driven by the course fishing industry who create and stock fishing lakes, effectively creating aquatic bird-tables which attract Cormorants.
The largest counts are mainly confined to the larger fish-stocked lakes. The highest to date being 63 at Hewell Grange on November 13 2021, 43 at Earlswood Lakes in December 2022, and 26 at Arrow Valley Lake in December 2018.
It is not unusual to see small parties of Cormorants flying overhead, moving between sites, and the largest such flock concerns 22 over Morton Bagot on March 2 2014.
Counts at Bittell peaked at 85 in December 2016, but how many were on Lower Bittell is unknown.
Shag - is strictly coastal in its UK distribution, and rather surprisingly is no commoner than the preceding species in the Circle.
There have been four records as follows:
One was found alive at Mappleborough Green on March 10, 11, or 12 1962. The reason for the confusion is that it appeared in the relevant Bird Report as picked up alive in Mappleborough Green in the Warwickshire section for March 12, as stranded in a garden in Redditch for March 10 in the Worcestershire section, and as March 11 1962 at Mappleborough Green in Birds of the West Midlands Harrison et al, that report being expanded with the addition that it had been ringed as a chick on the Farne Islands on 29 June 1961. The two Bird Club records were both per Fred Fincher, and my guess is that there was some editorial confusion over date and locality rather than two different birds.
The second record was one picked up in Redditch on August 31 1989 Simon Dix (RSPCA).
Two were found at Earlswood by John Chidwick on February 21 1994.
The most recent is nine immatures at Lower Bittell from August 1 to 2 2000. They were found by Geoff Wardle, Graham Mant and Keith Wheatley.
There have been 12 other records on Upper Bittell.
Eurasian Spoonbill - is one of many southern herons which are increasing, and now breeding, in the UK.
One was seen over Lower Bittell by Dave Jackson in 2022. The record has not yet been published.
There is also a record for Upper Bittell in 1984.
Eurasian Bittern - is a regular, but scarce, winter visitor to reedbeds in the West Midlands, and therein lies the problem. There is a shortage of suitable habitat within the Circle so there have only been three records so far.
The first was seen in flight over the Arrow Valley by John Sirrett on December 23 1988.
The next was also seen only in flight, this time by Steve Payne over the Arrow Valley golf course on February 5 2006.
The most recent was watched by Alan Giles as it stood on ice at Hewell Grange on December 7 2010.
There are just about enough small reedbeds dotted about to provide hope that another will occur before too long.
There is one record for Upper Bittell (2000).
Night-heron - is another southern heron which has occurred within the Circle.
An immature was photographed in the Mill Shrub at Lower Bittell on May 12 1983 by RJDickens.
On May 15 2011 Matt Griffiths flushed an adult at Earlswood and it was seen there until May 28, wandering as far as Terry's Green on May 18 2011.
This species roosts in trees, and is a good candidate for further discoveries.
Cattle Egret - was a National Rarity until relatively recently, but is becoming increasingly common in the West Midlands.
There are two records for the Circle.
One seen over Alcester by J and ME Lindsey on March 12 2010.
One in fields near Lower Bittell on November 9 2021, having been found at Upper Bittell by Josh Toogood the day before.
This species is definitely one to look out for.
Grey Heron - is a common resident breeding communally in a handful of localities within the Circle.
As a breeding bird it had a long association with Wootton Pool, breeding there from before 1914 to 2000. Unfortunately the favoured tree was blown down in that year, and they have not been reported breeding there since.
There were sporadic breeding attempts elsewhere from the latter half of the twentieth century starting with a pair which was successful at Earlswood Lakes in 1989, 2000, and two pairs in 2023. There was a single nest at Hewell Grange from 1997 to 2000, and two in 2008, two pairs at Umberslade in 2004, increasing to 11 pairs in 2023, a substantial heronry at Eggwell Wood in 2022 at least, and a possible breeding site near Preston Bagot in 2007, which was confirmed in 2023.
At Arrow Valley Lake where breeding was noted from 2012, there were seven nests in 2017 and it remains a regular site.
Although Grey Heron is a resident species, they can disperse well away from their breeding sites, and this was demonstrated by a bird found dead at Earlswood on February 5 1956 having been ringed at High Halstead in Kent the previous June.
The species rarely gathers in great numbers, and the largest counts probably relate to adults and youngsters close to the breeding sites, the highest total being 24 at Arrow Valley Lake in May 2014, 13 at Earlswood on May 16 1985, and again in August 2011, and eight at Morton Bagot on August 1 2010.
Numbers at Upper Bittell topped 50 in February 2009.
Purple Heron - is a very scarce Mediterranean species which occasionally overshoots on migration back from Africa. It favours reed-beds which makes the one record from the Circle all the more remarkable.
An immature was found on the canal near Earlswood Lakes, where it remained from August 31 to September 15 1956. Its discovery was credited to Arthur Cundall and Gordon Ireson.
You can never say never, but it's hard to imagine another one turning up.
Great White Egret - is a species whose range expansion has been gathering pace since the turn of the twentieth century. They were very rare nationally when I first started birding, but are now heading towards the commonplace.
By the end of 2022 there were about 15 records within the Circle starting with one over Morton Bagot on March 25 2012.
Next came one standing in a wet meadow at Grimes Hill, Wythall on January 5 2016. The following year saw one at Morton Bagot on August 4 2017, one at Wootton Wawen on August 31 2017, and singles at Earlswood on October 18 and 31 2017, and on November 22 2017.
One was at Lower Bittell from November 6 to 17 2018.
There was one along the river Arrow east of Studley on April 29 2019, with presumably the same at "Redditch" on May 3. Ipsley Mill Pool had one on October 10 2019, and another was at Earlswood Lakes on November 8 2019.
One remained at Earlswood from November 29 to December 4, and again on December 7 2020. There was another at Earlswood on October 9 and 10 2021, and one at Hewell Grange which was published without a date in 2021.
In 2022 one was at Morton Bagot on August 5.
They are now regular at Upper Bittell and these may stray to Lower occasionally. It seems likely that future updates of this feature will involve more summarised data.
Little Egret - is the classic example of a species which has, for whatever reason, changed its status positively within my lifetime. It has gone from rarity to common breeding bird in southern England in the space of four decades, and the records within the Circle fully reflect this change.
The first record was as recently as 1997 when an adult was at Upper Bentley on April 3, being seen and photographed on garden ponds at Callow Hill, Crabbs Cross, and Oakenshaw before settling down at Old Yarr until May 11 1997. Another was seen at Earlswood on May 27 1997.
We had to wait until 2006 for the next one, which was at Wootton Wawen on July 27 2006, but with three more records that year, the floodgates were truly opening.
The species doesn't need large water bodies, and can turn up anywhere from fields, to woodland edge, to small ponds.
The highest counts by the end of 2021 were 10 at Earlswood Lakes on August 5 2018, 10 at Hewell Grange on November 21 2020, eight at Arrow Valley Lake in March 2018, six at Morton Bagot on September 10 2017, five over Winyates East on March 31 2020, and four at Middle Spernal on October 29 2017.
It seemed inevitable that they would start breeding, and indeed a nest was watched with an incubating bird on the heronry island at Arrow Valley Lake in 2017. Although the breeding attempt was reported to have failed, I had the impression that there might be a second nest and it may therefore be significant that the six birds at Morton Bagot on September 10 2017 included two juveniles. Successful breeding took place at Arrow Valley Lake in 2022 (two pairs).
Other Herons - There is one species which must be a really good bet. Glossy Ibis has had several near misses in recent years with Upton Warren, and Salford Priors recording birds, and others in the lower Avon valley. It can only be a matter of time.
Migrating southern herons have a delightful habit of overshooting their breeding grounds, and maybe climate change is fuelling an increase in their occurrence in the UK. Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, and Black Stork are all still a pipe dream, but by no means impossible.
Several American herons could also occur, but they are two scarce in the UK to consider.
Osprey - is now a regular passage migrant in small numbers, after the Victorians had shot and egged the bird into UK oblivion.
The first two records were one shot at Umberslade Park between 1840 and 1850, and another at Lower Bittell in April 1883.
The first inkling of its return in the Circle came with a bird at Hewell Grange on April 26 1994. By the end of 2022 Hewell Grange had had 10 records in nine years, and Earlswood Lakes 14 records in nine years, and every year brings more.
Other favoured localities are Lower Bittell (nine), Tardebigge Reservoir (four), and Alcester (five). Various parts of Redditch have seen records, but there is only one published record for Arrow Valley Lake (2005).
There has only been one over Morton Bagot, September 10 2017. Other interesting occurrences include a satellite tagged bird which roosted in Peck Wood near Rowney Green on April 15 2008, and was in a tree next to the M42 near Alvechurch next day. Technology was also the provider of data on the earliest arrival in the Circle concerning a bird at Earlswood on March 13 2017 having wintered in Equatorial Guinea it continued its journey to breed in the Lake District.
Ospreys are very punctual. Spring passage is overwhelmingly in the first half of April, and autumn passage from late August to mid September. Obviously there are exceptions. The latest record was one over Alcester on October 12 2011.
It is tempting to speculate that there might be flight lines up the Arrow Valley and over the higher ground across Tardebigge and Hewell, but that doesn't explain the Earlswood records.
There has yet to be a mid-summer record, but various introduction schemes in the East Midlands and Wales may yet lead to one hanging around a local fishing lake all summer. The anglers would be delighted I'm sure.
Honey-buzzard - is a very scarce UK breeding bird and occasional migrant from the continent.
There have been three records in the Circle.
On May 11 2007 G Fellows saw an adult, thought to be a female, over Earlswood.
On September 18 2016 Dave Scanlan and I watched a juvenile as it flew south over Morton Bagot.
On July 10 2022 Dave Scanlan and I watched an adult heading south over Morton Bagot.
Maybe one day the Heart of England Forest will be mature enough to tempt a pair to settle and breed.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - is today a common bird across the UK, but became scarce in much of England during the 1950's due to excessive use of DDT in agriculture.
It is likely that the national picture was reflected with the Circle, but the evidence is scant. Writers of county avifaunas during the mid twentieth century referred only to persecution by gamekeepers.
The first specific record I can find is a breeding season record from Rowney Green in 1967. A similar level of recording continued for the next decade, with the number of sites gradually increasing. This may reflect an improving situation.
Today the species is present in every wood in the area, and is pretty evenly distributed throughout the Circle. Persecution is illegal, and probably now low-level if indeed it happens at all.
Northern Goshawk - is an interesting species. Its entire UK distribution is likely to be due to deliberate introduction (or maybe reintroduction) by unofficial groups. Falconers are generally cited as responsible for the introduction, while the subsequent persecution of the species is laid at the door of hunting interests, egg-collectors, and bizarrely rogue falconers (who apparently regard them as a sort of restocking bank). Whatever the situation, it left a patchy distribution centred on Scotland, Wales, and the Peak District out of which there has been expansion for example, to parts of the West Midlands.
The first record for the Circle comes from 1999 when a pair bred in a large wood. Unfortunately I can't say where because even though I know of no subsequent breeding there, even twenty years on the site might be reused.
Since then there have been just five published.
An adult female was seen at Ullenhall on February 19 2003.
A female was seen Morton Bagot on November 21 2011.
A further record came from Morton Bagot on February 1 2015.
One was reported in woodland in the Great Alne area on August 24 2021, and another over Mickleton Close, Crabbs Cross on May 6 2021.
The recorder, when writing up the first of the Morton Bagot records had got wind of a free-flying falconer's bird in the area, and although the bird we saw definitely did not wear jesses, the possibility of it being an escape was implied.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing possibility of persecution any further breeding season records may need to go unreported.
There have been three records at Upper Bittell.
Marsh Harrier - in common with many raptors was hard hit in the nineteenth century by trophy hunters and gamekeepers, which left it a very rare bird in the UK for most of the twentieth. However, persecution became illegal and the population grew, resulting in an increasing stream of passage migrants being reported in the West Midlands.
The first record in the Circle was one shot near Alvechurch in 1886.
A whole century of absence followed, and it wasn't until 29 April 2009 that one was found here, at Feckenham. Subsequently the growth in records continued apace. Over the last ten years at least one has turned up almost every year, and since 2014 most years have seen three or four.
By 2021 there had been seven published records at Morton Bagot. Hewell Grange has had two (2013 and 2016), Feckenham two (2009 and 2015), and singles at Tardebigge (2010), Kinwarton (2015), and Lapworth (2016) being seen from the M40.
A surprising absence from these records was Earlswood, but the gap was plugged by a cream-crown there on July 25 2020, and another on July 29 2021. There has also been one in 2022.
An interesting development with Marsh Harriers is a recent change from summer visitor to summer visitor/resident. This means that birds may increasingly be seen at almost any time of year. To date most records in the Circle show a Spring and Autumn bias, but they are quite well spread. There have been two in April, none in May (although I do know of a reliable record from Morton Bagot which was not submitted to the recorder), one in June, two in July, three in August, three in September, and four in October.
There have also been eleven records at Upper Bittell.
Hen Harrier - is a bird of moorland which, when not being illegally shot at by rich landowners and their gamekeepers, wanders into the rest of the UK during the winter. It is the poster bird for the campaign to ban the shooting of Red Grouse.
It is also extremely rare in the Circle, and has produced only five records.
An adult male was shot near Alcester in 1850. Obviously "near Alcester" is an imprecise location and it could be argued that this bird should have no place in this archive.
The second met a similar fate. It was shot at Hewell Grange in November 1909.
The first bird to survive the experience of being recorded was a "ringtail" reported near Earlswood on February 15 1976. It appears as per DMHawker, which unfortunately means it was a second hand report.
Thanks to reader of this blog, Jeremy, I have been guided to a youtube video of a female Hen Harrier filmed along the river Arrow near Coughton Court in the 1992/1993 winter. It can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxGG4PZCB8 . At the time Jeremy was anxious to keep on friendly terms with local landowners, so he did not release news of the birds' presence...until now.
The ringtail was first seen at Badbury Hill on October 19 1992, and was filmed there on October 21 1992. He then relocated it by the Arrow at Lower Spernall Farm where it remained from November 24 to February 13 1993, sometimes straying to Middle Spernall, and being filmed on five dates. Subsequently it appeared in the general Spernall Park area until March 15 1993, again being filmed on several dates.
Jeremy also saw a male low over Stoopers Wood on December 7 1992.
Further information suggests that another observer submitted a record for April 24 1993 and published as "recorder and locality withheld" but in West Warwickshire, but I am only guessing that this might be the same bird.
The most recent was a male watched for five minutes over fields near Hockley Heath on October 15 2007.
The next one would be very popular indeed.
There have been two records at Upper Bittell.
Montagu's Harrier - is an extremely rare summer visiting breeding bird in the UK. There are very few records in the West Midlands, so it is most surprising that it has been recorded within the Circle.
However, the most amazing aspect of this one record is that it is a breeding record, or at least it has always been accepted to be one. Brit Birds 20:226. These are the facts:
An adult male was found at Hewell Grange (the report actually just states a stately home in Worcestershire) on June 5 1926 by one Guy Charteris. He realised that Pheasants were being raised for shooting on the estate and arranged for an order banning the disturbance of the bird.
So far, so very impressive. Interestingly, the source material goes on to say that Guy returned in December and asked the head gamekeeper how the bird had faired. He was informed by the gamekeeper that it had subsequently paired up with a female and they had reared three young. These all remained until October having initially killed only Mallards, but later moved onto Pheasants with a preference for hen Pheasants.
Now call me an old cynic if you must, but while the initial sighting looks beyond reproach, the breeding aspect of this record is definitely second hand and from a source who might be tempted to gloss over any facts which might get him into trouble.
Red Kite - is a good example how quickly things can change, and also illustrates how the volume of published records is adversely affected by an improving status. Forty years ago they bred only in mid-Wales and very rarely strayed to the West Midlands. Then the reintroduction scheme in the Chilterns got underway from around 1990 and was a spectacular success.
The first record for the Circle was one at Lower Bittell on July 29 1995, promptly followed by one at Spernal on May 30 1996, and a third at Great Alne in July 1998. Since then records have been annual.
By 2008 it was still scarce enough for every record to be published, thus the report for that year lists records at Alvechurch, Crabbs Cross, Tardebigge, Redditch, Earlswood, Wythall, the M5/M42 junction, Henley-in-Arden, and Alcester.
Since then fewer records have been published, not because they've got rarer but because they are such a regular sight. Most are in spring and summer, but as yet there haven't been any of the large gatherings noted elsewhere in Warwickshire.
The precise location of breeding records are currently still unpublished, and I don't know of any in the Circle. But I'm sure that will change, if it hasn't already. Last year an adult was seen several times over Morton Bagot, and two flying juveniles in August. That's not proof of local breeding, but it's getting close.
White-tailed Eagle - Reintroduced into the UK in the mid twentieth century. Wild birds from Europe are very unlikely, but a recent (re)introduction scheme on the Isle of Wight is producing odd birds elsewhere in England.
One seen by John Coombes over the Coughton area on May 5 2022 becomes the first for the Circle. There is little doubt it came from the Isle of Wight scheme, but it still counts in my book.
Common Buzzard - is now the commonest bird of prey within the Circle by a mile. But this is largely a modern phenomenon, which is difficult to explain.
Although it's likely that Buzzards were present in the early part of the nineteenth century I have no evidence for this. Instead relentless persecution kept them down, and the first published record is one caught in a Badger trap at Earlswood on May 12 1944.
They remained scarce for the next thirty years, although the first for Morton Bagot was one on May 6 1951.
The 1968 - 1972 BTO Atlas recorded possible breeding for SP06 (the Redditch square). In1997/1998 I organised a survey of Buzzards in Worcestershire, and as it happened this coincided with a time when the population and range was changing very fast indeed. There were nine records for the Worcestershire part of the Circle in that survey including two definite breeding records, and two probables.
I suspect if I repeated it now, almost every tetrad would have a breeding pair in it.
Buzzards often tower in groups as birds defend their territories, and these are responsible for counts of 23 at Middle Spernal on March 17 2017, and 18 at Morton Bagot in April 2012, currently the largest parties recorded.
An indication of breeding density comes from a count of six territories which intersected my recording area at Morton Bagot in 2019.
Rough-legged Buzzard - is a very scarce Scandinavian species which in contrast to many large raptors seems to be getting ever scarcer in the West Midlands.
There is just one record for the Circle which was part of a major influx winter.
One seen by MB Skirrow at Alvechurch on October 29 1966. It was the first county record (possibly the only one).
Another is long overdue, but given the state of the warming globe, may never happen.
Other large raptors - There are two obvious candidates for future records. Black Kite is occasionally seen in the West Midlands. Less likely, but increasingly possible, is Pallid Harrier which turned up in the West Midlands in 2020. Rarer Eagles are on the British list but are not anticipated to appear around Redditch.
Barn Owl - is widely distributed in agricultural land throughout much of the UK.
Within the Circle, while it is always exciting to see a Barn Owl hunting at dusk or dawn, the species is actually relatively common in the countryside around Redditch.
The first specific mention I can find relates to a sharp decline after the severe winter of 1947. It was said to have declined at Ipsley (then largely rural), and a regular pair at Beoley disappeared. The lack of super-cold winters in recent years has probably helped the species maintain a stable population.
The best data comes from the Warwickshire Barn Owl ringing group who reported five pairs in Barn Owl boxes in SP06 in 2017, and recorded breeding pairs in the parishes of Aston Cantlow, Great Alne, Henley-in-Arden, Morton Bagot, Oldberrow, Spernal, Tanworth-in-Arden, Ullenhall, and Wootton Wawen in 2018. Although it is likely to be scarce or absent within the suburban sprawl of Redditch, it is probable that the Worcestershire sections of SP06, and other parts of the Circle hold similar numbers.
A particularly unusual report came from Oldberrow in 1995 where one flew through an open bedroom window at 03.00 and stood on the householder's dressing table.
Little Owl - was introduced into the UK in the nineteenth century, and soon established a presence in England and Wales. It is a species of open countryside, and is more likely to be active in daylight than the other common species, but is also less vocal than Tawny Owl so is easily overlooked.
Within the Circle, as elsewhere, they are very sedentary. This could lead to the risk of local extinctions. The first record comes from Hopwood, where they were heard regularly in open country in 1936. They were recorded as breeding in SP06 in all the Atlas Surveys since 1966.
There are seven localities listed prior to the end of the twentieth century, and 15 since 2000. There is some cause for recent concern. At Morton Bagot there were three pairs in 2004, but only one in 2020. If they are in decline, the most likely reason is a decrease in invertebrate prey such as moths.
Although they are very sedentary, a record of one in a garden at Headless Cross on May 16 2015 suggests that local movements do take place.
Long-eared Owl - has a patchy breeding distribution in the UK, mainly associated with coniferous woodland. However it is also a migrant, and small numbers arrive from the continent each autumn and sometimes penetrate inland.
Within the Circle there are just two records.
A roost of five birds was found near Studley in November 1992.
One was at Hewell Grange on March 12 1995.
Winter roosts are susceptible to disturbance from over-eager birders and in particular photographers. This has unfortunately led to the deliberate suppression of sightings Nationally, and so I suppose that the same would happen should another one be found locally.
There have been three records at Upper Bittell.
Short-eared Owl - is a nomadic breeding species within the UK (mainly on moorland), and a regular non-breeding migrant.
Within the Circle there have been 18 records from a variety of locations.
The first was one at Arrow Valley Lake on March 3 1986.
The temporal distribution of records involves four in March and one in April, then two in September, four in October, one in November, and five in December. All but one have involved just a single bird, the exception being two at Morton Bagot on December 8 2013.
Localities to have recorded the species are Arrow Valley Lake, Earlswood (two), Henley Golf Course, Hockley Heath, Lower Bittell, Lower Park Farm, Middle Spernal, Morton Bagot (four), Mount Pleasant, Rose Cottage, Wootton Wawen, and Wythall.
Tawny Owl - is the most widespread and common Owl in the UK. It is also one of the most nocturnal and hides away in hollow trees or thick tree cover during the day, which makes it hard to survey.
This woodland species has probably been present locally since pre-history, but the first mention of it I can find is its presence in a list of regular species at Earlswood dating back to 1952.
The species is also highly sedentary, the only movements being of young Owls seeking to establish new territory. It was confirmed breeding in SP06 in all the Atlas Surveys since 1966 - 68, and I have found records for 15 locations within the Circle. This undoubtedly underestimates its actual status, but few people have the time to carry out extensive nocturnal survey work.
Other Owls - do occur as vagrants in the UK, but are all so very rare that none is likely in the Circle. Best outside chance might be Scops Owl which has reached Oxfordshire.
Hoopoe - is a European species which overshoots to the UK. Although scarce, its startling appearance and preference for lawns draws the attention of householders to its presence.
There are seven records in the Circle.
The first was reported (presumably shot) at Henley-in-Arden prior to 1904 when the record was referred to by Tomes.
The first dated record was one in gardens at Bordesley on October 20 1947.
One was at Wootton Wawen in early May 1968.
One flew over a garden at Winyates Green on April 13 2005.
One was at Moat Farm Lane, Ullenhall on April 17 2005.
One was at Manor Farm, Earlswood on July 4 2011.
One was at Aston Cantlow on November 15 2018.
There is also one record at Upper Bittell.
Common Kingfisher - is widespread in the UK and has probably always been resident within the Circle, but the earliest dated record I have is one at Earlswood Lakes on February 2 1947.
There are records from 24 sites, chiefly from lakes and pools where birders collect, and also along the river courses of the Alne and the Arrow. There isn't much detail on density, but there were three pairs at Tardebigge in 1975.
Occasionally birds are seen in unusual circumstances, such as one which flew across the M42 near Junction 2 at Hopwood.
Bee-eater - is a scarce overshooting migrant to the UK, and a real prize for birders.
The only record in the Circle was one reported by WG Thomas near Redditch from September 24 to 25 1970. It would have been interesting to know exactly where this bird was, but no other details were published.
Wryneck - is a summer visitor to Europe, and formerly to the UK. Now it is only a scarce passage migrant in UK.
There are four records in the Circle.
The first was seen by Miss ME Pumphrey at Rowney Green on April 24 1938.
Next was one seen by SBorder at Tardebigge from September 4 to 8 1976, a typical date in the Midlands.
The third was seen in a Redditch garden by Clive Lee on April 24 1987, 49 years to the day since the first one.
The most recent was one found by LCarter at Arrow Valley Lake on the unusually late spring date on June 5 1987.
There is also one record at Upper Bittell.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - is a scarce breeding bird over much of England, with most in the south-east. Over the last ten years the species has been in severe decline.
Within the Circle it has always been scarce, which ironically means it is quite well recorded. However, the recent decline seen over the rest of the country is certainly evident to anyone wanting to see one locally.
The first Circle reference to the species comes in the 1952 article on the Birds of Earlswood where it is described as "seen occasionally".
Since then it has been recorded at 29 localities, mainly woodland but also in suburban areas. The decline has gradually gathered momentum since the turn of the century. A small population may persist, and the most recent published records are from Arrow Valley Lake (2019), Earlswood Lakes (2021), Great Alne (2021), Hewell Grange (2018), Morton Bagot (2019), and Wootton Wawen (2021 and 2022).
The reason for the decline is not well understood, but is likely to be linked to a reduction in woodland insects.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - is a common breeding bird over much of the UK, and is increasing its numbers and expanding its range northwards in Scotland.
Within the Circle the earliest reference I can find concerns its presence at Forshaw Heath in 1935.
There are some indications that the species was once less common, for example it was only recorded as probably breeding in the SP06 km square in the 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas.
Now it is found throughout the area and has probably had its population growth fuelled by the popularity of garden feeders. The highest population density reported is in the Morton Bagot recording area, where five pairs were recorded in 2015 and 2016.
However, other sites with unpublished breeding data are likely to hold at least as many, and the highest count of individual birds is seven at Alcester Heath on February 27 2012, with numerous other places recording up to six birds.
Green Woodpecker - is a common breeding bird throughout England and Wales.
Within the Circle it shows no long term population trend. It was confirmed to be breeding in SP06 in the 1966 - 68 WMBC Atlas Survey. However, a comment that one seen at Ipsley in 1967 was the first seen there by the observer since the very cold 1963 winter both confirms its presence prior to 1963 (as if there was any doubt), and also demonstrates its susceptibility to severe losses in bad winters.
It is not attracted to bird feeders so they are not as common as the preceding species, but they are almost as widespread. The highest density in the Morton Bagot recording area was four territories in 2015, but there are usually no more than three. In 2014 it was described as "abundant" at Spernal. Six were at Kinwarton on September 19 2015, and five at Hewell Grange on February 27 2017.
Other Woodpeckers, Bee-eaters etc - have occurred in the UK, but all are very rare and unlikely to ever turn up in the Circle.
Common Kestrel - is widespread and reasonably common in the UK. It may be slowly declining as the general agricultural landscape has tended to lose biodiversity with time.
It is difficult to find much to say about the species locally. The first mention I can find comes from the Birds of Earlswood (1952) where it simply states "seen only occasionally and no longer breeds".
As far as I am aware that statement still holds true, although it was recorded in the breeding season there in 1994.
Breeding records come from Morton Bagot, Spernal, Arrow Valley Country Park, Hewell Grange, and Lower Park Farm, but these are probably just the tip of a rather small iceberg. It is fair to say that they are spread thinly across the farmland in the Circle (plus the newly planted Heart of England Forest woods) and are less frequently seen in urban areas.
Merlin - breeds in upland areas of the UK, and spends the winters hunting over lowland farmland. There are also a few birds from the continent which winter.
There were approximately 21 records in the Circle up to the end of 2022.
The earliest report concerns one at Earlswood on December 13 1981. Further records from the area north of Redditch include one at Portway on December 4 1985, one at Forshaw Heath on December 24 1998, one at Gorcott Hill on January 7 2001, one at Lower Bittell on April 8 2004, one near Umberslade on April 19 2004, singles at Lower Park on January 31 and November 22 2008, one at Hopwood on January 12 2014, one at Hewell Grange on December 22 2016, and one near Earlswood Lakes on January 3 2020.
Merlins are attracted by concentrations of wintering passerines, and the period from 2010 to 2013 saw annual reports from Morton Bagot at a time when it was being managed under a higher level stewardship scheme supported by English Nature. More recently the habitat there has become dominated by planted woodland, but the most recent one was as recent as October 23 2022.
Other area to have seen Merlins include Wootton Wawen, where there were singles on March 30 2003, and March 6 2008, Studley, one on January 6 2021, and near Hewell Grange, one on January 3 2022.
It is likely that the species is a more regular winter visitor than these records suggest.
There have been 13 records at Bittell/Upper Bittell.
Hobby - breeds sparingly across most of England and winters in Africa.
Documenting this species within the Circle immediately runs into two problems. 1. The species is believed to be targeted by egg-collectors, so breeding sites cannot be revealed. 2. The species has become relatively common as a summer resident, so not all records are published.
What I can say is that it was once very rare indeed. The first record for the Circle was one at Gorcott Hill on July 30 1968, and the second at Henley-in-Arden on June 2 1971.
From the early 1980s there are records in pretty much every year, and the total number of sites with records stands at 23. The earliest dated record is April 22 2007 at Feckenham (which is pretty much a typical time of year when Hobby should have arrived). The latest is a slightly more impressive report of one at Mount Pleasant, Redditch on October 9 2011.
The only multiple sighting is three at Old Yarr on September 1 2007.
Peregrine - is a real conservation Phoenix from the ashes story. It has probably always suffered the gamekeeper led persecution which was once rife, but its numbers really crashed after WW2 when DDT was widely used as a chemical spray on crops. An unforeseen bi-product was eggshell thinning among raptors. Since DDT was banned (though other insecticides still limit insect populations) and raptor persecution became illegal, they have slowly recovered their range. The population is quite widespread but remains under threat from the unenlightened.
The first record in print is one at Lower Bittell on November 10 and December 1 1946, followed by one at Tardebigge Reservoir on January 3 1954. Subsequently the dearth of reports was probably a reflection of the population crash previously mentioned, and it wasn't until 1996 that birds were reported again, this time one at Webheath on January 21 and February 7, and one at Wythall on March 3 1996.
Since then the only published records to get past the censor are odd birds on the pylons at Morton Bagot (where they do not breed), and even those did not appear in print after 2012.
So all I can say is that I see them over my garden occasionally every year, and it is likely that they have a breeding presence within the Circle.
The list of individuals and groups known to have an unhealthy interest in the species' welfare includes pigeon fanciers, eggers, gamekeepers, and even rogue falconers. It is completely unnecessary and evidently they are having little or no effect, but in order to keep it that way I cannot include any breeding sites in this blog. Peregrines are very site faithful, so that adds to their vulnerability.
Other falcons - are mainly extremely rare visitors which are unlikely to turn up, but there is one which could yet be found. The Red-footed Falcon is an east European species which appears in the UK in small numbers most springs (and very rarely in autumn). Occasionally, when the winds remain in the east in late May there are larger influxes and Midland records have occurred. It remains a dream find for the moment.
Rose-ringed Parakeet - is a south asian species which has muscled its way onto the British List by escaping from captivity and taking over the London area thanks to its ability to take advantage of garden feeding. Exactly how they subsequently appeared in other urban areas is unclear. My suspicion is that it may have been a mixture of further escapes and dispersal.
Within the Circle they remain stubbornly scarce, to the relief of many birders. There are approximately 17 records, the first being one at Matchborough from June 30 to July 2 1991. By 2022 there had been eight within Redditch, four in the Earlswood area, a few in Alcester at Alcester, and one record at Henley-in-Arden.
All reports were of singles except for a pair at Henley-in-Arden on March 21 2005.
There have been further reports from Redditch since 2019, including one over Morton Bagot in 2021. It's probably only a matter of time before these isolated birds find each other and start to breed.
Red-backed Shrike - was once a fairly familiar breeding bird in much of England, but it declined in numbers throughout the twentieth century, eventually becoming extinct as a breeding species. There have been occasional breeding records this century, but it is essentially now a scarce migrant from the continent. The overwhelming bulk of migrants are found on offshore islands and at the coast.
With early twentieth century records from the Lickeys and from the Stratford area, it is almost certain that the species would have bred within the Circle before the Second World War, but there are just three catalogued records, all post war.
The first was reported by Miss ME Pumphrey as having bred successfully at Hewell Grange in 1948, the pair raising four young.
The second was found by Ken Clifford and DBrown at Tardebigge on September 13 1959.
The last was a female found by Mike Lane at Morton Bagot on June 9 2021. It was twitched by myself and Dave Scanlan before disappearing from view in the annoying way that shrikes often do.
There is a record from Upper Bittell in 1936, and they formerly bred near the reservoir.
Woodchat Shrike - is a Mediterranean species which is pretty regular on the south coast, but rarely gets found inland.
There is one record for the Circle. This concerns a pair (raised eyebrows) reported in the Zoologist at Weatheroak Hill on May 14 1893.
The date of this record is typical for the species in the UK, and its just the claim that it was a pair which is surprising. But then again, those were very different times and birds generally were much more plentiful than they are today.
Lesser Grey Shrike - is a Mediterranean species which is a very rare overshooting visitor to the UK.
Definitely in the top five rarest birds ever to visit the Circle. One was seen by GCHunt as it perched on raspberry poles near Wythall Church on June 4 1987.
Great Grey Shrike - is a scarce winter visitor to the UK, but is annual in the West Midlands.
There have been 11 records in the Circle, and in recent years these have come in clusters of years. This makes me wonder whether some of them may have involved a single bird wintering in a familiar area over successive winters.
The first was "taken" (presumably shot) near Earlswood on October 28 1892.
Next came one at Earlswood on December 21 1966, followed by a second at Earlswood on January 4 1969. This has a rather tenuous claim to be a returning bird, but there is only one winter of apparent absence between them.
Stretching the point even further came records at Tardebigge on March 21 1971, then at Hockley Heath on April 10 1972, and finally at Wootton Wawen on March 11 1975, and again on October 10 1975.
There was a 35 year wait for the next one (cluster?) One was at Morton Bagot from February 11 to 21 2010, attracted by the huge wintering flock of Linnets no doubt. Another returned briefly to Morton Bagot, being seen in flight on October 21 2011. Two years later one (the same) paused for the day at Morton Bagot on November 10 2013.
It, or another, was then found at Hopwood where it spent the winter from December 23 2013 to April 8 2014.
There are six records for Upper Bittell.
Other Shrikes - are largely too rare to be a realistic proposition. The Circle has actually done very well for the species which are at all regular in the UK.
Golden Oriole - is a scarce overshooting migrant and former scarce breeder in the UK.
The only record for the Circle concerns a first-summer male which Alan Dean heard singing from the tree-tops at Earlswood Lakes on May 26 2004.
Eurasian Jay - is a common resident throughout most of the UK.
Within the Circle it appears to be widespread, and always has been. The first mention comes from a comment that it was common around Redditch in 1947. That remain the case today.
Although it is common, it is unusual to see the species gathered in any numbers. Almost all accounts are of single figures, the largest of these being nine at Earlswood on October 12 2007.
They become much more visible in autumn when they are busy finding and caching acorns to see them through the winter, and it is the occasional failure of the acorn crop which provides very occasional influxes into the region.
One such event happened a few years ago and brought the largest count to date when up to 25 flew over Morton Bagot on October 14 2012.
Magpie - is a very common resident throughout the UK.
Mentioned among the regular breeding birds at Earlswood in 1952, and probably common from well before then. They have always been a target for gamekeepers and so it is likely that they may have been slightly less common until the latter years of the 20th century.
The largest count is 61 in a field at Portway on January 6 1982. Other large counts were 54 roosting at Earlswood on January 24 1999, 50 at Earlswood on January 5 2012, and 51 near Tardebigge on February 3 2021.
Jackdaw - is a very common resident UK bird, and is also very common within the Circle.
Probably present as long as birds have been recorded, but the earliest mention within the Circle comes from 1947 when it was said to be breeding in churches around Ipsley and Beoley, and also on buildings in Redditch.
Since then, numbers may have increased. In 1987 a flock of 100 around Henley-in-Arden was considered worth publishing in the WMBC Report for that year, while counts this century are frequently between 300 and 500. The largest assembly at Earlswood was 500 on October 28 2007, and 800 roosted at Norgrove Court on March 5 2021, but the largest counts come from the Studley area, peaking at a pre-roost count of 2200 at Castle Farm, Studley on January 20 2016, and 1480 at Morton Bagot on January 1 2022.
Nordic Jackdaw - is a Scandinavian sub-species which can sometimes be identified in early spring.
There are just two records for the Circle.
Jim Winsper saw one at Box Trees during Atlas Work in the 1980/81 winter (pers comm).
Mike Inskip found one at Middle Spernall on March 26, and again on April 13 2015.
Rook - is a common resident in the UK, and also within the Circle.
Unusually for a common passerine there is some useful evidence of abundance from the middle of the last century. In 1946 some counts of rookeries around Coughton as part of a larger regional survey found 88 pairs per square mile.
Since then ad hoc counts of rookeries suggest a gradual decline. There were 80 nests at Beoley in 1980, 48 at Hewell Grange in 1994, 35 at Upper Bentley in 1997, 36 at Tardebigge in 2022, 25 at Hopwood in 2022, and 20 at Preston Bagot in 2016. There are still many rookeries for which counts do not get published each year, and it might be interesting to try to establish the current situation.
As far as non-breeding counts go, the largest figure is 700 at Alcester in 1993 (no date given), followed by 500 at Morton Bagot on September 27 2005, 300 - 500 at Oldberrow in 2006, 324 at Feckenham on September 29 1988, and 300 at Coughton Fields, Kinwarton in 2012.
Carrion Crow - is a common resident in the UK and also within the Circle.
For what its worth the first comment I can found about this species comes from 1947 when it was said to be common around Earlswood and increasing around Redditch.
Being such a common, and frankly uninteresting species, there are few published breeding records. However, it is probably worth saying that Morton Bagot contained six active nests when the area was keepered, and that has risen to 13 pairs in 2019 in response to the cessation of gamekeeping there.
The irony of course is that by releasing tons of Pheasants every year the shooting fraternity have provided an ideal food source which no doubt accounts for the fact that this same area has the largest non-breeding counts in the Circle.
The biggest count was 200 at Spernall on March 13 2006, with 150 at Earlswood on March 27 2006, and 150 at Morton Bagot during 2016.
Other sites to hold flocks exceeding 100 birds are Coughton Fields 100 on January 30 2010, and again on October 2011, 100 at Sambourne on February 21 2009, and 100 at Kinwarton in 2014.
Hooded Crow - is only found in the north-west of Scotland and in Northern Ireland with the UK. However, small numbers do reach the UK from continental Europe, and these birds were formerly much more regular.
Within the Circle there are three records, all historic.
One was at Earlswood in November 1905 (presumably shot).
One was seen at Earlswood by RL Smallwood on November 4 1956
One was reported by EW Jephcott to have been shot near Aston Cantlow in early December 1959.
There are seven records from Upper Bittell between 1921 and 1976.
A repeat performance is possible, but unlikely.
Common Raven - has expanded its range dramatically this century from its bases in Wales and Scotland. It now occurs over most of England.
The situation within the Circle reflects this recent status change neatly.
The first record relates to one strung up on a gamekeepers board at Coughton Park in the nineteenth century. This hints at the possibility that the recent expansion represents a reclamation of a former status, and also shows the likely reason for their demise.
The next record concerns two over Alvechurch on April 3 1975. If this was the forerunner of a change in fortunes, it wasn't obvious at the time.
The real arrival began with two at Astwood Bank on August 31 2000, and another at Ipsley Alders on October 13 1998. By 2000 a pair was confirmed to be breeding at Hewell Grange, and others were present at Bannams Wood and Austy Wood.
Since then a considerable consolidation has occurred and the species can be found throughout most of the Circle. There has also been a steady increase in flock size, from up to 10 at several localities after 2015 to 18 at Poole's Wood on February 17 2019, and 38 at Old Yarr on August 31 2020.
The future seems rosy for this species, although the alarming recent spread of bird flu may yet be a game-changer.
Other Crows - are very unlikely to occur. There are two others on the UK list, and although both have occurred in the West Midlands, neither Chough nor Nutcracker is expected to put in an appearance.
Waxwing - is a classic example of an irruptive migrant. Most winters see none at all. In a modest influx there may be the odd record, but in a big influx year there will be loads. There have been five major influxes into the region since the Second World War.
The first record to make it to print was one in Redditch on January 18 1944. As there were few observers in those days, and it was wartime, it is hard to know whether this was tied to an influx year.
Another three were at Lower Bittell from December 30 1946 to January 3 1947.
The first proper influx in modern times was the winter of 1965/66 and this did bring records to Studley, Alvechurch, and Hopwood. Unfortunately the WMBC report editor provided no other detail.
The next influx was 1970/71. This produced singles at Alcester on March 7 1971, and Headless Cross on January 14 1971.
We had to wait over 30 years for the next irruption, but it was worth waiting for. After one over Earlswood on November 3 2004, the bulk of the birds arrived in March 2005. Up to 45 were at Winyates East, and 40 were at Winyates Green from March 6 to April 26 2005, one at Lower Bittell on March 5 2005, and seven were at Beoley on April 11 2005.
To demonstrate the unpredictability of these events, the next influx was in 2010/11 bringing up to 65 to the Arden Forest Industrial Estate at Alcester from December 10 to 17 2010, 10 to Feckenham on November 29 2010, 30 in Redditch on December 21 2010, up to 40 to Cheswick Green in December 2010, with further records at Morton Bagot, Cookhill, and Redditch during December. 15 at Morton Bagot on January 13 2011 eluded me completely, 20 at Batchley in December 2010 and January 2011. 16 at Ipsley Alders in February and March 2011, 15 at Tardebigge also in February and March 2011, and five in Redditch on April 3 2011.
The last invasion was in 2012/2013. This featured 10 at Alcester in December 2012, another 10 at Earlswood in December 2012, 30 at Brockhill in late November 2012, 34 in Redditch from November 2012 to January 21 2013, two at Headless Cross on February 28 2013, three in Alcester, and four in Winyates East in early 2013.
Other winters sometimes produce records; these included seven at Studley from February 25 to March 1 2003, 14 at Batchley from January 11 to 30 2009, seven at Hewell Grange on December 3 2011 which were the only ones in either Worcestershire or Warwickshire that year, while the last to date was four over Tardebigge on January 2 2017.
So it's now been five winters since the last record, and nine since the last influx. Another one would be most welcome.
Coal Tit - is a common resident.
This species was mentioned among the regular breeding birds around Earlswood in 1952. It may have been slightly less common in those days, and only managed to be recorded as "probably breeding" in SP06 in the 1968 - 1972 BTO Atlas.
By the next Atlas 1988 - 91 it was confirmed as breeding. The species tends fall through the cracks in recording effort, being common enough to be largely ignored, but not abundant enough to form large non-breeding parties.
The greatest breeding density recorded was six territories in Egwell Wood near Wootton Wawen in 2010, although 15 birds counted at Morgrove Coppice on June 28 2015 implies a similar situation there.
The largest of the few recorded wintering parties was 20 at Coughton Court on January 16 1999, and 20 to 30 outside the breeding season in Austy Wood in 2000.
Marsh Tit - is a true woodland species and being significantly scarcer than Blue/Great/Coal Tits, gets plenty of attention in the WMBC County Reports.
It is possible that the species was scarcer fifty years ago, although the comment in the 1956 report that it was outnumbered by Willow Tits in the Earlswood area probably says more about the latter species.
The SP06 square is the only one to fall wholly within the Circle, but also contains Redditch so the fact that the species was not recorded breeding in the 1988 - 91 BTO Atlas and had only been noted as present but not breeding in the 1966 - 68 WMBC Atlas may not be significant in relation to other parts of the Circle.
Since the turn of the century it has been recorded breeding in many of the woods in the Circle with standout counts including 14 pairs in Heart of England Forest Woods around Spernal in 2016, three pairs at Mockley Wood in 2018, three pairs in and around Morton Bagot in 2019, five pairs in Austy Wood in 2000, four pairs at Rough Hill Wood in 2021, and two pairs in Eggwell Wood in 2010.
It is unusual to find large counts of post-breeding parties, and the largest to date is six at Alcester Heath in August 2011.
Willow Tit - formerly fairly common but now declining fast in the UK. This situation is also reflected locally where it is now almost certainly extinct.
The species was only noticed in the UK at the end of the nineteenth century, and would therefore have quickly become a hot topic. This probably explains why it was noted at Earlswood in December 1893 (presumably shot), and again in February 1938.
By 1956 it was described as commoner than Marsh Tit around Earlswood. There were also records from Ipsley in 1947. For the remainder of the century the species was probably present but under the radar until the WMBC Atlas when it was described as probably breeding in SP06 1966 - 68, possibly breeding in the BTO Atlas results 1968 - 72, and again in the BTO Atlas from 1988 - 91. Ringing data from Hewell Grange included nine ringed there during 1976.
In the 1990s it was recorded at Ipsley Alders in 1997, at Shortwood Roughs on my BTO Common Bird Census square from 1995 to 1998, and at Ipsley Mill Pool in 1998. I honestly don't think anyone noticed they might be in trouble.
Alarm bells started to sound after the turn of the present century. They persisted for a few years at Earlswood, with the last record on January 18 2003. At Hewell Grange they attempted to breed in 2005, but the last report there was on January 9 2009. At Lower Bittell they were last reported in 2006. There were two at Alcester Heath on August 22 2009. They had never occurred at Morton Bagot during my years of watching that area, but one was reported there (not by me) on January 23 2010. The last record was of a bird singing in Butler's Coppice (a part of Coughton Wood) on March 25 2012.
The reason for the decline is not well understood. The habitat seems unchanged. One theory is that as both Marsh and Willow Tits hold quite large woodland territories compared to the other Tits, they have been out-competed by their commoner rivals which are better able to take advantage of garden feeding.
Whatever the reason, this is a classic example of a species which disappeared over the course of a decade and shows the need for vigilant monitoring of "common" species.
Blue Tit - Very common resident throughout the UK, and also within the Circle.
Recorded among the regularly breeding birds around Earlswood in 1952, there is no evidence that this species' status in the Circle has changed over time.
Ringing numbers rarely make the WMBC Annual Reports, but in mid 1970s numbers caught at Hewell Grange were reported for a few years, and the best year there was in 1976 when 82 were ringed.
As far as breeding territories go, some BTO census data has made it into print, and these include 31 territories at Southcrest Woods in 1996, and 26 territories around Morton Bagot in 2015. However, ringing data supplies a different perspective, and in 2021 346 different individuals were caught at Morton Bagot.
Another good measure of abundance is post-breeding tit flocks. There are numerous reports of parties of 30 to 50 birds, but exceeding these were 55 at Morton Bagot on September 7 2019, 52 near Tardebigge on February 17 2021, 80 at Earlswood Lakes on September 2 2020, and an impressive winter flock of 95 at Earlswood Lakes on February 8 2008.
Great Tit - Very common in the UK and also within the Circle.
The records for this species consistently show that it has always been common, but at abundance levels of about half to two-thirds the previous species.
In fact the first mention was a ringing recovery. It related to a bird trapped at Harborne in Birmingham in December 1935 which was controlled at Hewell Grange in March 1936.
Ringing data at Hewell was also published in the mid 1970s and the peak was 31 trapped in 1977. Compare that to recent data for Morton Bagot where 67 were caught during 2021.
For breeding territories the best counts were 11 at Southcrest in 1996, 13 at Lapworth in 2007, and 18 territories at Morton Bagot in 2017. A count of 17 singing at Arrow Valley Lake on March 23 2007 is probably also an indication of breeding strength there.
The largest counts were 39 at Earlswood on April 26 2006 (presumably this was largely singing males plus a proportion of females) and 37 at Alcester Heath on January 19 2010.
Bearded Tit - A scarce breeding bird in the UK, mainly at reedbed reserves on the east coast. These, and continental birds, disperse eastwards in small numbers in autumn.
There have been three records within the Circle.
The first was heard by Steve Whitehouse at Wootton Wawen on October 31 1971.
Next came two at Hewell Grange on February 8 1975, seen by A Davidson, and M Green.
The only other record to date was one at Arrow Valley Lake on October 28 1988.
After over thirty years, another one would be greatly appreciated.
There were five at "Bittell" from November 13 to December 2 1973, and one at Upper Bittell in 1979.
Woodlark - A scarce and local breeding bird in the UK which has declined dramatically over the last century, but has also shown some recent small increases.
The first mention of this species in the Circle raises more questions than answers. "Odd birds" were seen in the Wythall area in March 1948 according tho a second-hand report by C A Norris.
More specific were singles at Earlswood seen by John Sears. One on April 13 1950, and another singing on May 24 1959.
These occurrences may seem strange nowadays, but Woodlarks bred on the Lickey Hills in the middle of the last century, so it's not such a stretch to imagine a few could have been breeding around here.
The species now breeds on Cannock Chase, and at one or two secret locations elsewhere in the West Midlands, and they do wander in winter. Another record is not an impossible dream.
There is a record for "near Bittell" in 2007.
Skylark - A common breeding bird in Britain, although national declines have seen it added to the Red List of species.
Locally the bird has probably always been common, but the first mention I can find refers to what was considered an unusually early date for song, that being February 1 1936. Actually they can sing on any sunny day in winter.
The first regional Atlas had them as confirmed breeding in SP06. Since then a number of breeding strength reports show, for example, that numbers at Morton Bagot reached their zenith in 2008 when there were 38 pairs in response to a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.
Since then breeding data for Morton Bagot has shown between 10 and 19 pairs, while counts of singing birds elsewhere include 24 pairs at Lapworth in 2007, and 19 singing males at Alcester Heath on May 18 2014.
There has been a perception that the species is less common than formerly, but local data to support this is sparse.
In winter birds disperse into farmland, and their numbers are augmented by arrivals from Europe. The highest counts are 150 at Tardebigge on January 21 1968, 105 at Morton Bagot on January 3 2010, 60 at Box Trees in October 2015, and 50 at Hockley Heath on October 11 2019.
Other Larks - The most likely other species of Lark to reach the area is Shore Lark, and there has been a near miss. On March 1 1947 the WMBC received a record of a bird accompanied by field sketches for Crabbs Cross. The bird was in a field full of Pipits and Finches but was only seen in flight. They chose to place the record in square brackets (a euphemism for rejected). I suspect that the fact the observer was a "junior member" was the main reason they chucked it. Since then there has been a record from Upper Bittell, a near miss geographically. The only other Lark which is even remotely possible is Short-toed Lark, but its a real outsider.
Sand Martin - Scarce breeder but common on passage in the Circle. A fairly common summer visitor nationally, but probably declining.
No doubt the species has always been a summer visitor to the Circle but the first mention is one at Alvechurch on May 19 1935.
Its breeding status is a little enigmatic. They were recorded as confirmed breeding in SP06 in the 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas, and again in the 1988 - 91 Atlas. They have been breeding in the dam at Lower Bittell since at least 2015. The other specific mention of breeding is of one entering a hole along the banks of the River Alne at Wootton Wawen on April 20 2008.
As a passage migrant they are commonest in spring, and the largest aggregations are all from Earlswood where there were 250 counted on April 30 2004, and again on May 2 2018, and 150 on April 3 2019.
Other sites with counts include 150 at Wootton Wawen (presumably Wootton Pool) on April 20 2004, and 70 at Arrow Valley Lake on March 31 2017.
The earliest record I've found was one at Hewell Grange on March 8 2012, and the latest three at Tardebigge Res on Sept 29 2019. I haven't been especially diligent on earliest and latest records, so I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't more extreme records.
Barn Swallow - Common summer visitor to the Circle and to the UK.
Undoubtedly common from before records began, but the first mention was one at Alvechurch on October 10 1934 which was no doubt reported as a late migrant.
The WMBC and BTO Atlases in the 1960s, 1970s and 1990s all reported confirmed breeding in SP06. Monitoring at Morton Bagot suggests a recent decline there, from 12 pairs in 2006 to just two pairs in 2017.
The largest accumulations mostly relate to Earlswood, and are pretty consistent with 200 counted in many springs and some autumns, and peaks of 250 on April 30 2004, and September 3 2009, and 220 on April 26 2017. A count of 230 at Morton Bagot on September 16 2011 is likely to have involved birds moving through.
Migration counts in autumn include 186 over Hewell Grange in three hours on September 25 1999, 100 over Little Alne on October 1 1999, and 170 south over Morton Bagot on September 11 2016.
The most extreme records for earliest and latest I can find are one at Earlswood on March 25 2020, and one at Earlswood on November 2 1997.
House Martin - Common summer visitor to the Circle and the UK.
Like the previous species, probably always common. They nest colonially, so can be vulnerable to unsympathetic house-owners destroying colonies.
The earliest mention concerns one at Alvechurch on May 10 1934.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 for all of the Atlas Surveys since the 1960s.
The largest breeding colony counts are; 40 pairs at Coughton Court in 2011, 25 pairs at Aston Cantlow in 2016, 13 pairs at Morton Bagot in 2006, 10 pairs at Kings Norton GC in 2005, and 10 pairs at Preston Bagot in 2015.
The highest accumulation in spring is 300 at Earlswood on May 4 2007. Autumn numbers include the progeny of numerous sequential broods so tend to be higher. The best are 500 at Wootton Wawen on September 21 2004, 500 at Earlswood on September 3 2007, and 300 at Morton Bagot on September 4 and 11 2016.
Visible migration can produce good numbers heading south, the largest count being 650 over Morton Bagot on September 29 2019.
The earliest arrival I can find in two over the M42 Junction 2 on March 14 2009, and the latest departure a rather modest two at Wootton Wawen on October 15 2007. I would surprised if there are not later records than that.
Red-rumped Swallow - A scarce visitor to the UK from southern Europe. There is one Circle record.
One was found at Earlswood by Graham Mant. It remained from April 30 to May 1 2004, and was part of an unusually good spring influx into the Midlands that year.
There have also been two records at Upper Bittell.
Other Swallows are unlikely, but not impossible. Some are Nearctic so can be ignored, but the Crag Martin from southern Europe is an outside possibility. One has turned up in Derbyshire, and it may be that with ever warming global temperatures a West Midland record will follow.
Cetti's Warbler - was not seen in the UK until 1961, but soon started breeding in Kent and elsewhere. The first West Midlands record was in 1975, and the Circle is now being colonised.
The first record was a colour-ringed male which had hatched at Upton Warren and was found singing at Ipsley Mill Pool on May 23 1998. A few days later an unringed female was located in the same area, and was seen to be nest-building. Unfortunately neither bird was seen after June 1998 and a certain amount of trampled vegetation suggested unwanted human intervention.
One was seen at Lower Bittell on October 4 2002. Subsequent Bittell records were largely unreported, but there was one at Lower Bittell in November 2015.
A singing male on March 2 2012, was published as being at an undisclosed site (believed to be Arrow Valley Lake). Things soon began to gather pace. The next to be found was one at Earlswood on October 18 2015, then one was present at Arrow Valley Lake from November 14 to 23 2016 when it was ringed. Another was found there on March 21 2017. Feckenham Wylde Moor had one in spring 2018, and there was also one wintering at Hewell Grange. By 2020 Hewell Grange hosted one in summer, and Spernal STW had one just outside the breeding season.
In 2021 singing males were present at Kinwarton, Haselor, Studley Thorns, Hewell Grange, and Mappleborough Green.
It's pleasing to see that the species now has a firm hold around here.
Long-tailed Tit - is a very common resident throughout the UK and in the Circle.
The first mention in reports comes from Earlswood. It was said to have increased there in late September 1960, and the count of 50 on September 20 1960 remains the largest party yet seen in the Circle.
As a breeding bird the figures from Morton Bagot suggest a pretty stable situation, with seven pairs in 2009, and eight pairs in 2016.
Family groups sometimes coalesce, and reports of up the 25 have been regular since that first extra large group at Earlswood. Next best is 38, again at Earlswood, on October 14 2005, then 30 at Earlswood on June 10 2010, 30 at Arrow Valley park on January 5 2014, 28 at Wootton Wawen on January 27 1985, 28 at Earlswood on August 23 1986, and 27 at Kinwarton on January 11 2010.
Wood Warbler - is a fast declining summer visitor to the UK, and that pattern is very much reflected within the Circle.
The first mention I can find relates to one singing in Alcester on April 30 1935.
The species was recorded as breeding in woods west and north of Alcester before 1946. A particular stronghold was the Earlswood area (probably including Clowes Wood), where there were regular reports of about four to five holding territory until 1979, and fewer birds until 1985. The Umberslade area also had breeding birds, and in 1948 one observer stated there were 17 singing in the Umberslade/Earlswood area. Breeding was also reported at Crabbs Cross until 1947.
By the 1960s the situation may have been similar, but the 1966/68 WMBC Atlas only recorded "presence" in SP06, and the BTO Atlas 1968/72 stated "possibly breeding" in SP06.
One was singing in late May 1976 at Coughton Park, and two were singing in Hewell Park in 1977.
By the 1988/91 Atlas the species was "present but not breeding" in SP06. One was singing at Skilts Common and another at Earlswood in 1985.
It may be that the species maintained a breeding season toehold into the present century at Hewell Grange. In 2012 one was heard singing there on May 5, 23, and June 20 (suggesting at the very least a territorial male), and another was singing there on June 3 2014, rather late for the typical passage period.
Sadly the situation since the turn of the century has been one of spring passage migrants, with the former breeding woods around Earlswood being particularly favoured. There were records for there in April/May in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2022. Hewell Grange also had passage birds in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Other passage singers were at Lower Bittell (Mill Shrub) on May 13 1991 and April 27 2010, Rough Hill Wood on May 1 2005, and Winyates Green on April 22 2006.
The earliest date was one singing at Earlswood on April 3 1967, and the latest was one at Ullenhall on August 9 1941.
Yellow-browed Warbler - breeds in Siberia and was a scarce migrant to the UK, but has become more frequent in recent years. This situation is reflected in the West Midlands.
There are currently two records, both from Earlswood.
The first was found by Matt Griffiths on October 20 2014, and the second by John Oates and John Sirrett on October 11 2020.
This is definitely a species to search for in autumn.
Willow Warbler - A common summer visitor to the UK, but with recent research suggesting that the core breeding area is shifting northwards. There is some evidence of a recent decline locally.
The first mention comes from one singing at Alvechurch on April 13 1935. This was reported as an early arrival.
In 1952 the species was among those listed as a regular breeder at Earlswood. In the 1968/72 BTO Atlas it was confirmed breeding in SP06.
One of the difficulties of assessing their abundances is that they always sing on passage, so 30 singing at Hewell Grange on April 13 1974, and 30 singing at Earlswood on April 11 1981 will have been passage birds. In fact Earlswood typically recorded between 10 and 22 singing birds between 1977 and 1985.
A better measure of breeding strength may come from statements that there were four pairs at Earlswood and five pairs at Wootton Wawen in 1987.
There were apparently 10 territories at Earlswood in 2004, whereas 10 sang there on April 21 2008, and 11 sang at Morton Bagot on April 15 2012.
Revealingly 18 sang at Earlswood on April 16 2012, of which only one remained on territory. This seems much more typical of the situation over the last decade. Further evidence of a decline came from a report that two singing on Henley Golf Course in 2020 could be compared to nine pairs there in 2008.
There seems to be a dearth of information from HOEF land, which you might think would be ideal for Willow Warblers as they typically prefer early-stage woodland. They do sing in the summer at Middle Spernall, but rarely remain on territory at Morton Bagot.
The phenomenon of mixed singing (birds which alternate between the song of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff) is a relatively recent entity. It seems to be related to loan Willow Warblers unable to find a mate. It has been recorded at Alcester on June 7 2003, Coughton Park on May 26 and June 21 2016, and Morton Bagot and Earlswood in 2019.
The most extreme early arrival I can find was one at Earlswood on March 17 2019. I cannot find any Willow Warbler records from later than mid September.
Common Chiffchaff - Is a very common summer visitor, and less common winterer in the UK.
The first mention is from Alvechurch where one was reported as an early migrant on March 18 1935.
Without doubt the species was common locally well before that, and is mentioned among the common breeding birds of Earlswood in 1952.
What is less clear is whether the species has increased since the middle of the last century. The National statistics say that it has, but on the other hand 20 were singing at Austy Wood on July 2 1967, which sounds like a strong breeding season record. At Earlswood eight singing birds on April 24 1977, was the same as the number singing there in 2006, and also the number of territories in 2019.
In 1977 53 were ringed at Hewell Grange compared to 55 Willow Warblers, suggesting they were equally common. That certainly isn't the case today.
The figures at Morton Bagot show an increase from five territories in 2007 to 14 in 2019, with a peak of 20 territories in 2015.
There were 29 territories at Coughton Wood in 2016.
Like other warblers, Chiffchaffs sing on passage as well as when on territory, and counts of 22 singing birds at Umberslade on April 2 2012, 18 at Coughton Fields on March 29 2021, and 25 singing at Arrow valley lake on April 5 2020 are likely to have included a lot of birds heading north.
Autumn accumulations also occur, such as 23 at Earlswood on September 3 2010, and 10 at Morton Bagot on August 29 2009.
Wintering birds may be a more recent phenomenon, with the first being one at Matchborough on December 4 1983. Since then nine localities have reported birds in winter, with the largest count being four at Ipsley Alders on January 15 2013. Regular reporting from sewage treatment works might be expected to produce even more.
Siberian Chiffchaff - is a scarce visitor to the UK in late autumn.
There is currently just one record for the Circle. This concerns a bird seen by Simon Dix in Redditch from January 1 to 2 2002. Unfortunately the precise locality has not been published.
I am also aware of records at Alcester STW, which unfortunately falls just outside my Circle of interest. However, regular attendance at sewage treatment works could well produce further records of this race of Common Chiffchaff.
Sedge Warbler - is a common summer migrant to wetlands in the UK.
Within the Circle they are restricted to areas of favourable habitat, principally marshy areas with bordering sallows.
The first mention of the species is one singing at Ipsley on April 26 1947, a typical date for a bird on spring passage. They were also heard singing along the canal at Tardebigge in 1948, and this area seems to have attracted the species in the late 1960s with eight singing along a 600 yard stretch on May 7 1967, and 10 singing in the same area in May 1970.
They were listed among the regular breeding birds of Earlswood in 1952, and three pairs bred there in 1956. Since then it seems to have become largely a passage migrant there, although one territory was reported in 2017.
Another hotspot is Feckenham Wylde Moor. There were 10 singing there on May 18 2005, and since then about three territories annually.
At Morton Bagot the species was restricted to occasional passage birds such as one singing in a rape field on April 22 2007. But since then the habitat has changed in their favour, with lots of rushes and phragmites choked pools resulting in an increase to six territories by 2020.
Arrow Valley Lake and Wootton Wawen have had up to three singing on occasion since 2000, although in the latter case these were probably on passage.
Other localities to record them include Old Yarr, Arrow Valley North, Beoleylade, and Hewell Grange where the species has been described as somewhat scarce.
The earliest record I can find in one singing at Hewell Grange on April 6 2010, although this is not a particularly exceptional date within the West Midlands region. I can find no recorded late dates beyond mid September.
Common Reed Warbler - is a common summer migrant in the UK and, as its name suggests, heavily dependent on the existence of reeds (phragmites).
Within the Circle it is common wherever the right habitat is provided.
The first reference concerns three or four pairs at Hewell Grange in 1948, and this has always been the best site. The highest total of singing birds there was 20 in May 2017, but ringing suggests that birds may be being under-recorded. In 1976 for example, 138 birds were ringed there when just seven singing birds were recorded. Many of those will have been fledged young and still more passage migrants, but it does make you wonder whether the breeding figure was too cautious.
Other sites to show well in terms of singing males are Arrow Valley Lake (eight in 2015), Feckenham (nine singing in 2007), and Wootton Wawen (presumably Wootton Pool) 12 pairs in 1971. There remains some reedbed there, but numbers are much reduced.
Sometimes older records hint at how a site has changed. In 1970 there were 10 singing at Tardebigge Reservoir. Nowadays it's hard to imagine where those birds would have been.
Other localities to have recorded singing birds are Coughton Court (two in 1995), Barrell's Park, Ullenhall (2001), Earlswood (four in 2010) and still two territories in 2016, Henley Golf Course (2007), Sambourne (2009), Old Yarr (2012), Morton Bagot (up to two pairs from 2014), Spernall (2014), and Kinwarton (2016).
As most of these sites are either marginal or under-watched I have no remarkably early or late migrants to document.
Marsh Warbler - is a very scarce breeder in the UK and formerly had a population in the lower Avon Valley, principally in Worcestershire and now extinct. It is however also a scarce migrant to the UK.
Its position in the Circle's avifauna is extremely tenuous, and relies on one imprecise record.
On July 3 1938 Tony Norris and H G Alexander reported one "near Alcester". This is more likely to have been south of Alcester where the Arrow flows slower and the riverside meadows seem more appropriate, but it just might have been within the Circle in or north of Alcester.
Egg collecting was a popular mainstream activity at the time, and no doubt this is why the authors chose to blur the record. Understandable, but frustrating for anyone compiling an archive 80 years later.
Grasshopper Warbler - is a fairly common summer visitor to the UK, and is locally common as a passage migrant and summer visitor within the Circle.
The first mention is one at Forshaw Heath on May 29 1935.
Since then numerous localities have recorded birds as the conditions become suitable. The species likes early growth plantations which it abandons when the woodland becomes more mature, and also undisturbed marshy areas.
An early record is of two pairs "near Ipsley" in 1949, and we can speculate that this might have been the small acidic bog Ipsley Alders which hosted two or three singing birds between 1987 and 2020 (but not every year).
The Ullenhall area had seven singing birds in 1963 and 1964, while nearby Tanworth-in-Arden had up to four singing in several years from 1964 to 1970.
Austy Wood had five pairs in 1964 when the conifer plantation was young, but none after 1970. Wootton Wawen recorded its first on April 25 1958, then six singing between 1964 and 1969. Shortwood Roughs had three singing in 1978, and five in 1987, but none since the woodland there matured. Arrow Valley Lake was a strong locality in 1985 (four singing) and 1987, but has only hosted occasional passage migrants since then, although the wider Arrow Valley had up to nine singing in 1988, and the northern part of the valley a few in 2008, 2011, and 2014.
Earlswood has never been a particularly good place for the species, but is well watched resulting in records in 1948, 1954 (all summer), 1969, 1980, 1996, 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2017. Most of these will have been on passage.
Lower Bittell has regularly had singing males.
Hewell Grange had four singing in 1979, and one in 2011, but the dearth of further records suggest that it is only marginally suitable.
In more recent years new sites have come to the fore. A pair bred at Feckenham Wylde Moor in 1996, and there have been singing birds there from 2006 to 2015. Morton Bagot recorded its first from April 21 to 23 2007, and another passage bird in August 2012, but up to three breeding there from 2014 to 2021.
Other Heart of England woodlands to attract this species in recent years have been Morgrove Coppice (four in 2021) and Middle Spernall in 2020.
Occasional records have also been published for Alvechurch (1951), Lapworth (2002), Old Yarr (2010 and 2011), Wythall 2012, Great Alne 2020, Sambourne 2020, and Haselor 2020.
The first birds arrive in mid April and I can find no earlier dates than April 9 1995 at Arrow Valley Lake, and disappear once they stop singing so records in August and September are scarce, but the latest was one at Morton Bagot on September 22 2019.
Blackcap - A common summer visitor and increasingly common winterer in the UK. It is common and increasing within the Circle.
The first reference to the Circle I can find is a singing bird at Earlswood on July 3 1938, perhaps reported because most stop singing during July.
Earlswood also features in the next report where the species was said to outnumber Garden Warbler by three to one in 1951. The interesting aspect of that record is the ratio. There is little doubt that Blackcaps have increased in number massively since those days, while Garden Warblers have stood still or declined.
Splitting the history into 20th century v 21st century statistics tells that story. Typical records from the 1970s to 1990s are: eight singing at Hewell in 1979, seven singing at Earlswood in 1985, six singing in a mile and a quarter of woodland edge at Wootton Wawen in 1990, and nine territories at Shortwood Roughs in 1994. Many of these counts are not repeated in the current century but a few are.
In 1993 there were eight singing in Coughton Park, but in 2016 the territories there had risen to 23. Morton Bagot had four pairs in 2004, but following a changing in habitat admittedly, there were 25 territories in 2019. At Earlswood a count of 16 singing on April 16 2012 may have been boosted by passage birds, but the adjacent Clowes Wood held 14 territories in 2011.
Other recent counts of singing birds include 14 territories in Coldcomfort Wood in 2019, 15 singing at Arrow Valley Lake in April 2014, and 11 singing along the canal between Alvechurch and Lower Bittell in 2018.
Back in 1950 the species was seen as a summer visitor, so the first wintering record; one on January 11 and February 1 1952 at Henley-in-Arden would have come as a surprise. Eight years passed before the next winter record; one in late February 1960 at Coughton, and another seven to the next; one at Tardebigge Reservoir on February 12 1967.
Since then wintering birds were reported annually within the Circle, and in recent years these have been from multiple (usually three or four) localities each winter. Most are garden records, and its likely that this is just the tip of the iceberg and reflects where birders live. Recent studies suggest that these wintering birds are coming from central Europe, replacing the summering birds which head for North Africa and Southern Europe.
It is good that this species, at least, is thriving in modern Britain.
Garden Warbler - is a reasonably common summer visitor to the UK, and also to the Circle.
The species is famously plain and has a song which can easily be confused with that of Blackcap. Whoever named it Garden Warbler did posterity no favours, as this species is rare in gardens and is generally quite hard to find.
The first records I have concern singles singing at Alcester on April 30 1935 and Hopwood on May 6 1935.
There is some slightly confusing data from Earlswood where it was said by one observer to be outnumbered 3 to 1 by Blackcap in 1951, whereas another said the exact opposite in 1954. The same observer reported 10 singing there in 1956. By the 1970s the totals at Earlswood varied between two and four, and this situation persisted until at least 2009 when there were three territories. Of course "Earlswood" is not defined, and may include Clowes Wood which is not mentioned at all.
Elsewhere the best site appears to be Coughton Park where there were six singing in 1993 and nine territories in 2016.
Other impressive counts have been Berrow Hill (five singing in 1982), and Wootton Wawen (four singing in 1987).
Other records come from Rough Hill Wood, Arrow Valley Lake, Shortwood Roughs, Bannams Wood, Box Trees, Ipsley Alders, Butlers Hill Wood, and Alcester Park Woods. Birds sing on passage and records from Morton Bagot and some of the above relate to passage birds.
Most arrive in late April and depart during August. The earliest dates are one on April 11 2015 at Henley-in-Arden, and the latest one at Morton Bagot on September 10 2020.
Lesser Whitethroat - is a common summer migrant to England (scarcer north and west), and a familiar species each summer in the Circle.
The first mention comes from Earlswood where there was one in August 1947, and six in August 1955.
In fact Earlswood is not a particularly favoured site, but many other areas host breeding birds. These include three pairs around Ullenhall in 1964, four localities at Tardebigge in 1970, three at Southcrest in 1997, four pairs at Alcester Heath in 2002, regular territories at Morton Bagot ranging from four pairs in 2006 to six pairs in 2019, six pairs at Cookhill in 2010, five pairs at Holberrow in 200, four pairs at Astwood Bank in 2011, and seven singing around Webheath in 2020.
Most birds arrive in late April and depart in mid to late September and the extreme dates I have are one at Morton Bagot on April 9 2017, and one at Morton Bagot on September 28 2008.
Common Whitethroat - is a common summer migrant to the UK and also common within the Circle.
The earliest record I can find relates to one singing at Alvechurch on April 26 1935, but the species was certainly common at the time and in 1952 was listed among the common breeding species at Earlswood.
In fact numbers remained very high until 1968, and was listed among the confirmed breeding species in SP06 in the Lord & Munns WMBC Atlas 1966 - 68.
However the winter of 1968/69 coincided with drought conditions in the Sahel Sahara where most Whitethroats winter, and number crashed through the floor.
So the 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas could only record them as probably breeding in SP06, and for several years they remained scarce.
By the mid 70s number were increasing and this received comment at Wootton Wawen in 1974 when they were described as still scarce but increasing, and also at Tardebigge where they were on the increase.
Numbers are currently buoyant once more, and the largest breeding accumulations are 26 pairs at Morton Bagot in 2017, 10 pairs at Lapworth in 2007, 12 pairs at Astwood Bank in 2011, and 12 pairs at Beaudesert Mount, Henley-in-Arden in 2017.
Most arrive in mid April and have departed by the end of September. The latest departure is one on October 3 2021 at Morton Bagot.
Dartford Warbler - is resident on the heaths of southern and south-eastern England, and was spreading into the West Midlands until a severe winter wiped the population out.
But there is one amazing Circle record.
A first-winter male was found in a hedge at Lower Bittell on October 9 2001 by Geoff Wardle, and was twitched by birders who were not spending their holidays on the Scilly Isles....as I was.
Other Warblers - have occurred in the West Midlands and so should be theoretically possible. The main issues are shortage of the right habitat and the lack of a coastline to focus on. It is quite likely that all the warblers on the British list fly over the Midlands after first making landfall, but even if any do make it to the Redditch area the chances of discovery are minute.
The best bets are two reed bed specialists, Great Reed Warbler and Savi's Warbler, both of which have been found in small Worcestershire reed beds. Then there is Aquatic Warbler which might occur anywhere that Sedge Warbler occurs but is now globally threatened. One turned up at Salford Priors GP in 2008, just a few miles short of the Circle.
Woodland and hedgerow specialists might occur. A Melodious Warbler was found on the Lickey Hills in 2021, and both Barred Warbler and Icterine Warbler have turned up in Warwickshire or Worcestershire. A mist net might prove a handy tool.
Also on the West Midlands list are Pallas' Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Greenish Warbler, and Arctic Warbler. They are all the stuff of dreams for Midland birders but maybe checking around sewage treatment works may bear fruit.
The bottom line is that all warblers are migrants so nothing is impossible, but then neither is winning the National Lottery. Just keep looking.
Firecrest - ticks all the right boxes. They are fantastic looking birds and are rare, but increasing, in the UK. The breeding population is concentrated in southern England but is slowly spreading north. Continental birds augment our still meagre population every autumn, and within the Circle they are rare enough to be a great find, but regular enough to be a realistic aspiration.
The first for the Circle was one at Ipsley on January 22 1949 found by G C Lambourne when they were still really rare. The last century saw just two more birds; one at Earlswood on March 17 1972, and one at Wythall from March 20 to 23 1998.
There have been a further ten since the turn of the century.
The premier site is without doubt the Earlswood area. It has accounted for eight records including two together on February 11 2017; the aforementioned 1972 bird and then records in 2008 (two), 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
The Redditch area has produced three (including Mr Lambourne's find) the others being in the Arrow Valley in 2012 and 2020.
Finally one was found at Norgrove Court on December 27 2008.
Arrival dates are spread between September 23 and May 9, with the largest number (five) being found in March. It is likely that this is because the best way to find one is to recognise its song, which is a lot more distinctive than its call. Those hoping to find one in winter would do well to check any 'crest in a holly bush.
There are three Bittell/Upper Bittell records.
Goldcrest - is a very common but rather unobtrusive resident in the UK, and also within the Circle. Many additional birds arrive from the continent each autumn, and no doubt some of them winter locally.
The first mention I can find concerns 10 at Earlswood on March 18 1950.
A few years later the largest accumulation was recorded at Earlswood when 50 were counted in December 1960. Since then most "flocks" have totalled no more than low double-figures, such as 18 at Earlswood on September 5 2015, and 12 at Ipsley Alders on February 24 2017.
As a breeding species their ubiquity causes apathy among observers, and there are few useful statistics.
The were confirmed to be breeding within SP06 in 1968 - 72 Atlas, and some indication of subsequent breeding strength comes from reports of nine territories at Eggwell Wood in 2010, five territories at Morton Bagot in 2019, and four territories at Oldberrow in 2007.
Their numbers crash after cold winters, but quickly recover from the following breeding season.
Wren - is a very common bird throughout the UK, and also within the Circle.
Recent records for this species can do little more than churn out assessments of breeding strengths at various localities, and the local population appears stable. But we haven't had any properly cold winters lately.
The first record specific to this area seems innocuous enough. Three pairs bred along a half mile stretch of the canal at Earlswood in 1948. Only three pairs? The key to this report is the year, just a couple of years after the famously cold 1947 winter.
Even more telling came a report, again from Earlswood, that there were none at all through the summer in 1963. Again this was following a particularly glacial winter.
Since then there have been cold winters, but not many and not as severe, and there is no evidence of any similar catastrophes among the local Wren populations.
At Morton Bagot the two highest territorial counts are 40 pairs in 2005, and 44 pairs in 2015. At Earlswood the highest number of singing males is 41 on April 1 2009, while 35 pairs bred around Lapworth in 2007. At Coldcomfort Wood there were 16 territories in 2013, and 23 territories in 2019.
Climate change doesn't seem to be doing this species any harm.
Eurasian Nuthatch - is a common resident throughout England with its range spreading slowly northwards. Within the Circle it is common in all wooded areas.
It is tempting to imagine that this species has always been common locally, but that may not be the case.
The first mention it gets comes from 1947 when it was said to be "occasionally seen" at Earlswood. Even over a decade later two at Ullenhall on October 27 1962 was described as "unusual".
It is likely that there was a presence in most woods even at this time, but since then they have become very common indeed. Many woods have a healthy population, for example seven pairs in New Coppice, Sambourne in 2017.
They don't really gather in flocks, but observers have recorded small accumulations such as eight at Rough Hill Wood in 1993, eight at Hewell Grange on January 18 2017, several low double-figure counts at Earlswood, the highest being 12 on January 4 2008, and eight at Callow Hill on April 5 2020.
Eurasian Treecreeper - is a common breeding resident in the UK, and just as common within the Circle.
There is very little of interest that can be said about this species. The first mention comes from a comment in 1949 that they had increased that year in the Earlswood area.
Two records, decades apart, from Earlswood hint at a stable situation. On January 12 1964 a count of seven was made, and on March 13 2010 (admittedly specifically at Clowes Wood/New Fallings Coppice) there was a count of nine.
Many woods and other sites have recorded breeding pairs, often up to four or five, but one census stands head and shoulders over all the others. That came from Coughton Park, where 14 territories were found in 2016.
Other Treecreepers and Nuthatches barely make it onto the British list, and pretty much stand no chance of ever occurring locally.
Rose-coloured Starling - is a very scarce migrant to the UK but there is one record within the Circle.
An adult male was shot at Haselor on January 20 1890 - per CANorris: Notes on the birds of Warwickshire.
I have included this record in spite of the fact that the parish of Haselor is only partly within the Circle.
Common Starling - is a common resident, but now declining alarmingly, and also a very common winter visitor. This status is mirrored within the Circle.
The first mention of the species locally was a ringing recovery at Alcester on October 2 1935 (the bird having been ringed at Malvern in July 1933 (presumably as a juvenile).
Subsequently the species was largely ignored as a breeding bird because it was too common to be of much interest. It was recorded as confirmed breeding in SP06 in the breeding bird surveys of 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91. The lack of detail is a shame because it is now much scarcer in the wider countryside in summer, and largely confined to Redditch, Alvechurch, and other urban areas.
In contrast, its winter records are well represented as it arrives in great flocks, and roosts in impressive murmurations. Even here there is evidence of declining numbers. The first roost was reported at Hewell Grange in 1951, but the first assessment of numbers was an extraordinary 250,000 estimated to be roosting at Hopwood in January 1976.
No subsequent counts have come close to that figure, but the next largest are 5000 roosting at Mappleborough on September 1 1986 (likely to be local breeders based on the date), 5000 at Redditch town centre on February 15 2016, (2500 there on January 22 2018), and 600 at Earlswood on October 15 - 16 2009.
Birds are often seen heading west in autumn, but the only timed count was 620 over Earlswood in two hours on October 25 2011.
Many flocks occur on farmland in winter, and the largest are 1500 at Ipsley on February 6 1983, 1000 at Lower Park on January 11 2011, 500 at Hopwood on November 1 1989, 500 at Morton Bagot on March 3 2011, and 750 at Abbey Meadows on March 11 2013.
Song Thrush - is a common bird throughout the UK and also within the Circle.
The species first appears locally in the annals of the WMBC when one was reported singing at Alvechurch on January 16 1936. In those days the first song of the season was generally recorded. Rather inauspiciously the next mention sounds erroneous...there was apparently a flock of 40 near Studley from mid August to mid September 1954 (probably Mistle Thrushes).
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in every tetrad survey from 1966, and the number of singing birds reported at sites is typically below ten, but exceptions are 10 singing in a tetrad covering Hewell Grange and Tardebigge in 1999, 12 singing at Shortwood Roughs in 1993, and 11 singing at New Coppice, Sambourne in 2017.
Birds do arrive from the continent in the autumn, but not in the sort of numbers that might get them noticed. The highest counts are 22 over Oakenshaw on November 1 2017, and 15 at Morton Bagot in November and December 2009.
Mistle Thrush - is a common bird throughout the UK and is is reasonably common within the Circle.
The species first appears in WMBC Reports covering this area in 1952 when an article about the birds of the Earlswood area included the species among the regular breeding birds.
The problem is finding anything to write about Mistle Thrushes because although they are widespread, they are never so common that a site has impressive breeding numbers. The largest such congregation is a count of four breeding pairs at Lapworth Park in 2007. No other site has reported more than two breeding pairs.
They also don't migrate to any degree, so there are no big influxes of wintering birds to record.
Fortunately, they do form post-breeding flocks which tend to sit conspicuously in fields from about August to October. It is these groups which provide the best data.
Tellingly, the largest parties were in the mid to late twentieth century, possibly suggesting that the species is slightly less common than it once was.
The largest counts are 32 at Feckenham on October 10 1968, 30 at Lower Bittell on August 30 2005, 19 at Tardebigge on August 29 1969, 17 at Sambourne on August 3 2017, 15 at Preston Bagot on September 15 2017, and 14 at Morton Bagot on October 29 2010.
Redwing - is a very common winter visitor to the UK and to the Circle.
The species arrives in the autumn a little earlier than Fieldfare, but its status locally is very similar.
The first mention refers to one at Wootton Wawen on April 4 1936, no doubt published as a relatively late spring bird.
The species largely went under the radar in the last century, although the highest count to date was 1000 at Hewell Grange on October 17 1997. Most other reports, and there are very few, refer to counts between 250 and 460.
By the present century a lot more information was being published. Peak counts remained mostly in the mid hundreds with the biggest being 800 over Earlswood in two hours on October 11 2013, and 576 at Morton Bagot on October 18 2015.
The first birds usually arrive in early October, but there are three reports from September 28. However, this is not an exceptional arrival date for the species. Departure is usually during early April, with one at Winyates Green on April 23 2005, and an exceptional record of one with an injured wing surviving at Henley-in-Arden on June 12 1971.
Blackbird - is a very common and familiar breeding bird throughout the UK and within the Circle. Migrants also arrive in winter, but as this is essentially a woodland and hedgerow inhabitant the increase in numbers is not always obvious.
There is no doubt that Blackbirds have always been common locally, but the first mention in WMBC reports is about 30 near Studley in mid August 1954. This is actually a surprisingly high count at a time of year when the species is generally moulting and hard to find.
Breeding has been confirmed in SP06 in all the Atlases since the 1960s, and evidence of their abundance came from BBS surveys at Webheath (25 pairs in 1994) and Southcrest (27 pairs in 1995). Survey work at Morton Bagot turned in similar counts, the highest being 35 pairs in 2008. A total of 46 at Earlswood on June 30 2006 is also indicative of a healthy breeding population.
Winter counts rarely exceed 30 birds, but exceptions are 74 at Earlswood on December 17 2010, and 73 at Earlswood on February 9 2012.
Black-throated Thrush - is a National rarity which is barely annual in the UK. The single record within the Circle makes it a strong contender to be the rarest bird ever seen locally.
An immature male was discovered, and tentatively identified by Paul Adams in his garden at Webheath on January 17 1996. News of its appearance reached the ears of Worcestershire birders the next day, and on the 19th Gavin Peplow had a brief view of an interesting bird. Next day a gathering of hopeful birders combed the area, and Mike Inskip was the next person to see it and the first to be certain of the identification. The bird stayed until February 18 1996 attracting large crowds of birders, some of whom were interviewed on camera by Midlands Today journalists.
Fieldfare - is a very common winter visitor to the Uk and to the Circle.
There is no doubt that this species has always been a common winter migrant, but the first reference locally appears to be one at Hewell on March 30 1935.
Records subsequently have largely concentrated on flock size, either birds counted on fields after the beginning of January when they have eaten all the berries and start standing in fields eating worms and thus become easier to count, or from flocks flying over on autumn migration.
In the twentieth century the counts are very consistent with few over 300 birds, the largest being 550 over Redditch on November 10 1968.
In the twenty-first century there are three counts of over a thousand birds; 1300 at Wootton Wawen on February 12 2000, 1123 over Oakenshaw on November 25 2013, and 1000 at Earlswood on January 16 2014.
The earliest arrival was one at Earlswood on September 11 1976, and the latest departure one at Morton Bagot on May 1 2022.
Ring Ouzel - is a summer visitor to upland regions of the UK, and a passage migrant in lowland Britain. It is wholly a scarce passage migrant to the Circle.
Most records have been between early April and early May, with a handful on return passage from late September to late October. There is one anomalous record from July, which should perhaps be treated with suspicion.
The full list is as follows:
One at Rowney Green on May 6 1935
One at Earlswood on May 7 1949
One in an Ullenhall garden for a few days in early April 1968
One at Alvechurch on July 12 1985
One at Hewell Grange on September 25 1999
One in a Redditch garden from April 28 to May 1 2004
One at Alcester on April 13 2007
One at Morton Bagot on April 19 2009
One at Hopwood on April 13 2012
One at Easrlswood from April 13 to 20 2013
One at Middle Spernal from October 22 to 23 2014
One at Earlswood on April 9 2015
Two at Morton Bagot from April 11 to 14, with one to 18 2019
One at Earlswood on April 25 2021
One at Morton Bagot on May 1 2021.
Two at Morton Bagot on April 22 2022
The general picture suggests an increase in frequency, but this may simply be a reflection of better recording effort since 2000.
There are 15 records for Bittell, all believed to be at Upper.
Other Thrushes - are all very rare indeed, and probably will never turn up in the Circle. However, there is one near miss. An extremely rare species from Siberia, the Dusky Thrush turned up in a garden at Major's Green in February 1979. This is barely a mile from the northern boundary of the Circle. There are another 14 species of thrush on the British list of similar rarity, all migratory, some from Siberia and some from America, so any one of them could potentially make someones day.
Spotted Flycatcher - was a fairly common summer visitor to the UK, and to the Circle until the last few years. In recent times numbers arriving have crashed both nationally and locally.
The first record I can find was also one of the earliest in date; one at Hopwood on May 3 1935.
Thereafter the species was reported in summer every year at a variety of localities locally, and was confirmed breeding in SP06 in both the 1968 - 72 and 1986 - 91 BTO Atlases.
The WMBC reports give breeding or breeding season records for nine localities in the latter part of the twentieth century, ten sites in the 2000s, and eight in the 2010s. The only voice of disquiet comes from a comment in 1986 when it was stated they were absent that year from the Wootton Wawen and Henley area. One of the problems with relying on WMBC annual reports is that as birds get scarcer, the ones that are found get reported, which disguises any decline.
There have been no confirmed breeding records since 2016, although bizarrely the highest breeding density was four pairs in Coughton Wood that same year. This highlights another problem with WMBC Report data which is that birders are creatures of habit and tend to cluster and report from favoured spots. Thus it is entirely possible that proper exploration of local woodland in summer would produce a few more.
The last confirmed breeding at Morton Bagot was in 2011, and the only breeding season bird I know of during 2021 was a single singing male in late May at Spernall Park which subsequently disappeared.
Small parties appear in autumn, although these are generally family groups. The largest was six at Coughton Fields on August 1 2011.
Most birds arrive from mid to late May and depart during September, but the earliest date of arrival was one on April 30 2013 at Hewell Grange, and the latest departure was a really late bird reported by the river Arrow at Alcester on November 10 2013.
Robin - is an abundant breeding bird throughout the UK and the Circle. Numbers are augmented in autumn by continental birds, but these are hard to detect among the residents.
The first mention comes from 1952 when it was listed among the common breeding birds of Earlswood.
Subsequently virtually all records relate to breeding strength. Typically between 10 and 25 singing males are reported at each locality, but higher counts include the following:
25 singing at Morton Bagot in 2015, 38 singing at Earlswood in 2007, 28 singing at Eggwell Wood in 2010, and 28 singing at Alvechurch in 2011.
In winter the species is more skulking so any increase goes unnoticed, but there exists a count of 55 at Earlswood on February 7 2012 which hints at larger numbers.
Common Nightingale - is a rapidly declining summer migrant to the south-east of England, and is now extinct as a breeding species within the Circle.
The first recorded breeding records within the Circle come courtesy of a Mr Grubb. He wrote that between 1900 and 1910 four or five could be heard singing from his garden at Cooper's Hill, just north of Alvechurch, with further pairs at Cocks Croft Wood, Withybed Green (two or three), and Scarfields Dingle near Alvechurch Station. By 1924 they had all gone.
A pair bred in the Mill Shrub at Lower Bittell from 1900 to 1910, and singles were heard calling there on August 1 1947, and July 30 1991.
However, this was by no means the end for the species locally. In 1934 they bred from the Alcester area northwards along the county boundary with outliers at Earlswood, Forshaw Heath, and Umberslade Park. They also occurred at Feckenham.
Singles sang at Alvechurch on April 24 1945, Windmill Naps on May 22 1948, Brockhill Woods in May 1956, Ipsley on April 14 1963, Spernall Park in 1969, and Tardebigge in 1971.
Further territories were at Wootton Wawen from 1964, with the last there in 1972, and the were three pairs in Austy Wood from 1964, reducing to just one in 1970. Back in Worcestershire a stronghold was Shortwood Roughs, just south of Alvechurch, where there were still three pairs in 1972, but none by 1974.
Clearly the writing was on the wall, and it seemed that the very last record would be one photographed at a drinking pool at Great Alne Wood in 1976 which won Bird Photograph of the Year for Mike Wilkes.
But the final records came twenty years later when one was heard singing at Ipsley Mill Pool from May 18 to 31 1998, and then the last of all was reported at Conduit Coppice, Gorcott in 1999 (unfortunately no date was given).
It is not impossible that the present century will see another record, but a return to the days when they bred seems very unlikely.
Red-flanked Bluetail - is a very scarce migrant to the UK, but there is one record in the Circle.
The only record concerns a bird trapped by Michael Bairstow, Dennis Cooper, and Jacki Gittins at Lion Wood on October 28 2020, and twitched by all and sundry the next day, remaining until October 30.
This is one of the most unexpected rarities to reach us, and provides hope that anything is possible.
Pied Flycatcher - is a summer visitor to western areas on Britain, and a passage migrant on the east coast. The Circle lies at the easternmost edge of its current breeding range which probably accounts for its peculiar history.
The first record was one at Great Alne in "mid April" 1951. This is typical of passage records which are in April or early May. There is just one return passage bird which was at Beoley Mill Pool on July 29 1988.
Despite this being thought of as a passage migrant, there have been breeding or summering records from two sites.
The first is Kings Norton Golf Course, Wythall where a pair bred in a nest-box in 1990 (the female was sporting a Shropshire ring), and there was an unsuccessful breeding attempt there in 1999 (on this occasion the female deserted).
The other site is Hewell Grange where there were two pairs and two unmated males in 1992, and further singing males in 1993 and 1994.
These breeding records were confined to 1990 to 1999 and were associated with nest-box schemes. Since then the general population has declined, and further attempts seem unlikely.
The spring migrant tally stood at 12 birds from five sites by 2022. The majority, eight, came from Earlswood/Clowes Wood, and include one from April 2 to 3 2019 which was the joint earliest ever seen in the West Midlands. Other sites were Weatheroak on April 16 1972, Alvechurch on April 19 1996, and Hewell Grange on May 3 2017.
The years of passage occurrence were 1950s (one), 1960s (none), 1970s (two), 1980s (three), 1990s (three), 2000s (none), 2010s (four).
It remains a sort after, but achievable, scalp for birders prepared to check woodland during April.
Black Redstart - colonised the UK in the mid twentieth century, and soon established a small presence in various urban locations mainly in south-east England, but including Birmingham. There is also a small but significant autumn and early spring passage. This position is reflected within the Circle.
The first record was a male at Henley-in-Arden on May 13 1966.
In 1973 a pair bred "near Redditch", this being the first breeding record for Worcestershire, the site was not described in any further details.
Since then the records have largely been of passage or wintering birds. Until 2022 only August had not had a record, but the only months with more than one occurrence were April (three), October (three), November (two), and December (two). One exception to the norm was an "immature" at Tardebigge on July 26 1968.
All records relate to single birds except one; two at Earlswood from April 8 to 9 2016.
The spread of sites is quite broad; Alcester, Bushwood, Earlswood (two records), Lower Park Farm, Morton Bagot (two records), Oakenshaw, Studley Castle (two records), Tardebigge (two records), Umberslade, Webheath, and Wythall.
There are also five records at Upper Bittell.
Common Redstart - is a fairly common summer visitor to mainly western and northern Britain, and occurs as a passage migrant throughout the UK. It is a former breeding bird within the Circle, but now occurs only on passage.
The first mention locally comes from 1934 when it was said to have formerly bred at Forshaw Heath, and also in an orchard at Wythall.
They bred in Coughton Wood in the 1970s, and the 1966 - 68, and 1968 - 72 Atlases both stated that it was probably breeding in SP06. They were noted in the breeding season at Earlswood in 1983.
Since then there have been singing birds on passage at several localities, and family parties from early July, all of which might suggest that they still occasionally breed.
As a passage migrant, the spring migration is overwhelmingly in April with a handful of May records, while autumn passage extends from early July to late September, with the majority in July and August.
The hotspots are Morton Bagot (16 in spring and 17 in autumn) by 2020, and Earlswood (five in spring and four in autumn) by 2020. However, this probably reflects observer coverage, and 16 other sites have also recorded passage birds.
Most spring records are singles, but family groups of up to five in July and August are sometimes found.
The earliest spring record is one on March 31 1957, and the latest in autumn was one in a Redditch garden on October 25 2007.
Whinchat - is a fairly common summer visitor in the uplands of northern and western Britain, and also breeds sparingly in damp habitats in lowland England. It is a familiar species on passage. Within the Circle it is now exclusively a migrant, but apparently once bred.
The first mention in WMBC reports comes from one at Rowney Green on September 16 1936 (an entirely typical date).
The BTO Atlas for 1968 - 72 says there was confirmed breeding in SP06. Unfortunately I can find no other published data about this, so I don't know where that took place.
They are chiefly known on passage. In spring this is from late April to mid May, and in autumn from July to late September. Up until 2022 there had been at least 28 spring records and 47 autumn birds. This data is incomplete, but gives a fair reflection of the proportion of spring / autumn passage.
By far the star performer is Morton Bagot. There had been 13 dated spring records there, and 31 dated autumn reports by 2022. Most spring records are singles, but there were four on April 25 2021. In autumn the peak was six on September 14 2014, September 4 2021, and September 3 2022.
Fourteen other sites have reported birds on passage, but few really stand out. Those with more than one spring record are Earlswood, Haselor Scrape, and Terry's Green. In autumn sightings in more than one year have been at Earlswood, Alcester, Lower Park Farm, and Terry's Green. A record from Alcester Heath of three birds was unusual for its late date, October 19 2016.
The earliest arrival accolade is one at Earlswood on April 14 2021. The latest was one at Morton Bagot from October 20 to 23 2010.
European Stonechat - is a common resident of heathland and moorland in the UK. It is also a short distance migrant, wintering in lowland parts of the UK. The situation within the Circle is very interesting and it is nice to report on a passerine whose numbers and range are increasing.
The first local record was not until March 27 1968, when Ken Clifford found one at Alvechurch. For the remainder of the last century it remained scarce, but appeared in 1971 (1), 1973 (2), 1974 (1), 1975 (1), and 1983 (1). There are a few hints in these scant records about what was happening. They all relate to autumn and winter, and the little run of records in the 1970s follow a series of mild winters. The next two decades saw several hard winters, and the Stonechats dried up.
Shortly after the turn of the present century they returned. Initially just a drip drip drip to a peak in 2009 when birds were seen at ten sites. The 2010/2011 winter was hard and as a consequence there was just one bird in 2011, and in the following winter one at Terry's Green on March 7 was the only one in the whole of Warwickshire in the early winter period.
So good old global warming! The events following that nadir show that this is a species which has benefitted massively from the banishment of proper winters. But the increase has still been quite localised.
As with the previous species Morton Bagot is Chat Central. The first was in 2005 (though to be fair the site was virtually unknown ornithologically until then). There were three on October 10 2010, just one in each of the next two winters (remember that cold winter), but subsequently maximum counts have increased most years; 2013 (2), 2014 (4), 2015 (7), 2016 (5), 2017 (7), 2018 (4), 2019 (9), 2020 (17), 2021 (20). The count of 20 on February 21 2021 was a new county record total.
Other sites to prosper are Terry's Green (from 2012 to 2015), and the Spernal area where the growing Heart of England Forest is ideal until the trees get too high.
The final seal on the success of the Stonechat's advance came when a pair was proven to have bred at Morton Bagot in May 2020.
Northern Wheatear - is a common summer visitor to upland areas of the UK which is commonly recorded on passage. Within the Circle it is only really known as a passage migrant with higher numbers in spring than autumn.
The first mention came in 1935 when singles were recorded at Rowney Green on May 4 and Alvechurch on September 3. There can be no doubt that they have passed through the area since pre-history.
Surprisingly the species did feature in the BTO Atlas for 1968 - 72, but only as possible breeding and this seems likely to have been passage related.
Almost any field can get Wheatears, but the passage periods are from early March to late May, and from mid-July to mid October. Despite this the earliest and latest recorded dates are just March 15 2008 at Lower Park and October 3 2021 at Morton Bagot. I'm quite sure there are earlier and later dates which haven't made it into print.
The highest counts on spring passage are 11 at Morton Bagot on April 27 2012, 10 at Morton Bagot on April 25 2013, 14 at Lower Park Farm on April 27 2013, nine at Morton Bagot on April 19 2011, and eight at Mappleborough Green on April 12 2022.
In autumn the best counts are seven at Lower Park on September 10 2011, and six at Lower Park on September 2 2008, with up to six at Morton Bagot during the autumn of 2011.
Greenland Wheatear - is the Greenland race of Northern Wheatear and migrates through the UK every year. There are records for the Circle.
I must be honest, identifying this sub-species is a judgment call, and there is a school of thought that a significant number of late April/early May Wheatears are on their way to Greenland. The most definitive way to identify them is to catch one and measure it (particularly the wing length), but as very few are ever trapped all that is left is to make an assessment of size, and brightness of plumage. All very subjective.
The following birds have been identified as this race:
Six at Box Trees on May 1 2013, and one on May 10 2013.
Two at Morton Bagot on April 21 2019.
One at Earlswood on May 7 2020, and five at Box Trees on April 16 2020.
Other Chats - which could occur are probably headed by Bluethroat which has turned up at Upton Warren, so maybe one will be added to the mist-net list one day. A rare Wheatear is a possibility, maybe Desert Wheatear or Pied Wheatear both of which have been found in the West Midlands. Red-breasted Flycatcher (which I assume is now considered a Chat) is surprisingly rare inland, but you never know. I would add Siberian Stonechat and Stejneger's Stonechat to the list, but any claim would need to be backed up with a sample of its poo or feathers for DNA testing, such is the way birding is going.
Dipper - is a species of clean, fast-flowing streams associated with northern and western Britain. It formerly bred within the Circle.
The first mention I can find is from Tomes who stated in 1904 that they bred on the River Alne. This river's course is almost entirely within the Circle.
Confirmation that they were still there came in 1937 when breeding was confirmed. Another was seen there in December 1941, and a record of one near Henley-in-Arden on May 20 1968 fuelled some closer attention from birders resulting in sightings at Wootton Wawen on April 4 and December 3 1969, April 18 1970, and a pair at Pettiford Bridge on May 5 1970.
River Alne flows through Henley and Wootton Wawen, with a tributary heading towards Preston Bagot flowing immediately under Pettiford Bridge. Records from Preston Bagot on June 28 1970, in spring 1971, and again in 1975 are likely to relate to this area.
The final record came in 1979 when a nest was found "in the west of the County (Warks) at a place where they had bred since 1970" and obviously relates to the same pair.
One curiosity is that the equally fast flowing (but probably more polluted) River Arrow has no published records, apart from one at Bittell in November 1933, one at first, and then a pair at Bittell from December 6 1968 to May 12 1969, and a juvenile picked up between Upper and Lower Bittell in the 1990s just outside the Circle. That confirmed record plus several strong rumours of birds at Forge Mill and Arrow Valley Lake in the last 15 years suggests that there has also been a presence on that watercourse.
Tree Sparrow - is an increasingly scarce and local resident in England. Formerly reasonably common in the Circle but now probably extinct.
The first mention is that it nested in an orchard at Hopwood in 1946. It was also regarded as fairly common around Earlswood in 1948, and bred at Ipsley the same year.
Since then breeding records are quite plentiful due to the bird being reasonably common, but not too abundant to go unnoticed. There was a colony of 15 pairs at Great Alne in 1951, breeding was recorded at Ullenhall (1964), confirmed in SP06 in all the Atlas Counts from 1968 to 1991, Wythall (1987 to 1997), Tardebigge (1994), Hewell Grange (1975 to 2012), Berrow Hill (1997), The Thrift (1997), Wootton Wawen (2002 to 2003), Coughton (2003 to 2004), Old Yarr (2010), Morton Bagot (2004 to 2014), and Withybed Green (2012).
Counts outside the breeding season will relate to local breeders and their offspring, they include 70 at Ullenhall on January 27 1963, over 30 at Wythall in December 1968, 40 at King's Norton GC, Wythall on August 17 1997, 30 at Spernall on January 27 1998, 15 at Brockhill Farm on February 15 1998, 20 at Hopwood on January 26 2001, 30 at Coughton in January and February 2003, 60 at Morton Bagot on December 24 2006, with 39 there on August 21 2011, and 15 at Studley as late as January 27 2015.
So the apparent local extinction has been very recent, but perhaps the writing has been on the wall for some time. In 1990 an observer commented he had only seen one around Earlswood in the whole of that year. A birder cycling around south-west Warwickshire in 1999 found only one bird, which was at Spernall on May 30. Regular monitoring at Morton Bagot showed the breeding numbers peaking at a healthy 15 to 20 pairs in 2007, and then a slow decline; 10 to 15 pairs (2009), four pairs (2012), and then none after 2014.
The very last record was two or three around feeders at Castle Farm, Studley in the winter of 2018.
Tree Sparrow offers an alarming wake up call about how quickly a species can disappear from being reasonably common to extinct in under twenty years. No one has as yet come up with a satisfactory explanation for their demise.
The last Upper Bittell record was in 2010.
House Sparrow - is a very common resident of most urban areas and around farms in the UK. It has declined massively in London, but numbers seem reasonably stable within the Circle.
The first mention of this largely ignored species comes from 1952 when it was listed among the regular breeding birds at Earlswood.
All of the Atlases confirm breeding in SP06, but finding accessible comparative breeding data is tricky. One useful piece of data comes from BBS data at Southcrest and Webheath where in 1999 counts of 18 pairs and 17 pairs respectively was 50% of the five year mean.
At Morton Bagot the farm buildings in the study area housed nine territories in 2009 and six territories in 2019.
So there may be a small decline in breeding density, in which case this needs watching in case we end up with a Tree Sparrow scenario. But at the moment they remain common within their chosen habitat.
There is also some helpful garden feeder data from within Redditch. At one feeder (the part of Redditch is not given) there was a flock of 102 in August/September 2001, and this remains the highest count within the area.
Other noteworthy totals have been 80 to 90 in a Winyates Green garden in July 2009, 50 to 70 at Terry's Green after the 2010 breeding season, and 65 at Alcester on December 19 2006.
Dunnock - is a very common resident in the UK, and in the Circle.
This species was first mentioned among the regular breeding species of Earlswood in 1952.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in all the BTO Atlases.
There has never been evidence for migration into the Circle, and they do not form noticeable flocks in winter, so all that's left is to record abundance.
BTO breeding bird survey data, which covered a single tetrad, came up with pretty consistent results around the turn of the century. Eight pairs at Shortwood Roughs (1999), nine pairs at Webheath (1998), eight pairs at Southcrest (2000).
Then Jon Bowley surveyed the population at Morton Bagot and came up with an extraordinary 52 territories in 2005. Subsequently his results showed considerable variation year on year, but by 2008 there were still 33 territories there. The habitat at this time was very much agricultural with hedges, although the land was managed for a High Level Stewardship Scheme. Subsequently it has changed to young growth woodland, and this doesn't seem to suit the species quite as much. However there were still 22 territories in 2016.
Elsewhere counts of 14 territories at Coughton Fields in 2014, 18 territories at Kinwarton in 2014, and 17 territories at Beaudesert Mount, Henley show that this remains a very common resident.
Yellow Wagtail - is a fairly common but declining summer visitor to the south-east and east of England. It is close to the western edge of its range within the Circle, and is certainly becoming scarcer.
The first record was 30 on April 24 1934 at Lower Bittell, followed by one at Earlswood on September 5 1938.
The WMBC Atlas 1966-68 had them as probably breeding in SP06, but by the BTO Atlas 1968 - 72 they were confirmed breeding. The only other confirmed breeding in the Circle came from Alcester in 2000. However, they were present in the breeding season at Hopwood in 1982, Bordesley in 1983, Wythall in 1987, SP06 in the 1988 - 91 BTO Atlas, Preston Bagot in 1999, Haselor Scrape in 2013, Middle Spernall in 2014, possibly Tardebigge Reservoir and Old Yarr the same year (the uncertainty is whether the last two were passage birds), and two or three pairs at Coughton Fields in 2022.
Most passage records refer to "small numbers", but the largest counts are 12 at Morton Bagot on April 4 2012 (also the earliest date), four at Earlswood on April 27 2019, and three at Lower Park Farm on August 25 2009. It should be said that when such small numbers are involved, many submitted records do not get published because larger counts existed that year. For example my own highest count, seven at Morton Bagot on April 27 2012, didn't make the cut.
Blue-headed Wagtail - is the closest continental race of the Yellow (Flava) Wagtail complex, and is a scarce passage migrant to the UK. There is one Circle record.
One was seen at Wootton Wawen by J O Norton on April 20 1983.
Grey Wagtail - is a common breeding bird on faster flowing watercourses in the UK, and also migrates through the UK to winter in southern England and beyond. It is also common and probably increasing within the Circle.
The first mention within the Circle, apart from a 1930s confirmation of breeding at Lower Bittell, was six along the Stratford Canal at Earlswood on September 7 1948.
Breeding has been proved at Earlswood from 1988 to 2020, and also along the courses of the rivers Arrow and Alne, with breeding proved at Alcester, Arrow Valley Lake, Great Alne (two pairs), Haselor Weir, Henley-in-Arden (two pairs), Kinwarton, Preston Bagot, Spernall, Studley, Tardebigge, and Wootton Wawen.
The largest counts come from Earlswood, with 12 on November 11 1959, 11 on August 12 2009, nine at Earlswood STW on July 27 2010, and 10 at Spernall STW on February 19 2022.
Pied Wagtail - is the British race (with a few in Western Europe) of the Alba Wagtail complex and is a common breeder throughout the UK, with some heading south-west to Spain and Southern France for the winter, but many more simply moving from northern to southern Britain. Within the Circle it is a common resident, passage migrant, and winter visitor.
The first mention is a tally of 106 over Earlswood between September 27 and October 12 1950.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91. Six territories were found at Morton Bagot in 2017.
This species forms flocks on farmland wherever the soil is disturbed and also roosts communally. The largest count to date is 400 roosting in Redditch town centre on December 10 2009. Twenty years earlier roost counts there included 170 on March 20 1986, and 100 on Redditch Central Police Station on November 12 1985.
Other noteworthy counts include 130 roosting at Wootton Wawen on October 2 1954, 78 at Spernall on January 16 1999, 67 at Earlswood on November 23 2011, 56 over Oakenshaw on October 20 2017, and 51 at Old Yarr on September 27 2014.
White Wagtail - is the continental and Icelandic race of Alba Wagtail and occurs mostly on passage, probably Icelandic birds, in the UK. Small numbers are seen in the Circle, usually in spring , in the Circle.
This is a very difficult bird to document. Identification issues include the similarity of female Pied Wagtails in spring, and immature (and females) in autumn. Most occur at large reservoirs and gravel pits, so local reports often get edited out or simplified to "spring".
All of which means that there are only 26 records for the Circle, which seems likely to under-represent the true picture, but these include a few birds which sound atypical in terms of date. It's all a bit of a mess.
The first report was three at Lower Bittell on September 10 1934, the next is at Earlswood on August 4 1949, an odd date. So if we ditch that one the next first was at Earlswood on April 28 1956, which does sound genuine.
Sites to have recorded the sub-species are Earlswood (12 records), Forshaw Heath (one), Haselor Scrape (two), Hewell Grange (three), Lower Park (three), Matchborough (one), and Morton Bagot (seven records).
Dates of occurrence have been March (two), April (15), May (two), August (one), and September (three).
The largest count is eight at Lower Park on April 5 2010. Several other records refer to two or three, and there were five at Lower Park on April 3 2010.
The earliest date is one at Matchborough from March 16 to17 1994, and the latest were three at Haselor Scrape on September 30 2012.
Meadow Pipit - is very common in all upland areas of the UK, and also in heathland at lower levels. Most birds head south and west in autumn and many winter in farmland before returning north in spring. It is a scarce breeding bird but very common passage migrant and winter visitor to the Circle.
The first documented records were up to 200 at Earlswood in October and November 1947, and 50 at Rowney Green on September 30 1947. The were also 343 over Earlswood between September 27 and October 12 1950.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in the 1966 - 68 WMBC Atlas, and two pairs bred at Alcester in 2008. They also bred at Alcester Heath in 2009, when there was also a singing male at Rose Cottage near Beoley. They were present in the breeding season at Morton Bagot in 2010, while eight singing at Alcester Heath on May 18 2014 is strong evidence of breeding.
Spring passage occurs from March to mid April and the highest counts to date have been 81 in fields near Rough Hill Wood from March 19 to 28 1994, and 70 at Tardebigge on April 10 1970.
Autumn passage is typically stronger, and the largest counts are 308 over Oakenshaw on October 1 2016, 150 over Earlswood on September 21 2011, 150 over Morton Bagot on September 29 2019, 100 to 150 at Morton Bagot in autumn 2019, 120 at Morton Bagot on October 5 2014, and 112 over Old Yarr on September 20 2020.
Winter counts can still be substantial, and the largest is 80 at Spernal STW on February 19 1956, with flocks of 50 at Henley-in-Arden on December 19 1989, Earlswood on FEbruary 19 2014, and Morton Bagot on February 1 and December 17 2019.
Tree Pipit - is a summer visitor to many parts of northern and western Britain, and rather local in most parts of England. Within the Circle it is a former local breeder and now just a scarce passage migrant.
Although they have probably bred locally for centuries, the first record I can find was one near Portway on April 22 1935.
One singing at Earlswood on July 30 1938 hints that they bred there, and by 1959 it was stated that there were fewer than usual in the breeding season. In 1962 came the news that they had not been seen at Earlswood in the usual breeding areas.
Clearly they were in decline in that area, but there was one singing at Tanworth-in-Arden on May 24 1964, and two in song at Earlswood in early June 1976.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in the WMBC Atlas 1966 - 68 and it was confirmed that they bred at Coughton Wood in the 1970s.
Two sang at Umberslade Park in 1980, and three or four near Wootton Wawen in 1981. In fact the Wootton Wawen area supported pairs in the breeding season until 1990, where they were also to be found at Austy Wood (the reports from Wootton Wawen may refer to Austy Wood), but they had gone by 1992 and there has been no breeding in the Circle since then.
Instead they are still known as a passage migrant. Spring records are from April 19 to May 7 and come from Hewell Grange, near Alvechurch, near Alcester, Earlswood, and Morton Bagot.
Autumn passage is stronger and includes 17 birds in nine years between 2007 and 2021 at Morton Bagot, and odd records from Winyates East, Earlswood, and Oakenshaw.
Most records are of singles, but three were at Morton Bagot on August 24 2017, and four flew over there on September 9 2007.
Water Pipit - is a winter scarce visitor to England from upland central Europe. Within the West Midlands most arrive in late October, a few winter, and there is then a spring passage from late March to mid April. For most of the twentieth century it was treated as a race of Rock Pipit, and there is no doubt that identification issues have impacted the recorded status.
There are two records in the twentieth century, one identified in flight by HG Alexander as it flew over Lower Bittell on March 22 1934.
That other record concerns "one or two" seen by PJ Bateman, John Sears, and MJ Thomas at Earlswood on October 8 1949.
The present century has seen five records in more typical habitat.
The first was one found by myself and Dave Scanlan at Morton Bagot on April 13 2009 (I wish we'd had a camera in those days because the views were excellent.)
Next came a party of four I photographed at Morton Bagot on April 16 2016.
The third was two photographed at Morton Bagot on November 4 2018 and seen by myself and Dave Scanlan.
One seen by John Coombes at Haselor Scrape on April 15 2009.
One seen by John Coombes at Haselor Scrape on April 10 2021 was his third for the site (so I'm obviously missing one).
There were nine records at Upper Bittell from before 1934 to 1940, all identified by HGAlexander, and two since (1976 and 2012).
Rock Pipit - is a resident around the coasts of the UK, and also a winter visitor from Scandinavia. Within the West Midlands October and March are strongly favoured. This suggests a regular passage of either Scandinavian birds or perhaps the Scottish population.
Within the Circle there have been 23 records up to 2022, almost all of them at Earlswood. The species seeks rocky shorelines in winter so the causeway at Earlswood is an obvious draw.
The vast majority have been between September 29 and October 22.
Two records stand away from the norm. The first was also the first within the Circle and relates to one at Earlswood on February 14 1973. The other, the most extraordinary of all, was one at Earlswood on May 22 2020.
Aside from the 1973 record there were three last century (1987, 1991, and 1996) and the rest were since 2009 and relate to every year but four. The clear inference is that most are brief in appearance, and so a well-watched locality is likely to score.
There are three records away from Earlswood. One at Lower Bittell on October 3 2009, and singles seen and heard in flight only at Morton Bagot (October 27 2010, and October 16 2014). These were my records, and in recent years I have begun to question whether the flight call is sufficiently distinct from Water Pipit for such identifications to be safe. Perhaps they should be considered Rock/Water Pipit records. One over my garden at Winyates East on November 12 2022 was left as either/or (but it sounded like a Rock Pipit).
Other Pipits - are possible. The most likely to occur is Richard's Pipit as there have been several Worcestershire and Warwickshire records including from Salford Priors to the south and Upton Warren to the south-west. Red-throated Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit are the stuff of dreams, but dreams can come true.
Common Chaffinch - is a very common resident throughout the UK, with numbers being augmented by arrivals from the continent for the winter. The situation is the same within the Circle.
The first mention within the Circle comes from a ringing recovery of a bird trapped at Hewell Grange on March 4 1933 which was subsequently recovered in Antwerp, Belgium on October 23 1933.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in 1966 - 68, and again in the 1989 - 91 BTO Atlas data. BBS results gave counts of 13 pairs at Shortwood Roughs in 1993, and 13 pairs at Webheath in 1999. There were 22 territories at Oldberrow in 2006. The population at Morton Bagot includes a remarkable statistic of 58 territories in 2006, although since then there has been a reduction, to 28 territories in 2009, and 21 in 2019. A survey of Eggwell Wood came up with 20 territories in 2010.
Winter maxima are: 300 at Earlswood in October 1988, 800 in set-aside at Upper Spernall on February 1 2007, 200 in game cover at Morton Bagot on December 9 2007, January 28 2009, and December 27 2009, 280 at Morton Bagot on December 13 2012 is the highest count there, 200 at Sambourne on January 2 2009, and 250 at Umberslade on December 11 2020.
Brambling - is a fairly common winter visitor to the UK, with numbers varying from year to year. It is usually quite scarce within the Circle, but larger flocks are sometimes discovered.
The first mention is one at Earlswood on March 2 1938.
Subsequently more substantial counts include 70 near Earlswood on February 25 1950, 100 at Austy Wood on January 26 1952, 100 at Tardebigge on February 13 1966, 250 at Earlswood on February 20 1976, 150 at Upper Spernall on December 14 2006, and 43 at Morton Bagot in late January 2011.
In recent years the species seemed to be less common, but all that changed when a large number was found in an unploughed crop field at Ham Green in early 2022. My highest count was 148 in January.
Hawfinch - is a scarce breeding bird in the UK, but there are occasionally years when considerable numbers arrive for the winter from the Continent.
The first records within the Circle imply a Crossbill-like situation, but the small numbers of birders available in those days means that they are represented by the following: One at Lower Bittell from January 10 to 13 1947, one at Earlswood in January 1948, one "found dying" at Hewell on April 1 1948, and seven followed by five at Earlswood on December 20 and 27 1948 respectively.
I hint at invasions triggering subsequent breeding because the only breeding record to date came from the Earlswood area in 1949. it is tempting to imagine that it was the culmination of the arrivals of birds in the previous winters. However, it is also true that Hawfinch was more widespread in the early twentieth century, with breeding regular on the Lickey Hills for example, so this could also represent the last of those days.
There was a long wait for the next record; two at Beoley on December 22 1962.
The next was one at Hewell Park on November 22 1975.
Then came two big influxes in the present century. The first began with one over Alcester Heath on October 23 2005, quickly followed by birds in Redditch at Winyates Green, Riverside, Winyates East, Matchborough West, Southcrest Wood, Studley Castle, Lakeside, Church Hill, and Oakenshaw from October 29 2005, while further afield there were two at Great Alne on February 3 2006. Numbers were generally small, with a peak of five in the Winyates area.
One at Earlswood on October 20 2015 preceded the next influx which took place in the autumn of 2017. On this occasion the first was one over Morton Bagot on October 15 2017, followed by seven over Earlswood on October 20. This influx was even larger than the 2005/2006 winter and featured birds in various areas of Redditch again (Winyates East, Oakenshaw), and concentrations at St Mary's Chrurchyard, Studley (up to 14 in February 2018), and St Bartholomews Churchyard, Tardebigge (up to 15 between January and April 2018), with a party of eight over Morton Bagot on December 17 2018 the culmination of one or two records from there. The last bird was one at Tardebigge Reservoir on April 15 2018.
Subsequently St Bartholomews churchyard, Tardebigge has seen up to four from November 1 to 27 2020 one or two of which remained until February 9 2021. More occurred there in both winter and autumn 2022 and also singles over Earlswood on April 17, Lower Bittell on October 27, and two over Mickleton (Oakenshaw) on October 22 2022.
Bullfinch - is a fairly common resident throughout the UK and within the Circle, although it is said to be declining.
The first mention is a comment that they were fairly common in autumn and winter 1947.
Breeding was confirmed in SP06 in 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91. The highest breeding concentrations are five pairs at Morton Bagot in 2008, and five pairs at Oldberrow in 2005. Ringing at Hewell in the 1970s produced a maximum of 27 ringed in 1976.
Outside the breeding season up to a dozen have been seen near Alvechurch on January 24 1953, and at Morton Bagot several times, but the highest counts are 13 at Tardebigge on March 15 1969, 16 at Earlswood on January 10 2011, and 17 near Earlswood Station on December 31 2010.
Common Rosefinch - is a very scarce passage migrant to the east coast of the UK, and very occasional breeder in Scotland and Shetland.
A male seen by M Lindsey on a feeder in Alcester on May 29 2003 was a fantastic find.
Greenfinch - is a common breeding bird and short-distance migrant within the UK. It has undergone a recent drop in the population due to the trichomonosis virus picked up at garden bird feeders, but there are very recent signs that the situation may have stabilised. The position within the Circle is similar.
The first mention in WMBC reports is a fairly unremarkable ringing recovery of a bird found at Alcester on February 25 1933 which had been ringed at Malvern in December 1932.
A flock of 200 at Lower Bittell on September 28 1934 is the only indication of their status before the Second World War. Later totals of 150 at Wythall from October 13 to October 2 1954, and 150 at Tardebigge on January 29 1967 paint a rosy picture.
As a breeding species they were reported in SP06 in Atlas Surveys 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91, and there were 16 pairs at Webheath in 1998. Regular monitoring at Morton Bagot revealed a peak of 24 territories in 2006 and 2007, then a crash to six pairs in 2010 followed by a partial recovery to 11 pairs by 2016.
The largest post-breeding flocks form in early autumn and it was not unusual to find parties exceeding 100 birds until about ten years ago. The largest this century have been 230 at Morton Bagot on September 12 2008, 120 in a field of borage near Wootton Pool on August 19 2007, 100 at Studley on August 7 2008, and 100 at Sambourne on September 16 2008. A change in land use at Morton Bagot has reduced the size of flocks there, but there were still 100 on September 8 2013.
There have been no flocks that exceed 100 anywhere in the Circle since 2013, but I am detecting a recent levelling off of the decline and perhaps even a small increase, so hopefully further large flocks will be found before long.
Linnet - is a common breeding bird in arable farmland and heathland throughout most of the UK, and is also a short distance migrant. Within the Circle it is a common breeding bird, but is strongly associated with arable farmland, although early stage plantations are also utilised. In the right circumstances very large flocks can be found in winter. Modern farming practice (intensive herbicide use) limits the suitability of some farmland.
The first mention in WMBC Reports for the area is a flock of 100 at Tardebigge on February 21 1951.
They were confirmed breeding in SP06 in the Atlases of 1968 - 72 and 1988 - 91. A pair bred at Webheath in 1998, and four pairs at Beaudesert Mount, Henley in 2017. The best data comes from Morton Bagot where a high level stewardship scheme resulted in 17 pairs in 2004 and 2008, but a recent change to early growth plantation (and the maintenance of one weedy field) has led to a decline to nine pairs in 2019.
The most extensive data relates to post-breeding flocks. The Tardebigge area was favoured in the last century, with a peak of 200 on Septembet 9 and 19 1971. In more recent years intensive farming has led to the disappearance of those flocks.
Fortunately the species is quite mobile in winter and seems quick to discover farms with favourable regimes. A flock of over 100 near Bannams Wood on February 15 1998 seems likely to relate to Morton Bagot where numbers went through the roof once the Stewardship Scheme was implemented. By February 2011 the flock reached a peak of 1200, and although it never again got that large, there was still a count of 875 on December 11 2015. The change of land use there has meant that by 2019 the peak was just 154 on November 20, and even fewer in 2020.
Other substantial flocks were 650 at Kinwarton on October 30 2017, 400 at Umberslade Park on December 11 2020, 150 to 200 at Wootton Wawen in autumn 1975, 100 to 150 at Alcester Heath on October 2 2010, 100 at Box Trees on October 3 2016, and 300 at Ham Green in late January 2022.
Twite - is a declining breeding bird on moorland in northern Britain, and mainly a coastal bird in winter. However, historically small wintering flocks occurred in Staffordshire last century, and a few strayed into Linnet flocks in Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
There is one record for the Circle, and surprisingly it comes from an area which does not see many substantial Linnet flocks.
One was seen at Earlswood on February 17 1957 by Arthur Cundall and John Sears.
I can't help thinking that careful checking of local Linnet flocks towards the end of the last century might have produced more records. I did used to look through the big flocks at Morton Bagot, but never found any.
There is a highly dubious September record for Bittell.
Redpoll - Lesser Redpoll breeds mainly in northern UK, but also more locally further south.It is this subspecies which accounts for the majority of our records. The northern birds migrate to the rest of the UK and the nearest part of continental Europe in winter. There has been one confirmed breeding record in the Circle, but plenty of suspicious activity. It becomes reasonably plentiful in winter, possibly more so now than a century ago.
The first mention is small numbers at Earlswood in the autumn and winter of 1948. Interestingly a flock of 10 at Ipsley on February 18 1956 were reported because they had previously been unknown there. The implication is that this species was a lot scarcer then than it is now.
Breeding records have been hard to come by. The only one confirmed was a pair at Coughton Wood in 1971. However, birds are often seen in late April and early May, with records from Morton Bagot, Earlswood, Coughton Park, Terry's Green, and Mays Wood at this time of year. One was at Morton Bagot on June 2 2019, and four at Coldcomfort Wood on July 22 2019. With plenty of birch and larch locally, it seems quite likely that more breed than we realise.
Wintering birds up to 50 strong have appeared every winter from 1963. The largest parties were 50 at Earlswood in autumn 1975, 200 at Preston Bagot on April 5 1979, 55 south-west over Earlswood on October 6 2015, 50 at Earlswood on January 27 2013, 225 feeding mainly on mugwort at Morton Bagot on March 3 2016 (currently the highest Circle total), 50 at Morton Bagot on October 27 2016, 63 at Morton Bagot on February 4 2018, 50 at Morgrove Coppice on September 29 2020, 140 at Morton Bagot on November 8 2020, 80 at Morton Bagot on February 21 2021, and 50 at Abbey Golf Course on December 10 2020.
Mealy Redpoll - is once again considered to be a sub-species of Redpoll. For most of the previous century it was considered to be the same species as Lesser Redpoll, a situation to which it has reverted.
They breed on the continent and small numbers winter in the north and east of the UK, although there are occasional influxes. Within the Circle there have been 11 records.
The first was one at Wythall Meadows on January 14 1996, a winter with a lot of records in the West Midlands.
Subsequently there have been two records at Earlswood; February 25 2009 (two), and January 17 2018, two records at Arrow Valley Lake; March 13 2009, and March 27 2016 (three), three records at Morton Bagot; November 3 2013, February 10 2016, and November 5 2020 (the only bird to have been trapped and ringed), one at Mount Pleasant, Redditch; February 15 and March 1 2013, one record at Hewell Grange; December 17 2013 (two), and one record at Hopwood; January 7 2014 (three).
Identifying this sub-species is very difficult, and becomes more so as the plumage of Lesser Redpolls lightens later in the winter.
There were also two at Bittell from December 28 1975 to January 11 1976 which may have been at Lower Bittell.
Common Crossbill - is a resident in parts of the UK, and a classic eruptive migrant. Small numbers appear in the Circle, mostly in good years.
The first record is one at Little Alne in November 1845 (presumably shot).
In more recent times records begin with one at Umberslade Park on October 23 1966. As they are more or less restricted to coniferous woodland most records relate to that habitat, but they are vocal in flight so many are also recorded over well-watched localities and birder's gardens.
Up until 2021 there had been five records at Hewell Grange, three at Umberlade, three at Ipsley Alders, three at Earlswood/Clowes Wood, two each at Winyates Green and Morton Bagot, and others at Rough Hill Wood, Foxlydiate Wood, Oldberrow, Henley golf course, Henley-in-Arden, Arrow Valley South, Old Yarr, Wythall, Terry's Green, Coughton Park, Wirehill Wood, Oakenshaw, near Alcester, Headless Cross, and Morgrove Coppice.
Crossbills breed in March and April, and the only probable breeding record comes from Morgrove Coppice where presence during March was followed by a sighting of a pair at a possible nest on April 20 2021. A small party heard at Rough Hill Wood on March 11 1991 could also have referred to breeding birds.
The temporal distribution shows the classic Crossbill pattern. One record in a garden at Oldberrow on May 30 2006 was exactly right for the first dispersing birds to be arriving. There have been four records in June, six in July, just one each in August and September (when Crossbills moult and stop moving), then four in October (as movement typically resumes), five in November, four in December, two in January, three in February one in March and none in April.
Most records are of singles or very small numbers, but the highest counts are 16 at Coughton Park on March 8 2021, 13 at Asplands Husk on July 6 1993, 12 at Morgrove Coppice on December 12 2020, 10 over Henley golf course on July 18 2008, 10 over Winyates Green on July 26 2013, and nine at Morton Bagot on June 21 2015.
Goldfinch - is a very common breeding bird in the UK, and a short distance migrant. Within the Circle it is increasing steadily, and may now be the commonest finch.
The first mention within the Circle comes from Lower Bittell (technically not included in this article) and was 70 on September 17 1946. This might suggest that the species was just as common then as now, but I'm not so sure. Tellingly, it was not listed among the common breeding species to be found at Earlswood in 1952.
As a breeding species it was recorded in SP06 in the 1966 - 68 WMBC Atlas as probably breeding, and was confirmed there in the 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas, and again 1988 - 91. Three pairs were found to be breeding in Redditch town centre in 1987 (more noteworthy for the fact that this was deemed interesting enough to submit and then get printed in the Annual Report). By 1998 five pairs at Webheath suggests the situation was more like the present.
The best data comes from Morton Bagot, where there were six pairs in 2005 increasing to 24 pairs in 2017.
Flocks are common on thistles and teasel from autumn, and the highest counts to date are 100 at Ullenhall on July 30 1966, 114 on thistles at Tardebigge on September 22 1968, 75 at Ipsley Alders on March 1 1996, 60 at Earlswood on September 14 2013, and after regular peaks of over 100 the highest count to date at Morton Bagot was 200 on September 7 2019 and again on October 14 2020.
Siskin - breeds in northern Britain, and is also a common winter visitor in varying numbers depending on how successful the breeding season was. It is increasing and expanding its breeding range southwards in the UK. Within the Circle there is plenty of evidence that breeding has at least been attempted, while winter flocks appear to be increasing in number.
The first mention of the species locally comes from a comment that they were noted at Wootton Wawen in early spring 1938.
The first suggestion that they might be breeding locally came from an observation of three at Coughton Park on May 7 1993. This coniferous wood featured again in 2014 when one was seen there on May 4 and also on June 21 2016 with another single. There were several early season reports of at least a breeding attempt, such as a bird carrying nesting material and mating at Earlswood on April 7 2013, and a female collecting moss and taking it to a conifer while a singing male looked on at Studley on March 19 2014. The breeding season for this species is from early April to late May, so four juveniles at Winyates Green in May 2009, and another on a feeder at Morton Bagot on June 14 2009, plus one over Henley-in-Arden on June 18 2013 and one over Terry's Green on May 5 2016 all add to the mix.
There is a hint of an increase in wintering numbers from the number of flocks totalling over 50 birds in winter by decade, although it should be said that more reporting generally has been getting published since the turn of the present century. Nevertheless there was one flock in excess of 50 in the 1940s, two in the 1950s, one in the 1960s, one in the 1970s, two in the 1980s, four in the 1990s, six in the 2000s, and twelve in the 2010s.
In winter the species favours riverside alders and the sites with the highest counts reflect that; 80 to 100 at Lower Bittell in late December 1948, 120 at Preston Bagot in January 1982, 125 at Earlswood in January 1986, 200 at Beoleylade on January 8 2003, 100 at Preston Bagot in late February 2009, 80 at Feckenham on Dcember 12 2015, 80 at Wootton Wawen on November 11 2018, and 200 at Lower Bittell on December 18 2021.
There is no sign that the species is going to get any scarcer.
There is also a record of 300 at Bittell in January 1982 which is highly likely to have been at Lower Bittell.
Other Finches - are just about possible, but there aren't many to choose from. The most likely is Coues' Arctic Redpoll. This species is only just hanging on to its species status, being a part of the closely related Redpoll clan, but there have been several Worcestershire records among larger Redpoll flocks (especially when there are also Common Redpolls). A somewhat distant next most likely come Serin, and Two-barred Crossbill both of which have been recorded at least one in the West Midlands, so why not around here one day.
Snow Bunting - is an arctic breeding bird (with a few in the Cairngorms), which winters along the east coast and occasionally turns up on hills and reservoirs in the Midlands. There is one Circle record.
One was watched at Earlswood from October 27 to November 1 1949 by JMS Arnott, Arthur Cundall, John Sears, P Evans, and MJ Thomas.
Another one would cause quite a stir.
Remarkably, there were 12 records at Upper Bittell from 1941 to 1974 and none since.
Corn Bunting - is a scarce and declining farmland breeding bird in the UK, and is a former breeder within the Circle which is now an extremely scarce visitor.
The first record was one over Earlswood on April 9 1949. The species was more widespread in those days and bred in the Tardebigge area. Here there were three singing in 1968, and at least one was also present there in the breeding season in 1970, 1971, and 1975.
The 1968 - 72 BTO Atlas has the species probably breeding in SP06, but by 1988 - 91 it was recorded as present but not breeding.
The only other twentieth century records are an unpublished sighting I made of two at Lea End in a small flock of finches and buntings on February 1 1982, and one in set-aside at Lower Bittell in July 1995.
Since the turn of the present century the only spring records have been singles at Feckenham on April 3 2002, Morton Bagot from April 19 to 21 2007, rather incongruously at Arrow Valley Lake on March 28 2013, and at Morton Bagot on May 19 2017.
They do occasionally get mixed in with flocks of Yellowhammers outside the breeding season and the following records have been published; seven at Alcester Heath on August 26 2007, two at Alcester Heath on August 25 2008, and singles at Morton Bagot on January 3 2011, January 28 2012, December 26 2013, August 30 2015, and September 1 2019.
Yellowhammer - is a widespread and fairly common farmland bird in the UK, but as with other arable specialists it is starting to decline. Within the Circle they were common in farmland until about ten years ago. However the population centre is slowly slipping southwards and this looks like it could be another species we lose.
The first mention locally comes from Earlswood where the species was listed among the regular breeding species in 1952.
Breeding surveys in SP06 had no trouble confirming them to be breeding in 1966 - 68, 1968 - 72, and 1988 - 91. 19 pairs bred on farmland at Henley in Arden in 2000, 20 pairs at Morton Bagot each year from 2004 to 2006, 14 pairs at Lapworth and 10 pairs at Wootton Wawen in 2007. Everything seemed fine.
But the data from Morton Bagot paints a worrying picture. By 2007 they were down to 17 pairs, 2009 14 pairs, 2014 six pairs, then five pairs 2015 and 2016, one pair in 2018, and none at all by 2019. Admittedly there were local factors at work here with a change from high level stewardship arable to forestry, but it does seem that a similar decline was happening elsewhere. At Henley the population was declining in 2009, there were breeding season birds reported at Alvechurch, Wythall, and Old Yarr in 2010 which indicates the species was no longer too common to ignore.
The most recent breeding data comes from the south of the Circle; 14 pairs at Alcester Heath, and eight pairs at Kinwarton in 2011.
Wintering flocks are likely to involve local birds, so also give an indication of how the species is doing. The largest count ever recorded is 250 at Earlswood on January 25 1976. At Morton Bagot the wintering numbers show a similar trajectory to the breeding data. There were 120 on February 4 2014, and ever diminishing counts thereafter leading to a peak of just four on December 4 2020.
Elsewhere, there were 40 at Ullenhall on January 27 1963, 50 at Lower Bittell on March 9 1985, and 30 at Hopwood on January 26 2001, but most recent counts have been in the south; 40 at Coughton Fields on February 4 2013, 40 at Alcester Heath on December 21 2014, 100 at Kinwarton on January 30 2017, with 80 there on January 22 2018, 30 to 85 in winter 2019, 15 to 40 at Aston Cantlow in autumn 2019, and 30 at Alcester on March 21 2020.
Cirl Bunting - is now restricted to a small area along the Devon coast, although there have been successful re-introductions in Cornwall. It once had a much wider distribution extending to the Midlands and beyond. There are just two Circle records, excluding an old record from Bittell which might have been at Lower.
A pair bred at Great Alne in 1885.
A Miss ME Pumphrey reported one at Alvechurch on April 23 1935 (although this record was ignored by Harthan in his Birds of Worcestershire c1945)
There are also two records from "Bittell" (1951 and 1960).
Reed Bunting - is a common resident of wetland habitats throughout the UK, and is reasonably common within the Circle.
The first mention of this species comes from Earlswood where 12 breeding pairs in 1954 was an increase on the usual four pairs.
Localities which have monitored their breeding population show a mixed situation, although the condition of each site is likely to be key.
At Hewell Grange regular ringing in the 1970s produced a peak figure of 286 ringed in 1976 (however this includes juveniles from successional broods and maybe wintering birds). By 1994 there were just three pairs breeding, and then four pairs in 2000.
There were four pairs at Tardebigge in 1975, and one pair in 2002.
Feckenham Wylde Moor had 10 pairs in 1997, seven pairs in 2002, and five pairs in 2009.
Morton Bagot reported just one pair in 2008, then three pairs in 2009, five pairs in 2010, seven pairs in 2014, and eight pairs in both 2015 and 2017.
Arrow Valley Lake contained two pairs in 2010, and four pairs in 2018. Other hot spots have been along the river at Coughton Court (five pairs in 2014), and Henley-in-Arden (four pairs in 2013).
Outside the breeding season it is sometimes possible to find small flocks. The largest to date have been 20 at Tardebigge on January 3 and 28 1968, 40 at Morton Bagot on February 18 2005 (with counts between 25 and 33 over the next ten years), 40 at Castle Farm, Studley on January 20 2016, and 50 at Kinwarton on December 13 2017, with 30 there on December 1 2020.
Other Buntings - are an outside possibility. To find a Lapland Bunting the best answer may be to target wintering Skylark flocks, while Little Bunting has turned up at several Midland sites usually associating with Reed Buntings. Less likely, but not impossible, are Rustic Bunting, Pine Bunting, and Ortolan Bunting (maybe with a Nocmig device proving overnight passage), and the recent discovery of a Black-faced Bunting in Shropshire shows that almost anything is possible.
Post Script
This is the end, and also not the end. I plan to update this feature as and when new information reaches me.
to be continued
Hello Richard, not sure how I got here as I haven't been an active birder for many years, but I noticed Hen Harriers' 'absence' since 1976. You might like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxGG4PZCB8 which was filmed by the Arrow just south of Spernal Lane in 1992/3. Jeremy
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy. Thanks for the link. Definitely a Hen Harrier. Is this your record? All my data is sourced from the West Midlands Bird Club Annual Reports, and it doesn't appear there. I'm sure the recorder would be very interested even though it's historical. Do you have any further details?
DeleteHi Richard,
DeleteI've summarized my Hen Harrier sightings in Spernall area in 1992 and 1993 below.
On no occasion was there any indication of more than one in my vicinity.
All sightings below were of ringtails. There is an additional one of a male which flew low over Stoopers Wood then climbed to altitude and disappeared towards Henley, on 7 Dec '92.
Sightings (Oct to Dec 1992 and Jan to March 1993):
19,21* Oct- Badbury Hill area (hunting, and standing on ground or occasionally hedge).
24,26 Nov- and 1 Dec- and 8*,12*,14* Jan- "quinoa" patch by Arrow near Lower Spernall Farm.
11*,13* Feb- general area of Lower Spernall Farm and Middle Spernall Farm.
4*,5,9*,10*,15* March- general area Spernall Park (hunting over it) to Badbury Hill.
Video footage was obtained on dates with a *
My notes indicate that the bird seen from 8 January onwards differed noticeably from earlier sightings. I'll have to dig out the relevant footage for comparisons.
I had to keep good relations with landowners/farmers/gamekeepers so reporting sightings was out, but now after 30 years you're welcome to record them if it would be helpful. Jeremy
Gosh Jeremy that's an amazing set of dates. I do sympathise with your predicament and it's great that you have film of it. Do you mind if I pass the details to the current Warwickshire County Recorder?
DeleteYes Richard, you're welcome to make any use you want of the sightings. Going through my old notes and footage has partially rekindled my interest in those times, and I'm quite keen to upload to Youtube sample clips from the 10 days I obtained video - that should help clarify how many individuals I saw, also age sex etc. Jeremy
Delete