Ladywalk NR 23/03 and Upper Bittel 24/03

Dad asked me to find him a Brambling as we never saw one on 2009 so a quick search on Brian's excellent website-http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/ I soon saw that a Female was being seen regularly at Ladywalk NR.

Arriving at the reserve at around 9:30am Chiffchaff was heard as soon as we got out the car and on the way to the hide at least 6 different birds were heard singing. Arriving at the Sainsbury's hide where it had been seen from almost straight away a Willow Tit dropped in showing its bull neck, white cheek and pale wing panel. Patiently waiting for about 30mins the female Brambling made an appearance around the bottom of the feeders. Mission complete! Other birds seen included 5 Pheasant, 10+ Reed Bunting, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Female Goosander and several Gadwall.

Moving round to the Riverwalk hide yet more Chiffchaff were heard singing and 5 Goosander were on the river along with several Tufted Duck and 2 Grey Wagtail. Once in the hide scanning around the pool Little Grebe were calling frequently, 10 Gadwall were displaying, 46 Shoveler seemed like a lot for this time of the year and 2 Redshank were over the back. Several more Goosander dropped onto the pool and 3 Sand Martin and a showy Muntjac deer concluded the trip nicely.

2 More year ticks takes me onto 123 for the year.

Today whilst sitting in Chemistry at college I received a text from Brian Stretch informing me that there were 4 adult Whooper Swans at Upper Bittel Reservoir, I didn't finish till 1 and there was only one way of telling if they were going to stick around!

Arriving around 1:15 a very fast walk along the Ash Path to Upper Bittel saw us arriving not long after. As we walked up a guy said they were still present in the far corner but when we got there they weren't to be seen! Had they flew or just were they hiding up the corner?! Not long later they swan out from the corner all 4 Adult Whooper Swans showing well if not a bit distant. 4 Sand Martin flew over and 2+ Chiffchaff could be heard singing. Walking back down the path and to the smaller pools there was a single un-ringed ad Barnacle goose associating with the Canada Geese. Checking out the field at the end of the Ash path showed a single male Wheatear perched on the fence. Rounding off the trip nicely and putting me onto 125 for the year.