20th March 2009

Yet another visit to the lakes on the bike during the afternoon, and this time I was finally rewarded with a Chiffchaff (though I only heard it) singing around Terry's Pool. I still haven't seen a single hirundine, yet two-figure numbers of Sand Martin have been reported elsewhere in Warwickshire today. Also at Terry's Pool were 7 Cormorants, the female Pochard, a male Shoveler and 10 Tufted Ducks. There was no sign of yesterday's Greylag Goose pair, which makes me wonder how many unusual birds have only visited Earlswood for a day or less and been missed by birders.
With the recent sunny weather we've been having, the path around Terry's Pool is currently a lot less muddy and much more pleasant to walk along than a few weeks ago. I haven't checked the western side of Windmill Pool, which is often also very muddy, but that too has probably been affected by the weather. Therefore, the WMBC Solihull Branch fieldtrip should be an enjoyable one, provided it doesn't rain between now and then.
M.P. Griffiths