W e s t Midland Bird Club

Annua! Report No 44 1977

The front cover shows a male Stonechat with grub (Saxicola Saxicola)

West Midland Bird Club

Annual Report No 44 1977

Being the Annual Bird Report of the West Midland Bird Club on the birds in the counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and West Midlands.

Contents

2 Officers and Committee

3 Editor's Report

7 Treasurer's Report and Financial Statement

10 Secretary's Report

11 Membership Secretary's Report

12 Branch Reports

13 Belvide Reserve

13 Ladywalk Reserve

14 Bird Ringing at Hewell Grange 1975-77

18 Tufted Ducks at Blithfield—Changes in Population

19 The Status of the Rarer Grebes

23 1 977 Bird Record Localities

26 Classified Notes

103 Ringing-in 1977

117 Key to Contributors

118 Species Requiring Descriptions

Price £1.00

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Officers and Committee 1978

President

Vice-President

Chairman

Deputy-Chairman

Secretary

Membership Secretary

Treasurer

Editor

Field Meetings Secretary

Ringing Secretary

Chairman Research Committee

Kidderminster Branch Secretary

Staffs Branch Secretary

Solihull Branch Rep

Main Committee

C A Norris, Brookend House, Welland, Worcestershire

G C Lambourne, Nelin Day-y-rhiw, St. Davids, Dyfed A R M Blake, 102 Russell Bank Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

G M Lewis, 9a Plymouth Road, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8JE

A J Richards, 1 Lansdowne Road, Studley, Warwickshire B80 7JG

D M Hawker, 19 Wycome Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 9EN

D M Thomas, 43 Mayhurst Road, Hollywood, Birmingham B47 5QG

G R Harrison, Bryher", Hatton Green, Hatton, Warwickshire CV35 7LA

N P Coldicott, Lyttleton', 18 Greenhill, Burcot, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

P Ireland, 33 Banbrook Close, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9NF A R M Blake, 102 Russell Bank Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

M R Jones, 7 Lyndhurst Drive, Kidderminster

D Smallshire, 25 Caspian Way, Wheaton Aston, Stafford

Mrs D Dunstan, 4 Blossomfield Road, Solihull, West Midlands

Mrs C Randall, Miss M Young, K J Bentley, S C Brown, R E Hitchcock, T B Hutton, A F Jacobs and S Young

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Editor's Report Once again the Report has undergone a major change, this time with the introduction of a new listing sequence for the Classified Notes. The old Wetmore order had been in use since 1953. For several years it has been apparent that it no longer represented the latest thinking on the affinity of bird families and genera, but it was felt a major change should be deferred until there was general agreement on an alternative. The Report Editor's Committee of the British Trust for Ornithology believes that, with the publication in three instalments between 1973 and 1977 of Professor K. H. Voous' "List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species", an acceptable modern alternative is now available. It is believed the Voous sequence is being adopted in British ornithology generally and there seems no reason why it should not enjoy continuity over a long period. I must again thank everyone who has contributed records for inclusion in the Report and also Alan Dean, Rob Hume and Dave Smallshire who have assisted with the editorial work. Thanks are also due to Rob Hume for his illustrations of the year's highlights. The quality of descriptions sup-porting records of rare or unusual species continues to concern the Editorial Committee and all contributors are urged to improve their descriptions. As a guide, a good description will enable a bird to be iden-tified even without its being named.

Birds in 1977 Compared to recent years, 1977 lacked climatic extremes. Temperatures were generally below average, with cold spells in winter and autumn and frosts in June and August. It was also very windy, with gales in seven months and hurricanes in July, October and December. All told 223 species or distinct races were recorded in a year that was good for seabirds, wildfowl and raptors, but poor for waders and certain song birds. After five continuous years of high infestation from Dutch Elm Disease, many areas in South Warwickshire and Worcestershire have now lost as many as three-quarters of their hedgerow trees and this loss of habitat is bound to have its effect on bird life. Another threatened habitat is an ex-tensive area of moorland in North Staffordshire, which has been bought for sheep farming. Very cold spells alternated with milder weather throughout the winter and February was extremely wet with widespread flooding. The year began with Long-tailed Duck and twenty-six White-fronted Geese remaining from 1976, whilst three Bar-tailed Godwits were unusual visitors for January and a skein of 1 50 White-fronted Geese was much larger than most. Highlight of the winter was a party of Cranes that stayed for several weeks, but other noteable visitors were Smew, Bittern, Merlin, Peregrine and a few Bearded Tits. Two sizeable herds of Bewick's Swans passed through in February, whilst an Arctic Skua on the twentieth was doubtless

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a vagrant from many feeding in the North Sea at that time. Finally, the first Wheatear arrived on the twenty-seventh. Strong southerly winds in the first three-weeks of March brought mild weather and a flood of early migrants involving ten species and including a Sand Martin on the seventh, which is the earliest Club record. Other in-teresting birds at this time were Slavonian Grebe and Hen Harrier. Cold, northerly winds then persisted until mid-April, when migration resumed again with strong passages of Ring Ouzel, White and Yellow Wagtails, the latter including many variants. Wood Warblers sang everywhere, but, with the cold weather inhibiting song, it appeared a poor year for birds such as Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler that are heard rather than seen. April's highlights were the return of Savi's Warbler for the second con-secutive year, Osprey, Gannet, Woodlark and Marsh Harrier. Apart from the last week. May was again cool. Nevertheless its birds were exciting with several terns. Wryneck, Spotted Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Hoopoe and Arctic Skua in the first half of the month and a flurry of activity at the end bringing Marsh and Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Osprey, Avocet, Black Terns, Cetti's Warbler and finally Golden Oriole. Summer temperatures were well below average and the breeding season was undistinguished. Fieldfare bred again, Cirl Bunting were present, another Savi's Warbler was located. Quail were calling at many localities, a Corncrake was heard several times and a Nightjar was churring at a former haunt in Worcestershire. Notable birds in June were Fulmar and Great Reed Warbler, whilst between the seventeenth and nineteenth there was a passage of terns accompanied by an adult Little Gull, Osprey, Peregrine and Red-backed Shrike. July by comparison was quiet, except for^Gannet, Osprey and Marsh Harrier. Shallow depressions in August and deeper, more vigorous ones in early September influenced what was a disappointing autumn. Those in the third week of August brought small influxes of Black Tern and Ruff, White-winged Black Tern, Arctic Skua, Gannet, Red-footed Falcon and a Ring-tailed Harrier, whilst stronger ones at the end of the month coincided with the arrival of Manx Shearwater, Osprey and another Harrier. Apart from a Wryneck, early September was quiet, but by mid-month the wind had turned NE and two Ferruginous Duck and a Peregrine appeared, to be fol-lowed after a period of North Sea gales by Pomarine and Great Skuas and a party of eight Grey>Plover. October began with strong NW winds, which brought both Marsh and Hen Harrier. Settled weather and a quieter spell followed, with a Phalarope, Spotted Crake, and the first Bearded Tits of the autumn. Strong gales were again a feature of late autumn and there were cold spells in November and the last week of December. A Storm Petrel was found early in November and severe gales on the twelfth brought eleven Kittiwakes, Grey Phalarope and three Great Northern Divers, which were to stay throughout the winter. Bewick's Swans passed through in the third week,

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together with Slavonian Grebe and Ring-necked Duck. Another Grey Phalarope appeared and the month closed with seven Snow Buntings and a Firecrest. Apart from the last week, December was mild and damp. A Hen Harrier settled in south Worcestershire for the winter and a remarkable concentration of diving duck at Draycote exceeded 2000. The hurricane on the twenty-third brought another Ring-necked Duck and an exceptional herd of 90 Bewick's Swans, whilst the only Waxwing of the year was seen on Christmas Day.

G R Harrison

Obituary The following obituary appeared in the Club's Bulletin, but is rightly reprinted here in full.

A Talbot Clay Talbot Clay, who died suddenly on October 1, was a man of disparate in-terests. He was in pursuit of one of them, his life-long support for Aston Villa Football Club, on the day he died. Between the wars he was an ar-dent motor-cyclist, and he used to regale his friends with tales, almost always self-deprecatory, of his exploits at rallies and hill climbs. The result was generally hilarious, the effect enhanced by his terse recital of the events. These anecdotes continued into his career in the R.A.F. during World War II. In marked contrast was his love for the countryside, and particularly Snowdonia. He, with an old friend, built in the 1930s a hut on the side of Yr Aran close to the Watkin Path, which they and other friends (in later years these included bird-watchers) used as a base for climbing and ex-ploration of the area. There can be few who had climbed Snowdon so many times as Talbot Clay. But it was his need to know more about the environment around him, particularly the birds and the flowers, that en-couraged him to join the Birmingham and West Midland Bird Club in 1948. His interests were wider than birds and flowers, for he appreciated from the first the need to preserve the areas in which they occured, and the keystone to his approach to the Chairmanship of the West Midland Bird Club was nature conservation and bird protection. Early in his membership of the Club his ability to organise and lead were appreciated by the then Hon. Secretary, Tony Norris, now our President. In 1949 he became Field Meetings Secretary and created a standard we are doing our best to maintain today. In 1957 he accepted the chairmanship

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of the Research Committee, but he remained Field Meetings Secretary un-til 1961. Finally he took over the chairmanship of the Club in 1968. Thus, when he died he had been an officer of the club without a break for over 28 years. During this time he represented the Club un many conservation bodies, notably the Council tor Nature. His constant attendance at events and meetings of conservation, countryside and natural history bodies es-tablished the West Midland Bird Club as an influential and authoritative organisation on all aspects of ornithology in the region. His diffident man-ner, commonsense, obvious integrity and complete reliability gave him respect and this was reflected in the organisation he represented, the West Midland Bird Club. Many members will miss his companionship in the field, his wry wit and what might be called his jocular pessimism. Fortunately some of his memorable comments are preserved in the archives of the Research Com-mittee in the informal reports of the annual field meeting of that body to Cley each October. All members will surely wish to give their sympathy to his widow, Triss, who shared his interest in the countryside and natural history. A R M Blake

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Treasurer's Report (year ending December 31,1977) The creation of the Belvide reserve was not without its attendant financial worries, but due partly to the magnificent response by members in purchasing permits, and partly to numeiuus gifts of money and labour, the Belvlde account showed an excess of income over expenditure of £462. The main Club account showed a surplus of £1,1 50 for the year. This was due to the doubling of the subscription and the many economy measures instigated by the Committee. The cheaper method of printing the Report was an important factor. After the heavy loss sustained in 1 976, the surplus was very welcome as it re-built the financial reserves, and again placed the club in a sound finan-cial position. D M Thomas

Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ending December 31, 1977 1977 1976

£ Income Subscriptions received for 1977 Sale of Reports Birds of Belvide Field Meetings Building .Society Interest Reservoirs (Permit Fees) Atlas Fund Sale of Greetings Card Sale of Field Lists Sale of Calendars Proceeds of Raffle Film Show Receipts Sale of Ruddy Ducks R.S.P.B. Gift Pictures Donation

£ E 4,485

115 31 1

160 951

9 • 1 4

2 ,598 83 76 27

135 581

50 1 1

8 92 80 40 23

4 2 9

81 1 7 40

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6,279 3,723 Less Expenditure Indoor Meetings Reports Bulletins Printing, Stationery and Postage Reservoirs. Permit Fees and Insurance Subscriptions to Associates Purchase of Ruddy Ducks Birds of Belvide Publications Gift to Belvide Fund

307 1,445 1,700

3 0 4 843

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267 250

163 1,721 1,517

376 519

35 75

5,129 4,406

Surplus/fDeficit) for the year £1,150 £ ( 6 8 3 )

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Be'viHn—Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ending December 31, 1077

1977 Income £ £ Permits 1,192 Field Meet ings 65 Donations, etc. 48 Grazing 112 British Waterways Refund A Nature Conservancy 432 Conservation Fund Transfer 250

2,103

Less Expenditure Keys 151 Staffordshire Conservation 637 Rent 602 Insurance 40 Solicitors charges and Stamp Duty 84 Car Park Rent 25 Printing 54 Postage and General Expenses 47 Key Refund 1

1,641

Surplus for year £462

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Balance Sheet at December 31, 1977

1977 £ t

1976

Surplus As at December 31, 1976 Add: Surplus/IDeficit) on main account

Surplus on Belvide account Profit on sale of Unit Trusts

As at December 31, 1977

1,150 462 179

923

1,791

£2,714

1,606 ( 683)

£923

Represented by Current Assets Cash at bank 938 765 Leicester Building Society 2,879 1,222 Halifax Building Society 249 35 Prepayment in respect of Belvide — 333 Investments — 282

4.066 2,637

Less Current Liabilities Subscriptions in advance 694 918 Permit fees in advance 658 796

1,352 1,714

Total net assets £2,714 £923

We have examined the above Income and Expenditure Accounts for the year ending December 31, 1977 and Balance Sheet at that date. In our opinion these Accounts give a true and fair view of the state of the Club's affairs at December 31, 1977 and of the excess of income over expenditure for the year ended on that date in accordance with books, vouchers and information given to us.

Arthur Young, McClelland Moores & Co, Chartered Accountants

196 Wolverhampton Street, Dudley. West Midlands DY1 1DZ D M Thomas, February 15, 197.8 Hon Treasurer

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Secretary's Report Belvide Reserve Our Annual Report, regarded as one of the better productions published by any provincial bird club in Britain, carries in the main details of birds observed in the Club's area during the year in question. This is as it should be. However, it is also a report on the Club's year as a whole and notable events and milestones in the Club's history should, I believe, be chronicled in these pages. Certainly one event of note which could not go unrecorded in any circum-stance was the setting up of our first bird reserve at Belvide reservoir which became operative on January 1, 1977. Long regarded as an important centre for wildfowl particularly, the area was in fact designated a site of Special Scientific Interest as far back as 1951. The Club has watched and recorded the birds seen at this water for many years and since 1953 has operated a birdwatching permit scheme there,' by kind permission of British Waterways Board. In more recent years the idea of a reserve at Belvide was formulated and through the determined efforts of Cecil Lambourne and others this dream has been realised. It is to be hoped the vast amount of time and effort that has gone into its es-tablishment will always be in visitors' minds when they enjoy the or-nithological delights of Belvide with each succeeding year.

Indoor Meetings I must confess it came as somethng of a surprise when checking through back numbers of our Annual Report to discover that we have now enjoyed the facilities and comfort of The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery lec-ture room for the last 30 years. However, to know we can annually look forward to returning to what is virtually 'our home' for indoor meetings is a great comfort to your Secretary when arranging the season's programme of speakers, for so much is looked after by the efficient museum staff. We are continually indebted for their help and understanding. It may, however, interest members to know that the hire of the room and payment of speakers now represents an ever increasing proportion of our expenditure and each meeting now costs in the region of £ 100 to stage. To ensure we obtain top quality speakers does mean we have to constant-ly review the fees we pay which, coupled with the speakers travelling ex-penses, can represent half the cost of the evening.

Speakers in 1 977 were as follows: January — Lawrence Holloway — 'The Everglades' February — FA Noble — 'Stanley Porter Memorial Lecture' March — AGM and Brian Jones — 'Birds at Zambia' April .— M C Wilkes and M. Fitzgerald — 'Birds at Water' May — Alan Richards — 'Bird Life Changes in The West Midlands'

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October —Film: Cousin Island, in conjunction with The International Council for Bird Preservation

November — Alistair Brebner — 'Highland Safaris' December— Davir) Hunt — 'Birds of the Scillico' During 1977 meetings were also held in Solihull and we are indebted to the following who gave freely of their services: Dr J A K Meldrum Alan Richards David Hawker Mick Wilkes and Mike Fitzgerald.

Film Shows As in previous years film shows in conjunction with the RSPB and The Wildfowl Trust were held in Birmingham and elsewhere in the Club's area.

Permit Schemes It has always been the Secretary's responsibility to look after the Club's various birdwatching permit schemes, though in recent years he has really only done so in name. The fact members have enjoyed such a well run and trouble free administration of this aspect of the Club's activities is entirely due to Mrs. Cicily Randall who cannot be thanked enough for all her hard work. The efficiency and devotion to the task of issuing well over 1000 permits annually demands the admiration and gratitude of us all. A J Richards

Membership Secretary's Report Following the subscription increase for 1977, a considerable fall in membership was to be expected: in the event, exactly 400 non-payers were removed from the Club in March and a further 51 in September. By the end of the year membership stood at 1719: of this total, 1655 were adult members and only 64 were juniors, the latter being about half that of a year ago. Applications for membership of the Club have been running at a marginal-ly lower level than in 1976, the difference being wholly due to fewer juniors joining the Club.

D M Hawker

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Staffordshire Branch With 12 indoor meetings in Hanley and Stafford, 1977 will probably go down as the year of the Islands. Our speakers managed to cover several widely scattered groups—from Trinidad in the west to Crete in the east and the Pribilofs in the north, with, somewhere in the middle, the Skelligs, Shetland and Grassholm. The scientific side was well-represented, too, with feeding behaviour, the Nest Records Scheme, the Ornithological Sites Survey and a look at bird conservation in Wales. Field meetings took in several familiar haunts inside the county. Beyond the borders three new ones were added—Walney, Eyebrook and Pontesford. A new departure was a Field Day at Stanley Head in March, at which members took part in a sample Common Bird Census, practised the art of Pellet Analysis and watched a demonstration of ringing. On the Conservation side the Branch retained its close links with the County Trust. We advised on several more draft plans, and were pleased to see that those on which we had previously commented had included our suggestions more or less in the form we had offered them. The Branch committee considers this side of its work a very important one and we are always alert to new dangers to the ornithological environment. Members can help greatly here by letting us know of any developments which might pose a threat to the county's bird-life.

E W Longman

Kidderminster and District Branch Report The Branch lost its regular venue for indoor meetings during 1977, the art gallery in the public library building being closed for such purposes. Members had to move to the less attractive Kidderminster Arts Centre nearby. The programme of talks by interesting speakers made up for this disadvantage, however, and it was particularly good to have the Membership Secretary, Mr. David Hawker, giving his fascinating account of a visit to British Columbia. This world-wide scenario was shared earlier in the year by a Branch member Miss Barbara Brooks who gave her ac-count of "Some Images of Africa" following a visit to that vast continent. Thanks were also due to other speakers both from within the Branch membership and from elsewhere for entertaining evenings. Venues for outdoor meetings were again a mixture of well tried, favoured places and new ones. Mr. Gareth Thomas, honorary warden of the Hewell Grange Reserve near Redditch started members off in the New Year with a very mist-bound visit and the year was rounded off by a few of the har-diest members walking the pools of Hagley, Churchill and Blakedown on a bitterly cold day in early December. Even the birds kept in hiding on these occasions except for a varied collection of duck.

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During the year more fruitful visits were made to Kingsford Country Park, Mortimer Forest, Bishop's Wood near Stourport, Castlemorton Common and Eastnor Park near Malvern, Upton Warren, Dudmaston Estate near Bridgnorth and Westwood Park, Droitwich. Meetings were organised by the Branch Secretary Mr. Robin Jones to whom members are greatly indebted for his hard work. He also became the Branch Representative on the Main Committee succeeding Mr. J. R. Mountford. The nest box breeding of pied flycatchers, common redstarts, nuthatch, great, blue and marsh tits continued successfully in the Wyre Forest area.

L R Bayes (Branch Vice-Chairman)

Belvida Reserve 1977 saw the culmination of many years' concern by the Club for the future of Belvide Reservoir when threats of water sports activities were averted by the Club's rental of land surrounding the reservoir for the es-tablishment of a bird reserve. This project had to be self-supporting, but the sale of 391 permits during the year along with revenue from field meetings, gifts, and substantial grants from the Nature Conservancy Council not only enabled the payment of the substantial annual rent, but also allowed the creation of a car park and new hide early in the year. Co-operation by British Waterways Board and two very obliging plant-hire firms enabled a dozen natural islands to be made during the autumn. It is fervently hoped that the success of this first year, financial and otherwise, will be repeated for many years to come. It was a fairly quiet year for birds, some 1 50 species being noted, of which 55 were believed to have bred in the area. No less than 11 species of ducks occured on one day in June, and the low autumn water level at-tracted 26 wader species. A Marsh Harrier appeared in May, a Peregrine in June, and Hobbies in July and August. Other notable occurrances in-cluded Scaup, Red-crested Pochard, a Quail calling all summer, a Phalarope, Iceland and Little Gulls, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit and Hawfinches.

D Smallshire

Ladywalk Reserve During the year 130 species were recorded and of these 66 were known to have bred and a further seven were thought to have done so. New species were Hobby and Barnacle Goose. The high winds have taken toll, yet again, of what timber remains in Church Pool Covert. Tree Creeper and Greater Spotted Woodpecker are rarely encountered and fewer warblers are heard, but Dunnock and Wren seem more abundant—or is it that they're more easily seen?

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Church Pool has recovered from gross pollution and Kingfisher has been reported through the year. We look fuiward to the return of Little Grehp and the less common crakes. There has been too much disturbance to at-tract duck to this water, but when the woodmen have gone another at-tempt to decoy will be made. The mild weather in late December and unofficial shooting across the river combined to half the wintering duck numbers on the marsh, 7-800 in early December being the maximum count. Little Ringed Plover still maintain a slender hold on the marsh with a single pair present through the nesting season. It is still intended to clear the vegetation from this species' nesting area in front of hide A.

H T Lees

Bird Ringing at Hawaii Grange 1975-77 Hewell Grange is situated to the north west of Redditch in Worcestershire, and is now Crown property, having formerly belonged to the late Earl of Plymouth. Perhaps the two most impressive features of the grounds, from an ornithological point of view, are the lake and its associated reed bed, and the mixed woodland. Both features are now designated nature reserves by the Worcestershire Nature Conservation Trust. Records at the British Trust for Ornithology indicate that passerine ringing took place at Hewell throughout the thirties, and that some winter Chaffinch ringing was rewarded by recoveries in Belgium and Norway. A ringing programme was recommenced at Hewell in February 1975, and has continued on a regular weekly basis, weather permitting, since that date. The first year tended to be essentially exploratory, seeking the most productive mist net sites and assessing the general situation throughout the four seasons. It was apparent that there were two important areas in which a ringer might usefully occupy his time. Firstly, the reed bed which possesses a breeding colony of Reed Warblers in the summer and in winter becomes a nocturnal roost for varying numbers of Reed Buntings and Pied Wagtails. Secondly, the rhododendrons on the west bank of the lake which harbour a Thrush, Chaffinch and Greenfinch roost during severe winter weather. Three years is obviously too short a time to draw any definite conclusions, however, the following statistics do provide useful indicators:-

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Table 1: Composition of Reed Warbler population

Ringed Known to he alive in 1976 1977

1975 Ad. 46* 13 7 Juv. 51 9 3

1976 Ad. 53 — 15 Juv. 85 — 5

1977 Ad. 34 — —

Juv. 90 — —

' Including one ringed at Droitwich in 1972

Table 1, it is stressed, only starts to demonstrate minimum survival rates, and as individuals of the species may live for six or seven years, further work is required before a satisfactory table can be compiled. The roosts have been tackled with some interesting results. The Pied Wagtail population has remained numerically fairly stable during the three year period under review, but the Reed Bunting numbers have fluctuated dramatically, and would appear to be dependent on the availability of food in the vicinity of the roost, prior to the birds retiring to the reeds. The year 1976, as will be well remembered, proved to have one of the driest summers on record, with the result that the lake water level remained extremely low for many months. The area of mud thus exposed at the northern end favoured a prodigious growth of vegetation upon which the Reed Buntings fed prior to roosting. The heavy rain in the autumn gradually filled the lake area and the vegetation became sub-merged, with a subsequent fall in the number of Reed Buntings. In 1977 the water level took considerably longer to drop, in fact it was not until June that some of the best mist net sites became negotiable again, and the area of mud which had formerly supported lush vegetation did not become clear of water until July. Very little growth took place this year, and it is noted that relatively few Reed Buntings have taken up the reed bed roost. The ringing totals for this species in Appendix 1 are indicative of the fall in numbers. The rhododendron site proved more difficult to tackle from a netting point of view. The site is crossed by paths popular with the residents of the es-tate for walking dogs, and as such is somewhat hazardous for delicate mist nets. A start was made in January 1977 to net the Thrushes, Chaffinches and Greenfinches, nets not necessarily being erected in the potentially most productive positions, but those where it was considered there was a reasonable possibility of recovering the nets intact—fewer birds being considered preferable to a variety of holes made by an assort-ment of dogs!

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The increase in Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Redwing ringing is shown in Appendix 1, and marks a degree of success for this particular operation, as does the recorded movement in Appendix 2 where Greenfinches are detailed. Appendix 1, while giving some indication of the relative status of the resi-dent passerine population, can strictly speaking only be taken for what it is, a statement of the numbers ringed for each species in the three years. For example, the House Martin total for 1977 was accounted for during one morning ringing session when a deliberate attempt was made to net the birds while they were making passes over the lake, and not the result of a continuous ringing sample throughout the season. It is important that ringing is not seen as an end in itself, although one might be forgiven for thinking so, when one morning in.late July 1977, three Kingfishers were caught together in a net only to be followed by a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Data collected when handling birds should be utilised to the best advantage. To this end, in addition to routine records being submitted to the BTO, two additional avenues of enquiry have been pursued. Firstly, a collection of external parasites, in the form of ticks, has been made and the results sent to the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge University, as part of a national survey, and secondly data on wing formulae from juvenile Reed Warblers has been sent to the Iberian Ringing Group for them to see if it is possible to dis-tinguish different populations passing through Portugal on migration. In summary it should be said that three years of ringing at Hewell has opened up many avenues for further enquiry, and raised numerous ques-tions. It is hoped that some of the answers will emerge as further years of work are undertaken. Footnote: Hewell Grange, it must be emphasised, is Crown property and is not open to the general public. Acknowledgement The report would not be complete without offering thanks to the Governor of Hewell Grange Borstal for permitting the ringing programme to be car-ried out in the grounds of the establishment, and to the residents of the es-tate who have co-operated in so many practical ways to make the field work more efficient. Thanks are due to Mr P Ireland for his most helpful comments on an early draft of this paper.

References R Spencer 1974: Report on bird ringing programme at Marsworth Reser-voir in 1973. x

West Midland Bird Club Report 1954: Summary of ringing recoveries dur-ing period 1909-54 for Worcestershire. H R Bryan

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Appendix 1: Ringing Totals

Species 1977 1976 1975 Species 1977 1976. 1975 1. Canada Goose 0 1 0 26. Reed Warbler 124 138 96 2. Moorhen 1 0 n 27. Sedgo Warbler 2 5 0 3. Swift 1 0 1 28. Blackcap 1 1 9 4 4. Kingfisher 4 0 1 29. Garden Warbler 2 4 2 5. Lesser Sp. Woodpecker 1 0 0 30. Whitethroat 3 15 0 6. Swallow 2 0 0 31. Lesser Whitethroat 1 4 0 7. House Martin 44 3 20 32. Wi l low Warbler 55 29 6 8. Jay 0 1 0 33. Chiffchaff 53 31 8 9. Great Tit 31 17 17 34. Goldcrest 4 5 6

10. BlueTit 80 82 40 35. Spotted Flycatcher 2 0 0 11. Coal Tit 8 1 3 36. Dunnock 32 45 25 12. Marsh Tit 1 2 0 37. Pied Wagtail 34 107 10 13. Wi l low Tit 6 9 6 38. Yellow Wagtail 1 1 0 14. Long Tailed Tit 1 5 12 39. Starling 8 4 0 15. Nuthatch 1 1 2 40. Greenfinch 146 19 4 16. Treecreeper 3 5 3 41. Goldfinch 18 11 2 17. Wren 32 32 44 42. Siskin 0 4 0 18. Mistle Thrush 2 0 2 43. Linnet 4 0 0 19. Fieldfare 0 1 0 44. Lesser Redpoll 0 4 5 20. Song Thrush 26 28 11 45. Rnllfinch 10 27 12 2 I. Redwing 76 17 6 46. Chaffinch 68 13 2 22. Blackbird 47 50 26 47. Brambling 1 2 0 23. Redstart 1 0 0 48. Yellowhammer 0 1 0 24. Robin 34 26 24 49. Reed Bunting 45 286 170 25. Grasshopper Warbler 0 1 0 50. Tree Sparrow 7 5 2

House Sparrows, although caught occasionally at net sites near the buildings, are not, as a matter of BTO policy, ringed in these circumstances.

Appendix 2: Recorded Movements

Controlled at Hewell BN59592 Great Tit. Dudley. Worcs.

18 12 71 V' 13 04 75

JX36905 Swallow. Droitwich, Worcs. 31 08 74

V 2 5 0 5 75 JK78904 Reed Warbler. Droitwich, Worcs.

- 20 07 72 V 29 06 75

There were 2 local controls involving Reed Warblers.

Ringed at Hewell 1975 KE09202 Reed Warbler 1 0 0 8 7 5

V Warsash, Hants. 31 08 75

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1976 BS1 1439 Greenfinch 08 0 2 76 V Berkswell, Warks. 06 0 3 76 X A 7 8 9 9 8 Redwing 07 0 3 76 'X 'Snapper tuna, Finland 15 0 5 76

8 8 6 0 5 4 Chiffchaff. Shrewsbury 06 07 75 V' 04 0 4 76

There were 7 local recoveries and controls involving Reed Buntings, Song Thrushes, Blue Tits and a Reed Warbler.

1977 K H 9 1 4 3 1 Reed Bunting 'V' Sutton Cheney, Leics.

K N 0 9 1 5 6 Reed Bunting 'X' Barnt Green, Redditch

K H 9 1 4 5 4 Reed Bunt ing V ' Wolston, Warks.

N C 6 8 1 0 3 Greenfinch V' Wythal l , Worcs.

BR51I211 Greenfinch. Northfield, Birmingham 13 01 74

V D1 77

BR93228 Greenfinch. Northfield, Birmingham 26 01 75

V' 29 01 77 B J 6 1 0 7 1 Greenfinch. Hopwas, Staffs.

0 2 0 1 71 V 19 0 2 77

9 8 7 9 7 3 Chiffchaff. Bournville. Birmingham 15 08 76

V 02 08 77 9 8 8 9 0 9 Chiffchaff. Outhill, Warks.

26 0 6 77 V 29 08 77

K N 5 1 5 4 6 Blue Tit. Wythal l , Worcs. 15 06 77

V 17 09 77

There were 4 local recoveries involving Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

01 0 2 76 02 0 3 77

1 9 0 9 76 1 0 0 5 77

08 0 2 76 10 10 77

19 0 2 77 0 4 12 77

Manner of Recovery ' V Caught and released w i th ring. 'X' Found dead or dying.

Tufted Ducks at Blithfield—Changes in population Some assessments of bird populations are often on a subjective basis and are revealed slowly. Regular duck counts under the national scheme afford an opportunity of a quick and more accurate indication of fluctuations of those waterfowl included in the scheme and have brought to light a puzzl-ing change in status of the Tufted Duck at Blithfield Reservoir. Over nearly 20 years of duck counts from 1955-1972, organised at the reservoir by T W Ford, the average numbers in the mid-monthly counts during the autumn to spring period were as follows. The numbers throughout this article are as counted and not rounded off.

19

Years J ' F M S O N D

1955-1972 2 3 4 186 218 165 2 2 8 215 214

In 1973 numbers were normal until October when there was a sudden drop since when there has been no recovery as shown below:-

Year J F M S O N D

1973 122 159 239 2 0 4 4 0 17 14 1974 44 102 78 15 35 2 15 1975 50 61 37 18 1 4 3 1976 16 6 58 2 7 35 64 1977 26 18 35 18 16 0 29

No such drastic decreases have been reported at other West Midland waters, nor have they occured nationally, and the reason for the sudden change from October li973 remains a mystery. Curiously at Blithfield the pattern for the other commonly occuring diving duck, the Common Pochard, has shown the reverse effect during much of the period from 1974. Normally Pochard numbers reach a maximum in November and the average count in this month during the period 1955-1972 was 226. However in 1974 the figure was 501; in 1975, 436; and in 1976 a record total of 1066. It is not suggested that the two phenomena are related although the two species have different feeding habits with the Tufted Duck mainly taking animal matter and the Common Pochard mainly vegetable. J Lord

The Status of the Rarer Grebes In recent years some observers have gained the impression that the scarcer grebes have become less regular and frequent in appearance in the Club's area. In order to examine this the records of Red-necked, Slavo-nian and Black-necked Grebes have been extracted from the Reports for 1963-76 inclusive and compared with the assessment by Lord and Richards of their status from 1934-62 (WMBR 1963). From 1963-76 in-clusive 127 birds of the three species were recorded including three not specifically identified. During 1934-62, 157 were noted, giving an average of 9 and 5.4 birds per year respectively. From 1 968-74 up to 17 birds per year (1970) were noted in a particularly productive period. Table 1 shows the annual totals for each species from 1963-76. The monthly distribution of arrival dates is shown in Fig. 1 with each monthly total expressed as a percentage of the total for each species in order to facilitate comparison of the temporal distribution of the three birds.

2 0

Twenty-two localities are involved in the post-1 963 records with the most productive being Blithfield (28 birds), Belvide (22), Draycote (12), Can-nock Reservoir and Westwood Park (8) and Bittell (7).

The 1963-76 Period Red-necked Grebe 1 7 records from eight localities (five in Staffs)—six at Blithfield and five at Belvide. Up to three per year (1966). Arrival dates September-March plus one in July (peaks in February and December). Four years with no birds. The 1963 analysis revealed more in April (in fact there have been none since) but fewer in December. Occasionally stays for a short period. Slavonian Grebe 37 birds (one record of two) from 12 localities—11 at Blithfield, seven at Draycote and six at Belvide. Up to eight birds per year (1972). Arrival dates September-April with peaks in November-January and April. Three years with no records at all. The 1963 analysis revealed peaks in December and February with no spring passage evident. Usually stays for less than a week, rarely for several weeks. Black-necked Grebe 70 birds (five records of two) from 16 localities (Belvide and Blithfield each producing 11). Up to 11 per year (1970). Ar-rival dates in all months except May and July with peaks in August-October and December. Recorded in every year. The 1963 analysis showed a peak in August-November but few in December. Frequent short stays, rarely present for a few weeks. The interpretation of the records is difficult. Sharrock (Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland 1976) showed that between 1958 and 1972 the number of rare birds recorded approximately doubled and concluded that this was related to an approximate doubling of observer activity. Considering the increased numbers of competent observers, better access to reservoirs with recent permit schemes and almost daily coverage of some localities, this seems a reasonable estimate to apply here. The exact periods best used for comparisons are, however, hard to define. Comparing the 1 934-62 period with 1963-76 none of the grebes doubled their occurrences per year (see Table 2). Comparing 34-62 with 63-69 however. Red-necked more than doubled, suggesting a real increase at that time; Slavonian ac-tually declined while Black-necked doubled its annual rate of appearance. Taking the second half of the recent period (1970-76) the Red-necked declined by half over the 63-69 average, suggesting a genuine decline to the 34-62 levels or less. The Slavonian Grebe, though, more than doubled, suggesting a real increase in this period, whereas Black-necked declined in its average per year and seems to have been occuring less often, allow-ing for increased coverage, than it was in the 1934-62 period. However, sorting out long-term trends from periodic fluctuations is almost impossi-ble wi th so many variables—including increased disturbance at some

21

sites, development of new reservoirs such as Draycote, fluctuating water levels, improved identification ability—all of which may affect the oc-curence, duration of stay and detection of the birds in question. R A Hume

Table 1

Year 1963 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 7 6 Total

Red-necked 1 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 2 17 Slavonian — 1 1 — — 4 3 5 2 8 3 7 2 1 37 Black-necked 3 5 2 7 2 7 9 11 4 4 8 4 3 1 70 Unidentified 2 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 3 Total 6 8 5 10 3 12 14 17 6 13 13 1 1 5 4 127

Table 2

Total No. Recorded Average per year 1934-62 1963-76 1934-62 63-69 70-76 63-76

Red-necked 18 17 0.6 1.6 0.8 1.1 Slavonian 50 37 1.7 1.3 4 2.6 Black-necked 89 70 3 6 5 5

Percentage Figure 1

• Red-necked • - Slavonian Black-necked

1963-76 inclusive

22

NewcaM.e^Q^

,Utto*eter

>BuHon

.annock •

'Lichfield

Tamworlh|

• ) [ • ) Walsall « . • • W ( IWolverharrraton • Sutton' Nuneaion

Coventry

Kidderminster

• • Stourporl

Warwick'

Worcester 1 Slrat^ord(

> j j ^ l

2 3

1977 Bird Record Localities The following alphabetical list for each county gives the grid reference of all localities mentioned in the Report. The accompanying map shows every locality for which a record was submitted for 1977.

Warwickshire Admington Alvecote

SP 2046 SK 2 5 0 4

Barford SP 2 7 6 0 Bearley S P 1 7 6 0 Bilton SP 4971 Bishops Tachbrook SP 3161 Bodymoor Heath SP 2 0 9 6 Brandon Marsh SP 3 8 7 5 Brinklow SP 4 3 7 9

Charlecote SP 2 6 5 6 Chesterton SP 3558 Coldcomfort Wood SP 0 6 5 8 Cnleshill Combrook Compton Verney Coombe Abbey Coton

Draycote Water Dunchurch

Earlswood

Fillongley

Harbury Hartshill Haselor Hatton

l lmington

SP 2080 SP 3051 SP 3152 SP 4079 SP 2 1 9 4

SP 4 6 6 9 SP 4871

SP 1174

SP 2887

SP 3759 SP 3294 SP 1257 SP 2367

SP 2143

Kenilworth SP 2 8 7 2 Kineton SP 3351 Kingsbury Wood SP 2397 Kings Newnham SP 4577

Ladywalk SP 2 0 9 2 Lea Marston SP 2093 Leamington Spa SP 3 1 6 5 Lillington SP 3 2 6 7 'Little Packington SP 2 0 8 5 Long Itchington SP 4 1 6 5 Lowsonford SP 1867 Loxley SP 2 5 5 2

Marston SP 2 0 9 4 Merevale SP 2997 Middleton SP 1898 Milcote SP 1852

Napton SP 4 6 6 1 Newbold-on-Avon SP 4 8 7 7

Offchurch SP 3 5 6 5 Oversley Green SP 0 9 5 6 Oxhill SP 3 1 4 5

Packington SP 2 2 8 4 Polesworth SK 2 6 0 2 Preston Bagot SP 1765

Ragley Roseycombe

Wood Rugby Ryton Gravel Pit

SP 0 7 5 5

SP 3977 ' SP 5 0 7 5 SP 3 7 7 2

Seckington SK 2 6 0 7 Sherbourne SP 2 6 6 1 Shustoke S P 2 2 9 1 Shutt ington S K 2 5 0 5 Sitch Wood (see Ladywalk) Snitterfield S P 2 1 5 9 Stockton SP 4 3 6 3 Stratford-on-Avon SP 2 0 5 4 Siudley b K U / b J

Tanworth- in-Arden SP 1170 Temple Grafton SP 1254

Ufton SP 3 8 6 1

Walsgrave Hill SP 3 9 8 0 Wal ton SP 2 8 5 2 Wappenbury WoodSP 3 7 7 0 Warwick Water Orton Welford-on-Avon Weston-on-Avon Wil ley Wi lmcote Woot ton Wawen Wormleighton

SP 2 8 6 4 S P 1 7 9 1 S P 1 4 5 2 S P 1 5 5 1 SP 4 9 8 4 SP 1658 S P 1 5 6 3 SP 4 4 5 3

Worcestershire Alvechurch SP 0272 Arley SO 7680 Ash Bed Coppice SO 9263 Aston Mil l SO 9 4 3 4 Aston Somerville SP 0438

Beckford SO 9735 Belbroughton SO 9177 Beoley SP 0669

Besford SO 9 1 4 4 Bewdley SO 7 8 7 5 Bittell SP 0 1 7 4 Blackwell SO 9 8 7 2 Blakedown SO 8 8 7 8 Brakemill Pool SO 8979; Bredon Hill SO 9 5 3 9 Bricklehampton SO 9 8 4 2 Broadwas SO 7 5 5 5

Broadway SP 0 9 3 7 Bromsgrove SO 9 5 7 0 Broome SO 9 0 7 8 Bushley Green SO 8 6 3 4

Chaddesley W o o d SO 9 1 7 3 Churchill SO 8 7 7 9 Cleeve Prior S P 0 8 4 9 Clent SO 9 3 7 9

24

Clifton-on-Teme SO 7161 Clows l o p SO / i 7 i Cofton Hall SP 0175 Coldridge Wood SO 8082 Conderton SO 9637 Croome SO 8844

Defford SO 9143 Dowles Brook SO 7676 Droi twich SO 8963 Dunhampstead SU a IbS

Eckington SO 9241 Elmley Castle SO 9841 Eymore Wood SO 7779

Far Forest SO 7275 Fladbury SO 9946 Frankley SP 0 0 8 0

Gadbury Bank Gal lows Green SO 9362 Goosehill Wood SO 9 3 6 0 Grafton Flyford SO 9655 Great Malvern SO 7745 Great Wit ley SO 7566 Grimley SO 8 3 6 0

Hagley SO 9 1 8 0 Hal low SO 8258

Hampton Lovett SO 8865 Hanbuiy 3 0 9003 Hartlebury SO 8470 Hewell Park SP 0069 High Green SO 8745 Hindlip SO 8758 Holt SO 8362 Hurcott SO 8577

llley SO 9881 Island Puul SO 8580

Lickey SO 9975 Longdon SO 8336 Lower Sapey SO 6 9 6 0

Malvern SO 7745 Malvern Wells SO 7742 Monkwood SO 8 0 6 0

N afford s o 9441 Northwick Marsh s o 8357

Ombersley s o 8463

Pershore s o 9445 Pirton s o 8747 Pulley s o 8 9 6 0

Redd itch SP 0467 Redhill SP 0476

Ribbesford SO 7873 Rumsley GO 0 6 7 0

Severn Stoke SO 8 5 4 4 Sheriffs Lench SP 0149 Shrawley SO 8064 Sling SO 9477 Spetchley SO 8953 Stakenbridge SO 8979 Stour Hill SO 8373 btourpOrt SO 8171

Tardebigge SO 9868 Thorngrove SO 8 2 6 0 Throckmorton SO 9849 Trench Wood SO 9258

Upper Bentley SO 9966 Upton-on-Severn SO 8 5 4 0 Upton Warren SO 9367

Walton Hill SO 9479 Westwood Park SO 8763 Wilden s o 8272 Woodnorton SP 0147 Worcester s o 8 5 5 4 Wyre Forest s o 7475 Wyre Piddle s o 9647 Wythall SP 0 7 7 4

Staffordshire Acton Hill SJ 9419 Acton Trussell SJ 9318 Admaston SK 0 5 2 3 Aire w a s SK 1715 Apedale SJ 8149 Aqualate SJ 7 7 2 0 Ash Green SJ 8741 Aston SJ 9131

Back Dane SJ 9766 Baggeridge SO 8 9 9 2 Bagots Wood SK 0727 Baswich SJ 9 4 2 2 Beaudesert SK 0313 Belvide SJ 8 6 1 0 Berry Hil l SJ 9 0 4 6 Betley SJ 7548 Biddulph Moor SJ 9058

Bishops Wood SJ 7531 Blackbrook Valley SK 0064 Blake Brook SK 0761 Blithfield SK 0623 Bradwell SJ 8449 Branston SK 2120 Brewood SJ 8808 Bridgetown SJ 9708 Brocton SJ 9619 Burnt wood SK 0609 Burslem SJ 8749 Burton-on-Trent SK 2423

Cannock Chase SK 0017 Cannock Reservoir SK 0307 Caverswall SJ 9542 Chapel Chorlton SJ 8137 Chasetown SK 0408

Checkhill SO 8587 Chillington SJ 8606 Clayton Hall SJ 8543 Coombes Valley SK 0 0 5 2 Copmere SJ 8029

Doxey (see Tillington) Drayton Bassett SK 1900

Elford SK 1810 Endon SJ 9253 Enville SO 8386 Etching Hill S K 0 3 1 8

Flash SK 0267 Ford Green SJ 8951 Froghall SK 0247

25

Gailey SJ 9 3 1 0 Little Aston SK 0 9 0 0 Seven Springs SK 0 0 2 0 Gib Tor SK 0 2 6 4 Little Haywood SK 002 1 Sherbrook Valley SJ 9 8 1 8 Gnosall SJ 8 2 2 0 Loggerheads SJ 7 3 3 5 Shoal Hill SJ 971 1 Goldsitch SK 0 1 6 4 Longsdon SJ 9 5 5 4 Shugborough SJ 9922 (Jradbach SJ 9 9 6 b Loynton Moss SJ / 0 2 4 Sideway SJ 8 / 4 3 Gravelly Bank SJ 9 7 1 4 Springslade SJ 9 6 1 6 Great Wry ley SJ 9907 Maer SJ 7938 Stafford SJ 9223 Greenway Bank SJ 8 8 5 5 Marston SJ 8 3 1 4 Stone SJ 9034 Gun Hill SJ 9761 Milford SJ 9 7 2 1 Stretton Hall SJ 8811

Mit ton SJ 8 8 1 5 Swal low Moss SK 0 6 6 0 Hammerwich SK 0607 Swindon SO 8 6 9 0 Hanchurch SJ 8441 Newcastle- Swinfen SK 1306 Hanley SJ 8747 Under-Lyme SJ 8 4 4 5 Harlaston SK 2 1 1 0 Three Shires Head SK 0 1 6 8 Hawksmoor SK 0 3 4 4 Oldacre Valley SJ 9 7 1 8 Til l ington SJ 9 0 2 4 Haywood Park . SJ 9 9 2 0 Orslow SJ 8 0 1 5 Tit tesworth SJ 9 9 5 9 Hazelstrine SJ 9 4 2 0 Tixall SJ 9722 Hednesford SK 0 0 1 2 Patshull SJ 8 0 0 0 Trentham Gardens SJ 8 6 4 0 Highfields SJ 9121 Penkridge SJ 9 2 1 4 Highgate Common SO 8489 Pershall SJ 8 1 2 9 Wal ton SJ 8933 Himley SO 8891 Perton SO 8 5 9 8 Wandon SK 0 3 1 4 Hopwas SK 1705 Pillaton SJ 9 3 1 3 Water Eaton SJ 9011 Hurlori SJ 9457 Walerhuuses SK 0 8 5 0 Hulme End SK 1059 Radford SJ 9 3 2 0 Weaver Hills SK 0 9 4 6

Ramshorn SK 0 8 4 5 Werr ington SJ 9447 Ingestre SJ 9 7 2 4 Rickerscote SJ 9 3 2 0 Westlands SJ 8 3 4 4 Ingestre

Ridgehill Wood SO 8787 Weston-under-Keele SJ 8 0 4 5 Roach End SJ 9 9 6 4 Lizard SJ 8011 Kings Bromley SK 1216 . Roaches The SK 0 0 6 3 Westport SJ 8 5 5 0 Kinver SO 8383 Rodbaston SJ 9 2 1 1 Wheaton Aston SJ 8512 Knighton SJ 7427 Rudyard SJ 9 4 5 9 Whi te Sitch SJ 7912 Knypersley SJ 8 9 5 5 Rugeley SK 0 4 1 8 Whi t t ington S.F. SO 8582

Rugeley Ranges SJ 9 9 1 7 Wigginton SK 2 0 0 6 Leacroft SK 0 0 0 9 Wood Eaton SJ 8417 Leek SJ 9 8 5 6 Seabridge SJ 8 3 4 3 Lichfield SK 1109 Seisdon SO 8 3 9 4 Yoxall SK 1419

West Midlands Aldridge SK 0 5 0 0 Brierley Hill SO 9 1 8 6 Edgbaston Park SP 0 5 8 4

-Brownhills SK 0 4 0 5 Erdington SP 1191 Barston SP 2 0 7 8 Bartley SP 0081 Cannon Hill Park SP 0 6 8 3 Four Oaks SP 1198 Bentley SO 9 8 9 9 Catherine deBarnesSP 1780 Bentley Heath SP 1676 Chelmsley Wood SP 1786 Gornal Wood SO 9 1 9 0 Berkswell SP 2 4 7 9 Coventry SP 3 3 7 8 Great Barr SP 0 4 9 5 Bilston SO 9 4 9 6 Cradley SO 9 4 8 4 Birmingham Halesowen SO 9683

City Centre SP 0 6 8 6 Dorridge S P 1 6 7 5 Hall Green S P 1 0 8 1 Bournville SP 0481 Dudley SO 9 4 9 0 Harborne SP 0 2 8 4

26

Hearsall Common SP 3 1 7 8 Pendeford SJ 9002 Sutton Coldfield SP 1296 I lydca nood Pool CO 0 0 0 4 Pe.nn CO 0 0 0 5 Cutton Pork CP 0007

Pensnett SO 9 1 8 8 Swan Pool SP 0292 Kingswinford SO 8 8 8 8 Swanshurst Park SP 0981 Knowle S P 1 8 7 6

Quinton SO 9 9 8 4 Lower Gornal SO 9291 Tettenhall SJ 8 7 0 0 Lower Gornal SO 9291 Tividale SO 9790

Mer iden M i n w o r t h

SP 2 4 8 2 S P 1 6 9 2

Rotton Park SP 0 4 8 6 Tocil Wood SP 3075 Mer iden M i n w o r t h

SP 2 4 8 2 S P 1 6 9 2

Rubery SO 9 9 7 7 Trittiford Park SP 0 9 8 0

M o j e l e y SP 0 7 0 3 Saltley SP 0 9 8 7 Walsall SP 0 1 9 8

Nechells SP 0 9 8 9 Sandwell Valley SP 0 2 9 1 Warley Park SP 0 1 8 6 New Invent ion SJ 9 6 0 1 Shirley SP 1178 Wednesbury SO 9895 Northf ie ld SP 0 2 7 9 Small Heath S P 1 0 8 5 West Bromwich SP 0091 Norton SO 8 9 8 2 Solihull S P 1 5 7 9 West Park SO 9 0 9 9

Stevens Park SO 8 9 8 3 Wolverhampton SO 9198 Pedmore SO 9 1 8 2 Stoke SP 3 7 7 9 Woodgate Valley SP 0 0 8 3 Pelsall SK 0 1 0 3 Stourbridge SO 9 0 8 4 Wyken Slough SP 3683

Classified Notes The sequence followed is that of the "British Birds" List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978) which follows Professor K H Voous' "List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species" (1977). The average arrival and departure dates given for migrants are based respectively on the first and last dates (excluding freaks) shown in the Annual Reports up to 1977. Figures in brackets denote the number of years on which the averages are based. In tables — denotes no count available. See page 117 for key to contributors. Records of species considered by the "British Birds" Rarities Committee are normally published only if accepted by that Committee. Unfortunately some 1977 records have not yet been considered, but have been included and endorsed "subject to acceptance by the Rarities Committee."

Great Northern Diver Warks The resurgence of diver records was maintained with a remark-

able influx of this species at Draycote. A single bird appeared on November 13 PJF, DIP, while no less than three were present from November 15 RB to the end of the year (increasing to four early in 1978).

Little Grsbe Fewer breeding records and autumn concentrations than last year.

Warks Breeding or probable breeding reported from six localities, with eight pairs at Bodymoor Heath and six in the Packington area. Maxima included 32 at Alvecote on January 2, 39 at Draycote on September 7, ten at Lea Marston on September 14, 30 at Body-

27

moor Heath on October 1 6, and up to ten on flooded meadows along the River Leam during the winter months.

Worcs Bred at four localities, with three broods at Upton Warren. Very small numbers reported at several sites, but 1 1 at Upton Warren during late-March was the only count in double figures.

Staffs Confirmed or probable breeding at seven localities. Highest con-centrations were 12 at Belvide on August 20, and 20 at Blithfield on September 4.

W Mid Bred at Brierley Hill and Pelsall and two adults seen with a juvenile in Edgbaston Park on October 9. Isolated records from Bartley, Northfield and Rotton Park.

Great Crested Grebe Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Alvecoie 3 17 2 8 3 0 3 1 2 1 2 3 27 2 1 12 12 B Dravcole 2 2 2 4 — 12 14 2 3 29 34 4 0 2 2 2 3 3 0 Earlswoocf — 10 2 0 12 2 0 — — — — 2 4 — —

Shustoke 1 19 10 2 6 15 — — 1.1 1R 1 6 13

Bittell 4 14 2 5 2 2 9 2 3 4 6 Westwood ' 2 12 3 0 2 5 — — 3 4 6 14 2 0 1 0

Aqualate 1 4 3 2 12 2 2 Belvide 17 2 3 6 19 2 3 11 8 7 9 1 0 4 Blilhfield 150 5 0 6 0 8 0 7 5 7 0 2 1 0 150 4 0 6 5 9 5 1 0 5 Cannock Res 3 4 13 8 — — — 14 17 18 14 7

With the return to more normal water-levels a better breeding season resulted.

Warks Bred at nine localities, rearing about 55 young. Isolated counts included ten at Compton Verney on March 6, 18 at Bodymoor Heath on March 13, and nine on October 1 1 at Brandon, where on June 8 one of a breeding pair was observed to attack and kill an unpaired bird which approached the nest site BMCG.

Worcs Bred at five localities, rearing nine young. At Tardebigge Reser-voir nine birds were present on March 12.

Staffs Breeding reported at 12 sites, with about 85 young reared. Isolated counts of ten or more birds involved ten adults at Rud-yard Lake on July 23, 26 at Trentham Lake on July 24, 12 at Tittesworth on August 13, 27 at Copmere on August 28, and 15 at Kings Bromley on September 18.

WMid Bred at four localities, raising about a dozen young. Non-breed-ing birds occurred regularly at Bartley, with a maximum of six in mid-July.

28

Red-necked Grebe Staffs Occurred for the second successive year at Blithfield, one being

identified on December 26 ARMB.

Slavonian Grebe Warks Single birds recorded at Draycote between March 13 PJF and

28 several observers, and on November 18 DIP. Has occurred annually at this locality since 1974.

Black-necked Grebe For the first time since 1948 there were no acceptable records of this species/

Fulmar Warks One at Draycote on June 3 PJF was the second in the historical

county of Warwickshire, the first being at Sutton Coldfield (now W Mid) in April 1965.

Manx Shearwater Worcs A bird was found exhausted near Droitwich on August 28, and

later released on the Dyfed coast CNL.

Storm Petrel

Staffs One found in weak condition at Highfields, Stafford, on Novem-ber 6 unfortunately died on November 11 BL. The first in Staffordshire this century.

29

Gannet Warks An immature at CoomljeAbbey on August 18 CHP. Worcs An immature at Wyre Piddle on July 5 landed briefly on the river

RWP.

WMid An adult at Wyken Slough on April 26 MB, CHP

Cormorant Widespread reports, though numbers outside Staffordshire smaller than previous year.

Warks Recorded fairly regularly d.uring the winter months at Bodymoor Heath, usually less than three but with nine on December 22. One to three noted intermittently outside breeding season at Alvecote, Brandon, Coombe Abbey, Draycote, Ladywalk, Lea-mington Spa, and Shustoke. A party of eight flew SE near Coles-hill on August 26.

Worcs At Bittell up to three recorded on five spring dates, followed by single birds between August 20 and November 13 apart from six on October 2. Reported on six winter and spring dates at West-wood, with three on January 2. Two occurred at Wilden on Nov-ember 6.

Staffs Up to 65 at Blithfield in early months but, following a cull of about 40 birds by the water-board, numbers in November and Decem-ber were much lower than usual with only about 1 5 at the end of the year. Birds were probably also displaced to other waters, as counts of up to 22 at Cannock Reservoir and 40 at Aqualate during December, and 33 at Kings Bromley on November 20, were much higher than usual. At Gailey 45 observed on Feb-ruary 5, while 17 flew over Cannock Chase on January 23. Small numbers observed occasionally at seven other localities.

WMid One or two reported at Bartley on April 27, September 24 and during December. A party of five flew NNW over Saltley on April 24. Single birds noted at Sandwell Valley on April 23, at Rotton Park on April 28, and at Aldridge on November 14, while one at Edgbaston Park from September 20 to 22 was apparently the first at the locality for twenty years. Shag Four records involving three counties, maintaining the trend of recent years. Occurred for the second successive year at Blith-field and Draycote.

Warks An immature identified at Draycote on July 25 and 26 PJF. Staffs Single birds reported at Blithfield on January 23 PJ, MSS, MJW

and March 31 BB. WMid A party of five immatures occurred at Powell's Pool, Sutton Park,

from November 10 to 18, one bird remaining until November 22 ARMB, EMR.

30

Bittern Staffs One observed on February 11 and April 10 at a site in the wesf

of the county.

Grey Heron Warks About 25 pairs nested at Coombe Abbey and 13 pairs at another

central site, both similiar totals to last year. 25 birds were counted at Draycote on August 15, while numbers less than ten were reporter) frnrw 1 3 other localities,

Worcs Two pairs reared eight young at Grimley and a single pair bred at Holt, while at Westwood Park a pair atempted to breed but was unsuccessful. Recorded regularly at Bittell, with up to 14 in autumn, and at Upton Warren where the maximum was four on October 1. Six noted at Wilden on July 5, while smaller numbers were reported at a dozen other sites.

Staffs 53 nests at Aqualate, 50 at Bagots Wood, 27 at Gailey, 26 at En-ville, nine at Chillington and four at Checkhill: a slight overall decrease compared with last year. Away from breeding sites, the only locality to report significant numbers was Blithfield, where 35 on August 4 was the maximum count.

W Mid Small numbers noted regularly in winter at Sutton Park, while single birds were reported from five other localities.

Mute Swan Some disturbing signs of declining numbers, and very little breeding data received.

Warks Few nesting reports, though a survey in the north of the county apparently revealed better brood production compared with the previous two years CHP. One of a brood of six cygnets at Ladywalk was of the white or Polish' phase. At Alvecote 107 on July 3, but other post-breeding and winter flocks were small with 26 on the Grand Union Canal at Leamington in winter and 42 at Bodymdor Heath on August 20, the only significant numbers reported. The maximum at Draycote was only 14 in July, revers-ing the increasing trend of past few years.

Worcs Of five breeding attempts reported, four concerned failed pairs, in-cluding at Upton Warren where for the second year in succession one of a pair was killed flying into power lines. No large gatherings reported.

Staffs Breeding reports submitted for only four sites, making assesment of trends impossible. 28 at Blithfield on July 28 and 15 at Can-nock Reservoir in mid-January were very low maxima for these waters compared with a few years ago. 17 at Belvide on October 1, 36 at Westport on October 20 and 28 and 32 at Tillington on December 24.

31

WMid Despite great efforts by the Parks Dept. and local volunteers to provide safe nesting platforms on each of four lakes in Sutton Park, only one juvenile was reared. Lack of data is emphasised by the fact that the only other report submitted concerned successful breeding at Aldridge.

Bewick's Swan Warks Six flew NNE at Leamington and four occurred at Ladywalk on

January 19. At Bodymoor Heath one on January 30, a herd of 32 flying west on November 18, one, perhaps from this party, between November 19 and December 4, and a later bird on December 24. One at Alvecote on January 30 followed by three on March 5 and 6. Draycote held 34 on February 26, 23 on March 3, two on March 19, two on November 29, and seven on December 27. A party of six arrived at Little Packington on November 19, one immature remaining till December 1 7.

Worcs A noteable series of records at Pirton Pool where three occurred on January 16 and then present from November 5, when eight observed, to December 27, usually around 20 birds but with a regional record total of 90 on the evening of December 24 7*7". 20 flew SE over Sheriff's Lench on February 12. Single birds at Westwood on November 1 and Bittell on December 1.

Staffs At Blithfield, 12 on January 1, five till January 23, four on February 26 and 27, and 22 on March 5, with around a dozen remaining until March 27. Later in the year one occurred on Oc-tober 23-, one or two between November 13 and 23, 14 on November 27, five on December 26, and three from December 27 to 29. Recorded at Endon Floods from November 20 to December 11, usually two but 14 on the first date and seven on November 26. At Rudyard Lake birds were present with Whooper Swans from January 1 to 23 and again from November 26 to end of year, usually five or six but with eight on the first date. These birds also visited Tittesworth in November and December. Six observed at Gailey on October 22. At Belvide ten noted on March 13, one fly-ing SW on October 23, and five on December 27. Cannock Reser-voir held two on November 19 and 20, one up to November 27, and then two on December 8 and 9. Two at Branston on November 13 and at Penkridge on November 26.

Whooper Swan Now apparently a regular visitor to the area, particularly north Staffordshire.

Warks Four flew west at Bodymoor Heath on January 12 EAH and two were observed at Alvecote on January 16 RSA.

Worcs One reported at Upton Warren on November 19 and seven in flight over Bittell on November 27 CBL.

32

Staffs At Rudyard Lake present from late 1976, with peak of seven on January 15 PGB, and again at end of year, with two on November 5 PGB, HWK, three on November 19, and six from December 17 to 27, this party visiting Tittesworth on December 26 PGB. Ten occurred at Longsdon Mill on December 29 and 30 PGB.

Wild Swans W Mid Three flying SW over Bournville on February 8 and two at Bartley

on November 22 were not specifically identified.

Pink-footed Goose Has occurred in the Club's area in six of the last ten years, but not since 1972 in Warwickshire.

Warks One with White-fronts at Bodymoor Heath from January 23 EAH to February 14 FB, VAB, KAL and at Alvecote on March 12 GAA, RJT. Three flew over Coombe Abbey on March 13 BRG.

Staffs A skein of 24 flew over Greenway Bank on October 29 HWK.

White-fronted Goose More records than usual, including a substantial skein over Blithfield.

Warks Four birds from 1976 remained at Bodymoor Heath until February 20 EAH, while a single bird was reported on April 10 PAM, TM and three on December 10 SKW.

Worcs Two at Westwood on July 20 were presumably feral birds CPB. Five in flight over Wilden on December 27 RM.

Staffs The party of 26 from late 1976 remained at Blithfield until January 1 EGP, while a party of 150 which flew NW on January 18 JL constituted the largest flock ever recorded in the county. Six adults were present from November 6 to 13 several observers. An adult occurred at Belvide on April 9 DS. At Tittesworth eight grey geese were present from December 11 AB, PC, MSS, MJW to December 29 PGB; opinions of identity of several birds differed but at least one was a White-front.

WMid Nine reported flying west over Bartley on December 22 MSS.

Greylag Goose Small numbers of feral birds recorded at several localities. Larger flocks and breeding records were as follows:

Warks 64 at Ladywalk on September 18, 65 at Bodymoor Heath on Oc-tober 1 and up to 70 at Packington where several pairs bred. Also bred at Ryton, but a nest at Brandon was robbed.

Staffs 24 flew west over Westlands on November 13. WMid Two at Hydes Road Pool during January and early February and

two at Rotton Park Reservoir on January 5 were the only records.

33

Snow Goose Single feral birds as follows:

Warks Recorded fairly regularly at Bodymoor Heath between January 2 and April 2 and again on May 25, while probably the same bird was at Ladywalk on March 13.

Staffs Gailey on March 20 and Burton on October 10. W Mid Rotton Park Reservoir from January 3 to 7 and again on 17 and

1 8 .

Canada Goose Few comprehensive monthly counts submitted.

Warks Breeding reported at ten localities with over 60 young at Packington and 82 young counted at Bodymoor Heath on May 30. Maxima included 86 at Middleton on January 16, 80 at Chesterton on January 21, 1 50 at Packington on January 31, 130 at Little Packington on August 13, 500 at Bodymoor Heath on September 11, and 80 at Ladywalk on December 3.

Worcs Breeding reports received from only six localities. Highest counts were 92 at Pirton Pool on February 6, about 85 at Grimley during August and September, 149 at Upton Warren on September 10, 298 at Bittell on September 21, and 238 at Westwood in mid-September.

Staffs Late-June MAFF census of moulting flocks at Aqualate, Chil-lington, Gailey, Patshull and Stretton Hall revealed a total of 480 birds of which 115 were juveniles. Specific breeding reports received from only five sites. Maximum counts were 117 at Milford on January 17, 295 at Kings Bromley on August 21, 152 at Belvide on August 22, 402 at Branston on September 4, 439 at Aqualate on November 12, 423 at Blithfield on December 14, and 243 at Chillington on December 27. A Dusky Canada Goose was observed again at Belvide on January 2.

W Mid 1 10 at Rotton Park Reservoir on January 17, 101 at West Parkin late June, 60 at Hydes Road Pool on August 21, 56 in Sutton Park on July 7, 200 at Solihull in October and November, 70 at Cannon Hill Park on November 26, and 113 at Northfield Manor on December 1. Barnacle Goose All reports involved feral birds.

Warks Single birds at Draycote from previous year up to January 22, Ladywalk in February, November and December, Bodymoor Heath in March and April and from mid-October to end of year, Brandon from May 2 to 8, Coombe on January 3, Compton Verney on April 24 and Ryton on May 11 and 12.

Worcs One at Upton Warren from January 1 to 18 and on May 1. Staffs One or two reported at Aqualate, Blithfield, Branston, Radford,

Tittesworth and Kings Bromley in various months.

34

Hybrid Geese Worcs A Canada-hybrid ai Plrton oh May 1. Staffs Two at Belvide on April 11 and November 12 to 20 were of 'blue

Snow Goose' type but parentage uncertain. A bird with Canadas at Blithfield from mid-November to end of year was clearly a Greylag cross.

WMid One at Stourbridge on November 19 was similiar to the Belvide birds.

Egyptian Goose Worcs Two at Spetchley on April 10. Staffs One at Blithfield between August 30 and September 26 and again

on October 23, November 4 and December 24. WMid One at Rotton Park on November 29 and two during December at

Trittiford Park.

Ruddy Shelduck Escapes recorded at four localities:

Warks A ringed duck at Ladywalk from May 8 to 12 also visited Bodymoor Heath on May 9. A drake at Brandon on June 22.

Staffs A bird at Knighton Reservoir during May.

Shelduck Tenuous breeding status maintained.

Warks Hatched seven young at Lea Marston but nesting attempt unsuc-cessful at Alvecote. Recorded in February, March, May and November at Draycote, usually less than three but five on May 1. Occurred in all months except July and August at Alvecote with seven on April 3. At Bodymoor Heath four on February 12 and one on February 14, then present from March 20 to May 29 with up to eight in mid-May; later in year one observed on September 16, three on October 4, one on October 23 and one on November 5. Present from February 23 into early summer at Ladywalk with five on March 1, then two on September 4 and from December 27 to 31. One at Middleton on March 5. A pair at Brandon on April 26 and an immature from September 9 to 26.

Worcs A pair held territory at Upton Warren from February 23 to early July and a single bird present from late August to end of year. Two at Bittell on January 1, one on March 26, four on November 18, five on December 7 and two on December 17. Single birds at Wilden on February 14 and at Holt during September.

Staffs At Blithfield recorded irregularly from January 5 to April 3, with, four on the first date, and from August 28 to November 21, usual-ly less than three but ten in the period October 26 to November 13. Seven at Belvide on April 25 followed by three on April 30,

35

one on May 28, 14 on September 14, three on November 20, and 18 early on December 29. Cannock Reservoir produced five on February 24 and March 26, two on March 29 and April 4, three on April 5, four immatures on July 28 and four again on August 23 and two on November 20. One at Gailey on January 9, one at Rickerscote from February 23 to 27, four in flight near Stone on July 27 and five at Aqualate on September 18. Several records from Brocton were thought to involve a feral bird.

WMid A party of eight, apparently wild, at Trittiford Mill Pool on January 12, and one at Sandwell Valley from October 2 to 5.

Mandarin Warks A duck at Ladywalk on February 14, with drakes at Compton

Verney on May 14, Ladywalk on October 19 and Combrook on October 23.

Staffs A male regularly observed at Brocton, where there is a nearby wildfowl collection.

W Mid A duck at Steven's Park, Stourbridge, on November 17 and 18.

Wigeon A verage: September 4 (38) to April 2 7 (42) Last noted on June 3 at Belvide, except for summering in-dividuals, and first return on August 16 at Bittell. Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A A S 0 N D

Alvecote 51 4 9 4 2 5 2 10 33 Draycote 1 9 5 1 7 3 6 0 — 2 4 0 25 3 1 147 Ladywalk 1 5 5 1 4 0 8 0 — — 1 — 2 0 9 0 Shustoke 1 0 5 1 8 5 4 8 — — — 1 3 78

Aqualate 2 0 0 3 0 3 4 5 5 5 4 2 0 120 Belvide 8 4 8 0 3 2 4 2 51 10 4 3 1 0 0 Blithfield 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 6 3 3 0 167 6 0 0 8 0 0

Warks 60 at Bodymoor Heath on January 22, but numbers later in year very small; 300 at Brandon on February 20 and March 6; 70 at Coombe on March 6.

Worcs Only very small numbers recorded with maxima of 14 at Upton Warren during January, 14 on December 18 at Westwood (where a pair noted on July 12), and 1 5 at Bittell on December 8.

36

Staffs One summered at Belvide and a bird observed at Blithfield on June 2G arid July 31, and al Chilllngton on June 19. 3 / on February 6 was the maximum at Chillington, 82 at Water Eaton on February 8, 40 at Kings Bromley on February 27 and 300 at Tittesworth on December 1 1.

WMid Small numbers noted at Bartley, with maximum of 20 on November 18. At Rotton Park one on January 6, six on February 16, and one on September 1 3. One at Edgbaston Park on August 23.

Gadwall Continues to favour Warwickshire.

Warks Recorded at Bodymoor Heath in every month except June, with 11 on January 29 and 23 on November 6 and 13, and at Draycote in all months except July with maxima of 23 on January 20 and December 29. A pair was present at Brandon all year, with additional visits by a drake on August 28, a duck from September 9 to 14, and five birds on December 10. At Packington maximum was ten on February 13 and December 17. Up to three occurred intermittently at Ladywalk during winter and spring. A duck was at Compton Verney on January 2, three birds at Ryton on January 29 followed by a pair on April 27 and two at Alvecote on February 26 and 27.

Worcs Up to six at Westwood during winter and spring and irregularly from mid-September to end of year, with maximum of 12 on December 26. Up to three pairs from this locality visited Upton Warren intermittently between January and June, and from Oc-tober to December. One or two at Bittell from January 15 to February 3, with five on January 22, followed by a pair on May 25 and one on October 4. A drake at Wilden on July 17.

Staffs At Blithfield occasional records of up to four between January 3 and May 29, one or two from August 21 to September 15, two on December 11 and three on December 27. One or two at Belvide from June 3 to July 24, and up to four from August 31 to September 30 with one remaining to November 13. Four occur-red at Cannock Reservoir"on December 3, three on December 29 and a pair at nearby Leacroft on December 11. Two noted at Til-lington on February 3 and August 26, a pair at Copmere on March 18 and 19 followed by a duck on April 10, and two at Knighton on August 25.

WMid Three at Minworth on August 29 and two at Bartley on September 26 and 27.

37

Teal Up to 20 at many waters. Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A A S 0 N D

Alvecote 3 5 3 5 14 2 4 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 6 115 1 8 0 Bodymoor Heath 3 0 0 6 0 16 — — 15 2 5 2 3 2 0 Draycote 2 5 0 3 4 8 2 0 0 5 0 16 12 12 37 8 Ladywalk 2 5 0 2 0 0 5 0 15 4 5 5 0 5 4 1 8 0 2 0 0

Bittell 55 1 5 0 5 0 12 6 13 18 1 6 0 1 5 0 Upton Warren 51 8 10 ' 8 7 3 0 4 7 101 6 5

Aqualate 6 0 1 3 8 6 0 8 17 5 0 Belvide 1 7 0 2 0 0 12 15 3 5 1 5 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Blithfield 1 5 0 1 3 5 4 8 — 1 5 0 184 3 0 0 1 5 0 2 1 2

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

W Mid

Mallard Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A M J J A S 0 N D

Alvecote 1 10 4 7 4 3 3 0 71 123 9 5 2 3 0 4 5 3 2 0 115 2 1 0 Bodymoor Heath 2 3 8 1 2 0 5 0 — — — — — 6 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 0 Oraycote 7 8 8 8 8 3 1 5 0 — — 3 6 2 0 0 4 2 2 8 8 8 7 9 7 8 5 0 7 0 2 Ladywalk 4 0 0 3 0 0 8 1 — — 1 8 0 — 1 0 0 2 8 0 5 0 0 2 7 1 3 0 0 Packington 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 5 5 0 4 2 5 2 1 5 3 5 0

Bittell 1 2 5 2 0 0 1 4 0 1 4 0 1 5 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 Upton Warren 167 5 5 2 0 14 8 9 9 1 7 7 1 9 0 2 9 0 1 7 4 2 0 2 9 8 Wes twood 2 5 0 4 5 2 4 4 5 0 2 5 0 4 0 0 2 5 0

Aqualate 5 0 0 3 4 4 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 8 0 0 5 7 0 1 2 0 0 8 0 0 Belvide 9 8 0 7 5 0 9 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 3 2 0 6 0 0 7 8 5 8 5 0 8 7 0 9 8 0 Blithfield 1 1 0 8 5 0 0 1 8 8 — — — 1 5 0 5 0 0 8 7 1 7 5 7 8 6 8 8 3 2

Bred at Brandon and probably at Bodymoor Heath, Ladywalk and Lea Marston. Other maxima included 130 at Packington Park on January 16, and 200 at Brandon on October 9. 40 at Wilden on January 2, 70 at Westwood on January 11 and 60 at Holt during January. No confirmed breeding records. 140 birds counted at Tixall on February 25. Numbers below ten noted intermittently at Bartley, Edgbaston Park and Sutton Park. 100 at Minworth on December 25.

Sutton Park 1 6 0 1 8 5 6 6 171 1 8 4 1 6 7 122

38

Warks At Alvecote 13 broods totalling 91 young were reared. Isolated counto included 160 at Brandon in July, 165 at FarlswnoH in January and 314 at Stratford on October 16.

Worcs Seven broods noted at Bittel during May. Other noteworthy flocks were 250 at Beckford on October 1 5, 60 at Wilden on Oc-tober 19, 100 at Pulley on October 21, and 60 at Brakemill on December 4.

Staffs 1 9 broods totalling 85 young at Belvide. Very little other breeding data received. Autumn and winter flocks included 335 at Trentham on January 30, 220 at Tixall on February 25, 418 at Chillington on September 18, 170 at Brocton on September 20, 164 at Leacroft on October 25, 175 at Kings Bromley on December 4, and 240 at Branston during December.

WMid Breeding reported at Hydes Road Pool (four broods), Sandwell Valley, Steven's Park (four broods), Sutton Park and Swanshurst Park. 100 birds at Stevens Park in February, 163 at Cannon Hill Park on November 26, and 103 at Sandwell Valley on December 1 0 .

Pintail Average: September 25 (30) to April 10 (36) Excluding the summering individual, last noted at Gailey on April 9 with the first return at Blithfield on July 12, increasing to four by the end of the month.

Warks A drake was resident throughout the year at Draycote, while ad-ditional individuals were recorded intermittently from January to March and November to end of year, with three on January 30. Up to five at Bodymoor Heath in January, followed by nine on September 25 and one or two between October 16 and December 3. At Ladywalk up to three recorded irregularly between early January and mid-February and from September 26 to December 19, with six on November 13. Single birds at Alvecote on January 3 and November 26, and at Middleton on January 16. A pair at Brandon on October 1 8 and November 26.

Worcs A drake at Westwood on January 22 and from November 3 to 6. An immature drake at Bittell on September 19 and 20, and at Upton Warren from October 17 to November 19.

Staffs At Blithfield present from January 3 to April 3, usually less than four but eight on January 30 and 13 on February 27. A single bird reappeared on July 12, then up to four recorded from July 31 to early October, with six on August 30. Relatively scarce later in year with scattered records of one or two birds apart from four on December 26. Belvide produced single birds in February, apart from five drakes on February 18, up to five between August 17

39

and 28, up to three from September 18 to 25, and two on December 24. Two at Chillington on January 30 and five on September 18. Isolated occurrences of one or two birds at Gailey, Ingestre and Westport Lake.

W Mid A drake at Bartley on November 18 was the only record.

Garganey Average: April 8 (35) to September 18 (34) An early male at Brandon on March 12 was the first, with the last at Draycote on October 1.

Warks A noteable spring sequence at Brandon, where a male which ar-rived on the early date of March 12 was joined by a duck the next day and a second drake on March 16; on March 27 there were four birds, with five on April 1 1 and seven on April 24. Later in the year a pair occurred on July 3. At Draycote a pair present in late May and early June, and a duck from August 16 to 18 and September25 to October 1. Two at Ladywalk on August 31 were followed by a single bird on September 12. One at Alvecote on July 9 and August 14.

Worcs The only records came from Bittell, where single birds observed on April 1 5 and August 12.

Staffs At Belvide one or two between May 27 and June 1 1 with four on June 3, followed by a female or immature on July 31 and a drake between July 31 and September 25, with two birds on August 20. A single bird at Blithfield on July 24 and a pair on August 21. A pair at Chillington from August 21 to 27.

Ring-necked Duck

Birds in Warwickshire and Staffordshire were the first records for the region, and coincided with several others elsewhere in Britain and Ireland.

Warks A first-winter male at Draycote from December 24 into new year PJF et at.

Staffs A drake at Blithfield from November 20 to 22 JEF et at.

40

A black, wh i te and grey diving duck superficially resembling a drake Tufted Duck, but <A<i>h a distinctively peaked head, long, banded bill, and conspicuously pat-terned flanks. High, angular crown w i th peak at rear, vertical or even slightly concave nape, and absence of crest produced conspicuously erect, triangular headshape. When on alert, peak of crown, nape and rear neck formed almost continuous vertical line. Head, neck, breast, mantle and undertail black, the head displaying purplish gloss in good light. Flanks closely vermiculated w i th grey centrally, producing ef-fect of grey panel outl ined w i th whi te ; anteriorly a clear, whi te, vertical crescent extended up in front of bend of wing, forming a prominent long-range field-mark. Uppor w ing hlark w i th broad, flrey wingbar, displaying far less contrast than spread w ing of Tufted Duck. Bill broad and long, wi th extensive black t ip demar-cated f rom bluish-grey central panel by a broad whi te band, and w i th a second, narrower band near base.

[Records subject to acceptance by the Rarities Committee.]

Ferruginous Duck Staffs Two immatures at Cannock Reservoir early on September 14 GE

were the first in the county since 1960 and in the Club's area since 1 972. Head very rounded, dark chocolate brown when turned f rom sun but wi th a paler facial patch just below the eye when facing the light. Throat slightly lighter still. Eye dark. Mantle, neck and upper breast as crown. Flanks paler-warmer brown, slightly barred downwards w i th a thin, darker bar between flanks and under-tail coverts, which were prominently pale uniform creamish or buffish. Bill long, slender and dark-greyish. When flapping, showed contrasting whi te wing-bar and pale belly.

Tufted Duck Flocks of up to 50 at a number of sites. Monthly maxima at prin-cipal waters:

J r M A- M J J A S 0 N. D

Alvecote 2 1 4 1 2 0 131 1 0 3 6 7 3 1 3 7 SB 6 8 7 6 1 19 1 0 5 Bodymoor Heath 2 3 9 2 0 6 1 6 9 3 8 7 6 0 7 0 8 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 1 2 0 2 2 1 Draycote 2 4 0 5 8 10 6 12 8 8 7 8 4 2 3 8 5 6 9 1 4 7 4 1 4 8 4 . Packington 1 5 0 7 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 5 0 2 5 0 Shustoke 4 1 6 4 6 4 1 0 0 — — — — 2 2 67 8 0 6 6

Bittell 5 5 2 0 0 5 5 34 6 3 0 3 5 6 2 9 8 3 6 Upton Warren 1 1 27 4 6 4 9 4 5 3 4 2 4 4 0 2 7 27 2 1 12

Aqualate 18 3 9 8 0 23 _ 7 6 7 2 7 3 17 Belvide 1 0 0 1 1 0 9 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 5 0 2 0 0 1 5 0 3 2 5 3 2 0 3 6 0 2 5 0 Blithfield 7 0 2 0 9 0 3 4 2 5 2 0 6 7 2 5 2 0 2 0 5 5 2 9 Cannock Res. 2 7 2 1 5 0 117 53 2 10 — 2 0 6 8 1 4 0 2 5 0 3 5 5

41

Warks Bred at Alvecote (nine broods totalling 38 young), in the Bodymoor Heath-Middleton region (31 broods totalling 180 young), Brandon, Coombe Abbey, Draycote, Ladywalk, Packington (ten pairs reared 30 young), Little Packington, Shustoke and Snitterfield. The November and December numbers at Draycote were a regional record, easily surpassing the previous maximum of 680 at Belvide in 1976. Other locally significant counts included 97 at Warwick Park on January 16, 62 at Brandon on February 6, 300 at Ryton on November 1 3, and 66 at Ladywalk on December 18.

Worcs Bred at Grimley, Holt, Upton Warren and Westwood, where 80 counted on November 13.

Staffs Breeding reported at seven localities, including seven broods at Gailey and six broods totalling 27 young at Belvide. 142 birds counted at Westport on January 3, 203 at Branston during January, 70 at Betley Mere on March 6, 200 at Gailey on July 31, 337 at Chillington on August 7, 155 at Copmere on August 28, and 145 at Kings Bromley on December 4.

WMid Small numbers at Bartley, Hydes Road Pool, Rotton Park Reser-voir and Sandwell Valley, and 107 at West Park on November 11.

Shoveler Maxima at principal waters:

J F M A M J J A S 0 N D

Alvecote 2 5 5 2 1 4 4 15 4 6 12 14 Bodymoor Heath 37 17 2 4 4 — — — 8 6 2 5 6 5 6 Draycote 6 4 7 3 3 6 1 1 6 6 2 14 2 5 Ladywalk 2 2 59 58 — — 7 5 5 2 6 3 3 0 3 7 4 0

Upton Warren 6 5 2 5 3 2 19 2 9 1 9 15 1 2 3 1 0 3 1 6 8 6 0 Wes twood 18 — 2 8 2 2 0 14

Aqualate 2 4 0 2 2 12 1 8 0 5 2 0 1 5 0 4 0 Belvide 6 8 3 4 11 1 3 0 3 0 0 1 2 0 9 2 Blithfield 2 0 a 5 11 3 15 3 0 4 5 3 0 2 5 3 0 15

Warks A pair reared seven young at Bodymoor Heath and a brood of five reported at Ladywalk. Miscellaneous maxima included 41 at Shustoke on February 8, 50 at Brandon on October 11, 78 at Coombe Abbey on November 13 and 21 at Middleton on November 28. A drake found dead at Water Orton on November 11 had been ringed on Amager Island, Denmark, on May 6.

Worcs 37 at Wilden on August 28. Maximum at Bittell only ten on September 27.

42

Staffs Attempted to breed at Belvide, but no young seen. 26 at Wheaton Aston on January 26 and 81 at Chillington on August 14.

WMid Two at Bartley on September 4 and 26, 58 at Minworth on September 5, and one at Rotton Park on December 1 2.

Red-crested Pochard At Draycote, a duck on June 29 and a drake on July 21. A duck at Bittell on September 21. Two at Belvide on September 6, a duck or immature at Blithfield on October 9 and an immature drake at Cannock Reservoir from October 30 to November 5.

Pochard Numbers less than 40 at several waters. Monthly maxima at prin-cipal waters:

J F M J A S 0 N D

Alvecote 143 9 0 7 0 18 1 1 7 5 6 87 1 7 9 Bodymoor Heath 1 5 0 1 5 0 4 — — 8 2 1 5 0 1 3 0 1 8 8 Draycote 75 6 8 13 3 0 29 1 0 0 132 5 8 5

Bittell 8 5 0 15 4 19 3 158 18 Upton Warren 55 4 5 9 7 10 2 5 69 1 2 0 78 W e s t w o o d 1 3 5 6 6 3 0 — — 7 0 8 0 12 1 2 5

Aqualate 26 5 2 8 9 72 3 1 1 2 5 Belvide 7 0 101 10 2 4 3 5 2 0 0 1 3 3 1 0 0 1 18 BMihlield 5 5 0 1 2 0 29 2 8 2 2 125 1 9 0 2 0 7 9 0 Cannock Res. 3 0 5 0 9 — — 4 1 4 0 1 3 0 9 1

Rotton Park 71 19 - — — — 6 23 5 9

Two broods totalling 12 young noted at Alvecote. 67 counted at Shustoke in mid-October, 90 at Packington on November 6, 48 at Ladywalk on November 13, and 84 at Earlswood on November 23. The December numbers at Draycote were a locality and county record, and formed part of a remarkable influx of diving duck to the reservoir at the end of the year (see entry under Tufted Duck). 40 at Hewell Park on January 29, 46 at Wilden on February 27, and 104 at Pirton on December 27. 46 at Tillington on February 15, 44 at Tixall on February 16, 138 at Kings Bromley on February 27, 48 at Westport during November, 89 at Chillington on December 11 and 86 at Branston on December 22. Although small numbers occurred at several Birmingham parks, the only numbers above 50 were at Rotton Park (see table) and Edgbaston Park, where there were 62 on December 24. At Hydes Road Pool the maximum was 66 from February 26 to 28.

Warks Worcs Staffs

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

WMid

43

Scaup Surprisingly, birds were noted in all months except July, but the only clearly defined influx involved five arrivals between Nuvumbei 19 and 25. -

Warks One at Leamington Spa on January 2 EJB and a pair at Shustoke from March 9 BLK to April 3 ARD, PDH. At Draycote males on March 13 and October 2 PJF, TWL were followed by a duck from November 1 9 PJF, DIP into new year.

Worcs An eclipse or immature drake at Bittell on September 13 KGC, GJM.

Staffs The drake from 1976 remained at Belvide until May 17 JW and was joined by a second male on May 14 DS, the former was probably involved in records at Gailey on February 20 RAH, April 1 and May 8 SMW. A later record at Belvide concerned another male on November 25 BC. On May 20 a drake arrived at Blithfield RAH and was seen regularly until June 19, and again from August 4 to 9 and on September 1 7, several observers. A duck occurred on November 20 ARD, PDH and remained into the new year. Three ducks observed at Cannock Reservoir on January 30 PAG, an immature female at Chillington on October 30 DS followed by a drake on November 20 BC, and a drake at Branston on November 19 TCH, MSS.

W Mid A duck occurred at Bartley on January 2 AB, AC, MSS.

Long-tailed Duck Staffs The bird at Westport Lake in late 1976 remained until January 1

PGB.

Common Scoter Fewer Staffordshire records than usual and none at all from Worcestershire.

Warks At Draycote, which had a good year, there were four on May 23 RB, a duck from June 30 PJF, DIP, JL to July 10, two pairs on July 14 JL with the drakes remaining until July 19, up to three from August 4 to 8 PJF, TWL, a duck on October 7 DIP, and four ducks on November 13 JAA. A party of 11 flew in at Bodymoor Heath on June 25 EAH but departed a few hours later. A duck oc-curred at Alvecote on August '\4ARD, PDH.

Staffs Two drakes at Blithfield on May 29 ARD, PDH, MJI and single drakes at Cannock Reservoir on July 23 ARD and November 19 and 20 ARD, CM.

WMid A drake at Bartley on August 20 and 21 KH, DRR, INR.

44

Goldeneye Average: October 15(38) to April 27 (39) Many reports until late April and last noted on May 1 1 at Cannock Reservoir apart from summering individuals. First returns reported from Belvide on September 17 and Leacroft the next day. Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A 0 N D

Bodymoor Heath n 3 9 58 29 6 17 2 5 Draycote 10 5 0 12 — — 17 5 0 Shustoke 7 4 2 — 4 18 1 1

Belvide 1 0 0 1 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 66 Blilhfield 5 0 3 3 3 0 15 3 3 0 2 2 Cannock Res. 5 3 5 6 4 9 4 6 5 55 7 0

Warks An injured drake summered at Bodymoor Heath as usual. Recorded at Alvecote in January, November and December, with six on November 20. Numbers up to five were reported from Brandon, Ladywalk and Little Packington.

Worcs One to three birds reported from Bittell, Upton and Westwood during winter months.

Staffs A drake remained at Belvide until June 26 and a duck summered at Westport Lake. The maximum at Gailey was 12 on February 26, at Rudyard ten on April 2, at Leacroft seven on December 11 and at Chillington 12 on December 11. Numbers less than five reported from Aqualate, Bridgetown, Copmere, Gravelly Bank, Hawksmoor, Kings Bromley, Leacroft, Tittesworth, Westport and Yoxall.

W Mid Up to four at Bartley from beginning of year to April 18 and from November 6 onwards. A drake occurred at Edgbaston Park on November 18 and at Rotton Park Reservoir on December 21.

Smew All records involved redheads.

Warks At Draycote four on January 2 TWL followed by single birds on January 20 PJF and from February 6 PJF, CHP to March 3 DIP.

Staffs One at Chillington on December 11 BC and at Cannock Reservoir from December 19 RAH to end of year.

Red-breasted Merganser Warks Occurred at Draycote for the fourth year in succession, a duck be-

ing identified on December 18 PJF, TWL.

45

Staffs The bird from 1 976 remained at Blithfield until February 1 3 ARD, PDH, while later in the year two drakes occurred on May 1 several observers, a duck on November 30 JL, and a drake from December ?9 FRR, RAH into the new year.

WMid A duck at Bartley on December 9AWH, KHT, YMWappears to be the first record from the locality.

Goosander Average: November 13 (37) to April 2 (37) Last one reported from Belvide on April 1 1 and first return at Blithfield on November 1.

Warks At Draycote one or two from mid-February to mid-March and up to eight from late-November to end of year. Single birds at Alvecote during January and late-November, apart from a party of five on January 12. A pair at Shustoke on January 5, and ducks at Bodymoor Heath on February 6, Wormleighton on March 25 and Chesterton on November 27.

Worcs A drake at Bittell on November 27, a duck at Upton Warren on December 11; a pair at Westwood on December 11 and 12 fol-lowed by a duck on December 26.

Staffs The monthly maxima at Blithfield, the only locality to hold sub-stantial numbers, were as follows:

J F M A 0 N D

1 3 0 113 72 3 5 2 2 4 5 0

Up to eight recorded at Rudyard Lake from January to March, and up to five in late-December. One or two irregularly from January to mid-April at Belvide followed by up to three from December 11 to 17. At Branston up to five observed in winter while up to three occurred at Tittesworth during December. A drake noted at Aqualate on January 16, a drake at Chillington on January 28 fol-lowed by a duck on December 27, and a bird at Leacroft on December 11.

WMid At Bartley, a drake on January 4 and a duck on November 5.

Ruddy Duck Warks Three pairs bred at Packington Park and one pair at Coombe Ab-

bey; possibly bred at Middleton, where up to a dozen birds present in spring, while at Brandon a pair was present all summer but no young were seen. Recorded at Draycote in January, April, July and December, usually one or two but three on January 29. Recorded intermittently at Alvecote in all months except June, November and December, with a maximum of five on May 8. One

46

or two at Bodymoor Heath during May and June, and from mid-September to November 5, with fivp on October 1. Single birds at Ladywalk on May 12 and at Leamington on September 15.

Worcs Three broods recorded at Upton Warren, where about 16 adults present in period late-September to mid-November. Observed at Westwood in most months with 14 on October 22 and a brood of four reported on August 12. A pair present during summer at Hur-cott Pool, but no evidence of breeding. Odd records from Bittell, Hewell Grange and Pirton, with a maximum of five at the last-named on June 13.

Staffs Monthly maxima at Belvide and Blithfield were as follows:

J F M A M J J A S 0 N D

Belvide 1 0 0 1 4 3 155 6 0 17 6 6 26 9 8 188 1 3 5 52 Blilhfield 2 0 0 1 3 3 6 1 8 9 S 1 2 5 2 1 7 5 2 0 0

Five pairs bred at Chillington, 64 birds were at Copmere on August 28 and 53 at Aqualate on November 12. Smaller numbers reported from Betley, Cannock Reservoir and White Sitch.

W Mid Up to five noted occasionally throughout the year at Edgbaston Park. A duck at Bartley on January 4 was the first occurrence there.

Marsh Harrier Warks Occurred for the third successive year at both Bodymoor Heath,

where females observed on April 29 ARMB and October 2 KAL, and Brandon, where one on July 31 BMCG.

Worcs A female at Upton Warren on May 24 GCB was the first in the county since 1973.

Staffs One, a female, at Belvide on May 27 GH was the first there since 1943 and only the sixth county record.

Hen Harrier At least six individuals recorded: the species is now appearing an-nually, particularly in Staffordshire.

Worcs A male at Upton Warren on November 6 CBL, CO. A female at Eckington on December 1 7, Bredon on December 22 and Aston Mill on December 31 DVM.

Staffs On Cannock Chase a female observed on March 24 AB, RAD, MSS and a male on November 12 ICW. In the north of the county a male at Roach End during May ESE and a ring-tail near Swallow Moss on October 2 AB, KH, MSS.

47

Ring-tail Harrier Ring-tail harriers which could not be specifically identified were recorded at two localities:

Warks Brandon on August 1 6 BMCG. Staffs Wheaton Aston on August 29 PB.

Goshawk Authenticated reports from several isolated localities in at least two counties.

Sparrowhawk Warks Noted in breeding season at Compton Verney, Earlswood,

Kenilworth, Packington, Ryton, Snitterfield and Wootton Warren. Scattered autumn and winter sightings at Bodymoor Heath, Brandon, Draycote, Ladywalk, Ufton Hill, and Walton.

Worcs Confimed breeding reported only from Croome, but recorded dur-ing breeding season at Belbroughton, Bittell, Blakedown, Chad-desley. Clows Top, Grafton Flyford, Hanbury, Pershore, Sheriff's Lench, Trench Wood, Upton Warren, Wilden and Wyre Forest. Observed in other seasons at eight additional localities.

Staffs Bred at Chillington and Ridgehill, and breeding season reports from nine other northern localities and 14 other central and southern sites. Records outside breeding season from 16 ad-ditional areas.

WMid Noted in summer at Sutton Park. Other records from Bartley, Edgbaston Park, Halesowen, Norton and Woodgate, while a bird was reported chasing a Kestrel over central Birmingham on June 8.

Buzzard A good temporal and geographical spread of records, but ap-parently continues to avoid the southern half of Warwickshire.

Warks Single birds at Draycote on March 3, Combrook on March 13, Coombe Abbey on September 15 and Coleshill on November 12. One again wintered at Walsgrave Hill.

Worcs Present throughout the year at Croome estate, while in Wyre Forest four observed on April 4, one on May 22 and two on July 3. Single birds during April over Lickeys and Stour Hill, and during August at Bredon Hill, Chaddesley and Gadbury Bank.

Staffs Recorded on a number of occasions through the year at Enville and another locality in the west of the county, while isolated autumn and winter sightings reported from Belvide, Burslem, Chil-lington, Ridgehill, Westlands and Wood Eaton.

WMid Birds over Coventry on April 10, Hall Green on October 10, and Pelsall in winter.

48

Osprey Is now a regular, if scarce, passage migrant.

Warks One flew NW over Packington on April 12 UB, DKC. Worcs A bird drifted south over Bittell on June 18 DMH. Staffs Single birds observed at Brierley Hill Pools on May 31 BMM,

Stourbridge on July 13 SFLE, and at Blithfield between August 28 and September 3 RAH, EG Pet at.

Kestrel Widespread in rural and urban areas but, perhaps in consequence, suffers from under-reporting, particularly of breeding data.

Warks Probable or confirmed breeding reported from seven localities. At Bodymoor Heath a bird noted caching food, including Dunnock, Wren, Shrew and Field Vole EAH.

Worcs Dangers involved in the increasingly frequent habit of roadside-verge feeding is illustrated by bird observed to be killed by car on the M5 near Frankley on June 1 3, and another at Hanbury in early July. Reported from only 17 sites and breeding data submitted for only three localities.

Staffs No breeding information received. W Mid Reported from 22 sites, including central Birmingham.

Red-footed Falcon Staffs A male at Brewood on August 23 EBB, PAB was the fourth record

in the club's area and the first since 1 973. (Subject to acceptance by the Rarities Committee.)

Merlin Warks Single birds recorded at Draycote on March 12 PJB and

Packington on April 12 DKC, on several occasions in November and December at Bodymoor Heath and Ladywalk, and at Alvecote on November 30 GAA.

Worcs A hen bird at Upton Warren on September 6 SMW. Staffs Single birds at Pillaton on January 24 AJD, Stafford on February

16 AJD, Gib Tor on March 12 PGB, N. Staffs Moors on April 17 and May 20 JL, Blithfield on September 24 ARMB, Hednesford on October 9 MJH, Bishops Wood on October 25 DS, and Can-nock Reservoir on December 9 RAH.

49

Hobby

Average:April29 (JO) to September 29 (11). First noted at Upton Warren on April 25 and last reported from I lighgate Common on September 29.

Warks Present during the summer at six sites, with breeding almost cer-tain at two. Other birds (all singles unless specified) noted at the following localities: Brinklow on April 30 CHP; Newbold-on-Avon, two on May 15 PJB; Draycote on May 4 and 17, August 10, 20 and 22, and September 6 PJF; Leamington Spa on May 29 EJB; Brandon on June 26 and regularly during August with two-on August 18 BMCG; Alvecote on August 6 JEF, PDH; Packington on August 20 DKC; Hartshill on September 2 and 12 RJT; Ladywalk on September 5 TD, BLK, HTL, 22 BLK and 26 HTL.

Worcs Pair reared three young, at a site in central Worcestershire. Recorded at Upton Warren in spring from April 25 AFJ, GET to early June, and again in autumn from late July to September 30 AFJ, frequently a pair during former period but only the male bird in autumn. Single birds at Beckford on June 5 SA Pirton Pool on July 14 JRH, PH, High Green on August 13 JRH, PH, Bittell for a week from August 22 KGC, and Bromsgrove RJJ and Droitwich RMon August 28.

Staffs More records than usual, with singles at Whittington SF on May 26 EGP, Seabridge on May 27 IRM, NCM, Blithfield on July 3 ARD, PDH and September 4 ARD, PDH, WH, Belvide on July 26 and August 27 'DS, Gib Tor on July 31 JPM, Gailey on August 27 MW, Branston on September 6 JCE-D, and Highgate Common on September 29 MJH.

WMid Singles at Bartley on May 15 PC and \ GAB and Stoke, Coventry, on May 16 RJT.

50

Peregrine Warks One reported at Leamington Spa on May 23 and 25 EJB. Worcs A bird at Upton Warren on September 14 chased, but missed, a

Curlew-Sandpiper AFJ. Staffs Birds at Swallow Moss on January 30 FCG and Belvide on the un-

usual date of June 1 9 ERG, JG.

Red Grouse Staffs Small numbers recorded from the Moors. [In 1972 the pre-

brooding population was estimated at PRO DWY_ hut future stocks require careful monitoring, particularly as 460 ha (1150 acres) of moor in the Roaches area has been taken over for inten-sive sheep rearing per DS]

Black Grouse Staffs Recorded from usual areas in small numbers. [Fieldwork in 1973-

5 revealed 56 males on 13 leks DWY et at out of a total Peak District population of about 66 males. The "patchwork quilt" habitat suitable for the species has so far been retained in Staf-fordshire, but largely lost elsewhere per DS.] The county is clearly of considerable importance for this species.

Red-legged Partridge Warks Reduced breeding success due to wetter summer in some areas,

but a good year at Ladywalk where up to 1 5 were frequently seen. Worcs Scattered reports, with eight at Bittell the most noted. Staffs Two pairs in woodland clearings at White Sitch. Noted at

Seabridge for the first time and at Cannock Reservoir for the first time in several years. Up to 20 noted at Acton Trussell in winter, and about 60 together near Belvide on December 15 JW.

WMid Bred at Norton Wood and Stourbridge golf course and also noted at Barston and Bartley.

Grey Partridge Warks Reduced numbers at Bodymoor Heath presumably due to wetter

weather. 11 at Ladywalk in December, but less evident there than Red-legged, though equal numbers at Alvecote. 23 at Willey in January and, in December, 20 at llmington and 18 at Middletoh.

Worcs No large coveys reported. Staffs Frequents heather moor on Cannock Chase and in the north. A

good season in south and central Staffordshire. Numbers equal to Red-legged around Weston-under-Lizard. Up to 29 near Cannock Reservoir, 26 at Chapel Chorlton and 20 at Seabridge.

WMid Breeding season reports from Bartley, Lower Gornal, Norton Wood, Penn, Pensnett, Stourbridge golf course, Sutton Park and Woodgate Valley.

51

Quail An above-average year.

Warks Heard near Rugby (perhaps a regular site) from May 1 5 to 27 but not subsequently DIP. Heard ajt Offchurch on July 16 and 18 ED, JVH and atTanworth-in-Arden on July 24 HR.

Staffs Nest and eggs destroyed near Himley CFP. Heard at Wheaton Aston from June 5 to August 11 PB, and two called at Hopwas on June 7 SKW. Heard at Mitton on July 8 DS and near Alrewas on September 5 ESC, JCE-D. One or two were calling near Belvide from June until mid-August CR, DS et at.

Pheasant No changes noted.

Water Roil Warks Recorded in every month at Brandon and in spring and summer at

Bodymoor Heath (where a dozen or more wintered) and Leamington Spa reservoir.

Worcs Probably bred at Upton Warren and noted in summer at Wilden. Small numbers in several places in winter, with many at Upton Warren and up to five at Pulley.

Staffs Very small numbers at several localities outside the breeding season.

WMid Winter records of single birds at Bartley, Edgbaston Park, Gornal Wood and Halesowen.

Spotted Crake Warks An immature caught and ringed at Brandon on October 22 CHP,

DAS.

Corncrake Worcs One calling repeatedly at Upton-on-Severn between June 15 and

20 GHG.

Moorhen No suggestion of any changes in status.

Warks About 150 feeding near Brinklow on January 3 CHP. Worcs Up to 35 seen at Bittell and 60 at High Green. Staffs Peak numbers included 148 at Milford, 98 at Tixall and 70 at Rad-

ford in January RPG and 100 at Belvide from late July until mid-September DS.

WMid Early nest (eggs laid about March 14) at Solihull.

52

Coot A decline in autumn numbers at Draycote, but improved numbers at Blithfield (note drastic decline in late September) and Cannock Reservoir. Monthly maxima at principal waters:

J F M A M J J A S 0 N 0

Alvecote 3 2 5 2 2 0 160 105 65 164 190 280 2 4 5 235 160 140 boaymoor Heatn 3 8 0 237 • — 23 — — — 351 4 0 0 306 312 230 Draycote 1060 4 5 6 120 40 — — 1 14 197 393 580 8 3 0 692

Bittell — 2 0 0 150 68 20

Aqualate 130 102 140 _ 50 40 60 100 8elvide 4 0 0 3 0 0 2 4 0 250 3 0 0 3 7 0 700 1000 1 150 360 2 0 0 250 Blithfield 4 6 0 255 205 — — — — 4 0 0 6 0 0 11 56 212 Cannock Res. 4 2 5 2 3 0 243 4 3 0 585

Crane

Warks Three (two adults)-frequented the Welford-Weston-Milcote area from January 3 until February 13 JAH DWH. The birds fed in waterside meadows in the Avon valley. The second record for the county, the last being a pair which were shot in 1 903.

Oystercatcher Warks Singles on May 8 and 17 and August 1 6 at Brandon. Two occur-

red at Bodymoor Heath and Ladywalk on May 7 and singles at Bodymoor Heath on October 1 and Ladywalk on June 20 and 22 and July 24. One at Draycote on January 3, with three in late July and one in late August.

\ 53

Worcs Bittell had one on June 4, two on July 26 and nine on July 31. At Upton Warren 11 flew north on January 23 AFJ and there were four there on May 26. Singles at Wilden on March 20 and May 1 0 .

Staffs Single birds were at Belvide on March 3, April 3, May 22 and August 11. Four were at Blithfield on March 2, one on March 20, one on July 22 and two on August 21. There were two at Branston on April 19 and singles at Leacroft on April 26 and Can-nock Reservoir on September 16.

WMid One at Bartley on April 23.

Avocet Warks A bird was noted at Bodymoor Heath on May 23 BLK and at

Coton the following 6ayARD. Worcs One, perhaps the same, at Upton Warren on May 23 HM.

Little Ringed Plover Average:April 1 (13) to September 26 (13) First noted at Brandon on March 14 and last at Alvecote on October 2.

Warks At least two brpods at Alvecote; five pairs nested at Bodymoor Heath, of which four were successful; five pairs bred at Brandon; two or three at Coton; two at Marston; four at Packington and two at Ryton Gravel Pit, but no breeding occurred at Ladywalk this year.

Worcs Bred successfully at Beckford, Grimley and Holt and present in a suitable area at Fladbury. Breeding attempts at Bittell and Upton Warren failed, but up to three were regularly seen at both these places and at Wilden.

Staffs Bred at Branston (two pairs) and Perton and breeding probably at-tempted at Cannock Reservoir. Noted also at Belvide (up to three), Blithfield (peak of 12 on July 31), Tillington, Tittesworth and Westport.

WMid A pair bred at Kingswinford and another pair attempted breeding at Pendeford. One at Swan Pool on May 14 and 21, with two on June 1, up to two in the autumn at Tividale where present during summer but no proof of breeding, and up to four at Bartley in September.

54

Ringed Plover A poor year in general. All records are tabulated as monthly maxima.

F M A M J J A S 0

Alvecote — — 7 4 3 — 6 5 6 Bodymoor Heath 1 — — 7 1 — 12 14 — Brandon — — 1 — — — 1 1 — P.ntnn — — — 1 — — — — — Draycote — — — 1 1 — 3 3 1 Ladywalk — — I 1 — — — 1 — Packington — — — 3 2 3 — — —

Bittell — — — — — — 16 10 Holt — — 12 — — — — — Upton W a r r e n — 1 2 4 1 — 3 6 Wi lden — — — — — — 1 —

Belvide — — 3 — — 2 17 10 3 Blithfield — — — — — 4 11 I I 5 Burton — 1 — . 2 — — — — — Cannock Res. — — 1 1 — — 1 1 — Gailey — — — — — — 2 0 — — Perton — — ' 1 — — — — — — Tillington — — 1 — — — — — — Westport — — — 1 — — — — —

Bartley — — 1 — — — — 4 4

Kentieh Plover Warks The third for the county, a male, was recorded at Bodymoor Heath

on May 14, JAA, EAH, RJJ et at.

Golden Plover Average: August 31(31) to April 13(31) Last at Wigginton on May 5 and first at Alvecote on August 7. Large numbers in winter flocks this year.

Warks Scattered records of small numbers. No large flock at Bodymoor Heath now that the habitat has been lost, but regular in most months at Alvecote with 400 in April. A roost at Brinklow totalled up to 800 in January and 1062 in November CHP. 100 at Seckington in February and 300 at Polesworth in April. 400 at Kings Newnham on September 22.

Worcs 250 near Aston Somerville in January, 44 at Cleeve Prior in the same month and 21 near Aston Somerville again in November. Smaller numbers elsewhere.

55

Staffs A few pairs on the northern moors. Small numbers at many scat-tered sites including the reservoirs. Werrington had 100 in February and 250 in November, and Wiggington 100 on May 5. There were 82 near Gailey Pools on October 17, 54 at Whit-tington in October, and about 1000 in the Rodbaston area in late December BC. Very good numbers also at the regular Drayton Bassett site, with 230 in January, 1000 in February GAA, 300 in October, 800 in November FB, VAB and 510 in December JL.

Grey Plover Warks Singles occurred at Draycote on January 3 and 12 and May 23

and 24, with five on September 16. One at Alvecote on May 27, two at Bodymoor Heath on October 2 and one, with Golden Plovers, at Brinklow on October 13 MB, CHP, an unusual record.

Staffs Singles at Cannock Reservoir on April 2 and Belvide on August 17. At Blithfield there was one on April 1 7, then on September 24 a group of eight flew in ARMB, of which five soon left, but up to three were then seen frequently until October 10.

Lapwing Large numbers in the area during February.

Warks Increase in the Tame Valley with wetter conditions, four pairs breeding at both Alvecote and Ladywalk. Larger flocks included 5000 at Bodymoor Heath, 4000 at Marston, 2000 at Seckington, 1800 at Brandon and 1000 at Alvecote, all in February, 2000 near Napton in November and 1000 at Alvecote in December.

Worcs Failed to breed in usual areas at Beoley, Bittell and Redditch. Larger flocks included 3000 at Gallows Green and Upton Warren in February, 1000 at Bittell in February and December and 1000 at Eckington in June.

Staffs Several flocks of 500 to 1000 were observed, with 1500 at Belvide in February and 2000 and 1500 near Blithfield in September and November respectively.

Knot Warks One at Ladywalk on August 8 and 9. At Draycote two occurred on

August 20, with one remaining a further two days, and another on November 27, when there were also five at Brandon.

Worcs Singles were reported from Bittell on August 8 and 9 and September 2 and 3.

Staffs After three on July 22, then one on July 24 and August 2, six juveniles arrived at Blithfield on August 30 JCED, RAH, EGP declining gradually to just one, last seen on September 20. Elsewhere singles at Branston on July 24, Cannock Reservoir from September 2 to 7 and Belvide on September 4 and 5.

WMid One at Bartley on May 29.

56

Sanderling Another wader for which records were unusually sparse.

Warks One at Draycote on May 16, two on May 27 and singles again on July 1 9 and 29 and August 1 9.

Worcs Singles noted at Upton Warren from April 20 to 25; Bittell on April 21 and August 1 8 and 19 and Wilden on May 7 and June 5.

Staffs Two at Belvide on May 13 and single birds at Cannock Reservoir on May 11 and Blithfield on June 5, a very poor year.

Little Stint A poor year, see Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper, but also Wood Sandpiper.

Warks One at Draycote on May 26, two at Brandon from September 18 to 21 (one remaining until October 4) and singles at Bodymoor Heath on September 27 and Alvecote the next day.

Worcs One, occasionally, two, were at Bittell from August 29 to September 30 and one at Upton Warren from September 6 to 11.

Staffs Birds occurred at Blithfield on July 31, August 6 (two), August 26, September 11 and October 2 and 10. One was at Tittesworth on August 20 and another at Belvide on October 1 and 2.

Curlew Sandpiper A poor year.

Warks Two at Bodymoor Heath on September 10. Worcs One at Upton Warren from September 14 to 18 narrowly escaped

falling victim to a Peregrine. Staffs Blithfield had one on July 20, three on July 22 and then singles

between August 14 and September 15. One at Belvide on September 26.

Dunlin A few records of small numbers from many localities with some from wet pastureland including six at Aston Somerville on January 2 and 25 at Ryton on March 4. On April 26 a flock of 30-40 small waders, probably of this species, was seen leaving Cannock Reservoir. Monthly maxima at principal waters (many adversely affected by high water levels).

57

J F M A M J J A S 0 N D

Alvecote _ _ 1 4 1 3 1 7 B 2 1 Bodymoor Heath — 4 4 1 — — 1 3 1 13 1 —

Brandon — 2 i — — 1 — — — 6 6 — —

Draycote 1 — — — 1 — 2 3 3 4 2 0 3 0 Ladywalk — — 6 7 4 — 1 — 2 — — —

Packington — — — 7 1 — 2 3 3 10 1 —

Bittell 1 — 4 3 7 2 5 3 Upton Warren 1 — 3 7 3 — 2 2 — 2 4 3

Belvide 1 — — 12 12 2 3 12 6 9 15 — Blithfield 4 — 1 5 — 1 12 13 5 0 3 0 3 0 Cannock Res. 1 — — 3 2 — 1 1 2 — 1 1

Bartley 4 — — 2 7 — - — 3 1 —

Ruff Generally a poor year, but an exceptional influx at I Blithfield around August \AARD. PDH et at. Monthly maxima at principal localities:

M A M • j J A s 0

Alvecote _ _ _ 5 6 i Bodymoor Heath — — — — — 4 2 —

Brandon 1 2 — — 1 1 — —

Draycote — — 1 — 3 — 1 —

Ladywalk 3 — — — — 2 3 —

Bittell 1 3 2 Upton Warren , — 1 — — 2 3 1 —

Belvide 5 4 2 i Blithfield — — — — 2 33 2 —

Warks Worcs Staffs

WMid

Isolated records came from: Coombe Abbey on November 5 and Packington. Upton Warren on December 11 and Wilden. Branston, Cannock Reservoir, Drayton Bassett on November 26, Tillington, Tittesworth and Wheaton Aston. Bartley, where rare, on September 25.

Jack Snipe Average: October 8 (35) to April 3 (32) Regularly reported until mid April, with the last on 1 7 at Stour Hill. First returned on September 15 at Belvide, but no more reported elsewhere for ten days.

58

Singles reported in autumn and winter months from Bodymoor Heath, Draycote and Packinylun Tark with ones and twos at Ladywalk and Brandon and six at the latter site on April 11. Up to three, on Stour Hill from January to April; two at Upton Warren on February 27 and up to three from November 5 onwards; five at Wilden on December 23 and single birds noted at Bittell in February, September, October and December and at Northwick Marsh in March and Holt in October. Noted in winter and autumn months at Radford, Tillington, Wheaton Aston, Blithfield (up lo three in October), Belvide (usual-ly one or two, rarely up to seven) and wet areas near Cannock Reservoir (regularly up to five).

W. Mid Two at Gornal Wood in January. Singles noted at Bartley, Brierley Hill and Sandwell Valley.

Snipe Warks Three or four pairs bred at Alvecote. Up to 35 there in February,

30 in April and 100 in September GAA. Two pairs bred at Bodymoor Heath where 1 50 were present in February EAH. Four or five were drumming all summer at Brandon where 100 gathered on March 6. Ladywalk held up to 1 50 in February FB, VAB and 70 in December, 60 were noted in autumn and winter close to Leamington Spa and Packington had 40 in March.

Worcs Poor numbers bred at Wilden, partly due to drainage operations, but 50 present in September. 70 at Northwick Marsh on March 29 and 80 at Holt on October 16. As Lower Bittell was being drained late in the year numbers built up to 140 KGC.

Staffs Breeding noted at Cannock Reservoir (despite continued loss of habitat), Aqualate, Belvide, Marston, Perton, Tixall and the northern moors. 600 estimated at Tillington on January 28 RPG, a remarkable concentration; 60 at Wheaton Aston in January; 200 at Radford in February, 80 at Tixall in August; 100 at Blithfield in August and September and 50 at Belvide in December.

W. Mid Bred in Sutton Park. Up to 140 were at Minworth during winter and autumn KAL and 50 in Sandwell Valley on January 2. Four flew over Hall Green on January 15, the first seen there by observer in 23 years.

Woodcock Warks Roding noted in usual areas and scattered winter reports of single

birds. Worcs No changes in status reported. One in a suburban garden at

Worcester flew into a window and killed itself.

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

59

Staffs Roding birds widely noted with Cannock Chase, the south-west and west continuing to provide the bulk of the records. Sparse in winter.

W Mid Single records of birds at Tocil Wood in April and Great Barr and Hearsall Common in November.

Black-tailed God wit Warks One on April 19 and two on 21 at Brandon. Four at Alvecote on

April 19 and 20, one staying until 23; another on October 5. Ten at Draycote on May 21.

Worcs One at Wilden on October 7 and three from October 16 to 30. Staffs One bird at Blithfield on July 2, two on July 30 and one on

September 26. One at Cannock Reservoir on August 13. A bird at Belvide on September 14 was followed by three on September 18. These appeared, two or three at a time, on many days until October 30, though often absent.

Bar-tailed Godwit Sudden reversal to previous status of scarce visitor.

Staffs Three at Belvide on January 11 JW, an unusual date, followed by one on August 17. One over Westlands on July 1 9 JPM and one at Rudyard Lake on October 16.

Whimbrel Warks One at Ladywalk on April 24 and three over Alvecote on April 27.

Singles at Bodymoor Heath on April 28, May 10 and July 25 and at Draycote on July 30.

Worcs One at Upton Warren on July 16 and eight at Bittell on August 1 3 .

Staffs Singles at Belvide on April 25, over Westlands on June 11 and at Cannock Reservoir on August 14. At Blithfield, one on April 24, two on July 3, one on July 17, two on 19, and one on August 7.

Curlew Warks Bred at Admington and llmington. Records of under 10 birds from

many places, mostly in the Tame Valley and especially in late winter and spring.

Worcs Bred at Gallows Green and Upton-on-Severn and probably also at Hampton Lovett and Longdon Marsh. 42 roosted at Upton War-ren on March 5 and up to 40 at Holt Gravel Pit during May.

6 0

Staffs Small numbers at the larger reservoirs. Probably bred at Marston, Orslow, litteswdrth. White Siicli and s>eveial moorland localiticG; [See under Red Grouse for comments on moorland areas.] At Whittington there were 100 in February and up to 130 from July until the end of the year. A bird on the northern moorland left two eggs only when approached to within a few feet and even then retired only to a short distance, quite unlike the normal behaviour JL-

W Mid One over Sandwell Valley on May 14 and one in Sutton Park on June '2.1.

Spotted Redshank A very poor year for the species. Single birds recorded at Alvecote on April 10 and July 3, Brandon on April 24, August 14 and September 21, Packington on July 4 and Ryton on May 23. Recorded only at Bittell, where singles on August 13 and September 2 and 3 and two on September 5. Noted at Belvide on August 11, Blithfield on July 29 and 30 and September 4 and Gailey for a few days from August 7—all single birds.

Redshank Warks Bred at Brandon (two pairs), Coton, Earlswood, Ladywalk (2 pairs)

and perhaps Alvecote. Winter records from several localities; with up to 11 at Shustoke in November.

Worcs Attempted to breed at Upton Warren and did so at Eckington and Wilden. None reported in winter months.

Staffs A few winter records from Belvide (wintered for the first time), Blithfield, Branston, Cannock Reservoir and Kings Bromley. No changes in status apparent.

W Mid Isolated winter records from Bartley, Kingswinford and Pendeford.

Greenshank Monthly maxima at principal localities:

M J J A S 0 N

Alvecole 3 _ 3 1 1 1 1 Bodymoor Heath 2 - 3 6 7 1 -Draycote 4 - 1 6 6 - -

Bittell _ _ 1 5 1 0 _ _ Upton Warren 1 1 - 1 3 1 -

Belvide 1 _ 3 6 4 _ 1 Blithfield - - 8 2 3 1 0 5 -

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

61

Also noted at: Warks Brandon (up to three in August), Coton, Leamington Spa and

Packington, where four in September. Worcs Holt, Longdoii and Wilden—all siiiyles. Staffs Branston, Burton, Cannock Reservoir, Gailey (up to four in

August), Tittesworth and Whittington. W Mid Bartley and Edgbaston.

Green Sandpiper Warks Concentration of records from Tame Valley, though noted at many

places. Recorded in every month (fewest in January, May and June) with a small peak in April and larger numbers from July to September, with 11 at Bodymoor Heath on July 29 and September 3 and 1 5 at Brandon on August 4 the most reported.

Worcs Noted in every month but fewer wintered than in Warwickshire. Very large passage in August with up to 22 at Upton Warren AFJ and 26 at Grimley on August 21 SW.

Staffs Much smaller numbers than above though records from every month (very scarce in spring). Peak as usual in July and August, on a reduced scale.

WMid One at Bartley on November 6.

Wood Sandpiper Unlike most migrant waders a good.year. Perhaps less affected by high water levels than most?

Warks Singles at Alvecote on May 28 and 29 and August 14, 18 and 20. Singles at Bodymoor Heath on May 23 and 24, July 23 and August 20. One, occasionally two, noted at Brandon between July 28 and August 23. A bird at Coombe Abbey on August 11, and one at Draycote on August 9. One at Coton on May 21; one at Packington on August 1 7 and 22.

Worcs Singles at Bittell on May 14 and August 13 and 16. At Upton Warren singles noted between May 23 and 25, on May 31 and June 1 and on June 1 9.

Staffs Belvide produced one on July 17 and up to three between August 9 and 27. Noted in ones and twos at Blithfield from July 20 to August 26. One at Cannock Reservoir on August 4. Single birds also seen at Whittington sewage farm on May 26 and 27, at Rudyard Lake on July 30 and Tittesworth from August 13 to 27.

WMid From August 28 to 31 one was at Swan Pool, Sandwel!.

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Common Sandpiper Average:April 11 (41) iu OcluUei 17 (38) An early bird at Brandon on March 20, but then none until main arrival began in mid-April. Several intermittent records until the last at Burton-on-Trent on November 19. Scattered records from many localities, including a few in urban surroundings in the West Midlands, but data is still needed on the breeding status. Monthly maxima for principal localities tabulated below.

A M J J A S 0 N D

Alvecote 3 2 _ 6 4 3 2 _ _ Bodymoor Heath 2 9 - 8 10 3 1 - -

Draycote 3 10 3 12 15 6 - - -

Ladywalk 1 - 8 9 - - - -

Packington 1 1 - 10 7 - - - -

Bittell 2 5 _ 10 12 8 1 _ Upton Warren 7 1 - 4 7 3 1 - -

Wilden 9 1 1 2 10 3 - - -

Belvide 5 3 _ 21 2 0 5 2 1 1 -Blithfield 3 2 4 15 18 4 1 - 1 Cannock Res . 5 1 2 5 2 - - -

Tittesworth - 8 1 3 1 1 - - -

Bartley 3 3 - 4 4 4 - - -

Spotted Sandpiper

Warks One at Draycote from May 8 to 10 was the first record for the county and the club's area PJF, GRH, JVH et at.

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In full breeding plumage wi th crown, nape and upperparts dark ol ive-brown w i th black blotches giving a darker, greyer appearance than Common Sandpiper, and whi te underparts wi th large, round black spots becoming smaller and more dense on the upper breast. Sides of breast shaded grey; whi te superci l ium and dark eye-stripe. Bill orange-straw coloured wi th dark tip. iegs yellowish-flesh. Darker in f l ight than Common Sandpiper, w i th narrower w ing bar and less exten-sive whi te tips to secondaries, though w i th the same distinctive f l ight action. Call lower pitched and less ringing. Was observed displaying to a Common Sandpiper w i th neck outstretched, wings quivering and tail spread.

Turnstone A poor year, in common with several other waders.

Warks Three at Bodymoor Heath on May 4, one on May 8 and one on July 22. Singles at Coton on May 22 and 24, whilst at Draycote there were two on May 29 and one on August 1 and 14. One at Ladywalk on July 24.

Worcs One at Bittell on July 18. Staffs Two at Belvide on May 8, one on July 12 and 26 and two on July

18. One at Cannock Reservoir on July 26 and Blithfield on August 6.

Phalarope sp Staffs A phalarope was noted at Belvide on October 13 and 14 NR.

Grey Phalarope Warks One at Draycote on November 13 PJF. This was the first record

for the locality. Another at Alvecote on November 22 HHF, GEM.

Pomarine Skua Staffs On September 20 a bird flew over the Derbyshire border from

Drakelow to Branston, where it turned southwards KJB. Only the second county record since 1812, and the sixth in all.

Arctic Skua Warks Single dark-phase adults occurred at Draycote on February 20

PJF, CHP, an exceptional date, and May 17 PJF, and an immature on August 16 CHP.

Great Skua Staffs One at Blithfield on September 22 ARD.

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Little Gull Of 28 birds aged In 1977, 14 were adullsand lliiee weie second year, both age-groups having appeared more frequently in recent years.

Warks Single adults occurred on April 26 at Packington ARD and Draycote, with one or two immatures at the latter site from August 16 PJF to 31 CHP and a single bird on September 14 AJR.

Worcs An unusual record of an adult in summer plumage at Eckington on June 19 l<A. At Upton Warren, an adult appeared on August 1 SMW and first winter birds on August 5 RM and 6 AFJ and Oc-tober 1 AJH. Three birds (adult, first winter and second winter) at Bittell on September 22 PG.

Staffs At Belvide, a second year bird noted on April 9 DS, adults on 24 ARD and May 1 7 JW, and first winter birds on August 20 AC, 31 EBB, and September 25 DS. An adult at Blithfield on July 14 MW, single first winter birds from August 20 PA G to 22 JL and on September 3 RAH, three immatures on 20 and an adult on 23 JL. Single first year birds at Cannock Reservoir on April 30 RAH and August 20 ARD, with an immature on September 27 and 28 GE.

WMid A second year bird at Rotton Park on August 18 and 19 ARMB, ARD, and a first year bird from September 22 to 26 ARMB were the first records for the locality.

Black-headed Gull Warks 350 roosted at Alvecote on August 21, and numbers were much

reduced at Ladywalk. The huge roost at Draycote held perhaps 80000 on February 13 and 25000 on August 1 6.

Worcs 1000 at Frankley on January 15 and 2500 roosted at Bittell on 28. A white-mantled bird was noted again at Upton Warren in early August.

Staffs Roosts totalled 2000 at Aqualate in September and December, 8000 at Belvide in December, 7500 at Blithfield in January, 6000 at Cannock Reservoir in December and 3000 at Chillington in Oc-tober. 863 flew west over Seabridge to roost on December 14.

WMid 3300 on January 3 was the maximum roosting at Bartley.

Common Gull Up to 20 noted at scattered localities, except from late May to late June, the largest totals being:

Warks 42 on pasture near Stratford on April 8. Staffs Up to 35 at the Blithfield roost in winter.

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Lesser Black-backed Gull Warks 4-5000 estimated at Draycote on August 16 and at Ladywalk,

where numbers peaked in autumn, 2000 were present on November 9 compared with only 20 Herring Gulls. 500 at Packington on November 1 9.

Worcs 1000 roosted on January 28 at Bittell, where a bird of the Scan-dinavian race occurred on January 7, 400 at Gallows Green tip on November 27.

Staffs Roost totals continued to decline, with maxima of 100 at Aqualate in September, 400 at Belvide in winter, 2500 at Blithfield in November, 1 500 at Cannock Reservoir in November and December, and 2000 at Chillington in October. 500 noted at Great Wyrley on February 25 and near Rugeley on November 14, and a Scandinavian bird at Belvide on October 29. Northerly pas-sage noted at several localities in spring.

WMid 1000 roosted at Bartley in winter.

Herring Gull > Warks 500 at Packington on November 28, where adults were noted

more often in summer. Worcs 500 at Bittell on January 28 and 350 at Frankley on 30. Staffs 1500 roosted at Belvide on January 15 and Blithfield on February

13, but fewer at both localities at the end of the year. Small numbers of dark-mantled Scandinavian birds occurred regularly in the winter months in the vicinity of Cannock Reservoir, where 1300 roosted on December 9, including a yellow-legged bird which was also present on 19. A possible Glaucous x Herring hybrid occurred on 28 RAH.

WMid 1500 on January 6 was the maximum noted at Bartley.

Iceland Gull A notably poor year.

Staffs Single adults roosted at Cannock Reservoir on January 15 RAH, EGP, Blithfield on 16 ARD, RAH, PDH, EGP, and Belvide on February 27 RJJ, KAW, MFW and March 5 SKW.

Glaucous Gull Warks An adult noted at Bodymoor Heath on January 15 ARD, a second

or third winter bird there on March 5 ARMB, a first winter bird at Little Packington tip on November 26 ARD, and an adult at Ladywalk on November 29 HTL.

Worcs A near-adult seen at Gallows Green tip on February 20 RM, and first winter birds at Westwood Park on December 2 NGA, at Bit-tell from November 29 KGC to December 23 MJI, and, probably the Bittell/Bartley bird, at Romsley on December 26 A WH.

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Staffs At Blithfield, an adult present from January 2 ARMB, RAH until March 6 ARD won joined by another adult and a first winter bird on February 6, the latter also occurring on 1 3 many observers and March 6 ARD. and a fourth winter bird on March 1 3 ARMB, ARD, PDH, GS. An adult roosted at Cannock Reservoir on January 29 AC and 30 PAG and a first winter bird on November 27 AJW. An adult and a first winter bird noted at Great Wyrley on February 25, the former staying until March 4 RAH. A second winter bird seen at Branston on April 4JCE-D.

WMid A third-winter bird seen at New Invention on January 22 EGP, and the Bittell bird roosted at Bartley from at least December 12 RH into 1978.

Great Black-backed Gull Warks Small numbers noted at Bodymoor Heath, Ladywalk, Leamington

Spa Reservoir and Shustoke, where 12 occurred on November 28. A bird vied with a Carrion Crow over a dead rabbit at Willey on November 6.

Worcs One or two noted at Bittell in January and April and one at Upton Warren on October 9.

Staffs Peak numbers noted in January, November and December at Belvide (10), Blithfield (60) and Cannock Reservoir (60). Elsewhere, up to three noted at Burton, Seabridge and Westlands.

WMid Up to eight roosted at Bartley and one flew over Hall Green on March 18.

Kittiwake Warks At Draycote, an adult occurred on March 27 PJF, two on 28 GRH,

JVH, one on May 16 RB, an immature from August 3 to 7 PJF, TWL and on October 1 TWL, and an adult on November 16 JL. An adult followed the R. Tame eastwards near Coton on May 22 ARD, PDH.

Staffs An adult seen and another heard in the Blithfield roost on February 20 ARD, RAH, PDH, EGP, one flew NW on June 5 RAH, and eleven (ten adults) moved north on November 13 ARD, PDH, when an adult arrived at Belvide DS. An adult roosted at Cannock Reservoir on February 12 AC, MW and one flew north on September 19 RAD, MSS.

WMid An adult and an immature at Bartley on February 18 DRR, MSS, with another adult on December 18 MSS, an immature on December 28 MSS and another adult on December 30 KRF. Sandwich Tern

Warks Two noted at Draycote on June 19 PJF, an unusual date but coin-cident with Arctic Tern movement.

Staffs Singles occurred at Blithfield on August 23 JCE-D and Cannock Reservoir on 23 DAD and 24 JL.

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Common Tern

A slightly better year than 1 976, but still unexceptional. Warks Small numbers noted at Alvecote, Bodymoor Heath, Brandon,

Draycote, Ladywalk, Packington and Shustoke, with 12 at Draycote on May 26 the maximum.

Worcs Up to four noted occasionally at Bittell, Upton Warren and Westwood Park.

Staffs Most records came from Belvide and Blithfield, where a maximum of 17 occurred on August 6. Smaller numbers noted at Burton, Cannock Reservoir and Rudyard, and young birds reported at Branston.

WMid One or two noted in August and September at Rotton Park Reser-voir, Swan Pool, and Wednesbury.

Arctic Tern An unusual influx occurred around June 17-19.

Warks 42 seen at Draycote on May 5 DIP, and single birds on May 8, July 14, September 11 and October 9.

Worcs Parties of six and nine occurred at Upton Warren on June 19 and one on 25. Three noted at Wilden on June 19, with two on August 7.

Staffs Singles noted at Belvide on April 23, August 1, 22 and September 10, with two on May 5, 10 and 27. At Blithfield, seven on May 29, five on 30, 10 on June 1 7, six on 1 9, three on July 3 and up to four from September 20 to 26. One at Cannock Reservoir on April 22, three on 24, and one from September 16 to 19. One at Tit-tesworth on May 1 and five at Branston on August 24.

WMid Two seen at Brierley Hill Pools on May 30, and singles at Swan Pool on August 2 and Rotton Park Reservoir on August 31, September 26 to 28 and October 5.

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Common/Arctic Tern The laryes.1 totals reported wore:

Warks 10 flying NW at Brandon on May 21, nine flying north at Bodymoor Heath on June 18, and parties at Draycote totalling 11 on May 8, 1 5 on 1 5, 38 on 27, 13 on June 16 and 10 on August 6.

Block, C o m m o n and Arctic Tarns: Summatad totals of monthly maxima a t all localitiea, 1977 1 = 1 st to 15th 2 = 1 6 t h to 30th or 31 st

Apr. 2 1

M a y 2

June 1 2 1

July 2 1

Aug. 2

Sept. 1 2

Oct. 1 2

Black 1 6 3 11B 1 8 12 1 61 4 6 3 9 6 3 Common 5 15 3 3 17 16 14 8 3 9 2 0 1 14 6 Arctic 4 4 5 1 1 - 2 8 4 - 4 7 2 6 2

Little Tern Warks Singles noted at Draycote on May 8 PJF, GRH, JVH, TWL and 15

AJR, and at Brandon on 24 BMCG. Worcs One noted at Upton Warren on May 8 AFJ. Staffs Singles noted at Blithfield on July 10 RAH, EGP, GS, September

20 and 26 JL.

Black Tern Two influxes around May 15 and May 26 accounted for most of the spring passage birds, and a smaller influx occurred around August 14.

Warks Noted at Draycote from May 5 to 27 and from July 9 to September 28, with influxes of 26 on May 1 5 and 49 on 26. One or two at Alvecote on August 14, September 20, 21 and 25; 26 at Bodymoor Heath on May 1 5, up to five until 28, two on August 20 and one on October 13. An early bird was at Packington on April 23 and one on August 17. Five at Leamington Spa Reservoir on July 8, one at Brandon on September 26, two at Earlswood on October 6 and one at Shustoke on October 16.

Worcs Up to six noted on 11 dates at Upton Warren between May 15 and September 25. Three at Westwood on May 15, four on August 22 and one or two until October 18. Singles occurred at Wilden on May 26 and from August 25 to 27 and up to four at Bittell from August 11 to 21.

Staffs Up to nine occurred at Belvide on 16 dates between May 1 5 and October 21, and noted at Blithfield between May 1 5 and October 5, with 30 on May 26 and 20 on August 14. Noted at Cannock Reservoir on May 15 and from August 14 to September 6, with

69

eight on August 1 5. Seven at Chillington on May 26, with six on August 14, and singles appeared at Branston on August 17, Gailey on August 25, and at Rudyard on August 20 and October 2 and 5.

WMid On May 27, five occurred at Brierley Hill Pools and 6 at Sandwell Park, and on August 17 there was one at Edgbaston Park and seven at Rotton Park, with three at the latter site the next day and one on September 22.

White-winged Black Tern WMid An immature was present at Rotton Park Reservoir on August 1 7

ARMB.

Stock Dove Warks At least 60 at Bodymoor Heath from January to March. Worcs Population at Sheriffs Lench increased to about eight pairs. 35

noted at Defford on December 27. Staffs At least 50 at Tixall on September 28 and flocks moving south

over Westlands in early November peaked at 1 90 on 2. WMid Noted at eight sites, breeding at five, with four pairs at Pensnett

Coppice. 53 at Minworth on December 17.

Woodpigeon Many winter flocks of up to 500 were reported.

Staffs 4000 noted at Westlands on November 25 and about 3000 flew SE over Maer Hills on 27.

WMid Reported to have increased in Sutton Coldfield.

Collared Dove Warks Said to have declined at Bodymoor Heath and Leamington Spa. Worcs Said to have declined at Elmley Castle, but an increase noted at

Sheriffs Lench. Staffs 62 at Seisdon on April 5 was the most reported.

Turtle Dove Average: April28 (42) to September 21 (42) First noted at Ufton Hill on April 17, but not widespread until the end of the month. Regular reports through September until the last of Alvecote on 24th.

Warks 26 noted near Loxley on May 30 and 12 near Oxhill on August 12. Six or seven singing birds present at Brandon. Recorded at 11 sites.

Worcs 12 at Upton Warren on August 9 and 10. Fewer than usual noted at Elmley Castle. Recorded at 10 sites.

Staffs Recorded at 13 sites. W Mid Noted in June at two Aldridge sites

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Cuckoo Average: Apt it 13 (41) to September 16(39) First at Brandon on April 10, but not widespread for another ten days. Last noted on September 10 at Gib Tor. Reported as being scarcer than usual at Bodymoor Heath (Warks) and Bittell (Worcs).

Barn Owl Warks Noted at 14 sites, with breeding at Coombe Abbey, Leamington

Spa Reservoir and near Smilletfield. Worcs Noted at only five sites.

Staffs Noted at 12 sites, with breeding at Ridgehill Wood.

Little Owl Warks Noted at 17 sites, with breeding at Bodymoor Heath (two or three

pairs), Brandon, Packington Park, Ragley Hall, near Stratford and probably near Oxhill.

Worcs Noted at 23 sites, with breeding at Broome, Croome and Elmley Castle.

Staffs Reports from 32 sites, with breeding at Burton and probably at Acton Trussell. Noted increasingly at Belvide.

WMid Bred at Aldridge, Kingswinford, Stourbridge and possibly at Bartley. One at Pedmore on October 9. Tawny Owl

No changes in status reported.

Long-eared Owl Warks Two were found roosting in hawthorns at Alvecote on January 5

and one was found dead on 23 GAA. Single birds were noted at Brandon on September 22 and October 16 BMCG and at Bodymoor Heath on November 3 EAH.

Staffs Bred successfully at Enville CFP, MSS. A single bird flushed at Beaudesert Old Park on March 12 GH, NH. Short-eared Owl

Warks One noted at Brandon in January, three on February 17 and one on March 19, with one at Ladywalk on November 14. A high-flying bird at Coombe Abbey on October 23 was of either this or the previous species.

Staffs Records received from eight sites on the Moors, with at least two pairs breeding. Singles occurred at Perton on March 6 and in early April, at Belvide on August 20 and at Wheaton Aston on December 13.

WMid One at Minworth on August 21.

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Nightjar A verage: May J 7 (37) to A ugust 19 (26) First on May 21 at Sherbrook Valley and last at Highgate Com-mon on the late date of September 19,

Worcs A churring bird noted during June at a former haunt near Bewdley. Staffs At Cannock Chase numbers were similiar to those in 1976,

although one territory destroyed by fire in the late summer of that year was unoccupied in 1977 BC. Single pairs bred at Kinver, rearing one young, and at Highgate Common, where a well-feathered juvenile found on September 13 was a late record.

Swift Average:April24 (43) to September 13 (43) First arrivals on April 26 at Alvecote and Belvide followed by a major influx between May 6 and 14. Flocks 200 strong occurred in late-August and parties of up to 30 in the first half of September. A few individuals lingered until the end of September and another exceptionally late bird was seen at Bilton on November 5 PJB.

Warks Up to 300 noted al Alvecote between June and early August, and many reported at Brandon on May 19. Birds were still visiting a nest at Rugby on August 28.

Worcs At least 1000 over bean fields at High Green in July, presumably attracted by blackfly.

Staffs 1500 at Belvide on May 14, with 2000 in early June. At least 1000 at Cannock Reservoir on May 14 and 2000 at Blithfield on July 12. A bird with a white rump was noted at Belvide on May 23 EBB.

WMid Hall Green colony was reported to be below strength until mid-June.

Kingfisher Warks Noted at 17 sites, with breeding at Bodymoor Heath (two pairs),

Brandon, Ladywalk (at least three pairs). River Learn (two pairs), and probably at Alvecote and Preston Bagot.

Worcs Noted at 18 sites, with breeding at Dowles Brook and River Salwarpe, and probably near Bittell.

Staffs Noted at 19 sites, with probable breeding at Horton, Trentham and possibly at Kings Bromley.

WMid Noted at six sites, probably breeding at Halesowen.

Hoopoe Worcs Single birds seen at Trench Wood on May 1 5 several observers

and at Shrawley in June SW.

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Wryneck Warks One iiuled at Alvecote on Moy 8 DJW. WMid One in a Solihull garden on September 8 was found dead the next

day JEG,PMW.

Green Woodpecker No changes in status reported. Most records came from Warwickshire.

Great Spotted Woodpecker No changes in status reported. Most records came from Staf-fordshire.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Noted at 16 sites, with three pairs breeding in the Leamington Spa area. Noted at 17 sites, with breeding at Dunhampstead and probably Bittell. Noted at 1 6 sites, with breeding at Sherbrook Valley. Noted at nine sites. One at Rotton Park on September 5 was the first Woodpecker noted by observer in four years, and the first report for the area since 1 953.

Woodlark WMid A bird seen in Sutton Park on April 26 AN, the same date as a bird

in 1976.

Skylark 300 at Bodymoor Heath on January 2. Still nesting in Leamington gardens, and about 12 pairs bred at Alvecote. 200 at Aston on February 1 6.

Sand Martin Average: March 25 (42) to October 4 (42) Arrived early, with the first at Ladywalk on March 7 and mdny more from 19 onwards. After two early October records, an ex-ceptionally late bird at Belvide on November 13 SM, DS, MFW. These were respectively the earliest and latest dates on record.

Warks 300 at Packington gravel pit on August 9 and 3000 at Bodymoor Heath on 14.

Worcs Colonies totalled 265 holes at Beckford, 40 pairs at Holt, and 50 pairs at Grimley.

Warks

Worcs

Staffs WMid

Warks

Staffs

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Staffs Peaks of 200 on May 14, 250 on June 11 and 500 on July 23 at Belvide, 200 at Blithfield and 300 at Cannock Reservoir on April 17; a good year reported at. the latter site, with 600 there on August R

WMid Up to 30 on spring passage at Rotton Park and eight flew north along canal at Bilston on May 7.

Swallow Average:April3 (43) to October27 (43) First at Bishops Tachbrook on March 29, with the main arrival about April 21. Main departure between mid- and late-September, but several in October, and November records from Belvide on 6 and Keele on 1 7 OWE.

Warks 1000 roosted near Ladywalk in September and about 3000 at Brandon on 29.

Worcs At least 1000 over bean fields at High Green in late summer. Numbers at Bittell were reported to be good.

Staffs 4000 roosted at Ford Green on August 23 and 5000 at Doxey on September 3. 300 noted at Belvide on May 14, with an albino on September 3, and 500 at Blithfield on April 1 7. Passage to the south and south-east noted over Belvide and Westlands around September 25.

WMid An increase in breeding numbers reported at Sutton Park.

House Martin Average:April 11 (43) to October 26 (43) Main arrival began with birds at Solihull on April 14 and several unusual concentrations were reported in early June. Movement to the S and SE was noted in late-September and early-October, but a few lingered into November with the last report from Elmley Castle on 1 7.

Warks 100 at Alvecote on June 5 and 15. Worcs A poor year reported at Elmley Castle. Staffs 52 nests counted at Hanley Water Tower. At Belvide 200 on May

14 and up to 500 from June 5 to 11. 2-300 at Cannock Reservoir on May 16, and 200 at Blithfield on July 24. 150 over Acton Trussell on September 19 and Milford on 22.

Tree Pipit Average: April 10(40) to September 16(39) First arrivals on April 9 at Packington, but not widespread until later in the month. Last noted in late August apart from an isolated record from Shoal Hill on October 6.

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Warks One holding territory at Bodymoor Heath from late April until July was a welcome return lu llie area, but in generarvory few records and appears to be rather scarce. Reported from Brandon, Ladywalk, Leamington Spa and Ryton.

Worcs Singing birds at Chaddesley (two), Eymore Wood, Monkwood (a few), Sheriffs Lench, Trench Wood (two) and Wyre Forest (several), with five on passage at Wilden on April 29.

Staffs Returned to former strength in the Baggeridge area, with five singing. Bred at Bradwell and singing birds heard at Gun Hill (two), Maer Hills (iwo), Gherbrook Volloy (four) and Trentham Park (two). Small autumn passage, with singles from late-August to mid-September at Belvide and Cannock Reservoir.

WMid Noted in the breeding season at Woodgate Valley and Norton Wood, with passage birds at Rotton Park on May 5 and Pelsall on September 2.

Meadow Pipit Passage concentrated into the first weeks of April and October.

Warks Spring passage maximum was 120 at Ladywalk on April 2 and a few reports of breeding were received. Most in autumn were 1 50 at Bodymoor Heath and 100 at Ladywalk on September 19, with strong passage over Brandon on October 2, when smaller numbers also at Compton Verney.

Worcs Up to 25 at Upton Warren in January and April and 100 at Wilden on November 6 were the most reported. Little information on breeding distribution.

Staffs Most in spring were 200 at Belvide on March 30, 107 at Seabridge and 100 at Cannock Reservoir on April 5 and 120 near Brocton on April 7. Breeding season reports from several moorland sites and a few localities in the south of the county. In autumn, the arrival of 100 at Cannock Reservoir on September 16 coincided with the wind changing from W to NE; Blithfield had 150 on September 22; 400 passed over Burton during the first three days of October and 132 passed SW over Seabridge on Oc-tober 2.

WMid Up to 25 reported from sites within the Conurbation during winter, with small numbers at a few localities during the breeding season. The most in autumn was 50 at Brierley Hill Pools on September 16.

Rock Pipit Warks Singles at Draycote on February 3 PJF, March 24 and 25 DIP,

PJF and November 13 PJF. One or two at Shustoke on November 28, with one on December 3 BLK.

Worcs One at Wilden on September 25 RM.

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Staffs Singles at Cannock Reservoir on October 8 ARMB and Belvide between October 11 and 23 DS, with two at Blithfield on October 9 EGP. A bird at Belvide on March 13 showed characteristics of the Scandinavian race GE.

"Spinoletta" Pipit Staffs One, not subspecifically identified, at Cannock Reservoir on April

4 DAD.

Water Pipit Warks One at Ladywalk from April 2 to 5 PDH, KAL. Worcs One at Wilden from November 6 to the end of the year RM, with

two on December 4 BW. Staffs Singles at Belvide on March 13 and 14 JAA, JW; Cannock Reser-

voir on April 17 SKW and Belvide again on November 6 DS.

Yellow Wagtail Average: April 7 (41) to October4 (40) Early arrival with the first at Draycote on March 25. A strong spring passage peaked in lale-April, early-May and brought many variants with pale plumage and greyish crowns. Main departure in .late-August, early-September with the last at Bittell on October 10 apart from one (possibly injured) which remained at Belvide until November 6.

Warks An influx of 50 at Alvecote on April 23, up to 5Q at Draycote and Ryton in late April, and over 70 at Draycote on May 9 and 10. Several pairs bred at Packington and slightly improved numbers reported from Bodymoor Heath, though still down on a few years ago. Autumn maximum was 100 at Ladywalk on September 6.

Worcs Spring peaks of 50 at Upton Warren on April 20 and Wilden on April 29. Several pairs nested at Wilden and at least six at Holt, where 70 were roosting in August. Another August roost, at High Green, contained some 150 birds and a similar number were at Bittell on August 1 1.

Staffs Good spring passage at Blithfield, with 75 on April 17, 120 on May 1 and 70 on May 22 and an influx noted at Tittesworth on April 25, with 75 present. At Tillington an August roost peaked at 400 to 500 and between 250 and 300 were ringed. Maxima elsewhere were 70, at Blithfield on August 20 and at Ford Green two days later.

WMid Comparatively fewer records. Spring maximum was eight at Brierley Hill Pools on April 29. Bred again at Bartley and also at Bentley, Sandwell Valley and on an overgrown tip at Tividale (three pairs). Autumn maximum of 1 50 roosting at Minworth dur-ing September.

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Blue-headed Wagtail In d year of many variants, only thp following were considered to' have been proved to show definite characteristics of this race.

Warks Singles at Packington on April 17 CB and Draycote on April 20 PJF and May 8 RB.

Staffs Singles at Blithfield on May 1 ARD, MJI and May 22 IRM, JPM.

Grey Wagtail Warks Birdc again reported wintering in the Tame Valley and other

winter records from Alvecote, Draycote, Earlswood and Wootton Wawen, with a maximum of four at Shustoke on November 28. Breeding reported f rom Brandon, Draycote, Ladywalk, Leamington Spa, Long Itchington and possibly Coombe.

Worcs Very few winter records, when said to be scarce at Bittell and Upton Warren, but numbers were back to normal by autumn. Bred near Upton Warren and noted in the breeding season at Arley, Chaddesley Corbett, Dowles Brook (two pairs), llley, Sling Pool and Wilden. More widespread during autumn.

Staffs Winter records only from Belvide, Blithfield and Caverswall. Bred successfully at Belvide, but at Keele only one of two pairs was successful. More widespread in autumn, though no record refer-red to more than two birds.

WMid Many reports ranging from open countryside to very urban localities. An indication of strength is given by the discovery of up to 12 roosting in Cannon Hill Park on November 26 per MSS. Reports of probable breeding from Bilston, Cannon Hill and Nechells Gas Works. One flew over Birmingham's Bull Ring on November 12.

Pied Wagtail General impression that numbers are high, with concentrations around larger reservoirs and some substantial roosts.

Warks Maxima reported were 200 roosting in reeds at Alvecote on Oc-tober 5 and 230 at Ladywalk on October 12.

Worcs On January 2 9 1 1 1 flew over Bittell to roost; about 200 roosted at High Green from October onwards and during September and October a roost at Holt fluctuated markedly between 50 and 1000.

Staffs The most reported was a gathering of over 100 on the causeway at Blithfield at dusk on September 3. The same locality also had good numbers in December, with over 40 in one bay alone, but the most at Belvide was 50 in the first half of August.

WMid The large roost at Brierley Hill Steelworks was still present during winter and was estimated at 1000.

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White Wagtail A good spring, with most records concentrated into late April, but interestingly those from Worcestershire were all earlier.

Warks Singles at-Walton on April 11 GRH, JVH; Alvecote on April 1 7, 22 and 23 GAA, RJT; Ladywalk on April 20 BLK, KAL; Draycote on April 20 PJF and May 3 DIP; Bodymoor Heath on April 21 BLK and Brandon on April 24 BMCG, with two at Packington on April 13, one on 23rd and two again on 26th ARD.

Worcs Three early birds at Upton Warren on March 13 RM, with singles on March 19 GJM and 28th SMW and April 10 GET, SFLE. One at Northwick Marsh on March 29 SMW and another at Bittell on April 14A/W.

Staffs At Blithfield one on April 17 SKW, three on April 24 and one on May 1 RAH. On April 24 there were six at Cannock Reservoir ARD and one at Aqualate FCG, with anothe.r at Tittesworth the follow-ing day JPM and one at Perton on April 26 DS.

WMid Singles at Bartley on April 17, 25 and May 1 MSS, AB, DRR.

Waxwing Ayain a poor year, with just one record.

Staffs One at Ridgefields, Biddulph Moor on December 25 KJB.

Dipper Worcs Nested at Clifton-on-Teme, Dowles Brook (at least two pairs),

Holt, Lower Sapey, Shrawley and Sling Pool. "Single record only from Belbroughton, and noted in October and November at Churchill.

Staffs 11 along the Manifold on April 30, and singles noted at Blake Brook and Coombes Valley. Two at Knypersley on September 18.

Wren Continues to maintain a high population level. Two observers con-sidered that further increases had occurred.

Dunnock

Quietly ubiquitous. Can be seen almost anywhere at any time.

Robin Widespread and common with no reports of any change in status.

Warks A completely bald-headed bird at Brandon on May 1 BMCG. W Mid At Tocil Wood 13 pairs were present in 10.7 acres DN. One

reported nest building at Erdington on January 31 and two eggs were found, apparently abandoned, on February 20 MHK.

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Nightingale Aveiaye auival: April 22 (41) None reported until May 1, when heard at Oxhill and Ryton, though this may be the result of cold weather inhibiting song.

Warks Only nine heard singing at Wappenbury compared with 18 in 1976 CHP. Reported from several traditional localities and also from Oxhill, where singing on May 1; Brandon Marsh, where sing-ing on May 15 and a juvenile present on August 14, and Ufton Fields, where singing on May 13.

Worcs A good year with at least six singing at Trench Wood as in 1976 and five at Goosehill Wood. Two pairs at Wilden were the first noted there since 1964 by RM. At Croome one new site, but one old site deserted JRH.

\

Black Redstart

BTO Survey revealed at least six pairs breeding and there were several autumn records following an influx in SW England.

Warks One pair reared at least one brood. Worcs One reported from a Broadway garden on October 25 NRW. Staffs One in a Stafford garden from November 5 to 12 TRB, with

another in a garden near Cannock Reservoir on November 12 per FCG.

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WMid Three pairs reared at least three broods in Coventry, where another male sang regularly at a fourth site and a well-grown juvenile was seen at a fifth site CHP. One pair in central Bir-mingham until May 1, but not subsequently, probably because of disturbance AC. One pair reared two broods at Nechells PAM and another was present at a second site nearby GRH, JVH. Also bred at Wolverhampton DS and possibly at Walsall, where a pair pre-sent in suitable habitat GH. One at Artillery Street, Birmingham, on November 2 AFJ.

Redstart Average:April 12 (41) to September 15 (40) First on April 16 at Cannock Reservoir, with the main arrival dur-ing the following week. Several reports until mid-September with the last on October 9 at Pedmore.

Warks More spring records than in recent years with seven birds at five localities. Three or four pairs bred at Packington Park, another is believed to have nested at Oxhill and birds were present at Leamington Spa on June 5, but generally remains scarce as a breeding species. In comparison to spring, few autumn records with just three birds at three localities.

Worcs No noticeable spring passage. Enjoyed a good breeding season at Lickey, where at least three pairs bred, whilst eight were singing along Dowles Brook on May 15 ARD and at nearby Far Forest seven young successfully fledged from a nest-box LRB. Breeding season reports from four other localities, with the most exciting discovery being 13 pairs all nesting in pollarded willows at a central locality RM. One or two autumn passage records from Upton Warren.

Staffs Again no noticeable spring passage, but one at Cannock Reservoir on April 16 was unusual. A healthy population in the north of the county with 35 pairs reported from Coombes Valley per FCG and 21, including 18 males, between Hulme End and Waterhouses IRM, WJL. At least seven other pairs were reported from five localities and fourteen singing males were heard at six localities. A small autumn passage noted in August.

W Mid In spring males were reported from an Erdington garden on April 24 and in the Woodgate Valley in May. One heard calling on May 4 in Sutton Park was the only record from this once favoured locality. Birds on autumn passage at Halesowen on August 28, Pelsall the next day and Pedmore from October 6 to 9.

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Whinchat Average: April 25 (41) to September 28 (38) First noted at Ladywalk on April 20, but main arrival was in early-May. Widespread until late-September, with the last at Upton Warren on October 23.

Warks Returned in strength to Ladywalk, with at least four nests known HTL, but only one-pair at Bodymoor Heath BLK and no evidence of breeding EAH. The only other breeding record was from Rugby, where a pair raised three young.

Worcs Two pairs bred at Island Pool, one at Stour Hill and a male held territory at Upton Warren, but no female appeared. Up to four fre-quented Wilden between June 30 and September 27.

Staffs Several breeding season reports from the moors, including two holding territory in new forestry plantation DWY. Breeding also reported from Cannock Chase, Leacroft, Perton, and possibly Can-nock Reservoir. Maxima elsewhere were four at Wheaton Aston from.May 3 to 5 and five at Sideway on August 20.

WMid Passage birds at Norton Green and in the Woodgate Valley (three) on May 1, Bartley on several dates and Pelsall (up to three) between August 29 and September 3.

Stonechat Widely reported in small numbers during winter and autumn.

Warks At least two pairs bred at Ladywalk. Maxima of seven at Brandon on February 5 and again on October 11, with five at Bodymoor Heath on November 20.

Worcs At least one pair bred successfully at Hartlebury and a family party with four young was at Malvern on August 21. Wilden held up to four from September 25 to the end of the year.

Staffs Bred at Rugeley Ranges, a family party at Back Dane on September 1 7 and five at Berry Hill on September 13. Up to five near Cannock during January, four at Tillington on January 28 and Blithfield on January 3.

WMid Breeding reported from Woodgate Valley, where adult seen with one young MB, MSS, and Wolverhampton PB. Maxima reported were nine or ten in Sutton Park on October 3 and up to six in the Sandwell Valley on October 5, whilst unexpected reports came from a Hall Green garden on January 18 and Artillery Street, Bir-mingham, on November 3.

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Wheatear Average: March 24 (40) to October 3(41) Very early arrival, with one at Brandon on February 27, and widespread by March 12. A good spring passage, but another poor autumn, with peak passage around August 20. Last noted at Belvide on October 25. Small numbers reported from many localities.

Warks Maximum on spring passage was 10 at Ladywalk on March 31, but Alvecote, Bodymoor Heath, Brandon, Packington and Ufton Hill all had at least four on various dates and only Draycote reported a poor passage. Most in autumn was six, at Draycote on August 23 and Leamington on September 1 5.

Worcs Good spring passage at Bittell, with maximum of 10 on March 20, and four on Walton Hill on May 7. In autumn six at Conderton on August 23 and up to four at Wilden in September.

Staffs Spring passage less strong, with maxima of five at Whittington on March 30, six at Wheaton Aston on April 7 and 12 at Leacroft on May 14. Probable breeding reported from Gradbach, the Manifold Valley, the Roaches and Three Shires Head. More autumn reports, though only ones or twos, except for six at Sideway on August 20.

WMid Late spring passage with 22 at Pelsall for a few days around April 24, six on wasteland at Stourbridge on April 27 and 19 in the Woodgate Valley on May 1 MSS, AB. A male frequented disused railway sidings at Small Heath on May 1 ARMB and a pair reared two young at Dudley Golf Course. The only autumn records came from Edgbaston Park on September 5 and a Coventry Car Plant, where one was discovered inside a building on August 1 8 RJT.

Ring Ouzel A verage: April 3 (19) to October 19 (15) Noted first on April 7 and last on September 20. An unusually strong spring passage, especially in Worcestershire.

Warks A male at Packington on April 9 TM. Worcs At Walton Hill there were up to 15 on April 7, with five still pre-

sent on May 3 BW, whilst at nearby Belbroughton a male spent 16 days in a field during April and was accompanied by a female for three days FHS. Another male was at Wilden on April 1 7 BW and there were two autumn records of a male at Bittell on September 8 GCB and a female at Wilden on September 20 BW.

Staffs Reported in the breeding season from Gib Tor, Goldsitch, Grad-bach, the Roaches and Blackbrook Valley, where one clutch of four or five was probably eaten by crows, but another with a sit-ting hen was found within 200m. Six were seen at the Roaches on August 1 5 CAT and one at Berry Hill on September 13.

WMid Males at Norton Wood on April 10 TCH and Sandwell Valley on April 16S/CW.

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Blackbird Widespread and numerous almost everywhere, will) no reports of any change in status.

Worcs A pair at Hindlip nested behind the front grill of a mini-bus, ap-parently raising five young TCEL.

Staffs During July arid August up to 50, in parties of a dozen or so, fed on exposed mud at Belvide DS.

WMid Two hens were observed feeding one brood at Solihull in June per LRB. Large numbers roosted in Sutton Park in concentrations of two or three hundred.

Fieldfare Average: October 8 (41) to April 28(41) Widespread until April 23 and last noted on May 4 at Draycote, Great Barr and Sandwell Valley. First return at Offchurch on September 2, but not widespread until the second week of Oc-tober.

Warks No large winter flocks, with 50 the most reported, but some sur-prising spring totals with 25000 roosting at Brandon in late March BMCG, up to 3000 flying SE over Bishops Tachbrook on March 25 EJB and flocks of over 200 at Earlswood, Lowsonford and Wootton Wawen. Autumn numbers were again poor, though better than last year, with up to 1 50 at Bodymoor Heath the most noted.

Worcs Two good winter flocks of up to 600 at Bittell on January 16 and 100 at Pulley on January 28 and said to be common at Elmley Castle at all times JA. 300 were noted at Tardebigge on March 26. Autumn numbers were reported as low from Bittell and Sheriffs Lench, but 200 were at Longdon Marsh on November 20 and many fed on hawthorn alongside the M5 the following day. By the end of the year 250 were at Bittell.

Staffs More than further south. Largest winter flocks were 1000 at Pershall on January 25. 500 at Blithfield on January 28 and again on March 26, over 1000 at Belvide on February 25 and 2000 at Stafford on March 7. One pair again bred in the north of the county per FCG. Again scarce in autumn, but 100 at Belvide on

- October 29 and Seabridge on December 10 and 170 at Hanchurch on December 28.

WMid Flocks of 200 at Bartley in winter and the Woodgate Valley in February, but no autumn concentrations notified.

Song Thrush Widely reported. No change in status apparent, but more com-parative data needed.

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Redwing Average: October 2 (41) to April 13(42) Common until mid-April and last reported on May 1 at Bartley Green. Returned on September 24, ai Kineton, but not widespread until the first week of October.

Warks Only one flock of 100 in winter, at Alvecote, but several thousand roosted at Hartshill and 8000 roosted at Brandon in late March BMCG.. Scarcer in autumn than in 1976, with 50 at Alvecote the most reported.

Worcs At Bittell 400 were present on January 1 6 and 800 moved SW to roost on January 29. Scarcer than usual in autumn, but 200 at Ribbesford Woods on September 25 and Longdon Marsh on November 20, with 100 at Bittell from mid-November onwards.

Staffs Winter flocks of 500 at Pershall on January 25 and 200 at Belvide on February 12, with 3500 at Stafford on March 7. At Westlands, 451 passed S on October 9, but autumn numbers were generally low, with 100 at Belvide on October 29 and 1 50 at Seabridge on December 10 the most reported.

WMid During cold weather on January 2 there were 200 feeding on hawthorn at Brierley Hill, with 120 at Northfield Manor on January 22 and 110 at Bartley on February 3. A major roost of 6-8000 was present for about six weeks in Sutton Park NJS and birds at Tettenhall became very tame and oblivious to shoppers DS. The only autumn record was of nocturnal passage over Edgbaston on October 4.

Mistle Thrush Widespread, but still too few records to assess status adequately.

Warks More reports of breeding this year, but the largest flock was only 1 5, at Ladywalk on July 26.

Worcs Flocks of 24 at Gallows Green on July 11 and 100 feeding on stubble at High Green in October JRH.

Staffs Breeds commonly. At Keele flocks of 110 on September 1 5 and 160 on November 26 WJL.

WMid One or two breeding records and up to 26 in an Erdington garden in August MHK.

Cetti's Warbler Worcs One seen and heard in an area of willow, alder and reed-grass

between May 26 and June 16. Locality and observer's name with-held. The first county record. Song consisted of loud bursts of "chew, chewee" fo l lowed by an amplif ied Whitethroat- l ike chattering and a final burst of "chewee." Usually two or three minutes elapsed between each song phrase. Seen in silhouette w i th tail cocked. -

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G rasshopper Warbler Average:April 19 (41) loAugu3t21 (25) First report from Brandon on April 17 and last from Doxey on August 27. Several observers commented on scarcity, but with a species more often heard than seen, cold weather inhibiting song in spring may have had some influence. Certainly there were more references than usual to song in July and August.

Warks Three heard at Bodymoor Heath, three at Brandon, two at Ladywalk and singles at Alvecote, Dunchurch, Lea Marston, Ox-hill, Packlnylun, Ufton and Wilmcote.

Worcs Three in song at Goosehill Wood, many at Monkwood SW and singles at Ashbed Coppice, Bittell, Longdon, Pulley, Sling Com-mon, Trench Wood, Wyre Forest and Wyre Piddle (in weedy wheat). None at Upton Warren, where one or two pairs usually breed.

Staffs At least two pairs at Tillington and two in song at Belvide, but otherwise only singles at Blithfield, Hazelstrine, Sherbrook Valley, Springslade and Wheaton Aston.

WMid The only record was one singing regularly at Halesowen.

Savi's Warbler Warks A pair and a second singing male present in the north of the

county on dates between April 24 and May 5. Locality and observers' names withheld.

Staffs One heard and seen between June 6 and July 5 was the first record for th^ county. Locality and observers' names withheld! [Records subjeci^to Rarities Committee acceptance.]

Sedge Warbler Average:April 19 (41) to September 24 (34) One at Bittell on April 5 and three at Brandon on April 10, but not widespread for another week. Last also at Brandon, on September 24.

Warks Generally not such a good year at Bodymoor Heath, although 40 in song on May 2. About 12 pairs bred again at Alvecote and 20 were in song at Brandon, where no change in status was noted, but juveniles were more numerous than usual. Small numbers from many localities.

Worcs About 12 pairs at Wilden and a good year at Bittell, where eight on May 1. Eight were in song at Eckington on June 5 and birds were seen feeding in bean fields at High Green during August JRH.

Staffs Eleven pairs at Belvide and eight singing at Tixall canal were the most reported. Smaller numbers from many localities.

'WMid Up to three pairs at Tividale and one at Edgbaston Park, with four in song at Brierley Hill compared to five last year.

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Marsh Warbler Average arrival: June 2 (29)

Warks First record for the year was a male caught and ringed on May 29. Subsequently this bird sang regularly and an adult was seen carry-ing food on July 31. Locality and observers' names withheld.

Worcs One in song from June 1 6 to 19 at a central locality and one on May 31 at another locality. Details withheld. Heard singing at Nafford as usual AFJ, GRH, JVH and the situation in the main area remained much the same, with 46 singing males counted and probably 50-60 pairs breeding. Undue disturbance and trespass through bird-watchers intensifying their exploration for this species is a most serious threat to its habitat and could ultimately threaten its survival.

Reed Warbler Average:April28 (37) to September 18 (29) Two at Brandon on April 10, but not generally reported for another fortnight. Unlike Sedge Warbler, several late records, the last on October 16, also at Brandon.

Warks About 10 pairs at Alvecote as in 1976 and no change in status at Brandon or Ladywalk. Another good year at Bodymoor Heath, where goes from strength to strength, and also bred at Draycote, where unusual.

Worcs Fifty pairs bred at Thorngrove SW, five at Wilden and at least three at Bit tel l . Singing birds at Beckford, between Dunhampstead and Gallows Green (several), a Droitwich park (where unusual), Ombersley (several), Pulley (ten) and Upton War-ren.

Staffs At Chillington about 1 5 pairs bred, 45 were ringed and Cuckoos laid in at least three nests with one young Cuckoo being raised. Two pairs raised at least one brood each at Baggeridge, where there were four pairs last year, one pair bred in reed-grass at Belvide and presumed to have bred at Copmere. Three sang at Tixall along the canal.

WMid Decrease from nine to five singing males at Brierley Hill, where two pairs nested in Willows and one in Hawthorn at a height of 3m. BMM. One noted along a brook on the Hall Green-Shirley border on June 25 GJM.

Great Reed Warbler Warks One was trapped at Brandon on June 12 DAS, CHP et at. This is

the first occurrence in the county and the club's area. A large Acrocephalus warbler about the size of a Corn Bunting, but rather slim-mer and very similar in colouration to a Reed Warbler. Upper parts brown, wi th tertials and wing coverts edged rufous and tips of primaries, secondaries and tail feathers whitish. Underparts whit ish, but olive shaft streaks to the throat feathers

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appeared as a slight gorget. Chin was unstreaked. A pale buff supercil ium ex-tended above and slightly behind the eye. Bill was heavy and tapered evenly to tip, mainly dark horn, but pinkish at base of lower mandible. In f l ight somewhat like a Song Thrush w i th fairly rapid wing-beats and spread tail. Brief snatch of song reminiscent of a loud, gutteral version of Reed Warbler. [Subject to acceptance by the Rarities Committee.)

Lesser Whitethroat Average:April23(41) to September 16(41) First noted on April 1 / at Brandon, but not widespread until The end of the month. Reported regularly until late September and last seen at Belvide on October 1.

Warks One or two breeding pairs at Alvecote and Brandon and noted in the breeding season at six other localities. At Bodymoor Heath declined to only two pairs.

Worcs Three pairs as usual at Upton Warren and also Wilden. Four sang at Longdon, three at Bushley Green, two at Ashbeds Coppice, Hal-low and Hampton Lovett and singles at many localities including a Droitwich park and scrub behind the platform at Hagley station.

Staffs At least two sang at Belvide and Chapel Chorlton and one at Can-nock Reservoir for the second successive year. Widespread reports of single birds singing, but fewer than in southern coun-ties.

W Mid Two pairs probably bred at Pensnett and one possibly at Brierley Hill Pools. Two pairs were noted at Bartley and another breeding season report came from Dudley. One sang from gardens at Four Oaks on May 28, another visited a Knowle garden during August and birds were seen at Minworth during autumn.

Whitethroat Average: April 17 (43) to September 21 (43) First arrival on April 9 at Brandon and well-established a week later. Last seen on October 1 at Westlands. Generally considered to be back to normal numbers, except at Sheriffs Lench where one pair returned for the first time since the crash to an area formerly containing at least a dozen pairs TCS.

Warks Ten pairs held territory at Bodymoor Heath and three at Alvecote, whilst five sang at Ladywalk. Widespread reports of smaller numbers, with a marked passage through Brandon on May 1, when 10 were ringed.

Worcs At least 15 pairs in the Stour Hill-Wilden area, good numbers at Bredon Hill and at least nine at Bittell. Several sang at Longdon, three at Trench Wood and plenty were reported from hedgerows around Upton Warren.

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Staffs Very common in Apedale, eight singing at Belvide, six at Chapel Chorlton and six between Acton Hill and Acton Trussell compared to three last year.

WMid One in a garden at Norton on May 6, three pairs at Bartley, four singing at Halesowen and five at Brierley Hill Pools compared to three in 1976. Two pairs reported in an industrial setting at Bilston and two held territory in Tocil Wood. Several reports of single birds.

Garden Warbler A verage: April 24 (40) to August 28 (39) Strong arrival in late April with birds at Keele and Stour Hill on 29. Last reported from Hanbury on September 8 and Bittell the fol-lowing day. Some conflicting reports on status.

Warks One or two pairs probabjy bred at Alvecote, three pairs held ter-ritory at Bodymoor Heath and four sang at Earlswood. Smaller numbers reported from several localities.

Worcs Only two singing along Dowles Brook in a poor year and said to be scarce at Bittell. Four pairs were resident at Wilden, three sang at Chaddesley and smaller numbers were noted at many localities.

Staffs Most reported were 10 at Haywood Park, six at Seabridge and four in song at Belvide. Four also sang in the Baggeridge/Himley area—an improvement on recent years. No other reports involved more than a single pair.

WMid Singing males at Norton Wood and Pensnett Coppice. One at Bartley in early May was the first for fourteen years. Reports of passage birds in gardens in both spring and autumn, one of which was seen bathing in the spray from a sprinkler and feeding on rowan berries.

Bleckcap Average: April 6 (43) to September 25 (40) One at Hatton on March 30 may have been the first genuine migrant, as birds were reported most days thereafter, and one at West Bromwich on October 7 the last.

Warks One in a Stratford garden on March 13 and 14 had probably over-wintered. A good year at Bodymoor Heath, where at least two of four pairs bred successfully, and at Earlswood, where four singing in May was an improvement over previous years. Two or three pairs at Alvecote, where late or wintering birds on October 12 (male) and November 9 (female).

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Worcs Wintering birds at Alvechurch on January 1 and 31, Blackwell on January 7 and Droitwich between January 19 and February 25 (a pair). Good numbers at Bittell, with up to eight singing, and ten sang along Dowles Brook and the River Stour near Kidderminster. Smaller numbers from many localities. A pair were regular visitors to a Malvern Wells bird table in autumn and a female was again seen in the same Droitwich garden on December 1.

Staffs Winter records from Little Haywood, where one or two between January 1 and February 27; Gnosall, where two on February 1 and three the next day; Seabridge, where two or three individuals on various dates until March 31; with singles at Westlands between January 8 and February 5, Rickerscote on February 14 and Keele from March 23. One heard in song at Trentham Park on March 1, good numbers were singing at Keele, six at Belvide and four at Blithfield. Late or wintering birds at Penkridge on October 16, Westlands on November 13 and December 8 to 12, Froghall on November 29, Ash Green throughout December and Keele on December 3.

WMid Wintering birds in gardens at Erdington from January 14 to 19 and again in March, Bournville on February 6, Wolverhampton during February with at least four on March 1. Harborne on March 19 and Northfield on March 23 and 24. Several reports of passage birds, some in song, but said to have declined in Sutton Park NJS. Only one autumn record, a male in a Wolverhampton garden on December 4

Wood Warbler Average: April 23 (41) to August 13 (31) First on April 24 at Chillington and last on August 18 at Westlands. A good spring passage, with singing birds reported from many localities for the first time, but scarcer at some traditional sites.

Warks Birds in song at Alvecote, Bodymoor Heath, Coldcomfort Wood, Draycote, Packington, Roseycombe Wood and Sitch Wood. At Earlswood, a regular haunt, four sang.

Worcs At the regular haunts, 20 were singing along Dowles Brook on. May 21 EGP and several sang in Lickey Woods. Elsewhere sing-ing birds at Ashbeds Coppice, Bittell, Chaddesley (two), Clent, Eymore Wood (five), Hampton Lovett, Hewell Grange (two), between Great Malvern and Malvern Wells (several). Sling Pool, Stour Hill (where one of two pairs probably bred successfully), Walton Hill (three) and Wilden (two).

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Staffs Eight sang in the Baggeridge/Himley area, which was one more than 1976's high total, BMM, but at Chillington there were fewer than last year BC, and at Coombes Valley only four pairs com-pared to 14 in 1976. Singing birds also heard at Beaudesert (three), Belvide, Blackbrook Valley (two), Blithfield (two), Brocton (three), Cannock Reservoir, Hanchurch, Keele, Kinver (four), New-castle, Roaches End, Rugeley Ranges (two), Seabridge, Seven Springs (four), Shugborough (two), Trentham Park (two). White Sitch and Whittington.

W Mid Bred at Bartley and present in the breeding season at Brierley Hill, Norton Wood, Sandwell Valley (two in song) and Sutton Park (also two singing).

Chiffchaff Average: March 18(43) to October 12 (43) Early arrival, with one at Sling Pool on March 9 and several at many localities by mid-month. One at Bodymoor Heath on Oc-tober 12 was probably the last migrant. Improved numbers on last year.

Warks One at Brandon on January 30. Two or three pairs bred at Alvecote, where one was singing on October 2, eight were in song at Earlswood on April 24 and numbers improved at Bodymoor Heath, with three holding territory. One at Draycote from December 4 to 1 7.

Worcs Three pairs bred at Bittell, where five were singing on March 27. Eight sang in Westwood Park, five along Dowles Brook, five in Trench Wood and four at Sling. Many fed in bean fields at High Green during August JRH.

Staffs Apparently scarce in the north, with one pair at Coombes Valley and only five along the Manifold Valley compared to more than 300 Willow Warblers IBM, WJL. More than usual heard in Bagots Wood, up to 12 sang at Keele and four at Belvide. Late autumn records from Westport on October 26, Chasetown on November 26 and Little Aston on December 24.

WMid One in Edgbaston Park on February 6. Four pairs held territory in Tocil Wood and two areas at Halesowen that were void last year held five birds. Heavy passage through Sutton Park between September 23 and 25 NJS.

Willow Warbler Average: March 28 (43) to September 29 (43) Two at Brandon on March 16 were the first arrivals, though it was early April before birds were widespread. Reported regularly until late September, with the last at Keele on October 16. Some references to generally poor numbers.

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Warks No noticeable changes in an average year at Bodymoor Heath, but following tree felling at Ladywalk only one or two pairs in the covert. At least six pairs bred at Alvecote. Maxima reported were 15 singing at Ladywalk on April 18, 50 at Brandon on April 24 and 22 singing at Earlswood the same day.

Worcs Recent trends continued with another good year at Bittell, where about 12 pairs bred. Along Dowles Brook there were 20 com-pared to eight Chiffchaffs and at Sling Pool six sang compared to two or three Chiffchaffs. Again many were reported feeding in bean fields at High Green during August JRH.

Staffs About 300 were heard singing along a nine-mile stretch of the Manifold Valley between Hulme End and Waterhouses on April 30 JPM, WJL, NCM, IRM; 45 at Brocton Coppice on May 1 5, 25 at Cannock Reservoir on April 17 and 24 in song at both Keele and Belvide, where one nest was destroyed by cattle. Several pas-sage birds noted in Westlands gardens, with eight on August 25.

WMid One in an Erdington garden in spring, with up to five in autumn. One pair raised four young at Chelmsley Wood, six pairs held ter-ritory in Tocil Wood and eleven sang at Brierley Hill Pools com-pared to nine last year. One was seen taking insects from produce at Birmingham Fruit Market on April 16 AWH and another sang near Bilston steelworks on May 7 DS.

Goldcre8t Warks No evidence of a decline from recent high numbers at Compton

Verney, but much reduced at Ladywalk presumably through loss of habitat. A small influx in October at Alvecote and Bodymoor Heath.

Worcs Very common on Bredon Hill in suitable habitat and increasing at Bittell KGC.

Staffs Reportedly common at White Sitch JL and 50 noted in Keele Woods on September 26.

WMid Continued to frequent suburban gardens, especially in winter.

Firacrest After the recent upsurge in records a disappointing year.

W Mid A female at Bartley on November 2 7 MSS.

Spotted Flycatcher A verage: May 4 (40) to September 22 (40) One on April 23 at Brandon, but no other reports until the first few days of May. Almost daily reports through September, with the last at Erdington on October 1. No change in status reported, but many observers again commented on lack of breeding success.

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Warks Widespread in small numbers. Worcs Reported from most districts and said to be quite numerous at

Redhill. Good numbers also at Elmley Castle again, where one, probably a juvenile, was seen catching butterflies arnnnd a Budd-tela. Usually it released them and they appeared unharmed.

Staffs Widespread reports of small numbers, the most being 14 in a loose party at Blithfield on August 12.

WMid Several reports of breeding, many from surburban gardens, but a decrease reported from Sutton Park NJS. A pair successfully reared young within 3m. of an operational power press in daily use in a Dudley factory DJWo.

Pied Flycatcher A verage arrival: April 23 (30) First at Whitley Abbey School, Coventry, on April 20 and last at Edgbaston on August 25.

Warks Singles at Brandon on April 30 and Earlswood on May 1. Worcs At Far Forest 24 young were raised from five occupied nest-

boxes, but very few reports from elsewhere in the Wyre Forest with only one pair notified from Dowles Brook. Heard calling and singing during April and May on Walton Hill, where two also pre-sent on August 1 2. One ringed at Grimley during April.

Staffs Spring passage birds at Seabridge on May 1 and 2, and Keele on May 13. Four pairs bred at Coombes Valley, fewer than in 1976, one pair raised five young at Shugborough and Bnother pair seven young at a site in the west of the county. A pair was seen on May 3 near Loynton Moss, where a male was in song on May 29.

WMid One at Coventry on April 20 and a male visited a Cradley garden from April 29 to May 1. In autumn singles were noted in a Moseley garden on August 10, a Dudley garden on August 20 and Edgbaston Park from August 23 to 25.

Bearded Tit Small autumn influx.

Warks Six (three pairs) present at Packington Gravel Pit from January 12 JRS to 29 PDH. A small party was heard on November 6 and 13 at Brandon, where four (one male) seen on December 3 BMCG. Six to eight noted at Chesterton Mill Pool on November 7 CHP.

Worcs A pair noted at Upton Warren in late October, and early November, the male remaining into. 1978 A//V, AFJ.

Staffs Three (two males) trapped at Ford Green on December 18 had been ringed two, four and five months previously at Goole, Yorkshire PGB. DWE, IRM. JPM.

92

Long-tailed Tit A very good breeding season was followed by numerous reports of parties of up to 40 birds.

WMid Apparently bred for the first time at Bartley.

Marsh Tit No changes in status reported.

Worcs Noted as being very common at Bredon Hill, especially above 200m.

Willow Tit No changes in status reported. Noted from 16 sites, compared with 27 sites for Marsh Tit, a reversal of the 1976 situation.

Coal Tit A regular garden visitor, even during the breeding season.

Warks Another poor year at Ladywalk. Staffs 45 noted at Keele on September 1 5. WMid Noted as commoner than Blue Tit at a feeding station in Sutton

Park in November.

Blue Tit Worcs Noted as less common in Stourbridge gardens. 209 flew from 28

nestboxes in the Wyre Forest. Staffs 50 flew from seven nestboxes at Belvide. W Mid 120 flew from 19 nestboxes in Sutton Park.

Great Tit No changes in status reported. Twice as common as Blue Tit at Ladywalk feeding station. 111 flew from 22 nestboxes in the Wyre Forest. 24 flew from three nestboxes at Belvide.

Nuthatch As usual, most records came from parkland and mature deciduous woodland.

Warks Noted at six sites, with breeding at Earlswood. Worcs Noted at 14 localities, with four pairs breeding in the Wyre Forest

and two successful nestbox attempts in Far Forest after last year's absence. Apparently increasing in the Elmley Castle area.

Staffs Noted in nine sites, with breeding at Betley and the Manifold Val-ley.

W Mid Noted at 12 sites, with breeding at Norton Wood, Penn, Stevens Park and Warley Park. Fewer than usual noted in Sutton Park.

Warks Worcs Staffs

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Treecreeper Warks Believed to have decreased due to disturbance at Ladywalk, no

nest being located. Worcs Apparently scarce in the Elmley Castle area.

Golden Oriole

Staffs A singing male was present at Blithfield on May 29 and 30 ARD, PDH, MJI, GS.

Red-backed Shrike Occurred for the second year in succession.

Worcs A male at Upton Warren on June \ %AFJ, RM.

Great Grey Shrike Several winter records, but unusually scarce in autumn with only three records, all within two days.

Warks Singles at Alvecote between January 24 and March 20 GAA, Ladywalk between January 29 and February 27 HTL, regularly at Brandon until March 19 BMCG and Shustoke on March 27 BLK. One autumn record, from Packington on November 19 DKC.

Worcs One at Brakemill on January 29 TCH and one at Wilden on November 20 BW.

Staffs One regularly seen at Cannock Reservoir until April 5 DAD. One at Branston on November 19 TCH, MSS.

WMid Almost certainly the Cannock Reservoir bird was seen on Brownhills Common on January 6 SE.

94

Jay The usual increase in activity (movements?) was noted in October at several localities.

WMid Noted at 11 sites, including two gardens.

Magpie Continues to be common in all areas, with many records of up to 24 birds together.

WMid A nest with nine eggs noted in Woodgate Valley, where a fox, ap-parently eating a dead Magpie, was surrounded by 12 noisy Magpies. About 40 roosted in Edgbaston Park.

Jackdaw Warks No longer breeds in the power station area of Hams Hall. Up to

300 noted regularly at Packington Gravel Pit. WMid A bird with white primaries noted at Sutton Coldfield on January

9.

Rook Warks A rookery of about 20 nests was re-established at Sitch Wood.

Carrion Crow Several partial albinos reported.

Warks Up to 300 roosted at Kingsbury Wood in winter. Worcs Up to 100 frequented the shoreline at Bittell in autumn. Staffs Up to 350 birds fed in the Rugeley area and roosted nearby on

Cannock Chase. 50 at Acton Trussell on April 6. WMid Up to 500 roosted in Sutton Park and up to 94 noted at

Halesowen tip. A bird caught and released a Budgerigar at Bartley on May 17.

Hooded Crow Warks One at Draycote on December 1 1 TWL, OLL. Staffs Singles seen at Admaston on February 26 HH, Great Wyrley tip

on 27 RAH, EGP, Weaver Hills on March 9 BR, and Etching Hill in late March GS.

Raven Staffs One on January 22 at Ramshorn BR. Records of one at Flash on

July 4, with seven there on August 8 and October 23 KJB, and four at Gun Hill on August 15 CAT indicate possible breeding on the moors.

95

Starling Several reports of leucistic individuals or partially albino birds.

Warks A large roost at Brandon during August and September peaked at 250000 on September 25. Large flocks also seen flying SW over Leamington and Warwick to roost.

Worcs Up to 5000 roosted at Bittell in late March, but the roost did not reform in autumn, although large numbers congregated, then moved on each evening. A good breeding seasgn reported from the south of the county and 16 young fledged from four occupied nest-boxes in the Wyre Forest.

Staffs A large roost at Clayton Hall from March to early July, with 14000 on May 27 and 45000 on June 22. Up to 10000 roosted at Tillington on September 3 and 50000 at Aqualate on September 18.

House Sparrow One or two reports of birds with aberrant plumage.

Warks A large influx at Ladywalk coincided with the arrival of thatching straw for Lea Ford cottage. At Kenilworth ousted House Martins from nest apparently just to shelter from rain as no attempt was made to build or lay in the nest although it was defended against repossession by the Martins.

Tree Sparrow Warks The large flock at Draycote in 1976 declined rapidly to 700 on

January 7 and 200 on February 3. Autumn flocks of 100 at Bodymoor Heath on November 8, Willey throughout December and Shustoke on December 3, with 200 at Coleshill on December 9.

Worcs Up to 60 at Bittell, 50 between Elmley Castle and Bricklehampton on September 25 and 100 at Longdon on November 20.

Staffs A flock at Walton in January quickly declined from 250 to 30 when hedges were removed. Other winter flocks were 120 at Cannock Reservoir on January 30 and 60 at Swinfen on February 20, whilst in autumn there were 70 at Acton Trussell on September 19, 50 at Belvide on October 30 and up to 300 at Lit-tle Aston in December. A noted absence reported from Betley.

WMid Flocks of 100 in the Woodgate Valley on January 29 and 90 at Bartley on April 17, but the only autumn flock was 50 at Halesowen on October 16. Three pairs held territory in Tocil Wood.

96

Chaffinch Widespread and common, though less numerous than formerly, perhaps because of loss of thorn hedges. Several flocks of 20 to 30.

Warks Flocks of 80 at Draycote on January 14, 100 at Earlswood on March 5 and 100 at Oversley Green on December 29.

Worcs Up to 600 in Lickey Woods on January 5, with 450 still present on March 20. Autumn flocks of 100 at Longdon on November 20 and Beckford on December 17, with 125 at Wilden on December 27.

Staffs Some impressive winter flocks with 225 at Himley on January 15, 200 at Pershall on January 25, 650 flying along Trentham Lake to roost on January 30, and 424 flying S over Westlands to roost on February 5. Numerous on Cannock Chase during the breeding season. Only one autumn flock reported of 150 at Tixall on December 21.

WMid Flocks of 100 were present at Halesowen until the end of January and at Stourbridge on January 5, with 1000 roosting in Sutton Park two days later NJS and 200 feeding in a Coventry park on February 7. Seven pairs held territory in 11 acres at Tocil Wood and four sang in an area of Wolverhampton compared to 20 Greenfinches.

Brambling A verage: October 13(42) to April 8(41) Dearth of birds in 1976 continued through winter, but a few reported until the third week of March, with the last at Beaudesert (six) and Wandon (20) on April 11. First autumn return at Bodymoor Heath on October 9.

Warks Singles at Earlswood on March 5 and 20, with two at Packington on March 19 were the only winter records. Poor autumn too, with two at Bodymoor Heath, up to five at Packington between Oc-tober 1 5 and November 19, one at Dunchurch on October 25 and three at Combrook on November 6.

Worcs About 20 during early January at Cofton Hall and Lickey, with 50 at the latter locality on March 20. Two at Hartlebury on January 9 and Bredon Hill on March 20. Autumn records of two at Broome on October 16, one or two at Bittell from October 22 onwards and at Wilden and Woodnorton during December, with ten at Beckford on December 1 7.

Staffs Two near Chillington on January 9, four at Blithfield on January 16 and Pershall on January 25, five at Keele on January 18, up to four at Blackbrook Valley on January 30, 30 at Westlands in late February, two at Swallow Moss and 25 at Beaudesert on March 12, one at Copmere on April 10, six at Beaudesert on April 11 and

97

20 near Wandon the same day. Again few in autumn with one at Brocton on October 26, six at Hanchurch on November 12, eight at Blithfield the next day and ten at Stafford on December 12.

WMid The 1976 flock of 50 remained at Halesowen until the end of January and a similar number frequented a Coventry park at the same time. A party of 1 5 was in Warley Park on January 13, up to 25 at Erdington on February 8 and seven at another Coventry locality on February 27, but there were no Autumn records.

Greenfinch Warks Reported as less numerous than in previous years in eastern and

southern districts EJB. Maxima in roosts were 250 at Packington Park on March 7 and December 11 and 200 at Alvecote on Oc-tober 7 and Bodymoor Heath on November 8.

Worcs The only report of a large flock was 150 at Sheriffs Lench on December 25.

Staffs Most reported were 100 at Tixall on January 20 and over 500 at Little Aston in December.

WMid Up to 500 roosted in Sutton Park between January and mid-March. At Shirley the number coming to feed on nuts in a garden has declined markedly.

Goldfinch Continues to increase, with good numbers in suburban areas.

Warks Numerous and widespread, with another good year reported from Bodymoor Heath. Maxima reported were 50 at Alvecote in February and at Ryton on April 27, 75 at Ladywalk on September 17 and 100 at Bodymoor Heath on October 8.

Worcs At Wilden the breeding population increased to 1 5 pairs and there were flocks of 100 in winter and 200 in early autumn. Elsewhere the winter maxima were 120 at Stakenbridge on February 1 5 and 100'at Bittell on February 22 and the most in autumn were 500 at Holt on October 1 6 and 100 on Bredon Hill on October 23.

Staffs Fewer reports of large flocks than from other counties, the largest being 50 at Keele on April 23 and 65 at Coombes Valley the next day. In autumn the most were 100 at Belvide on September 24 and 250 at Baswich on September 27.

WMid Most in spring was 48 in allotments at Hall Green on April 8 and in autumn 50 at Brierley Hill Pools on September 22 and 11 5 in alders in the Woodgate Valley on October 9.

Siskin Average: October 15(39) to April 6 (40) Last noted on April 14 at Brandon, with the first return at Lil-lington on September 1 5. Last year's paucity of birds continued throughout the winter, but seemingly returned to more normal numbers by autumn with flocks up to 20 quite widely reported.

98

Warks A few at Ladywalk during January and also at Brandon, where seven on March 17. Several small parties in autumn, the largest being 40 at Packington Park on November 6 and 50 at Leamington Spa on December 14.

Worcs The only winter records were 14 at Bittell, 13 at Wilden on January 18 and 30 at Upper Bentley on March 5. Many small par-ties in autumn, with the most at Bittell where 100 by the end of the year.

Staffs Just three winter records, with ten at Westport and up to four at Keele and Newcastle during January. Still scarce in autumn with no more than six reported, except from Longsdon and Tittesworth where 20.

WMid Winter records from Bartley, where seven in January was unusual, and Sutton Park, where 18 on February 26; with singles at Hall Green and Shirley in March. In autumn nine at Edgbaston Park on December 24 and 12 at Northfield on December 29.

Linnet Several autumn flocks of 50 or more. Maxima reported were flocks of 200 at Bodymoor Heath on Oc-tober 8, 600 at Packington on October 11 and 300 at Ladywalk on December 27. Largest concentrations notified were 500 at Holt on October 16 and 300 at Wilden the same day. Autumn flocks of 200 at Cannock Reservoir on September 17, 500 at Perton on September 28, 250 at Blithfield on October 14 and 130 at Tittesworth on December 11. 400 roosted at Minworth on September 5 and a flock of at least 60 was on waste land near Rotton Park on December 21.

Twite

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

WMid

99

Warks A few at Ladywalk during January and February HTL. Staffs The regular Cannock Reservoir flock was present until March 19

and again from October 23, with maxima of 70 on January 9 PAG and 200 on November 25 JL. Breeding season reports from three moorland localities and also noted in autumn at Tittesworth, where 20 on October 2 MSS, MJW.

Redpoll Bred at many localities and is even spreading into suburban areas. Flocks of up to 50 widely reported in winter and autumn.

Warks Winter maximum was 120 at Packington Park on February 14, whilst in autumn 70 were at Ladywalk on September 26. Up to 50 were noted for several days at Willey feeding on Fat Hen.

Worcs Increasing and probably breeding in the south, perhaps in orchards. The largest flocks reported were up to 1 50 at Bittell in January and Coldridge Wood on March 25, with 130 at Goosehill Wood on April 4. In autumn there were 100 at Wilden on October 16 and good numbers again at Bittell.

Staffs Several substantial winter flocks, the largest of which were 500 at Brocton and the Oldacre Valley on January 11, 450 at Beaudesert on March 19, 100 at Loggerheads on April 8 and 100 also at Hanchurch on April 19. Amongst many reports of breeding was a pair which nested in heather at Highgate Common despite plenty of more usual habitat and suburban breeding was suspected at Burntwood. Fewer autumn flocks, though 300 were reported from Cannock Reservoir on November 19 and December 10 PAG.

WMid Bred in suburban gardens, with two nests at Quinton—one in lilac and one in privet. As in 1976, five pairs were at Brierley Hill Pools, whilst the most reported from Sutton Park was 1 50 in late April and a similar number were at Minworth on October 8.

Mealy Redpoll Just one report of a bird showing the characteristics of this race.

Worcs One of a party of six Redpolls at Upton Warren on November 20 was noted as larger and having a "frostier" appearance AJH.

Crossbill More records than usual, though not an "irruption" year.

Worcs Four on Bredon Hill on May 29 AFJ. A party of 12 to 1 5 in the Wyre Forest on June 19 contained at least two juveniles GJM and seven were seen at the same locality on July 23 EGP.

Staffs Several reports from Beaudesert, where one on March 19, six on March 28 GH and two adult males, two females and an immature male feeding on birch buds on May 5 FCG. Heard calling from pines at Enville on April 22 JL. Three flew over Sherbrook Valley on July 2 GH.

100

Bullfinch Guod numbers everywhere and increasing, especially in suburban areas.

Warks Very common and increasing in many areas, with flocks up to 20 not uncommon.

Worcs Influxes noted at Hanbury in January and Bittell in the autumn. Staffs Several small parties reported. Nested in the same snowberry at

Blithfield as in 1967 and 1971. W Mid Regularly noted in suburban gardens.

Hawfinch Worcs Pairs were noted on Bredon Hill on March 20 and in Coldridge

Wood on March 25 and one was at Hartlebury on April 25 RM. In the Wyre Forest, three were seen on July 3 EGP, RAH.

Staffs One pair bred successfully. Locality and observer's name withheld. Reported regularly from Chillington until early April, with a peak of 25 on March 27 ARD, MJi, PDH, and again on October 1 3, when eight present AJD. Two were seen at a western locality in late June and three were at Belvide on October 6 DS.

Snow Bunting Staffs Seven were at Blithfield on November 27, including six in one

party. All were females or immatures/SflD, PDH, AC.

Yellowhammer Warks Flocks of 50 at Earlswood on March 20 and 70 at Bodymoor

Heath on December 28 were the largest reported. Said by one observer to be an average year, though flocks were fewer and smaller than in 1976.

Worcs Said to be increasing at Bittell, where 65 on January 29, and still common around Elmley Castle. Flocks of 50 at Pulley on January 28 and Bredon Hill on October 23, with 100 at Longdon on November 20.

Staffs Largest winter flocks were 150 at Keele on January 19 and 100 at Seabridge on January 29. Autumn flocks were smaller, with 50 at Hanchurch on October 24 and 80 at Belvide on October 30 the most reported.

WMid Largest flocks were 37 at Bartley Green on January 4, 45 at Catherine de Barnes on March 28 and 30 in the Woodgate Valley on December 28.

Cirl Bunting Worcs A pair again present at a central locality RM, AFJ, GHG.

101

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

WMid

Warks

Worcs

Staffs

WMid

Worcs

Worcs

Staffs

Warks

Staffs

Read Bunting Twelve pairs each at Alvecote and Marston were the most reported during the breeding season. Largest concentrations were 70 at Packington on April 9 and Bodvmoor Heath on December 1 8 . Eleven sang along the river at Eckington and eight pairs were at Bittell. Breeding in farmland at Besford and Throckmorton along with Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. Very few reports, but 35 at Seabridge on January 23 and 50 at Belvide on April 11. Common on wasteland and up to 25 reported from the Woodgate Valley on November 13. Noted in gardens at Bentley Heath, Er-dington and Rubery, mostly during winter.

Corn Bunting Winter roosts at Brandon, where 100 on January 23 and 95 on December 10; Bodymoor Heath, where up to 40; and Ladywalk, where 50 frequently noted. Some twenty reports of birds singing or present during the breeding season from sixteen localities—all in or close to river valleys. Small winter roost of up to 1 1 at Upton Warren until late March, re-forming again with two on December 10. During the breeding season 24 singing birds were reported from 17 localities. Most reported were nine at Swindon on February 3, at least 10 around a potato field at Harlaston on August 16 and up to seven in song at Hammerwich in December. At least.31 were singing or present during the breeding season at 19 localities. Three records—two or three in song at Brownhills in July, one at Bartley on December 9 and a small flock of up to nine in Nechells Gas Works the next day PAM.

Exotica Flamingo Sp. One at Bittell on August 31. Cape Shelduck Present at Upton Warren between July 23 and August 2. Cape Teal One at Blithfield on July 12. Wood Duck One at Bodymoor Heath on a few dates in February, May and September. One at Brocton on December 26.

102

Demoiselle Crane Warks One at Packington between August 17 and 22, with presumably

the same individual at Ladywalk on the latter date. Barbary Dove

Staffs A bird has been present at Wheaton Aston for the past two or three years. Great Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

Staffs The bird first seen at Chillington in 1976 was noted regularly throughout 1977. Macaw Sp.

Warks One reported flying round Leamington Spa Reservoir. Parakeet Spp.

Warks One seen at Packington on November 6 and 19. W Mid One, a Ring-necked, at Bartley in January.

Budgerigar Warks One flew over Merevale on November 28. W Mid One in Sandwell Valley on August 9.

Zebra Finch Staffs A pair at Whittington nested and laid one egg, but the nest was

subsequently destroyed. Another in a Westlands garden on July 25. Red-headed Bunting

Staffs A male present and singing at Wheaton Aston between July 19 and August 3.

Addendum 1975 Report Pied Flycatcher. A male at Edgbaston Park on April 22 AC.

Errata 1 976 Report p32 Tufted Duck in Worcestershire. The first line should read "Bred at

Beckford, Bittell, Upton Warren and" p51 Whimbrel in Warwickshire. It is now understood that the party of

14 flying south at Bodymoor Heath on August 18 was a mixed party of Whimbrei and Bar-tailed Godwit, precise numbers of each unknown EAH, JEF.

p68 Nightjar. The earliest record from Highgate Common should have been June 2 not May 2.

p88 Grey Wagtail in Staffordshire. The first line should read "Widespread outside breeding season. Fifteen along a seven mile"

p93 Twite, "although 30 present on December 12 JEF" should be deleted and substituted by "although 75 present on December 11 PAG."

103

Ringing in 1977 Comparison of the recoveries in this and the 1976 reports with previous years reveals a large increase in the number of recoveries for two species in particular. They are Black-headed Gull and Sand Martin. The increase in the number of gulls recorded arises mainly from a study of the gulls wintering in Worcestershire and Warwickshire which started in 1976/7 and continued in the 1977/8 winter. Other species are sometimes caught with the gulls feeding on rubbish tips and four of the Starlings in this report were caught in this way. Sand Martin recoveries have increased owing to the ending of restrictions placed on the ringing of the species at the end of the British Trust for Ornithology's Sand Martin enquiry and the bird's own recovery in numbers. A species with a less marked increase in recoveries is the Lapwing and this, at least in part, reflects the increased ringing of the species in recent years. Worthy of special note is the series of recoveries of Kestrels ringed as nestlings and the Hobby recovered in Hampshire. The Goldfinch in Spain is the first recovery of the species to qualify for inclusion in the WMBC An-nual Report. The ringing year started with roosts at various localities being visited, mainly for Redwings and Greenfinches. Chaffinches were particularly numerous at some roosts. Attempts were made to catch Golden Plover near Coventry on two successive days but without success. Indications that spring had arrived started on March 23rd when the first Chiffchaff to be ringed was reported. The species was soon recorded at other sites and the first Blackbird nestlings were ringed in the last week of March. The most notable ringing event of mid-June was a very wet spell with many overcast days thereby producing excellent conditions for catching Swifts and hirundines. The House Martin originally ringed at Beachy Head was caught during this period. On the whole the nestlings in the nestbox schemes run by ringers tended to be rather late in fledging. The West Midlands Canada Goose is a much studied bird with various projects currently under way. Virtually all the geese within the study areas were rounded up and examined in early July. The Mute Swan's turn to be rounded up came on August 6th when the birds at Alvecote were ex-amined as part of the breeding study in that area. Another spell of incle-ment weather, during August, resulted in more hirundines being caught as well as warblers which are normally caught at that time of year. Three suc-cessful catches of Lapwing were made during the summer and autumn. Towards the end of the year roosts began to form again but reasonably mild weather meant that attempts at catching gulls at tips in November and December were largely unsuccessful. Several unusual birds were caught during the year. A Long-eared Owl was caught at Hopwas in February, a Whinchat at Dorridge in May, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Hewell Grange in August and a Great Reed Warbler at Brandon during the summer.The accompanying map shows the location of foreign recoveries or birds ringed abroad.

All foreign recoveries except Black-headed Gull in the Netherlands and Denmark and Starling in the Netherlands.

Black-hsaded Gull Blackbird Fieldfare Goldfinch Lapwing Redwing Starling! Sedge Warbler Sand Martin Snipe Swallow Teal Wigeon

105

Selected List of Recoveries Involving the W M B C Area Entries are arranged by species and, within species, by recovery date ex-cept that birds ringed in the WMBC area are listed before birds ringed elsewhere and recovered in the WMBC area. Hinging details are given on the first line and recovery details on the second. This report includes recoveries received for 1977 and previously unpublished recoveries for earlier years. All foreign recoveries and movements of greater than 100 kilometres are included. Treatment of movements of less than 100 kilometres depends on the species involved. In accordance with ringing convention, all distances are given in kilometres and old county names have been used. Localities now within the West Midlands county have been marked with an asterisk.

Key Age: Pull Pullus (nestling) Juv Juvenile (young able to fly) 1Y Bird in its first year PJ Post Juvenile Ad Adult (at least one year old) FG Full Grown (age uncertain)

Sex: M Male F Female Manner of Recovery: v Caught and released with ring + Shot or killed x Found dead or dying

Species Ring No. Age/Sex Date Place

Heron Herons ringed as Pullus at Gailey were recovered as follows:

Ringer Movement

CDTM -Ringed-

1081587 08.05.76 1081590 26.05.76 1081647 27.04.74 1092935 18.06.77 1092949 16.07.77

-Recovered-22.01.77 Leek (Staffs) 50km N 25.01.77 Nantwich (Cheshire) 48km NW 19.07.77 Hyde (Cheshire) 80km NNE 27.08.77 near Meifod (Montgomery) 78km W 26.09.77 Wythall (Worcs) 35km SSE

Note that all but one of the above birds were recovered during their first year. The only two older Herons recovered in 1977 (10 and 1 1 years old respectively) were found locally to Gailey.

Teal EB 01175 PJ.M 16.12.75 Ombersley (Worcs) CMH

+ 09.10.76 ne.ar Molodechno (Minsk) 54°20'N Belorussiya SSR 27°00'E

106

Wigeon Wigeon ringed as Adult at

Ringed — SS 83751 07.12.68 20

SS 83778 14.12.68 12

SS 93660 31.12.72 02

SS 73086 07.12.68 18

SS 93767 23.01.72 03

FS 6193431.12.76 17

Blithfield were recovered as follows: Recovered-

CD TM

09.73 Ol'khovka (Vologda) USSR 60°45 'N 46°20'E

09.75 near Belozerskoye (Kurgan) USSR 55°40'N 65°34'E

.06.76 near Vorkuta, Komi ASSR 67°25 'N 64°00'E

.08.76 near Havnrtf (Sjaelland) Denmark 55°45'N 11 °20'E

1 2.76 Stolin (Brest) Belorussiya SSR 51 °51'N 26°56'E

.09.77 Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk) USSR 64°35 'N 39°55'E

Canada Goose 5076665 Ad

5075609 v Juv

5077010 FG v

5024071 Ad v

27.06.76 Packington (Warks) 03.07.77 Holkham Park, Wells (Norfolk) 26.06.76 Ollerton (Notts) 25.06.77 Wolverhampton (Staffs*)

11.07.76 Holkham Park, Wells (Norfolk) 25.06.77 Gailey (Staffs)

07.07.68 Harrogate (Yo'rks) 26.06.77 Kings Bromley (Staffs)

CDTM 165km ENE

110km SW CDTM

200km W CDTM

135km S CDTM

Mute Swan Z 2 3 3 2 8

Z 34403

Ad x Pull V

1 5.02.69 Stratford-on-Avon (Warks) ARG 07.08.76 Ripon (Yorks) 21 5km N 08.08.73 Shuttington (Warks) CDTM 04.01.77 Marsworth Res., Tring (Herts) 110km SE

Hobby EF81779 Pull 03.08.76 Warwickshire

v? 23.08.77 Havant (Hants) ARG 160km SSE

107

Kestrel EF 55802 Pull

X EF 81667 Pull

X

EH 12820 Pull X

EF 57655 Pull

EH 12813 Pull

EH 12850 Pull

EH 12821 Pull X

EF35038 Pull X

12.07.76 North Staffs Moors DE 05.02.77 Ewelme (Oxon) 175km SSE 27.06.74 Loxley (Warks) ARG

(28.02.77) Wrexham (Denbigh) 1 35km NW 16.06.77 Barford (Warks) ARG 05.08.77 Tillington, Hereford 80km W 13.06.77 Ufton (Warks) ARG 09.09.77 Swindon (Wiltshire) 82km SSW 1 5.06.77 Haselor (Warks) ARG 18.09.77 Whitby (Yorks) 260km NNE 05.07.77 Sherbourne (Warks) ARG 01.12.77 New Romney (Kent) 220km SE 1 6.06.77 Barford (Warks) ARG 05.12.77 Hornchurch (Essex) 140km ESE 21.06.76 Rafford, Forres (Moray) 09.04.77 Warwick Castle Park (Warks) 600km SSE

ARG

Note the different directions taken by EH 12820 and EH 12821 which were from the same brood of four.

Lapwing DR 23644 PJ 19.01.75 Blithfield (Staffs) CDTM

X 28.04.76 Rybinsk (Yaroslavl) USSR 58°04'N 38°54'E

DR 23987 AD 06.07.75 Branston (Staffs) CDTM ? 20.01.77 Plongonven (Finistere) France 48°32'N

03°43 'W DS59165 PJ 15.02.76 Kinver (Staffs) JRM

X 08.07.77 Southwold (Suffolk) 255km E DR 29906 PJ 27.1 1.76 Blithfield (Staffs) CDTM

X 00.08.77 Kalinin, USSR 56°30'N 34°57'E

Snipe XV 52758 1Y 06.1 1.76 Stafford CDTM

X 08.05.77 Karvia (Turku & Pori) Finland 62°13'N 22°39'E

Lesser Black-backed Gull Pull 06.07.65 Skokholm (Pembroke) x 14.08.77 Belvide (Staffs) 240km ENE

108

Herring Gull

Herring Gulls ringed as Adult at Droitwich were recovered as follows: GHG

Ringed Recovered GP 07131 29.01.77 00.07.77 Menai Strait (Caernarvon) 170km NW GP0710629.01.77 00.08.7 7 Widnes Marsh (Cheshire) 130km NNW GP07107 29.01.77 21.12.77 Ellesmere (Salop) 85km NW

UK "I9946 Ad 0 1.01.77 Studley (Warks) ARG x 14.05.77 Arbroath (Angus) 475km N

Black-headed Gull In the 1976/7 and 1977/8 winters a great deal of effort has been put into ringing gulls. This has resulted in a vast increase in the number of recoveries. In the tables that follow, ringing or recovery localities are in-dicated as shown below.

Warks: Bearley (Bea) ARG; Draycote (Dra) BRG; Solihull (Sol); Stockton (Sto) ARG; Studley (Stu) ARG.

Worcs: Evesham (Eve) GHG/CMH; Hallow (Hal) GHG; Throckmorton (Thr) GHG; Worcester (Wor) CMH.

Staffs: Chasewater (Cha) SCB/IPB/CDTM; Stafford (Sta) RA W.

Ringed Recovered EB 30114 31.01.76 Wor 12.02.77 Stockton (Warks) 56km E EH 12440 13.1 1.76 Wor 00.03.77 Beaulieu (Hants) 160kmSSE EB 73654 29.12.75 Cha 12.04.77 Palukula (Hilumaa) Estonian SSR

58°59'N 22°49'E EB 42214 25.01.76 Cha 14.04.77 Herring (Jutland) Denmark

57°32'N 10°06'E EF 81815 27.11.76 Sto 23.04.77 Oslo (Akershus) Norway

59°50'N 10°46'E EH 1 2574 28.12.76 Eve 30.04.77 Tuusula (Uusimaa) Finland

60°25'N 25°00'E EH 06805 07.02.76 Dra 07.05.77 Zandvoort (Noord Holland)

Netherlands 52°21 'N 04°32'E EB 74621 12.02.77 Sto 07.05.77 Pori (Turku & Pori) Finland

61°31 'N 21 °38'E EH 13018 18.12.76Thr 09.05.77 Rdyken (Busterud) Norway

59°45'N 10°25'E EH 28043 16.01.77 Eve 12.05.77 Sint Pankras (Noord Holland)

Netherlands 52°40'N 04°47'E EH 13081 18.12.76 Thr 16.06.77 Insel Usedom (Rostock)

EastGermany 53°53'N 13°55'E

109

EB 42246 25.01.76 Cha 20.06.77 Frederikshavn (Jutland) Denmark 57°29'N 10°32'E

29.06.77 Nokia (Hame) Finland 61°31'N 23°31'E

EF 2832b 31.U1./6 Hal -12.07.77 Bergsviken (Norrbotten) Sweden 65° 19'N 21 °23'E

EH 13129 04.12.76 Thr

EH 12572 28.12.76 Eve 14.07. EB 63187 03.01.77 Bea 25.07. EH 13145 18.12.76Thr 25.07. EB 90841 12.02.77 Sto 31.07. EH 12504 13.11.76 Wor 04.08. EB 90843 12.02.77 Sto 24.08. ED 54411 10.12.72 Cha 00.08.

EB 90802 12.02.77 Sto 06.10. ED 45886 31.01.76Wor 16.10.

77 Flint 77 Preston (Lanes) 77 Birchington (Kent) 77 Croydon (Surrey) 77 Birmingham area 77 Newport (Monmouth)

150km NNW 175km NNW

235km ESE 125km SE 38km NE

130km SW 77 Den Oever (Noord Holland)

Netherlands 52°56'N 05°02'E 77 Castle Donington (Leics) 60km N 77 Lelystad/Enkhuizen dyke (Ijsselmeer

Polders) Netherlands 52°36'N 05°27'E

Hel S034922

EF 81883 Mos E856024

Cop 6010177

Cop 6000087

Arn 3152930

ED 76437 Arn 3245338

EF 78083 MatU 93548

Arn 3064760

Arn 1025458

Hel 5172604

EF 77626

Ringed 18.06.70 near Espoo (Uusimaa) Finland 60° 10'N 24°50'E 19.07.71 Boston (Lines) 09.06.76 Lake Engure, Latvian SSR 57°1 7'N 23°07'E 03.06.69 Odense Fjord (Fyn) Denmark 55°28'N 10°28'E 1 5.06.69 Mariager Fjord (Jutland) Denmark, 56°43'N 10°15'E 01.07.71 Appelscha (Friesland) Netherlands, 52°55'N 06°18'E 23.02.74 Guildford (Surrey) 09.06.76 Halversum (Noord Holland) Netherlands, 52°12'N 05°12'E 20.02.75 Cam (Gloucester) 21.06.76 Heinlaid (Parnu) Estonia 58°18'N 24°00'E 19.06.66 Balgzand (Noord Holland) Netherlands 52°55'N 04°49'E 28.05.66 Lelystad (Ijsselmeer Polders) Netherlands, 52°31 'N 05°27'E 27.07.72 Meldorf Bucht (Schleswig-Holstein), West Germany 54°04'N 08°58'E 28.12.74 Cam (Gloucester)

Recovered— 03.09.76 Sta

27.1 1.76 Sto 29.12.76 Cha

29.12.76 Cha

01.01.77 Stu

01.01.77 Stu

01.01.77 Stu 03.01.77 Bea

16.01.77 Eve 21.01.77 Sol

12.02.77 Sto

12.02.77 Sto

12.02.77 Sto

12.02.77 Sto All birds originating abroad were ringed as Pullus.

110

Barn Owl AJ 92540 Pull 09.07.73 Sherbourne (Warks) ARG

v 18.12.73 near Burtord (Oxon) 47km S v 25.03.76 near Burford x 15.08.77 near Northleach (Glous) 13kmW

Swallow KA 85518

KN 67595

KH 78481

Ad.F 19.09.76 Stratford-on-Avon (Warks) ARG X (01.06.77) Preston (Lanes) 190km NNW Juv 05.09.76 Packington (Warks) DKC V 04.08.77 Voorschoten (Zuid Holland) 52°08'N

Netherlands 04°28'E Pull 09.06.77 Poulton, Chester V 31.08.77 Meriden (Warks*) 125km SE

PL!

Swallows recovered at Brandon were ringed as follows: BRG

Ringed KN 52303 03.09.76 Attenborough (Notts) KN 81 513 14.08.76 Shrigley (Cheshire) KS 1 5508 06.08.77 Chorley (Lanes) KR 93455 09.08.77 Maghull (Lanes) KS 29173 28.08.77 Ormskirk (Lanes)

-Recovered-25.09.77 57km S 25.09.77 107km SSE 25.09.77 160km SE 25.09.77 160km SE 25.09.77 160km SE

House Martin KC 90295 FG

v 23.09.75 Beachy Head (Sussex) 17.06.77 Dorridge (Warks*) 220km NW

PL!

Sand Martin KK 87517 Ad.M 26.07.76 Meriden (Warks*) PU

v 1 7.09.76 Luzarches (Seine et Oise) 49°07'N p r a n c e

v 16.07.77 Meriden 02°25'E

In the tables that follow, ringing or recovery localities are indicated as shown below: Warks: Brandon (Bra) BRG; Charlecote (Cha) ARG; Meriden (Mer*) PU;

Packington (Pac) DKC. Worcs: Grimley (Gri) SW; Holt (Hoi) CMH/SW; Wilden (Wil) JRM. Staffs: Elford (ElfMfC.

111

KK 87479 KH 46340 KH 46434

-Ringed- -Recovered-26.07.76 Mer 06.07.76 Hoi 11.07.76 Hoi

KK 87234 18.07.76 Mer 25.06.77

KJ 64675 28.07.76 Hoi KH 46447 11.07.76 Hoi

KK 87351 HE 32687 KH 46622 KJ 64631 KK 87496 KS 84157 KN 51888 JR 96537

20.07. 09.07. 28.07. 23.07. 26.07. 20.08. 07.08. 1 1 . 0 8 .

76 Mer 77 Cha 76 Hoi 76 Hoi 76 Mer 77 Wil 77 Mer 77 Elf

25.05.77 Stourport (Worcs) 1 8.06.77 Abingdon (Berks) 24.06.77 Sutton Courtenay

(Berks) East Lulworth (Dorset)

03.07.77 Radley (Berks) 04.07.77 Fownhope, near

Hereford 21.07.77 Exeter (Devon) 27.07.77 St. Osyth (Essex) 31.07.77 Harrold (Beds) 07.08.77 Meriden (Warks*) 19.08.77 Aberlour (Banff) 26.08.77 Severn Stoke (Worcs) 27.08.77 Chichester (Sussex) 03.09.77 Chichester

45km WSW 105km SE 90km SE

200km SSW

100km SW 38km SW

235km SW 185km ESE 107km E 45km ENE 570km N 29km SSE 185km SSE 215km SSE

Ringed KK 54668 26.06.76 Eastleigh (Hants) KB 80099 13.07.75 Kings Lynn.(Norfolk) KN 35256 29.06.77 Blyth (Notts) KK 53034 25.06.76 Abingdon (Berks) KP 45630 25.06.77 Shrewsbury (Salop) KK 53466 12.07.76 Abingdon (Berks)

-Recovered-29.05.77 Bra 155km N 06.06.77 Hoi 185km WSW 04.07.77 Pac 115km SSW 13.07.77 Gri 90km NW 15.07.77 Gri 53km SE 23.08.77 Mer 90km NNW

Great Tit NA 67541 PJ.M 23.10.76 Fillongley (Warks) WEM

v 12.03.77 Retford (Notts) 110km NNE

Blue Tit Twelve movements of between 6km and 47km were reported in 1977.

Coal Tit KS 62994 PJ 06.10.77 Warsop (Notts)

v 04.12.77 Blithfield (Staffs) 80km SW NJS

Long-tailed Tit 525263 PJ

x 18.11.73 Brandon (Warks) 05.01.77 Ripley (Derby)

BRG 73km N

112

Bearded Tit Three birds caught 18.12.77 at Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs) had been ringed at Goole (Yorks) on 2b.U /. / / , 01 .U8. / / and Ob. 1 0 . / / respectively Dt .

Wren 098120 1 Y.F

v v

21.05.77 Ollerton (Notts) 18.12.77 Sutton Coldfield (Warks*) 90km SW 17.02.78 Sutton Coldfield AW

Finlrifnra XA 71112

XB 83415

1 Y.M 22.02.7 5 Brandon (Warks) x 18.01.77 Ollerton (Notts) Ad.M 22.02.77 Broadwas (Worcs) x 12.07.77 Trondheim (Stfr-Trtfndelag)

Norway

BRG 100km NNE CMH 63°36'N 10°23'E

Song Thrush XA 03351 PJ

x Ad x Pull X

XB 50251

XA 63124

08.12.74 Walsall (Staffs*) 24.02.76 Scarborough (Yorks) 25.07.76 Brandon (Warks) 07.03.77 Manchester (Lanes) 29.05.77 Chillington (Staffs) 13.12.77 Ventnor, Isle of Wight

WRG 215km NE BRG 125km NNW PTB 230km SSE

Redwing NX 05043

XA 85313 1Y

XC 00899 AD

XC 30898

XA 53098 Ad

BV 61965

Ad 1 1.12.76 Harbury (Warks) + (26.01.77) La Sauve-Majeure (Gironde)

France

10.01.76 Brandon (Warks) 05.03.77 Breckerfield (Arnsberg)

West Germany

15.01.77 Sutton Park (Warks*) x 20.04.77 Vikebygd (Nordeland) Norway

Ad 06.03.77 Brandon (Warks) x 18.06.77 Jappila (Mikkeli) Finland

18.01.77 Temple Grafton (Warks) + 0.1.12.77 Cabeceiras de Basto (Minho)

Portugal 1Y 30.10.76 Hull (Yorks) v 1 6.01.77 Broadwas (Worcs)

ARG 44°46'N 00° 1 8'W

BRG 51 °23'N 07°27'E

NJS 59°36'N 05°36'E

BRG 62°24'N 27°30'E

ARG 41 °31 'N 07°59 'W

215km SW SW

113

Blackbird CJ 58689 1 Y.M 01.12.73 Wythall (Worcs)

x 09.02.77 Niedorp (Noord Holland) Netherlands

XA 37734 Ad x

30.12.75 Edgbaston Park, Birmingham 25.02.77 Caistor (Lines)

CJ 61682 1 Y.M 05.10.73 Lichfield (Staffs) x (23.03.77) Larne (Antrim) N. Ireland

XC 22081 Ad.M 01.02.77 Sutton Coldfield (Warks*) 13.04.77 Lens (Pas-de-Calais) France

XA 82215 Ad.F v v

Reed Warbler KJ 55758 Ad

KK 44670 FG

JS 63079 Juv

PU 52°44'N 04°50'E

SVH 150km NE

JB

350km NW

AW 50°26'N 02°50'E CMH 25.01.76 Thorngrove (Worcs)

11.12.76 Thorngrove 23.06.77 West Rhauderfehn (Oldenburg) 53°08'N

West Germany 07°35'E

29.06.76 Carnforth (Lanes) 08.05.77 Grimley Marsh (Worcs)

05.08.76 Llangorse Lake (Brecon) 22.07.77 Copmere (Staffs)

05.08.74Tring (Herts) 03.08.77 Defford (Worcs)

210km SSE SW

120km NE DE

100km WNW GHG

In addition there were 13 movements of between 22 and 85 kilometres. Sedge Warbler KK 72770 1Y

KR 13252 Pull v

KR 46544 1Y v

KR 46607 1Y v

Jersey 1Y C 27808

v Paris Ad 2324031

11.07.76 Brandon (Warks) 1 5.05.77 Croydon (Surrey) 22.06.77 Draycote (Warks) 11.08.77 Weymouth (Dorset) 07.08.77 Brandon (Warks) 1 7.08.77 Radipole (Dorset) 14.08.77 Brandon (Warks) 29.08.77 Church Norton (Sussex) 29.08.76 La Fougeraie, Sark

Channel Islands 12.06.77 Brandon (Warks) 26.04.77 Settat, Morocco

16.07.77 Packington (Warks)

BRG 130km SSE BRG 205km SSW BRG 205km SSW BRG 183km SSE 49°27 'N 02°21 'W BRG 33°00 'N 07°37 'W WEM

114

Whitethroat JV 54293 1Y 23.06.74 Brandon (Warks)

25.05.77 Dalbury Lees (Derby) BRG 60km N

Goldcrest 011980 1 Y.M 13.09.76 near Bridgend, Isle of Islay

(Argyll) v 05.02.77 Hopwas (Staffs) 455km SE

AEC

Pied Wagtail JR 91030 1 Y.F

x KR 24625 PJ

01.09.74 Walsall (Staffs*) WRG 22.1 1.74 Los Palacios (Sevilla) Spain 14.01.77 Bournville, Birmingham GFA 1 1.04.77 Warcop (Westmorland) 235km N

Yellow Wagtail KN 24009 FG.F

v FG.M v

KH 04331

20.08.77 Doxey Marshes (Staffs) 09.09.77 Radipole (Dorset) 03.09.75 Radipole (Dorset) 21.08.77 Doxey Marshes (Staffs)

DE 250km S

250km N DE

Starling XB 58660

XB 18128 PJ.F

XC 36670 PJ.M

XV 31037

XV 22129

PJ.F 08.02.76 Bournville, Birmingham x 11.05.76 Gantsevichi (Brest)

Belorussiya SSR 20.12.75 Bournville, Birmingham 10.06.76 Shchuchin (Grodno)

Belorussiya SSR 02.02.77 Bournville, Birmingham

x 1 5.04.77 Pori (Turku & Pori) Finland

Ad.M 01.01.74 Sutton Coldfield (Warks*) x 1 7.04.77 Lesk (Schleswig-Holstein)

West Germany Ad.F 25.10.75 Bewdley (Worcs) ? spring 77 Kalisz (Poznan) Poland

GFA 52°42'N 26°30'E GFA 53°34'N 24°53'E GFA 61°29'N 21 °47'E DRM 54°46'N 08°39'E JRM 51 °46'N 18°02'E

115

XB 83025 PJ 04.12.76 x 16.07.77

CV 42343 PJ.M 04.12.76 X 17.04.77

CV 42370 Ad.M 04.12.76 + 21.07.77

Arnhem PJ' 02.03.76 K 550718

X 22.1 1.76 Bruxelles PJ.F 18.03.76 6Z 48726

V 19.12.76 Copenhagen Juv 02.07.72 8652454

V 26.02.77

Netherlands

Netherlands

Denmark

Netherlands

CMH 52°34'N 05°55„'E GHG 52°52'N 05°05'E GHG 54°59'N 10°35'E 52°34'N 05°55'E RMB 51°17'N 04°25'E JRH 55°38'N 12°34'E GHG

Greenfinch BS 95879 Ad.M

v Ad.F x Ad.F v

NA 53001

BS 48809

BP 64392 Ad.F

29.02.76 Berkswell (Warks*) 05.02.77 Barnstaple (Devon) 03.04.76 Coombe (Warks) 01.08.77 Grimsby (Lines) 07.1 1.76 Huddersfield (Yorks) 01.01.77 Sutton Park (Warks*)

30.03.74Tring (Herts) 20.02.77 Knowle (Warks*)

TG/PLI 225km SW BRG 150km NE

120km S NJS

100km NW PJW

In addition there were 1 7 movements of less than 100 kilometres.

Goldfinch KN 07699 Ad.F 18.09.77 Holt (Worcs) CMH

x 06.1 1.77 Villafranca de Ordizia 43°03'N (Guipuzcoa) Spain 02°10 'W

Redpoll KR 60081 Ad

KP 36062 Ad.M

29.03.77 Great Witley (Worcs) JRM 15.05.77 Formby (Lanes) 1 50km NNW 05.12.76 Coombe (Warks) BRG 02.06.77 Blyth (Northumberland) 295km N

11.6

Chaffinch Helgoland PJ.F 16.04.77 Insel Helgoland, West 54°11'N 9M 54169 Germany 07°55'E

v 20.11.77 Swindon (Staffs) PTB

Reed Bunting JP 97966 1 Y.F

v KK 63794 Juv

04.07.76 Brandon (Warks) 12.02.77 Southampton (Hants) 07.08.76 Packington (Warks) 19.02.77 Alresford Pond (Hants)

BRG 1 55km S DKC 152km S

In addition there were 12 movements of less than 65 kilometres. Of all the Reed Bunting recoveries printed in WMBC Annual Reports, three have in-volved Hampshire (the two above plus one in 1 976) and no movements of more than 100 kilometres had been noted before 1 975.

Key to Ringer's Initials

GFA G F Appleton CMH C M Hemmings PTB P T Bache JRH J R Hodson IPB I P Bainbridge SVH S V Hunter RMB R M Bishop PLI P L Ireland JB J Blundell WEM W E Merrill SCB S C Brown CDTM C D T Minton DKC D K Chesterman DRM D R Mirams AEC A E Coleman JRM J R Mountford DE D Emley NJS N J Speak TG T Gray SW S Walker GHG G H Green AW A Whittaker ARG Arden Ringing Group PJW P J Wilkinson BRG Brandon Ringing Group RAW R A Williams WRG Walsall Ringing Group

In many cases the recoveries attributed to one particular ringer could not have come about without assistance given by other ringers, trainees or helpers.

117

Key to Contributors

The following members and non-members have forwarded material for the report.

J Abbott P L Adams S Adamson K Allsopp

f M r Alsop G F Appleton R Armfield G A Arnold M A Arnold N G Arnold J A Asbury R S Atkins M J Austin

P Bache (PBa) F Baldry Mrs V A Baldry P J Barden P D Barnett P G Barrett A Bash L R Bayes B Bentley M Bishop (MBi) G M Blackman A R M Blake M Boilstone K J Boll ington A L Booth R Boss (RBoj

tE J Bradford f M r s W G Bradford

Mr & Mrs Briggs T R Briggs P Brookes C P Brooking E B Brown L J Brown Mrs P A Brown R Brownsword Mr Brunt G C Bruton C Bullock D Butler

Mrs L A Cadbury D Capps D K Chesterman E S Clare P Clarke R G Clegg K G Clifford S G D Cook B Craddock A Curran C Curtis

Mrs E Darling J Darling

•fl Dawson J J Day A J Dean A R Dean P K Dedicoat D A Diskin I J Dix R A Dowen T Doyle Mrs D Dunstan

S F L Edwards E S Eedees J A Elmore D W Emley G Evans R J Evans

f M r s I M Evans J C Eyre-

Dickinson

D Field P J Finden D M Fleet K R Fletcher J E Fortey H H Fowkes

N D Galloway P Garner R P Garnett P AGIu th S R Goddard E R Green G H Green Mrs J Green F C Gribble C R Griff iths. J E Griff i ths Brandon Marsh

Conservation Group

Brandon Ringing Group

A G Hall T C Hamblett A J Hambury A Hancock D J Handford J A Hardman G R Harrison Mrs J V Harrison M Harrison (MHa) M Harvey A W Hatfield D M Hawker W Hayston R Hemming H S Hemsley-Hall K Heron Mrs J M Heynes R J Higgins D W Hildred K Hill (KHi) J R Hodson P Hodson M J Hollis E A Hopkins G Hopkins N Hopkins H Hughes

R A Hume P Vale-Humphries R V C Humphries J R Hutchings

(JRHu) P D Hyde

C Ingram P Ingram M J Inskip

B Jackson A F Jacobs D James D E Jebbett R J Jennett P Johnson

P J Kelly H W Key M H King K N Kingscott B L Kington

f G Knight-

| M r s 0 L Lancaster | T W Lancaster

C N Lane B Lawson C B Lee H T Lees T C E Link E W Longman J Lord K A Loveridge W J Low B Lucas (BLu) K Lucas

I R Machin N C Machin G E Manser G J Mant

118

D V M a r d l e R B Ratcliffe M E Teesdale L Wheeler D M M d i s l i H htestall (Mtle) M Whitehead Mrs C Marsh A J Richards Mrs C A Thomas (MWh) J P Mar t i n I N Ricketts K H Thomas Miss P M R Maskew J Ridley f M r s M E Thomas Whitehead H Mason N Ridley R J Thomas 1 C Whitehouse J Mason D R Roberts J W Thompson M Whitehouse S M c M i n n B Robertson P M Thompson S M Whitehouse A M o r a n D H Rogers C R Thouless S 0 Whitehouse P A M o r a n Miss E M Rose Miss G E Timmins Mrs M L Wi l l iams M r s T Moran I'D HOwe T Trueman N R Wil l is J R Mount fo rd R S Royle f M r s J Turner J Wilson (JWi)

C Rutter M V Tursner A W W o l t o n

G Nail G K Nichol ls S C Nichol ls

F E Wol ton G Nail G K Nichol ls S C Nichol ls

D Scott (DSc) King Edward's

School Ornithological Section

K 0 Simmons

D T Underhill W F Wol ton A J Wood D J Woodall

R S Nick l in D Norman Mrs A Normand

D Scott (DSc) King Edward's

School Ornithological Section

K 0 Simmons

S Walker M F Wallace J Wal ton (JWa)

(DJWo) TWos l i n D J Wright

F H Simms M Waterhouse Mrs K A Wright (KAWr)

Dr A Oa tway D Smallshire (MWa)

Mrs K A Wright (KAWr)

C O w e n M S Smith T C Smout

Miss Y M Way K A Webb

N J Speak M J Webb D WYa lden Dr R W Payne G Stokes (GSt) J Welch E G Phi l l ips D A Stone S K Welch C F Porter J R Stonehouse N R Went (NFtWe) t Member of D I Porter K Stott D R West Warwick Natural C H Potter G Summers B Westwood History Society

Species requiring descriptions To be acceptable for publication, records of the following species must be accompanied by a description suffient to show how the species was iden-tified and to eliminate all other similar species. The poor standard of many descriptions continues to cause the Editorial Committee concern and in some cases leads to records being rejected. As a guide, observers are reminded that descriptions should include notes on weather conditions; habitat; distance and period of observation; optics used; other species pre-sent; previous experience of the species; behaviour and actions when fly-ing, feeding or moving; size and shape of head, neck, body, tail, wings, bill and legs and call or song as well as a systematic description of plumage including colour of upperparts and underparts, the colour and position of any conspicuous marks and the colour of bill, legs, feet and eyes.

119

All national rarities (not published unless accepted by the "British Birds" Rarities Committee) All out-of-season migrants Unusual races Divers Grebes, other than Great Crested and Little Petrels and Shearwaters Gannet and Shag Herons other than Grey Whooper Swan Geese other than Grey Lag and Canada Duck: Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous, Scaup, Eider, Long-tailed, Scoter spp, Smew and Red-breasted Merganser Raptors other than Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel Quail Crakes other than Water Rail Waders: Avocet, Kentish Plover, Dotterel, Grey Plover, Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Phalaropes Skuas Gulls: Mediterranean, Little, Sabine's, Iceland, Glaucous and Kittiwake Terns: Sandwich, Roseate and Little Auks Long-eared Owl Hoopoe and Wryneck Woodlark and Shorelark Rock/Water Pipit Waxwing Bluethroat Black Redstart Warblers: Cetti's, Marsh, Icterine, Melodious, Dartford, Barred and Yellow-browed Red-breasted Flycatcher Bearded Tit Golden Oriole Shrikes Raven Twite Hawfinch Buntings: Lapland, Snow, Cirl and Ortolan

Printing: Charles Clarke (Haywards Heath) Ltd