Tuesday 4th May 2010, Shenstone & Upton Warren

3 Wheatear (2♂) still at Stanklyn Lane in the paddocks this morning and Garden Warbler still in hedgerow. Garden Warbler has been a scarce bird at Shenstone over the years, with the only previous sighting being one day bird in April 2009. On the evening, there were still 2 Wheatear showing plus 4 Corn Buntings and 5 Yellowhammers (Craig Reed).

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Visited Upton Warren late morning and spent a couple of hours, to start with, at the Moors Pool. Very quite in terms of passage, even though 14 Artic Terns (TMH) had passed through earlier that morning. I had at least 3 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher and both Sedge and Reed Warbler.

The Flashes were also quiet with highlights being Lesser Whitethroat in hedge along track to hide, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank and of course, the mixed blessing that is, the Avocets. Although interestingly enough, the Avocets seem to be tolerating Black-headed Gulls nesting on the same islands.

It also seemed that there has been an increase in the numbers of Sedge Warbler present. It certainly seems that this year it is a good Sedge and Garden Warbler generally year in Worcestershire.

Sedge Warbler - Upton Warren Moors Pool 04/05/2010