2007 Summary

January
The Great Skua was present at Draycote for the first week of 2007, its fate was unknown as it was now looking unwell.A white-fronted Goose arrived at Lea Marston on 10th, and was later found to be the Greenland race being reported last on 15th.From east marsh hide Brandon a Bittern showed well for a few days,and at Draycote on the 24th 3 Whooper Swans put in a brief appearance.At Whitacre Heath NR a Pink-footed Goose was seen with 2 Greylags, possibly the Marsh Lane bird from a few days before.
Two Great Northern Divers were at Draycote all month.
February
The Bittern showed on and off at Ladywalk for most of February, with now 2 Bitterns noted at Brandon.Eight Chiffchaffs overwintered at Hams Hall sewage outflow, and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed well again at the car park feeding station at Whitacre Heath.The Gull roosts at Dosthill and Draycote produced Glaucous, Iceland, Med , Caspian and several Y L Gulls.
March
Their were now 3 Great Northern Divers at Draycote,an early Swallow reported over Lea Marston 4th,Avocet at Draycote 8th, Rock Pipit 10th, and 3 Little Egrets at cliff pool Kingsbury.Three summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes were found mid afternoon at Coton Lake,but not seen the next day.Wheatears arrived mid month with birds reported at Wishaw, Whitacre Heath, Draycote and Seeswood Pool, and Black-tailed Godwits at Ladywalk and Brandon.
April
A Firecrest caused much interest as it showed along the track from Middelton Hall for the first week. A Goshawk was seen over Swift Valley CP nr Rugby on 5th,and a Red Kite reported over Kenilworth 6th.Black-tailed Godwits now upto 9 on cliff pool Kingsbury 8th, an Osprey driffted east over Alvecote Pools 9th, and a Ring Ouzel at Napton 10th,a male Pied Flycatcher at Guys Cliffe Warwick 12th, and a Male Marsh Harrier at Brandon for two days 13th,14th.A female Goshawk flew over Alvecote 15th, and a drake Garganey at Brandon 16th, another Pied Flycatcher this time at Grendon 17th, and a juv Marsh Harrier over Ladywalk 18th, and an Osprey over the same day. A fine male Ring Ouzel at Baxterly 22nd,23rd, with another at Draycote from 26th, 30th.
May
Nine Bar-tailed Godwits were at Draycote 1st along with Whimbrel and Grey Plover,a Wood Sandpiper was at Coleshill GPs from 2nd till 5th. A Nightingale at Brandon from 4th to 6th giving breif veiws, at Earlswood Lakes a Honey Buzzard reported flying south east mid morning, two Spoonbills seen flying over Brandon 17th, and a Red Kite flew south east over Little Packington 22nd.
June
A first summer Little Gull graced Alvecote Pools on 1st, an out of season Black-throated Diver arrived at Draycote 28th and stayed for over three months.
July
Two Black-tailed Godwits at Draycote 7th, and a Sandwich Tern flew through 8th, a Spotted Sandpiper (complete with spots) turned up at Draycote in appauling weather on 20th, but dispite searching could not be found the following day.Black Tern and Common Scoter were found at Shustoke at the months end.
August
Alvecote had a good run this month with 3 Redstarts,3 Greenshank, 6 Little Egrets,5 Spotted Flys, 6 Lesser Whitethroats and a supporting cast of Green Sands, Black-tailed Godwits and two Sandwich Terns (1x adult,1x juv) 28th. Elsewhere a juv R C Pochard at Draycote 4th, another juv Marsh Harrier at Brandon 29th and a Manx Shearwater at Draycote on the afternoon 30th.
September
The first day produced a Spotted Crake at Ladywalk a juv, the following day saw another this time an adult, both birds showed well for most of the month. Two Garganey and two Pintail could be found on Middelton Hall lake, small numbers of Arctic Terns were at Shustoke, Draycote and Earlswood.An adult Arctic Skua was noted in the gull roost at Draycote 26th, a female Hen Harrier was at Ladywalk 28th, a Grey Phalarope was a good find at Shustoke Res late evening on 29th and showed well the following day.
October
Two juvinile Gannets flew south over Shustoke Res early afternoon 1st, another Grey Phalarope this time at Draycote was found early morning by the outflow, it re-located itself at Rainbow and showed well upto midday when it departed.Earlswoods tern for Grey Phalarope this time when one was found 3rd, it stayed for three days.A Great White Egret was found on private land on 6th, permission was gained and the bird was filmed and photographed, it was last seen 10th.A Pectoral Sandpiper paid a breif visit to Brandon 10th, another Ring Ouzel around Napton churchyard 16th, a Leach,s Petrel was found at Draycote around 2-00 on the afternoon 19th, the bird was watched late evening being arassed by Gulls its fate was unknown.The following day a Snow Bunting was seen along farnborough bank Draycote it gave excellent views for the next five days.A Slavonian Grebe was also present at Draycote from 25th, 28th.
November
A Short-eared Owl over east marsh Brandon 7th, two Grey Phalaropes were photographed at Brandon 11th, and possibly seen during the folowing day at Draycote but not confirmed.A first winter drake Lesser Scaup was found in toft bay Draycote 27th and was still present at the months end.
December
The Lesser Scaup was present all month, a juv Glaucous Gull was at Dosthill lake 1st, and one was seen at Judkins landfill site Nuneaton from 3rd, 6th. A Firecrest was noted along Laundry Lane Alvecote 11th,and by mid month three birds were noted.At Draycote a Slavonian Grebe was found in Rainbow corner, later seen by valve tower, with no further sign the following day. A first winter drake Scaup was located at Lea Marston lake and stayed untill the months end.A drake Smew turned up after a cold spell at Draycote 16th and was later joined by two more, 18th. Just one bird remained till the months end.At Church Lawford a Dark-bellied Brent Goose was found in a field next to A428, it stayed for four days.

Happy New Year, And good Birding for 2008.
Steve Seal