Draycote Logbook
West Midland Bird Club reports
The Birds of Draycote Water by R. E. Harbird (1992)
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Monthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 3 | 4 | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica
Very scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Monthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 5 | 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
4 |
2 |
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer
Scarce winter visitor and storm-driven visitor
Monthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 5 | 2 | 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
20 |
20 |
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (B)
Resident usually one or two birds present depending on water levels
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
30 |
30 |
16 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
16 |
33 |
44 |
100 |
40 |
38 |
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Very scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Monthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 5 | 11 | 3 | 3 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (B)
Resident birds present all year
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
180 |
247 |
169 |
100 |
72 |
79 |
86 |
137 |
172 |
287 |
269 |
270 |
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus
Very scarce winter visitor and passage migrantMonthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
23 |
7 |
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Scarce visitor but increasing autumn passage migrant
Monthly arrivals
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| 4 | 13 |
4 |
|
2 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Very rare visitor
8 Records
|
June 3rd |
1977 | |
| April 26th | 1981 | |
| July 20th | 1985 | |
| September 10th | 1989 | |
|
August 29th |
1994 | |
| May 13th | 2001 | |
| Jan 1st | 2004 | |
| September 13th | 2004 |
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Rare storm-driven visitor
11 Records
|
September 10th |
1974 |
|
| September 4th | 1983 | |
| September 22nd | 1984 | |
| September 3rd | 1985 | |
| September 4th | 1988 | 2 Birds |
| September 7th | 1988 | |
| September 12th | 1988 | |
| August 29th | 1994 | |
| August 29th | 1997 | |
| September 9th | 2000 | |
| September 12th | 2004 |
Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Very rare storm-driven visitor
1 Record
|
September 17th |
1970 |
Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Rare storm-driven visitor
8 Records
|
September 3rd |
1983 |
2 Birds |
| September 20th | 1987 | |
|
September 10th |
1989 | |
| December 29th | 1994 | |
| September 24th | 2003 | |
| September 18th | 2005 | |
| December 8th | 2006 | 2 Birds |
| October 19th | 2007 |
Gannet Sula bassana
Very rare visitor
3 Records
|
September 3rd |
1983 |
|
| June 6th-8th | 1999 |
[
A bird found at Little Kineton on Sept 5th 1974 Released at Draycote and present till Sept 8th]
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Mainly winter visitor, increasing
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
567 |
300 |
217 |
117 |
108 |
10 |
38 |
40 |
68 |
171 |
338 |
377 |
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Scarce visitor
Maximum numbers each year
|
1971 |
1974 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1984 |
1987 |
1989 |
1991 |
| 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| 13 | 3 | 2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Rare vagrant
8 Records
| July 27th-August 18th | 1996 | |
| August 13th | 2000 | |
|
April 13th |
2001 |
|
| July 23rd-September 15th | 2001 | |
| August 27th-September 15th | 2001 | |
| July 15th- 22nd | 2002 | |
| August 8th | 2002 | |
| July 15th-16th | 2003 | 6 Birds 1 remaining on 16th |
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Resident usually a few birds around the Reservoir sometimes in a small group below Draycote Bank
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
31 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
23 |
28 |
36 |
48 |
35 |
37 |
24 |
22 |
Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Rare vagrant
1 Record
|
December 22nd |
1996 |
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Very rare vagrant
3 Records
|
April 21st |
1996 | Leamington Hastings bird |
|
July 14th |
1997 |
|
| September 25th | 2000 | Rugby-Northants (AX) bird |
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Rare vagrant
3 Records
|
October 19th - 20th |
1972 |
4 Birds |
| May 25th June 2nd | 1979 | |
| August 23rd | 2005 |
Mute Swan Cygnus olor (B)
Resident birds present throughout the year in double figures previously a rare visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
71 |
42 |
14 |
14 |
34 |
48 |
87 |
96 |
101 |
114 |
112 |
108 |
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Scarce winter visitor
13 Records
| November 7th | 1974 | 3 Birds |
|
October 10th |
1975 | 3 Birds |
|
November 28th |
1976 | imm |
| December 28th | 1978 | 3 Birds |
|
December 2nd |
1980 | 9 NW over |
| November 20th | 1983 | |
|
January 28th |
1984 | 7 Adults |
|
November 25th |
1984 | 2 Adults 3 juv |
|
January 8th |
1985 | 8 Birds |
|
October 28th |
1991 | Adult |
|
January 14th |
1996 | 12 Birds |
|
January 21st |
1997 |
2 Birds |
| October 20th | 1997 | 2 Adults 3 juv |
|
December 25th |
2000 | 2 Birds |
Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus
Winter visitor recorded most years
Maximum 95 February 23rd 1980
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
Scarce visitor
| February 2nd | 1981 | 4 flew over |
| December 3rd | 1982 | 1 with Whitefronts |
| September | 1991 | Prob feral |
Bean Goose Anser fabalis
Rare visitor
1 Record of the race rossicus
|
January 1st - 2nd |
1996 |
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Rare visitor mostly flying over
Maximum 64 December 18th 1983
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Occasional visitor most probably feral
Maximum 15 March 1st-4th 1969
Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
Rare visitor most are probably feral
Canada Goose Branta canadensis (B)
Widespread and fairly numerous species
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
277 |
204 |
104 |
32 |
24 |
56 |
436 |
878 |
1044 |
890 |
400 |
317 |
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
Occasional visitor most probably feral
Brent Goose Branta bernicla
Rare visitor mostly in winter and hard weather with some obvious feral records in summer
| November 10th | 1983 | |
| January 22nd | 1984 | 2 Birds |
| November 18th | 1985 | 10 Birds |
|
January 1st-4th |
1989 | |
| July 8th | 1989 | |
| December 1st | 2002 |
Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
Very scarce visitor
1 Record
| December 17th | 1995 |
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Rare vagrant
2 Records
| August 5th | 1991 | |
| July 29th | 1993 | 2 Birds |
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
Passage migrant can occur any month
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
5 |
17 |
7 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
22 |
18 |
14 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
Scarce visitor
Wood Duck
Wigeon Anas penelope
Fairly numerous winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1700 |
800 |
409 |
46 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
580 |
1260 |
1406 |
1360 |
Gadwall Anas strepera
Mainly winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
140 |
62 |
39 |
13 |
9 |
21 |
3 |
18 |
68 |
128 |
146 |
159 |
Teal Anas crecca
Fairly numerous winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1500 |
348 |
200 |
58 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
27 |
471 |
566 |
683 |
318 |
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis
Rare vagrant
1 Record
|
February 4th |
1990 | Ad ♂ |
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (B)
Widespread and numerous resident species
Maximum 1,600 November 15th 1970
Pintail Anas acuta
Scarce winter visitor
Maximum 40 February 23rd-March 2nd 1969
Garganey Anas querquedula
Scarce summer and autumn visitor
Maximum 7 June22nd 1969
Shoveler Anas clypeata
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
76 |
33 |
8 |
8 |
170 |
3 |
11 |
21 |
73 |
116 |
137 |
43 |
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Rare visitor decreasing against national trend
Maximum 4 August 17th-October 26th 1973
Pochard Aythya ferina
Fairly numerous winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1255 |
661 |
109 |
11 |
3 |
7 |
13 |
30 |
200 |
350 |
800 |
670 |
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Very rare vagrant
5 Records
| December 24th - Feb 22nd | 1977 / 78 | 1st w ♂ |
|
November 5th |
1994 |
♀ |
| May 16th | 1999 | Ad ♀ |
| January 6th-8th | 2001 | ♀ |
|
November 17th |
2001 | 1st w ♂ |
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Very rare vagrant
5 Records
| December 9th | 1972 | imm ♂ |
| November 12th Dec 16th | 1978 | imm ♂ |
| December 26th | 1979 | imm ♂ |
|
December 9th |
1980 |
imm ♂ |
|
August 26th |
1991 | Ad ♂ |
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (B)
Widespread and fairly numerous breeding and winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
2000 |
1200 |
300 |
150 |
123 |
100 |
128 |
230 |
969 |
1400 |
1300 |
1243 |
Scaup Aythya marila
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Maximum 10 December 1978-January 1979
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Very rare vagrant
1 Record
|
November 27th -March 4th |
2007/2008 | 1st winter ♂ |
Eider Somateria mollissima
Very rare winter visitor with an exceptional influx in 1993
13 Records
| November 14th Dec 16th | 1978 | ♀/imm |
|
December 5th - 8th |
1982 | 1 imm ♂ 3 ♀ |
|
December 8th April 14th |
1982 / 83 | 1 imm ♂ from 1982 |
| October 31st | 1993 | 1 imm ♂ 3 ♀/imm |
| November 1st | 1993 | 2 imm ♂ 2 ♀/imm |
| November 3rd | 1993 | 1 Ad ♂ 1 imm ♂ 4 ♀/imm |
|
November 5th |
1993 | 1 Ad♂1imm ♂ 4 ♀/imm |
|
November 9th |
1993 | 1 Ad ♂ 1 imm ♂ 2 ♀/imm |
|
November 13th |
1993 | 3 imm ♂ |
|
November 15th |
1993 | 2 ♀/imm |
|
November 19th |
1993 |
4 imm ♂ 14 ♀/imm |
| November 20th |
1993 |
1 imm ♂ |
| October 9th | 1997 | ♀ |
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Very rare winter visitor
14 Records
| November 25th | 1970 | |
| June 13th-16th | 1973 | ♂ |
| December 1st | 1973 | ♂ |
| December 21st-Jan 11th | 1975/76 | ♀ |
| January 11th | 1983 | ♂ |
| April 14th-16th | 1983 | ♀ |
| January 28th | 1985 | ♀ |
| December 3rd-Feb 18th | 1985/86 | ♀ |
| April 29th | 1988 | ♀ |
| January 1st - Feb 9th | 1991 | |
|
October 29th-January 26th |
1991/92 |
♀ |
|
December 26th |
1993 | ♀ |
| December 1st | 1996 |
♀ |
| December 2nd- April 18th | 2001/02 | 1st w ♂ |
| November 1st-March 31st | 2002/03 | 1st w ♂ |
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Scarce passage migrant
Maximum 72 November 20th 1988
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
Very rare and exceptional inland vagrant
1 Record
| October 26th | 1986 | Ad ♂ |
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
Rare winter visitor and passage migrant
15 Records
| February 7th | 1970 | |
| February8th | 1976 | 1 Ad ♂ |
| January 6th | 1982 | 1 Ad ♂ |
| November 13th 15th | 1983 | 1 Ad ♂ 1 ♀/imm |
| May 1st | 1984 | 7 Ad ♂ |
| April 20th 28th | 1985 | 1 Ad ♀ |
| November 19th Dec 25th |
1985 |
4 imm |
|
January April 9th |
1986 | 1 imm from 1985 |
|
April 8th-9th |
1989 | 1 ♂ 2 ♀ |
|
December 31st- Feb 15th |
1989/90 | 1 imm ♀ |
|
December 2nd |
1992 | 2 ♂ |
|
February 9th |
1995 |
1 ♀ |
|
December 26th |
1995 | 1 imm ♀ |
| December 24th - April 15th | 2000/01 |
1 ♀ |
| December 12th-14th | 2001 | Ad ♂ |
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Regular and increasing winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
169 |
114 |
134 |
67 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
28 |
155 |
160 |
Smew Mergus albellus
Scarce winter visitor
Maximum 8 1985, 1987, 1988
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Goosander Mergus merganser
Regular and increasing winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
174 |
120 |
76 |
16 |
1 |
16 |
32 |
74 |
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Regular visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
119 |
72 |
19 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
20 |
6 |
10 |
31 |
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
Very rare visitor
2 Records
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Rare visitor
3 Records
| November 27th-Dec 26th | 1993 | Thurlaston bird seen intermittently |
| April 25th | 1999 | |
| November 25th | 2000 |
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Scarce passage migrant
8 Records
|
April 23rd |
1976 | |
|
May 15th |
1976 | |
|
April 8th |
1988 | ♀ |
|
April 10th |
1988 | ♀ |
|
May 8th |
1988 | |
|
April 17th |
1995 | ♀ |
|
July 30th |
1995 | ♂ |
|
May 5th |
2000 | ♂ |
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Very scarce winter visitor
5 Records
|
April 28th |
1981 | (Ring-tail) |
|
November 6th |
1982 | (Ring-tail) |
| October 9th | 1983 | (Ring-tail) |
|
October 20th |
1996 |
♂ |
| January 17th | 1999 | ♂ |
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Regular visitor
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Very scarce passage migrant
3 Records
| August 29th | 1988 | |
|
March 19th |
1995 |
|
| December 26th | 2000 |
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Regular visitor
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
Very rare vagrant
2 Records
| October 29th | 1974 | |
| October 26th | 1984 |
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Scarce passage migrant
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Resident
Maximum 6 September 9th 1978
Merlin Falco columbarius
Winter visitor in small numbers
Hobby Falco subbuteo
Scarce passage migrant
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Mainly winter visitor but non-breeding birds can be encountered at any time of the year
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa (B)
Scarce resident
Maximum 36 December 18th 1982
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (B)
Scarce resident, decreasing in line with national picture
Maximum 24 September 2nd 1970
Quail Coturnix coturnix (B)
Very scarce passage migrant
2 Records
|
June 14th-28th |
1992 | |
| June 2nd-August 11th | 1995 | Pair bred 3 young |
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (B)
Resident
Golden Pheasant
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Winter visitor
Spotted Crake Porzona porzona
Very scarce passage migrant
1 Record
|
October 5th-23rd |
1974 |
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (B)
Resident
Coot Fulica atra (B)
Resident
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1000 |
600 |
400 |
110 |
65 |
280 |
140 |
280 |
400 |
500 |
1000 |
2100 |
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (B)
Scarce passage migrant bred when Reservoir was constructed
Maximum 14 August 1987
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Very scarce visitor
9 Records
|
November 1st |
1973 | |
|
May 9th |
1976 | |
| May 18th | 1976 | 3 flying West |
|
May 7th |
1983 | |
|
March 9th |
1991 | |
|
November 19th |
1991 | |
|
August 14th |
1994 | juv |
|
May 19th |
1996 |
5 Birds |
|
August 20th |
1996 | 3 imm |
Collared Pratincole Gareola pratincola
Very rare vagrant
1 Record
|
May 12th-13th |
1996 |
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Regular passage migrant and winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
1500 |
900 |
965 |
142 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
250 |
400 |
1600 |
3000 |
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
Very rare vagrant
1 Record
|
October 22nd - 23rd |
1991 |
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Scarce passage migrant
Maximum 12 September 22nd 1990
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (B)
Regular passage migrant
Maximum 44 June 1990
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (B)
Regular passage migrant
Maximum 20 July 1st 1993
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Very scarce migrant
3 Records
|
August 21st |
1974 | |
|
April 22nd |
1976 | ♀ |
|
May 14th - 15th |
1993 | ♂ |
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Fairly widespread passage migrant, winter visitor
Highest counts
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
7000 |
3000 |
200 |
600 |
100 |
500 |
500 |
800 |
1600 |
1000 |
3800 |
6000 |
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Rare winter visitor
Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Regular winter visitor
Maximum 40 Autumn 1969 February 1979
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
Rare winter visitor
Exceptional count of 20 February 1st 1976
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Regular passage migrant in small numbers
Maximum 11 September 3rd 1989
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Scarce passage migrant
Maximum 54 April 27th 1976
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Regular passage migrant mainly fly-overs
Maximum 9 May 3rd 1978
Curlew Numenius arquata
Regular passage migrant
Maximum 21 August 19th 1983
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Scarce passage migrant
Maximum 10 September 4th 1976
Redshank Tringa totanus
Regular passage migrant
Maximum 25 September 11th 1992
Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Regular passage migrant
Maximum 21 August 22nd 1976