Brilliant day birding today as I got a 🚨 Lifer 🚨 in shape of a Non Breeding Bar Tailed Godwit..
Seems to me that my non planned birding days are always the best. Also plenty of others like LRP, Cuckoo calling, Redshank, Garden, Sedge, Willow and Reed Warblers.
All at my

Sand Martin action from the Rudd hide Ladywalk NR. Taken on Saturday, was a surprise and pleasure to watch this pair fly in and out of the box in front of the hide. West Midland Bird Club WestMidsBirding

Lutley Wedge W.Mids 22/4.
Sound recording from this morning of a mixed-singing Willow Warbler on the patch. It mostly sings a typical Willow Warbler song, but also includes Chiffchaff song mixed in.
WestMidsBirding West Midland Bird Club

Yellowhammer from this afternoon's walk

RSPB Middleton Lakes Enjoyable visit this morning with plenty to see. Grasshopper Warbler one of many highlights.

A few year ticks in the rain Ladywalk NR this aft. Bar-tailed Godwit looking tired, Yellow-legged Gull and singles of Swift & Yellow Wagtail over.

Dark-edged bee-fly enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. Ladywalk NR

Specially for Josh Boe , a little video of Leucozona lucorum cleaning its bottom! Filmed in 2021 at Ladywalk NR

I’ve scoured books and internet for this one. Flies are not a strong point of mine. I’m going with “Spring Epistrophe” a tiny Hoverfly. Open to suggestions if I’m mistaken. Ladywalk NR

Keeping the bedding fresh for the cubs Ladywalk NR she uses her front paws to rake up leaves and other materials, rolling it into a ball and then shuffling backwards with it.

Blackcap, Greenfinch, Sand Martin and Cuckoo from today's visit to Ladywalk NR. Great views of the Cuckoo, but unfortunately too distant/mobile for decent images. Spring is here! West Midland Bird Club WestMidsBirding

Our very own Richard King will be talking to BBC Radio CWR tomorrow morning about the West Midland Bird Club! Listen out for him on the Lorna Bailey show from 7.30am 📻

WestMidsBirding Cuckoo at Ladywalk this afternoon

Rilaenia triangularis, a new harvestman species for me today, found in vegetation near the River Tame Ladywalk NR BAS Vanna Bartlett

Reserve could be busy today with a U3A group due this am.

Ladywalk today. Lesser Whitethroat on the walk from the Station near the car park. Reed Warbler, 30 Sand Martins, Common Sandpiper on the River where there were 3 Goosander, 1 Redshank.

Today's Kittiwake Ladywalk NR to give an idea of how much of a mega this is for here, it was a patch tick for nearly every regular birder here, we always struggle for birds like this with two major waterways either side of us, but regular visits do pay off eventually!

Kittiwake currently on B pools Ladywalk NR

A morning well spent on Blyth Meadow Ladywalk NR also produced a pair of Garganey for a brief few minutes.

Brilliant 9 hours birding yesterday started at 6.30 at Ladywalk NR and ended at RSPB Middleton Lakes a total of 66 & 85 species respectively.
Currently I'm 2 off equalising my 2023 year list and were a third of the way through the year.
Not a lot happening in the way of waders