Author | Lightnews

Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 3d

I'll DM you.

Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 4d

No, these dropped into Grimley at 10.30 and were still there at 14:00. According to a post on the Worcs Rare Bird WhatsApp group, the Belvide birds were reported around 12.30.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 4d

6 juv and 4 adult Whooper Swans at #Grimley rounded off a decent week’s birding. Other notables from this morning: 4 Stonechat on north causeway, 11+ Common Snipe, 2 GWE, 4 Little Egret, Goosander over north, plus the usuals. #WorcsBirds

9 of the 10 Whooper Swans at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire, on 25th October 2025. Four adults and five of the juveniles are shown in the photo, viewed from the south causeway.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 12d

A Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 6 Snipe and 3 Otters were among the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors today 7.30 to 11.00. Other notables: 48 Lapwing, Water Rail, Stonechat, Buzzard thru low, Green Woodpecker. 5 Little Egret was the best at the Sailing Pool. Dipped on the Rock Pipit at the Flashes. #WorcsBirds

Two of the five Curlew today at the Moors, Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Worcestershire. The Curlew are shown with three male Teal.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 14d

Best of Grimley 08:30-11:30. CLP: 3 Stonechat, 11 House Martin thru, 3 Snipe, 71 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk on west shore. CF: 2 Green Sand, 100+ mixed Finch flock including Redpoll. Wildgoose: Marsh Tit, GWE, Treecreeper, Green & Great Spot Woodpeckers. GWE was the only Egret seen anywhere. #WorcsBirds

A female Stonechat on the north causeway at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire, on 15th October 2025. An adult male and immature male were also present.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 16d

2nd WeBS count at Bittell this morning. Good variety of waterfowl across the reservoirs and pools, albeit most of which were on the south section of the Lower reservoir. The main Upper reservoir was quiet, with no waders present during the count, and two GWE as the only notable. #WorcsBirds

View looking north across a pool adjacent to the main Upper Bittell reservoir, Worcestershire, on 13th October 2025. Two Kingfishers are a regular sight on this pool.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 19d

Finished the morning at #Grimley, where the highlights 10:00 to 12:00 were CLP: Green Sand, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 78 Lapwing. CF: 20+ Mipits. Wildgoose: GWE, 4 Little Egret. Wigeon count across CLP and CF up to 89. Species seen on CLP and CF was affected by separate disturbances. #WorcsBirds

A Great White Egret and two of the four Little Egret on the pool at Wildgoose Nature Reserve, Worcestershire, on 10th October, 2025. Note: A permit or WMBC membership is required to access part of the reserve.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 19d

Started a morning’s birding at Clifton. Notables from 6:30 to 09:30: GWE, 8 Little Egret, and a large, mobile finch flock in the southern sunflower fields, including Redpoll. An 800+ flock of (mostly) Greylag and Canada Geese dominated the pits. Photo: 3 of 23+ Egyptian Geese present. #WorcsBirds

Three Egyptian Geese on the main pit at Clifton on 10th October 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 23d

A dawn start at #Grimley CLP paid off with 2 Cattle Egret on the west shore, and the Glossy Ibis and 2 GWE over north as they left the roost. A BlackWit dropped onto the west shore. Marsh Tit and a late Spotfly were the star birds at Wildgoose to round off a decent 6 hours birding. #WorcsBirds

Sunrise over the main pool at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire, on 6th October 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 25d

A Pink-footed Goose and a GWE were the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors from this morning’s wind and early rain. c75 Lapwing was the best from the usual others. At the Flashes, 4 Curlew still and cracking views this Green Woodpecker foraging in front of the Avocet hide. #WorcsBirds

A Green Woodpecker foraging in the grass in front of the Avocet Hide at The Flashes, Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Worcestershire, on 4th October 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · 26d

2 Ringed Plover on the east shore of CLP were the highlight at #Grimley from 06:30 to 09:15. Best of the rest at CLP / CF - Common Sand, 3 Little Egret over, 78 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, Sparrowhawk thru, 2 Egyptian. CF: Wigeon numbers building with 28 on north pit. Also later, GWE at WG #WorcsBirds

5 of the 28 Wigeon on the north pit at Church Farm, Grimley, Worcestershire on 3rd October 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 29

Decent morning at #Grimley. Best of 8.30 to 12.30. CLP: Ringed Plover, Common Sand, 5 Snipe, 2 GWE, 6 Little Egret, Water Rail, 75+ Lapwing, Stonechat, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest. Church Farm: Common Sand, 15+ Swallow, Mipits. Wildgoose: Green Sand. Island Pool: Stonechat, 3 Little Egret. #WorcsBirds

A female Stonechat perched on a bush on the north causeway at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire on 29th September 2025.

A Great White Egret feeding on the main pool at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire on 29th September 2025.

A Common Snipe on the west shore of the Hippo Pool at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire on 29th September 2025.

View looking north-east across the north end of the main pool at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire on 29th September 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 27

One of two Roe Deer on the North Moors at #uptonwarren this morning.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 27

In Worcestershire there’s been one at Grimley for four weeks now, it joins the Egret roost. These juvs at Croome seem settled, despite it being a popular NT site. The low water is providing access to plenty of food, with little or no competition. It will be interesting to see how long they stay.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 27

Thanks Suzanne, they made surprisingly willing subjects. Hope all is well with you.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 26

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 26

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 26

No apologies for another photo of one of the Glossy Ibis at Croome. The low water level in the lake is providing plenty of feeding opportunities for them. #WorcsBirds

A juvenile Glossy Ibis feeding in the shallow water of the lake at Croome Park, Worcestershire, on 25th September 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 25

Cracking views of the four juvenile Glossy Ibis as they foraged at Croome today, this one just a few feet away on the edge of the lake. #WorcsBirds

A juvenile Glossy Ibis on the edge of the lake at Croome Park, Worcestershire, on 25th September 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 25

If you’re not familiar with Croome, they are on the lake circled in red in the attached map. When you get through the visitor centre and enter the park by the historic church (no 5 in the map), take the path that goes off to the right, this will take you straight to the lake. Good luck if you go.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 25

Thanks. Luckily the Glossy Ibis were on the closest pool to Zeiss, hunkered up against the reeds though so still a fair distance away for pictures. The BlackWits were on Rushy and reasonably close to the hide, which made getting photos a lot easier.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 25

Went back to Croome this afternoon where the four juvenile Glossy Ibis showed really well, foraging in the channel off the lake. #WorcsBirds

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 24

Steve Ferguson reported them as still present this afternoon, on the lake island (north end of the river). I spent an hour there earlier in the day but didn't see them.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 24

Dropped into Grimley late morning where I was amazed to see a group of NINE GWEs on CLP, a personal record in the UK. Other notables at CLP: Ringed Plover (photo), Common Sand, 4 Little Egret, 70+ flighty Lapwing, Kestrel, close encounter with a Green Woodpecker on the causeway. #WorcsBirds

A Ringed Plover on the west shore of the main pool at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley, Worcestershire, on 24th September 2025.

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Mike Holley @mikeholley.bsky.social · Sep 24

Started the day at Clifton Pits where the Long-tailed Duck eventually showed well. 2 Green Sand were the only wader, 28+ adult and juv Greenfinch in the sunflower field was an encouraging sight for this Red list bird. Dropped into Coombe, where I somehow dipped on the 4 Glossy Ibis 😟. #WorcsBirds

A drake Long-tailed Duck on the north pit at Clifton, Worcestershire, on 24th September 2025.

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