Mike Holley
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mikeholley.bsky.social
Mike Holley
@mikeholley.bsky.social
780 followers 480 following 1K posts
Worcestershire based birder and odonata-er.
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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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
One of two Roe Deer on the North Moors at #uptonwarren this morning.
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.
Thanks Suzanne, they made surprisingly willing subjects. Hope all is well with you.
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
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
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.
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.
Went back to Croome this afternoon where the four juvenile Glossy Ibis showed really well, foraging in the channel off the lake. #WorcsBirds
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.
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
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