Year Tick, Warwickshire Tick and a Lifer for Me!

Bearing in mind that on the last two occasions I've gone in search of rare/unusual birds reported at Shustoke Reservoir I've dipped, I resisted the temptation over the weekend to shoot over to the Reservoir where a 1st summer Black-throated diver has descended.

This morning I decided I could resist no longer and drove over to Shustoke. Although I did make the fatal mistake of yet again taking my daughter who gets bored very easily so my time there was limited!

When I arrived I was told by a birder near the car park that the diver had been seen in the area of the reservoir near the car park earlier this morning but had since moved to the far end of the reservoir (the story of my birding life!). A few "bribes" later and daughter had reluctantly agreed to go over there.

By the time we arrived the diver was moving back in the direction of the car park! However, it was still just about viewable in the far distance (when it wasn't diving!) and, oh joy, I finally got my very first, albeit a very brief, glimpse of this species.

Sorry, I did take the camera but no photos as it was far too distant. Many thanks to the two gentleman who helped me, one by letting me get a glimpse of the diver through his telescope and the other who told me where it had last been seen.

Other highlights of the trip were the great number of great crested grebes on the reservoir, one of which was sitting on a nest. There was at least one common tern around and many coots on nests.

A very productive morning!