Wednesday 19 November 2008 - West Midland Bird Club - Annual Report 2006 (No 73)

West Midland Bird Club - Annual Report 2006 (No 73)

Today the latest annual bird report covering the 'chav' capital of England - Staffordshire, Shakespeares glorious County - Warwickshire, that slightly backward County full of web-handed suppressors - Worcestershire and that sprawling sewer that's not even a proper County - West Midlands dropped through the antique letter box of my quaint Warwickshire cottage.  Before I'm sent any death threats (AGAIN), I'm only joking folks, I love all my 'West Midland' brothers and sisters equally.

The report (as always) is superbly put together by David Emley with the help from the 4 x County Recorders.  It runs to a massive 244 pages and includes nearly 50 colour pics from the cream of local photographers.  The report starts with a condensed review of the birds and the weather throughout the year followed by the usual systematic list of all species recorded in the area.  The report then concludes with a ringing report by Bert Coleman and a brief finder's account of Staffordshire's first ever FRANKLIN'S GULL found by Max Radford at Blithfield. 

Other rarities detailed include the female AMERICAN WIGEON at Belvide (well done Ian & Steve), FERRUGINOUS DUCKS in Warwickshire and Staffordshire, LESSER SCAUPS in Worcestershire and Staffordshire, GREAT WHITE EGRET in Warwickshire, GLOSSY IBIS over Staffordshire (the only Staffs blocker on my list), BLACK-WINGED STILT in Worcestershire, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in Worcestershire, GULL-BILLED TERN in Warwickshire (GRRRRRRR) and the RED-RUMPED SWALLOW in Staffordshire.

The report is FREE to all members of the West Midland Bird Club.... and if you're a birder who resides in any of the above Counties and you're not a member..... HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME!  Alternatively you can purchase a copy for £10.00 (well it's really £9.00 but it's worth at least £10.00) including postage and packing from the following lovely person:

John Hoyle - 22 Montfort Road, Coleshill. B46 3LT

Please make cheques payable to West Midland Bird Club 

Thursday 20 November 2008 - Frankie goes to Ingestre