Red-necked Phalarope: The August Bank Holiday weekend is usually a time for relaxing, but for Midwest and Warwickshire birdwatchers, it turned into an absolute scramble. A rare juvenile Red-necked Phalarope made an unexpected stopover at Kingsbury Water Park, triggering a massive turnout of local twitchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
According to local records, this stunning little wader represents the first recorded sighting of a Red-necked Phalarope in Warwickshire since 1988. For many local birders, it was a true once-in-a-generation local tick!
The juvenile bird took up temporary residence on Bodymoor Heath Water, specifically favoring the shoreline just a short walk from the car park south of the sailing club. What made this particular birding event so magical wasn't just its rarity it was the bird’s incredibly "confiding" nature. Showing absolutely no fear of the growing crowds, the juvenile phalarope spent hours swimming and foraging mere meters from the shoreline.
At times, lucky onlookers with binoculars and long lenses found themselves practically face-to-face with the bird as it drifted within 4 to 5 metres of the bank.
The phalarope wasn't the only star of the show. Birders who spent the weekend staking out the lakes were treated to an all-around fantastic autumn passage, with sightings of a little gull and several common terns adding to the bank holiday tally.
This was my first time at Kingsbury Water Park and I can see why it has proven why it is one of the premier wetland hotspots in the region. Its a great little place.
