MEGA BIRD NEWS:2nd May 2026-Lesser Kestrel-Cornwall-Croft Pascoe Pool-Adult male still showing well in roadside bush at 50.0280, -5.1723; very limited parking, park considerately in layby (TR12 6SN) and walk through woods to end of plantation to view-Zitting Cisticola-Suffolk-Walberswick NNR-Displaying male again over saltmarsh between beach and Dunwich River; use Cliff Field car park (IP18 6TX; card/app payment only) and walk south-west along beach for c 1km to view from 52.3063, 1.6560. View only from the seawall, do not walk out on the raised bank-Stejneger's Scoter-Fife-East Wemyss-2nd-summer drake still on sea; use Weavers Court car park (KY1 4RT) and view from Wemyss Caves
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24.4.25

HARBURY SPOILBANK NATURE RESERVE-WARWICKSHIRE

This afternoon, I explored a charming new nature reserve in Warwickshire, a site with a rich history dating back to the construction of the Leamington to Oxford railway in the 1840s.

The highlight of my visit was adding two new butterflies to my list: the Dingy Skipper and the Grizzled Skipper. Both species were surprisingly easy to locate on the reserve, and their delicate markings were a delight to observe.

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

The reserve itself proved excellent for wildlife. Along my walk, I recorded a diverse range of birds, including:

Orange Tip


Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Sedge Warbler


It was a wonderfully peaceful afternoon, combining historical interest with the simple joy of spotting new species in the wild. Between the two new butterflies and the variety of warblers, it was a memorable outing and a fantastic addition to my Warwickshire wildlife experiences.