January 18th 2011

Decided to give an early start with Bob a miss and ambled down to the pond with Mark mid morning where after looking at the male Smew off farborough bank we walked out to the valve tower, meeting up with Bob and Francoise. Despite the sunshine there was little activity so we concentrated on counting the Brambling behind the inlet managing 12 birds including a stunning male in summer plumage plus a few Linnets and Greenfinch among the finch flock.
Mark located the adult female Scaup 100 yards off the inlet while I found 7 Golden Plover among 550 Lapwing that came off the leam valley and circled the reservoir.
More duck and grebe have left over night so it wont be long before we have bugger all too look at and the only other reportable birds seen today were 100 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls.
Mark then treated me to lunch at the long Itchington Diner but there was very little to see traveling there and back.

Mark had a single Waxing yesterday in Bilton, Rugby near The Bear Pub

The moon was stunning tonight and Mark did a better job than me


I have received many e-mails regarding seeing the International Space Station so though there a few passes between now and the 26th the tracking web site I use is forecasting excellent views (weather permitting) for the 26th January as it fly’s above the English Channel before entering France and continuing over Belgium, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. The pass should begin at 7:33am with maximum altitude at 7:38am ending at 7:43am.

Finally a ungodly amount of you have climbed out of the closet admitting to enjoying the steam specials I have mentioned seeing and have asked for details of any running this year so here’s the ones published involving my patch but as always they are subject to change or cancellation. Will update with any news nearer the time

5th MARCH
THE SALOPIAN
London Euston-Shrewsbury
71000 Duke of Gloucester: Euston-Nuneaton-Stafford-Shrewsbury - Wellington -Bescot- Rugby –Euston [71000 replaces 60163 Tornado which is unavailable]

16th APRIL
THE CATHEDRALS EXPLORER
London Euston-Chester
46201 Princess Elizabeth: Euston-Rugby-Chester and return
[46201 replaces 60163 Tornado which is unavailable]

21st MAY
THE GREAT WESTERN MIDLANDER
Tyseley-London Euston
5043: Tyseley-Birmingham News St-Coventry-Northampton-Euston -Northamptopn- Nuneaton -Tyseley

24th MAY
THE MERSEYSIDE TORNADO -
Liverpool-London Euston
60163: Liverpool S Parkway-Lichfield TV-Euston and return

6th AUGUST
THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS (Provisional)
London Euston-Worcester
60163: Euston-Nuneaton-Worcester and return

10th SEPTEMBER
THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS
London Euston-Chester
60163: Euston-Chester and return

These two will pass Wormleighton Reservoir

23rd APRIL
THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS
London Paddington-Stratford on Avon
70000: Paddington-Beaconsfield-Warwick-Stratford and return

18th JUNE
THE COLLETT DOUBLE
Solihull-Bristol
4965+5043: Solihull-Oxford-Newbury-Bristol -Swindon- Oxford - Solihull

Richard