This morning for a change I visited Sutton Park. I arrived before 9.00am but the gates were locked, a few people seemed rather perplexed by this and for some reason thought I had all the answers! Anyway I made my way to the main birding area an area of heath with scattered bushes, mainly Crab Apple. As I crossed the model plane flying area, it was obvious that there were quite a few hirundines around with I would estimate by the end of the morning c.150 Swallow, c60 House Martin & c.12 Sand Martin also, there were up to a dozen Swift.
As I reached the first area of bushes I had an obliging Lesser Whitethroat then a juvenile Wheatear. There were birds flitting from bush to bush but I recon I probable only got on about half the birds that I saw in flight. Down in the Valley (Lower Crabs?) I had a single Spotted Flycatcher, unto 6 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat but strangely not the expected Redstart!
This is another area where the silence is punctuated by people shouting after their unruly Mutts, one dog which was out of control was trying to engage the cattle that roam here into a game of chase, whilst it owner bellowed at the top of her voice. Surely it would be quieter and safer if the dogs were kept on a lead – especially if they can’t be controlled. Not long after I was scanning an area of bushes when a Greyhound tried to mount my leg – needless to say I was too quick for it! The owners thought it was rather funny!
I made my way back to the car toward the end of the morning as things had started to slow down. The pool in front of the entrance held a single Common Tern.
Saturday, 11 August 2018
Friday, 10 August 2018
Friday 10th August
Middleton RSPB
This morning Joy and I were the first arrivals on the Car Park and pretty much had the place to ourselves for most of the morning. At the feeders the Water Rail was performing well but apart from Tits the feeders were quite quiet, not surprising for the time of the year.
The West Scrape was dead apart from a couple of Lapwing and a few Teal and a couple of Snipe. Between the two Scrapes a scan of the distant shorelines produced a LRP, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, I searched through the wildfowl in search of Garganey but could not connect. At the East Scrape both Wood Sandpiper were present, but fed separately, they were joined on the Scrape by 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, Common Sandpiper and Common Snipe.
A couple of Egyptian Geese were present and there were @16 Common Tern and shed loads of wildfowl all in eclipse. We stopped at the two benches by the river and scanning across Jubilee I picked up the male eclipse Garganey feeding, pretty soon though it retired to the bank and went to sleep. Then a Green Sandpiper flew past heading towards the North Pit which was our next destination. We couldn’t locate the Sandpiper but with the vegetation there you could hide an Elephant! There were however a couple of Wigeon present, we made our way back seeing a Lesser Whitethroat, then as we stood on the canal bridge a Willow Tit popped up and gave us good but brief views before rejoining the roving Tits and departing.
Shustoke Reservoir
Having failed to locate the Black-necked Grebe for Joy last evening we went over again this evening after the rain. I scanned from the Car Park with my scope but drew a blank, Joy and I proceeded to walk around but it was generally devoid of birds apart from a build up of hirundines and a couple of Swift.
Normally at this time of year the pond weed attracts lots of wildfowl and bird in general but with the Reservoir being cleared of the weed bird numbers have plummeted. In the far south-east corner – some weed has gathered and there was a Common Sandpiper along with a Dunlin feeding. That was my first Dunlin of the year, which is poor for a species that was regular.
We made our way back to the Car Park and I tweeted the Dunlin out plus the that I hadn’t seen the Black-necked Grebe. I then realised there was a message to say the bird was present! We got back to the car and I fetched the scope and scanned again, again no sign of the Black-necked Grebe. I hopped over the fence on the promontory and the bird was feeding right up against the waters edge, therefore difficult to see from behind the fence. It was getting a bit of stick from a couple of Great Crested Grebe but was still present when I left.
This morning Joy and I were the first arrivals on the Car Park and pretty much had the place to ourselves for most of the morning. At the feeders the Water Rail was performing well but apart from Tits the feeders were quite quiet, not surprising for the time of the year.
The West Scrape was dead apart from a couple of Lapwing and a few Teal and a couple of Snipe. Between the two Scrapes a scan of the distant shorelines produced a LRP, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, I searched through the wildfowl in search of Garganey but could not connect. At the East Scrape both Wood Sandpiper were present, but fed separately, they were joined on the Scrape by 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, Common Sandpiper and Common Snipe.
A couple of Egyptian Geese were present and there were @16 Common Tern and shed loads of wildfowl all in eclipse. We stopped at the two benches by the river and scanning across Jubilee I picked up the male eclipse Garganey feeding, pretty soon though it retired to the bank and went to sleep. Then a Green Sandpiper flew past heading towards the North Pit which was our next destination. We couldn’t locate the Sandpiper but with the vegetation there you could hide an Elephant! There were however a couple of Wigeon present, we made our way back seeing a Lesser Whitethroat, then as we stood on the canal bridge a Willow Tit popped up and gave us good but brief views before rejoining the roving Tits and departing.
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| Wood Sandpiper |
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| Wood Sandpiper |
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| Wood Sandpiper |
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| Wood Sandpiper |
Shustoke Reservoir
Having failed to locate the Black-necked Grebe for Joy last evening we went over again this evening after the rain. I scanned from the Car Park with my scope but drew a blank, Joy and I proceeded to walk around but it was generally devoid of birds apart from a build up of hirundines and a couple of Swift.
Normally at this time of year the pond weed attracts lots of wildfowl and bird in general but with the Reservoir being cleared of the weed bird numbers have plummeted. In the far south-east corner – some weed has gathered and there was a Common Sandpiper along with a Dunlin feeding. That was my first Dunlin of the year, which is poor for a species that was regular.
We made our way back to the Car Park and I tweeted the Dunlin out plus the that I hadn’t seen the Black-necked Grebe. I then realised there was a message to say the bird was present! We got back to the car and I fetched the scope and scanned again, again no sign of the Black-necked Grebe. I hopped over the fence on the promontory and the bird was feeding right up against the waters edge, therefore difficult to see from behind the fence. It was getting a bit of stick from a couple of Great Crested Grebe but was still present when I left.
Thursday, 9 August 2018
Thursday 9th August
Got to the Reservoir early this morning but was soon disillusioned with the number and behaviour of the dog walkers with none on leads and some encouraging their dogs into the water by throwing balls for them to swim after! This behaviour is a major contributor to the lack of birds at the Reservoir in recent years.
One arrival, the dull weather helped, with good numbers of hirundines for the first time this year, although there were only c.150 this was made up of 50% Sand Martin, 35% Swallow and 14% House Martin. Also unto a dozen Swift dropped in. As I made my way round I picked up a distant Grebe which I was certain was a Black-necked Grebe, although I wanted a better look before I put the news out. After straining my eyes for a while it flew from the east end up towards the Sailing Club. I followed it back there and got marginally better views, both in flight and it was probably 100 yards closer. I put out the news and continued on my way.
I saw little else although there were c.150 Tufted Duck with two broods one 3/4 grown and another with much younger chicks. When I got back to the car, Nick Barlow was scanning with his scope and we located the Grebe again, this time in the middle of the Reservoir.
This afternoon saw me visiting Ladywalk for the second time in a week. Last week Joy and I saw Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Tit and Little Egret during our visit.
With news that there was a Wood Sandpiper at Ladywalk I spent the afternoon in the company of Pete Sofley as we tried in vain to locate the bird. As the batteries in my hearing aids expired on the way I had trouble hearing him, never mind any birds. We did see 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 LRP and Redshank. They have also started work on a new scape which will continue the impressive work that Pete and his team have carried out over the years.
I picked Joy up from work and returned to Shustoke were despite having my scope I could not relocate the Black-necked Grebe. The sailing club was open and they may have had boats out this afternoon.
One arrival, the dull weather helped, with good numbers of hirundines for the first time this year, although there were only c.150 this was made up of 50% Sand Martin, 35% Swallow and 14% House Martin. Also unto a dozen Swift dropped in. As I made my way round I picked up a distant Grebe which I was certain was a Black-necked Grebe, although I wanted a better look before I put the news out. After straining my eyes for a while it flew from the east end up towards the Sailing Club. I followed it back there and got marginally better views, both in flight and it was probably 100 yards closer. I put out the news and continued on my way.
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| Black-necked Grebe, Shustoke Reservoir |
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This afternoon saw me visiting Ladywalk for the second time in a week. Last week Joy and I saw Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Tit and Little Egret during our visit.
With news that there was a Wood Sandpiper at Ladywalk I spent the afternoon in the company of Pete Sofley as we tried in vain to locate the bird. As the batteries in my hearing aids expired on the way I had trouble hearing him, never mind any birds. We did see 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 LRP and Redshank. They have also started work on a new scape which will continue the impressive work that Pete and his team have carried out over the years.
I picked Joy up from work and returned to Shustoke were despite having my scope I could not relocate the Black-necked Grebe. The sailing club was open and they may have had boats out this afternoon.
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