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October 2006 Diary and News from Chasewater
 and Cuckoo Bank

Key to Contributors

2006

Sightings/News

Photos

Lake: 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Little Grebes (EO).

Gull Roost: More larger gulls in tonight including 3 classic adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an interesting paler mantled bird (PJ).

Adult Caspian Gull at Stubbers Green (RC).

Caspian Gull showing diagnostic primary pattern (RC

Highfield Farm: No sign of the Black Redstart today. 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Wagtails

Lake: 6 Cormorants on raft, 8 Teal on South Shore (PW), 1 drake Shoveler, 1 Heron (GE).

Swag: 17 Pochard, 12 Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, 3 Gadwall, 4 Goldeneye, 100s Redwings and 6 Fieldfares flew over (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank: A female or immature Merlin on the top field, a thorough search produced 13 Stonechats, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 305 Redwings flew through (PJ).

Stubbers Green: 1 Ruddy Shelduck (RC, PJ), 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ).

Dam: 1 Treecreeper, 3 Goldcrests.

North Heath: 1 pair Stonechats.

Lake: 1 male Goldeneye, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Wagtails (PJ). 1 Golden Plover, 2 White Wagtails, 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Small Tortoiseshell (EO)

Swag: 1 female Goldeneye (PJ).

North Heath: 2 Stonechats.

Lake: 5 Golden Plovers with <100 Lapwings.

Dam: 1 Rock Pipit (PJ), 1 male Blackcap, 2 Willow Tits, 1 Coal Tit, 10 redpolls, 1 Common Darter, 6 Red Admirals flying south (GE).

North Heath: 1 pair Stonechats (PJ). Much of the central belt of willow scrub is being cleared (GE).

Slurry Pool: 3 juv Stonechats (PJ), 234 Tufted Ducks (though more flew in when the first water-skier went on the lake), 3 Lesser Redpolls, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Common Darter.

Sunday 22 October 

Saturday 21 October

a.m. sunny

p.m.

Swag: 14 Pochard, 2-3 Red Admirals (GE).

Slurry Pool: 3 juv Stonechats (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank:(10:30) 28+ Stonechats (10+ near Eights Wood, 6 Ironstone Road area, 4 along main track and 8+ in open areas), Golden Plover, Yellowhammer, 3 Grey Wagtails, 19 Jackdaws, Willow Tit, 5 Redwings (PJ).

(16:40) 23 Stonechats (12 near Eights Wood, 8 south of the central enclosure, 2 near the phragmites pool and one by the ‘top pool’) before the rains and thunder came. Clearly there was only a partial overlap between PJ’s and my sightings and it would seem that there were at least 36 present today which must be a Staffordshire record. The group of 12 were along the fence behind which the magnificent 21point Red Deer stag and his harem of 17 hinds were resting; perhaps there was an abundance of flies for the chats. Other sightings were 2 Herons, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 5 Common Snipe, 16 Redwings several Meadow Pipits and a Red Admiral. In the distance, over in the Kingswood/Cannock Tip area, for a few minutes, there was a huge flock of Starlings that were wheeling about in wonderful evolutions; there must have been several thousand birds (GE).

Kingswood: 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 2 adult Yellow -legged Gulls, 4-500 Lesser Black-backs and a few Herring Gulls, 14 Lapwings (RC).

Friday 20 October

ssw 2-3

Lake:1 Water Pipit (on the North Shore), 2 White Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 25 Meadow Pipits, 3 Red Admirals, 1 Common Darter and a Great Crested Grebe attempting to swallow a small pike! (EO),  8 Little Grebes, 80 Lapwings, 3 Herons, 1 Grey Wagtail, redpolls heard, At least 25 Moorhens have been seen around the lake over the past few days with 24 around the Swag and others elsewhere giving a total of well over 50.

Slurry Pool/Norton Bog: < 400 Tufted (GE). 2 Stonechats, 1 Jack Snipe, 6 Skylarks, 5 Linnets (EO).

Close inspection of 700 Black-headed Gulls on the South Shore revealed no ‘Meds’ (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Golden Plover (PW).

Thursday 19 October

s 3  18c

Lake: 1 probable juv Common Tern (PW).

Fly Pool: 5 Teal, 3 Moorhens.

North Shore: 1 juv/female Stonechat.

Pier/Dam: 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Moorhens (GE).

Wednesday 18 October

se 2

Lake: North end only (17:30), 6 Little Grebes, 3 Gadwall, 27 Mallard, 2 Ruddies, 2 Tufted, 7 Moorhens, 2 Herons.

Swag: 3 Mute Swans, 33 Mallard, 3 Teal, 37 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 53 Tufted, 2 Shovelers, 8 Little Grebes, 2 Ruddies, 24 Moorhens, 1 Heron.

Slurry Pool: 366 Tufted Ducks (total 421), 4 Pochard, 19 Mallard, 2 Moorhens, 1 Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 juv/female Stonechat, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Willow Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Long-tailed Tits (GE).

Below Dam: Several Goldcrests, Willow Tit and Treecreeper (PJ).

Tuesday 17 October

grey, foggy

(09:00 – 10:30) South Shore; 14 Teal, several Lapwings, a few Redwings flying over.

North Shore: 20 Reed Buntings, several Meadow Pipits.

Fly Pool: 1 escaped turquoise and green Macaw!! (PJ). 22 Canada Geese, 5 Teal, 1 Willow Tit, redpolls heard.

Sailing Shore; 120 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

Kingswood: 29 Lapwings (RC).

Monday 16 October

Lake: 8 Little Grebes, 28 Tufted Ducks, 3 Pochard, 1 Ruddy Duck, 3 Shovelers, 2 Gadwall, 60+ Lapwings, 2 Herons, 4 Jays, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaws, 1 Stock Dove.

North Heath: 1pr Stonechats, 1 Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe, 15+ Magpies.

Swag: 11 Little Grebes (total 19), 41 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochard, 3 Ruddies, 24 Wigeon.

(The Ruddy Shelducks were at Car Vale, Derbyshire).

A female Merlin shot through below the dam where there were also 3 Chiffchaffs, Coal Tit and several Redwings (PJ). 3 Stonechats - 1pr on North Heath (PJ) and a juv at Norton Bog (NS, RS). 3 Grey Wagtails and 1 other Chiffchaff (PJ).1 Golden Plover (PW).

 North Shore: 4 Jack Snipe and 20 Common Snipe (GE).

Slurry Pool/Norton Bog: 383 Tufted Ducks, 3 Pochard (GE) 6 Red Deer hinds and 1 young Stag (NS, RS). 5 Yellowhammers (PW).

Swag: 60 Tufted Ducks (total 443), 5 Pochard, 34 Wigeon (GE).

Saturday 14 October

Lake: 2 Rock Pipits (PJ), 2 Dunlin, 102 Lapwings, 15 Teal on the south shore, several Tufted, 4 Common Darters and 1-2 Red Admirals flying south west.

North Shore: 1pr Stonechats, 2 Grey Partridges, 6 Redwings, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, redpolls heard, 1 Red Deer hind.

Swag: 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Gadwall, several Wigeon and Tufted, 1 Kingfisher.

Slurry Pool: 426 Tufted Ducks (only half last week’s total; the firework season is having its effect!), 1 Pochard, 1 Willow Tit.

Cranebrook Heath: 2 Common Buzzards (GE, PJ).

Kingswood: 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 17 Lapwings (RC).

Friday 13 October

Clearly fireworks are going to be a big problem in the next few weeks with several empty cases at the south end of the dam. (GE)

Thursday 12 October

Lake: 13 Redwings flew through (PJ), 1 juv Arctic Tern, 70 Tufted Ducks, 7 Pochard, 3 Gadwall.

South Shore: 4 Dunlin, several Lapwings. 11 Red Admirals – all but one flew strongly to the south-west as if in active migration. 10 Common Darters.

North Shore: 3 Rock Pipits put to flight, along with all the ducks and gulls at the north end of the lake, by an exploding firework.

Swag: 1 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, 2 Willow Tits. A Ranger disturbed an owl from bushes between the Swag and Slurry Pool.

Slurry Pool: 650+ Tufted Ducks, 4 Pochard, 1 young Red Deer hind (GE).

Lake: 2-3 Rock Pipits (2 together on the dam and later one on the Sailing Shore and then Target Point), 1^st winter Little Gull, 1 juv Arctic Tern, 4 Dunlin, 160 Lapwings, 22 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff (GE, PJ).

Below Dam: 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest (PJ).

North Shore: 15 Common Snipe, 20 Redpolls (presumed Lesser), 2 Chiffchaffs (total 7), 1 Green Woodpecker, 21 Magpies, 10 Reed Buntings.

Swag: 44 Wigeon (total 66), 2 Shovelers, 7 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Slurry Pool: 820+ Tufted Ducks.

Highfield Farm: 50 Magpies (total 71+)

Gull Roost: <5000 Black-headed Gulls, 800 Lesser Black-backs, 50 Herring Gulls (GE).

Kingswood: 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 106 Lapwings (RC).

                                              Two Ruddy Shelducks at Stubbers Green (Roger Clay).

Lake: 1 juv Arctic Tern, 1 Dunlin, 60 Lapwings, 3 Grey Wagtails (GE, PJ), 48 Canada Geese, 18 Teal, 1 Pochard, 1 Common Darter, 1 Migrant Hawker (GE).

North Shore: 40 Redpolls (presumed Lesser), 1 Green Woodpecker.

Swag: 8 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 1 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 3 Common Darters, 1 Speckled Wood.

Slurry Pool: 750+ Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard.

Kingswood: 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 95 Lapwings (RC).

2 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Chiffchaffs (PJ).

East Heath: (18:15) 40 Meadow Pipits on wires (GE).

Lake: 1 juv Arctic Tern, 2 Dunlin and 1 Ringed Plover (PJ), 1 Gadwall, 8 Little Grebes (NS).

Slurry Pool: 965 Tufted Ducks (NS)

Swag: 32 Tufted Ducks – total 997 (NS), 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs (PJ).

Below dam: 2 Goldcrests, Treecreeper, Willow Tit and a Swallow passed through.

Jack’s Wood: 1 Nuthatch – a first for the year (PJ).

Church St Pool: 1 Grey Wagtail (GE).

Reedswood/Beechdale area of Walsall: The Hoopoe continues to entertain

Only 5 miles to the SSW, so close to being Chasewater’s third ever Hoopoe! (Phill Ward).

Lake: 1 juv Arctic Tern, 64 Lapwings, 26+ G C Grebes, 2 Herons, 8 Tufted and 4 Ruddy Ducks. Siskin heard, 2 Skylarks (GE). 3 Dunlin and 1 Ringed Plover (PW).

Below dam: 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Coal Tits (PJ).

Swag: 8 Little Grebes, 2 G C Grebes, 30 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 16 Moorhens, 3 Teal, 14 Wigeon, 70 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans.

Slurry Pool: 831 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies, 1 Pochard, 1 G C Grebe, 1 Migrant Hawker, 1-2 Common Darters (GE)

North Bog: 30 Common Snipe (PJ).

Southacres Farm/’Pig Marsh’: 1 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper (PJ), 1-2 Willow Tits, 12 L T Tits and the highlight of the day for me was coming face to face with a harem of a dozen Red Deer hinds. A great bellow betrayed the presence of a superb 13 point stag and they all crossed the path within 5m of me and made their way towards the north shore of the Swag. No longer having my camera meant I could just enjoy the experience which, unbelievably, was eclipsed on my return from Cuckoo Bank; there, on Norton Bog hill, standing proudly and silhouetted against a haloed full moon was a young 2-4 point stag. No photo, but a life memory. Next year there may be competition for the harem! (GE).

Raceway Heath: 1 Buzzard (GE).

Lake: 1 Dunlin, 81 Lapwings, 1 Swallow, 1 Heron, 20 Tufted, 1 Ruddy Duck, 20 Long-tailed Tits.

Highfield Farm: 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Grey Wagtails, 1 Mistle Thrush.

Swag: 6 Little Grebes.

Slurry Pool: < 900 Tufted, 3 Ruddy Ducks (GE).

Lake: 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Ringed Plover, 29 Lapwings, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Gadwall, 20 Teal (inc 6 on Fly Pool), 2 Ruddies, 30+ Pied and 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest. 3 Red Deer on North Shore.

Lake: 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 2 House Martins, 2-3 Chiffchaffs (PW), 48 Canada Geese, 4 Teal. 1 Ruddy, 1 Tufted.

Swag: 7 Shovelers, 20 Wigeon, 40 Tufted, 5 Pochard, 5+ Little Grebes, 1 Ruddy Duck.

Slurry Pool: 862 Tufted Ducks (total 903), 2 Pochard, 2 Ruddy Ducks (GE).

Reedswood/Beechdale area of Walsall: A Hoopoe is attracting the crowds and attention from the media.