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AUGUST 2006 Diary and News from Chasewater
 and Cuckoo Bank

All the latest sightings, news and photos from Chasewater, Cuckoo Bank, Clayhanger/Ryders Mere
and surrounding areas.   All records are welcome, please send them to Graham at chasewater.org.uk  (substitute @ for at) and jpeg your photos and Zip them - OR submit your records via Chasewater Chat FORUM
July 2006  June 2006  May 2006
April 2006  March 2006  February 2006  January 2006  December 2005  November 2005  October 2005  September 2005  August 2005 
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Key to Contributors

2006

Sightings/News

Photos

Thursday 31 August

sw3

 

Lake: 1 adult Hobby flew low over the water to the west at 16:46 and four minutes later a juvenile Peregrine gave a wonderful display of hunting practise for ten minutes when it tormented the gulls and Lapwings on the Island.  1 juv/1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 imm Common Tern, 19 Tufted Ducks, 1 Sparrowhawk, 16 Swifts, 1 Sand Martin, several Swallows and House Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Herons.

Swag: 181 Tufted Ducks, 2 Wigeon, 7 Little Grebes, 6 Willow Tits, 15 Goldfinches.

Slurry Pool: 202 Tufted Ducks (total 402), 2 Ruddies, 2 Kestrels and 6 Red Deer (GE).

Wednesday 30 August

w-nw3-4 

Lake: 1 Dunlin, 67 Lapwings, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cormorant, 5 Little Grebes, 4 Herons (on Island), 5 Swifts, 40 House Martins.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 2 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, 159 Tufted Ducks, 1 Ruddy Duck.

Slurry Pool: 214 Tufted Ducks (total 373), 1 Ruddy Duck, 3 Moorhens, family of Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mistle Thrush (GE). 

Tuesday 29 August

nw3-4

thundery showers

19c 

Dam: 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Willow Tit, 15 Swifts, 50 House Martins (GE, PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 202 Tufted Ducks, 2 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, several Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers.

Slurry Pool: 104 Tufted (total 306), 4 Ruddies (GE). 

Monday 28 August

nw3 

2 Spotted Flycatchers on the dam. 7 Blackcaps and 3 Whitethroats (PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 1 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 2 Wigeon, 197 Tufted Ducks, 1 Willow Tit (GE, PJ).

Slurry Pool: 73 Tufted Ducks (total 270 ), 4 Ruddies (GE). 

Sunday 27 August

Sun

w3 

2 Common Terns, 10 Swifts, 7 Blackcaps, Whitethroat (PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 198 Tufted Ducks (total 258), 1 Heron.

Slurry Pool: 60 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies + duckling, 1 Kestrel (GE)

Saturday 26 August

nw2

showers 

6 Common Terns, 51 Lapwings, 3 Little Grebes, 16 Swifts, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Ruddy Duck.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 4 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 148 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes.

Slurry Pool:  65 Tufted Ducks (total 216), 4 Ruddy Ducks (including female with single downy duckling), 2 Great Crested Grebes with 3 juvs, 2 Moorhens, 1 Green Woodpecker.

Gull Roost: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Herring Gull, 1 juv/1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (GE).

    

 

   

             Juv/1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (GE).
   A fairly large, small headed, long billed and long legged bird. In flight appearing long winged with dark outer primaries (no mirrors), paler inner primaries, dark secondaries and coverts. Dark centred tertials with well defined white tips. Well defined ‘shawl’ over lower nape and breast sides. Very white head (apart from smudge behind eye) and centre of upper breast. Some features seem to fit Caspian but I favour Yellow-leg (GE).

Friday 25 August

s2 

1 juvenile Ruff (PJ, PW).

Vicarage Garden/ below Dam: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Swift, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs (PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey.

Lake: 1 Spotted Flycatcher (West Shore), 2 Common Sandpipers, 52 Lapwings, 2 Common Terns, 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Kingfisher.

Highfield Farm: 1 Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Stock Doves (GE, PJ).

Willow Vale: 5 Red Deer.

Gull Roost: 860 Lesser Black-backs (mainly adults), 2600 Black-headed Gulls (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 2 Redstarts, 2 Stonechats, 3 Grey Partridges, 120 Greenfinches, Buzzard, Kestrel, juv Green Woodpecker, Dabchick and lots of Skylarks and Reed Buntings (GR).

Thursday 24 August

nw3-4

Sunny pm

17c

 

08:30 onwards. 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns, 6 or 7 Willow Tits below the dam, Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, Swift, 200+ House Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler (GR).

20 Swifts, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Gadwall (GE).

1 juvenile Ruff (PW).

North Heath: 1 Common Lizard (N, IW)

Swag: 1 Garganey, 89 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 20+ Moorhens.

Slurry Pool: 67 Tufted (total 156) and 3 Ruddy Ducks (2 drakes), 3 Moorhens.

Biddulph’s Pool: at least 3 calling juvenile Sparrowhawks and one adult. 1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (GE).		     

Biddulph’s Pool - home to many plants such as Bog Pondweed and Floating Club-rush (GE).

Wednesday 23 August

sw3-4

heavy rain and thunder pm

17c

Lake: 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Greenshank (heard), 1 Common Sandpiper, 32 Lapwings, 4 Common Terns, 2 adult Little Grebes, 1 Teal, 6 Tufted Ducks, 17 Swifts, 150 House Martins, 50 Swallows, few Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 88 Tufted Ducks, 4 adult Little Grebes, 26 Moorhens, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Tit.

Slurry Pool: 48 Tufted Ducks (total 142), 2 Ruddies, 2 adult Great Crested Grebes with 3 juvs, 1 Reed Warbler.

Highfield Farm/Raceway Heath: 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 30 Linnets, 15 Goldfinches (GE).

Tuesday 22 August

sw2

19c 
               

                       Painted Lady (GE).

             

                         Red Admiral (GE).

1 juv Ringed Plover + 6 flew over the dam to the east at 09:20, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns, 14 Swifts, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 1 Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Ladies, 2 Red Admirals.

Fly Pool: 1 Kingfisher, 8 Moorhens (5 ad, 3 imm), 4 Teal (GE).

Raceway Heath: 1-2 Willow Tits.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 77 Tufted Ducks.

 

              

                           Garganey (GE)
Cuckoo Bank: 2 Tree Pipits and 1 Redstart in hawthorn bush along main track, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 5 Willow Tits, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Stock Doves, 2 Sky Larks, 200 Carrion Crows, several Migrant Hawkers, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral (GE).

Gentleshaw Common: 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Swift, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, many Bog Asphodels, Sundews and Cranberry (GE).
Monday 21 August

nw3-4

20c

 

1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Teal, 1 Black Tern, 7 Common Terns, 8 Swifts (GE, PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 1 Gadwall, 82 Tufted Ducks, 2 adult Little Grebes, 24 Moorhens, 6 Swifts, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Tits (GE).

Slurry Pool: 30 Tufted Ducks, 1 drake Ruddy, 1 adult Great Crested Grebe with 3 juvs (GE). 
Sunday 20 August

wsw2

showers

20c

 

Another Triathlon event meant that there were 50 swimmers in the lake by 06:30.

Lake: 1 Black Tern, 1 juv Hobby, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers (PJ).

7 Common Terns, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Grebes, 20 Swifts.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 1 Gadwall, 65 Tufted Ducks, 21 Canada Geese, 77 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 28 Moorhens, 200 Coot, 2 Common Terns, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Jay, 1-2 Willow Tits.

Slurry Pool: 29 Tufted, 1 adult Great Crested Grebe with 2 juvs, 23 Coot, 2 Moorhens, 1 Kestrel (GE).

Clayhanger SSSI: A sharp rise in water levels noted. 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Water Rail heard (PJ).
Saturday 19 August sw2

Ruddy Duck off the dam (GE).

 1 juv Peregrine mobbed by Common Terns over the lake rose to a height and drifted off over Norton (GE).
Friday     18 August    w2  heavy showers

1 Black Tern, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (GE). 1 Spotted Flycatcher near the feeding station, 2 Black Terns (IW). One   Greenshank heard calling at 22:20 during the moth trapping session near the Sailing Club (GE, AH, NS, N, IW).

 Clayhanger SSSI: 1 juv Water Rail (PJ).
Thursday 17 August

e2

heavy rain and thunder during pm

08:00 – 09:50 1 drake Common Scoter, 1 Black-tailed Godwit flew off the Island towards the Sailing Club but was not relocated, 1 Green Sandpiper (heard), Ringed Plover (heard), 1 juv Black Tern, 7 Common Terns, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 adult, 2 juvs), 1 adult Herring Gull (prob argentatus), 10 Swifts, 1 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap.

14:45 After heavy rain and thunder, there were 2 Black-tailed Godwits on the North Shore (GE).

18:30 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit flew over the Swag (PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 1 Gadwall, 41 Tufted, 2 Little Grebes (GE).

   Juvenile Lesser Black-back and Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).
  

         Common Scoter (GE).                           Common scoter with coots (GE)                   Lesser Black-backs and an adult Herring Gull (GE).
Wednesday 16 August

w2

overcast

1 juv Turnstone, 2 (juv and ad) Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Black Tern. 8 Common Terns, 2 Kestrels, 10 Swifts, 80 House Martins (GE, PW). At 08:40, 7 waders flew over to the west and disappeared into the low cloud. 5 were small Dunlin/Ringed Plover types but two were probably Turnstones (GE). 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults, 1 juv) on the Island (PJ).

Swag: 44 Tufted, 2 Ruddies, 3 Little Grebes, 28 Moorhens, 1 Common Sandpiper (GE). 1 Garganey (PJ).

Clayhanger SSSI: 4 Water Rails (2 juv, 2 unaged in flight), very vocal and probably more than one pair here (PJ).
      

                                    Turnstone (GE).                                                                                Turnstone and Ringed Plover (GE).
Tuesday 15 August

w2

overcast

1 Garganey, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 28 Lapwings, 64 Mute Swans, 133 Canada Geese, 4 Teal, 314 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 55 Tufted Ducks, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 4 Herons, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 46 Moorhens, 656 Coot, 9 Common Terns, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 22 Swifts, 100 House Martins, 30 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Jays, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Also 1 Garden Warbler (PJ).

An evening visit produced a very similar gull roost to last night but it was good to see a Black Tern over the lake (GE).

 
Monday 14 August

nnw3

cloudy

Lake: 7 Common Terns, 20 Lapwings, 4 Herons, 1 Wheatear, 9 Swifts, 1 Green Woodpecker (GE). 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Wagtail (PJ).

Swag: 1 Garganey, 1 Shoveler, 33 Tufted, 1 Little Grebe (GE). 1 juv Shelduck (PJ).

Gull Roost: 1600 Black-headed Gulls, 300 Lesser Black-backs, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (GE). 

Garganey typically tucked in and hiding on the Swag’s north shore (GE).
Sunday 13 August

Lake: 8 Common Terns, 3 Swifts.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 2 Teal, 1 Gadwall, 33 Tufted, 65 Mallard, 32 Moorhens, 2 (ad, juv) Little Grebes, 2 Common Terns.

Slurry Pool: 10 Tufted, 1 Heron.

Clayhanger SSSI: 1 juv Water Rail (PJ).

Kingswood: 2 Common Terns, 1 Heron, 30 Swallows (GE).
Saturday 12 August

Lake: 1 juv Arctic Tern, 10 Common Terns.

Swag: 1 Garganey, 3 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 27 Tufted, 2 adult Little Grebes, 24 Moorhens (GE).

Gull Roost: 200 Lesser Black-Backs

Clayhanger SSSI: 1 juv. Water Rail (PJ)

Kingswood: 80 Lesser Black-backs, 3 Herring Gulls (RC, GE).
Friday 11 August

Lake: 6 Common Terns, 30 Lapwings, 2 Ruddies, 31 Tufted, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker, 30 Swifts, 12 Goldfinches (GE). 3 Common Sandpipers (PJ).

Swag: 21 Tufted, 2 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Ruddies.

Slurry Pool: 7 Tufted, 1 Ruddy (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull (GE, PJ).

Ryders Mere: 1 Black-tailed Godwit (PJ).

     

             Juvenile Mediterranean Gull (GE).
Thursday 10 August

                         Garganey (GE)

Swag: 1 Garganey, 41 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies.

Lake: 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults,1 3rd yr and 2 juvs), 10 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers, 50 House Martins, 8 Swifts, 1 Green Woodpecker (GE).

 
Wednesday 9 August

 

Lake: 12 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers, 29 Tufted,  4 Little Grebes, 12 Lapwings, 10 Swifts.

Swag: 34 Tufted, 1 Little Grebe.

Slurry: 6 Tufted (GE).

North Shore Heath: Just 12 days after the fire, new growth of Purple Moor Grass is shooting up amongst the charcoal remains of Heather. 

 

 

Flames of green (GE)
Tuesday 8 August

Lake: 2 (adult and juvenile) Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper (PJ). 9 Common Terns, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 25 Lapwings, 2 Sparrowhawks.

Swag: 77 Tufted Ducks, 1 Teal, 1 drake Ruddy, 24 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes (adult and imm), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer.

Slurry Pool/Norton Bog: 7 Tufted, 2 Great Crested Grebes with 3 young, 2 Moorhens, 1 Heron, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 singing Willow Tit. 1 Emperor, 2 Migrant Hawkers, 1 Brown Hawker and several Common Darters and Emerald Damselflies(GE).

Clayhanger Marsh: An adult and juvenile Water Rail (PJ). 
Monday 7 August

12 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Common Snipe, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Herons, 1 Painted Lady, 5 Red Admirals, several Common Blues (GE). Family party of Sparrowhawks (PW).

Target Point: 1 adult Yellow-legged and 2 Herring Gulls (PJ).

Slurry Pool: 1 Hobby mobbed a Kestrel before heading up Crane Brook. 5 Tufted and a family group of 4 Green Woodpeckers.

Swag: 62 Tufted, 13 Moorhens, 1 Little Grebe, 30 House Martins, 5 Swifts.

Gull Roost: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 235 Lesser Black-backs, 1500 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Greenshank calling (GE).

Ryders Mere/Clayhanger Marsh: 1 adult Water Rail, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 2 Teal, 3 broods of Tufted, 1 Swift (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank:  Buzzard, juvenile hobby, 20-30 chiffchaffs/willow warblers (IW, N)
Sunday 6 August

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Common Terns, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Brimstone, several Common Blue butterflies GE).

Norton Bog: 1 Clouded Yellow (PW).

Swag: 68 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard.

Slurry Pool: 3 Tufted.

North Shore Bog: 2-3 Common Hawkers, 2 Brown Hawkers (GE).

 

         

  One week after the fire and no sign of new growth (GE).
Saturday 5 August                                     Juvenile Cuckoo (GE)

3 Greenshanks flew in at around 13:00 but didn’t appear to stay long (PW).

6 Common Terns, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 juvenile Cuckoo persistently called and was being fed by Meadow Pipits (GE, PW).

Swag: 60 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 1 Garden Warbler.

Slurry Pool: 3 Tufted Ducks

Gull Roost: 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 adult Herring Gull (JA).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Hobby, 1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel. Reed warbler feeding young. 2 Stonechats (1x juv), 2 Whitethroats. Family party Willow Tits. Willow Warblers, Meadow Pipits, several Blue-tailed damselflies and lots of baby toads on a mission to reach the ditch (N, IW).
Friday 4 August 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and 3rd yr) were on the raft and a probable juvenile was loafing on Target but had flown by the time I’d walked round. (GE)

  

                        An adult and 3rd yr Yellow-legged Gull with 2 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

1 adult Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover briefly paused on the Island at 08:45 before flying north. A juvenile Dunlin arrived on Target at 09:45. 1 adult Common Gull, 5 Common Terns, 22 Lapwings and 1 Green Woodpecker.

                                

        Juv Dunlin resting on Target Point (GE).                    Adult Common Gull on Target Point (GE).

Swag: 68 Tufted Ducks (+ singles on the Slurry Pool and Lake), 1 Gadwall (GE).

 
Thursday 3 August

1 Sanderling still on the south shore at dusk (GE, PW).

1 Redshank, 6 Common Terns, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel,1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Slurry Pool: 1 juvenile Stonechat, several Reed Warblers.

Fly Pool: 1 Kingfisher.

Gull Roost: 3 adult/sub-adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 88 Lesser Black-backs. Of 10 juvenile large gulls one was probably a Yellow-legged but the light conditions were poor. Half of the 1250 Black-headed Gulls had gathered as a very noisy flock in the Water-ski Bay (GE).


Juvenile Sanderling (GE).
Wednesday 2 August

At last, a more typical summer’s day; a fresh north-westerly and even the odd shower!

1 Sanderling (PW), 4 Dunlin flew out to the west at 11:04, 12 Arctic Terns flew in at 11:15 with 3 staying until around 17:00, 5 Common Terns (4 adults, 1 juv), 1 Hobby flew through to the south, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher and an odd ‘chewee’ call along the west shore turned out to be an escaped Lovebird sp.

Swag: 4 Red Deer (3 hinds and a fawn) feeding on the north shore, 57 Tufted, 1 Gadwall, 1 Ruddy (GE).

                               

    Adult common tern (GE)      Juvenile common tern and mute swan (GE)             Red deer feeding on willow (GE)
Tuesday 1 August

Dunlin (PW).

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Teal, 5 Common Terns (2 adults pair bonding by loud calling and one offering the other a fish), distant Dunlin heard, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 28 Swifts, 40 House Martins, 50 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows.

Swag: 1 Pochard, 71 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Heron.

Gull Roost: viewed very late but 65 large gulls were on the raft including 2 adult Herring Gulls sp. 300 Black-heads were on the Water-ski jetties with others on the water (GE).