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FEBRUARY 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 
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2006

Sightings/News

Photos
Tues
28 February		  
Mon
27 February		  
Sunday
26 February

Gull Roost: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (1st and 2nd year), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (IW).

Gentleshaw Common/Cuckoo Bank: 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier over the fields between the two sites at about 10:00 am (IW).
Sat
25 February

 

 

Swag: 110 Goldeneye, I drake Smew, 2 Scaup, 35 Gadwall (18 drakes, 17 ducks) (GE, PJ).
 South shore: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ).
Gull Roost: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 2nd year Yellow-legged Gull (GE, PJ, IW).

Little Wyrley: 4 Buzzards (GE).
Kingswood: 1 Peregrine (GE).
 Goscote Valley; 6 Chiffchaffs (PJ).
Fri
24 February

 

Two inches of snow fell overnight.

09:00  1 Short-eared Owl hunting over the north shore, 1 Smew, 1 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher (GR).

Swag: 2 Scaup, 25 Gadwall (GE).
Thurs
23 February		 Gull Roost: Three adult Mediterranean Gulls (a site record, possibly a Staffs record), 2 Great Black-backed (BC, PJ, IW).
Wed
22 February

1 drake Smew (IW).

Gull Roost: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (the usual birds) (PJ, IW).
Tues
21 February

1 drake Smew, 4 Dabchicks (WMBC).

Gull Roost: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (probably a new bird) (PJ, IW)
Mon
20 February

6 Dabchicks. One Short-eared Owl and 1 Jack Snipe on North Shore marsh (GR).

1 adult Mediterranean Gull (IW).
Sunday
19 February

In roost this evening, one adult Yellow-legged Gull (GC, KC).

 
Sat
18 February

 

 

1 drake Smew, 2 drake Scaup, 130 Goldeneye, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Stonechats (PJ).

1 Kingfisher and a flock of 70+ Siskins at the Norton Bog end of site (GR).
Gull Roost: 1 adult (partially hooded) Mediterranean Gull (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Short-eared Owl (PJ).
Goscote Valley: 15+ Chiffchaffs (6 at the outfall and 9+ downstream) (PJ).
Fri
17 February

 

 

1 Short-eared Owl on the north shore, 1 Woodcock over Highfield Farm (GE).

Swag: 78 Pochard, 1 Ruddy Duck, 22 Gadwall (GE)..

Gull Roost: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (the usual two), probable adult and 3rd year Yellow-legged Gulls (GE, PJ, IW).

Pairs of Common Buzzards at Kingswood and Little Wyrley (GE).
Thurs
16 February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 drake Smew, 5 Cormorants, 1 Woodcock and 5 Common Snipe (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull and the leucistic Black-headed Gull (PJ).


A Willow Tit nest box made from 4-5 inch diameter plastic piping with end pieces, drilled with a hole, packed with sawdust and covered in bark. Contributions of piping are welcome!


The feeding station is very popular. Contributions of seed and nuts are welcome.


Heathland management continues with the removal of the Rhododendron hedge by the O.E.C (GE).
Wed
15 February

 

 

 

 

 

Highfield Farm: 15 Fieldfares, 49 Feral Pigeons, 4 Teal (GE).
1 Buzzard over the Dam. (GE)

Swag: 1 drake Smew, 12 Gadwall, 87 Goldeneye.

Slurry Pool: 2 drake Scaup (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 adult (partially hooded) Mediterranean Gull, 8000 Black-headed Gulls including a leucistic bird that was startlingly white apart from black primaries (KC, GE, PJ, IW).


Leucistic Black-headed Gull (GE)
Spot the Med Gull!
Tues
14 February

 

Highfield Farm: 80 Fieldfares (GE).

Roost: 1 1st year Caspian Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (same as on Sunday), 105 Lapwings (PJ, IW, GE).
Mon
13 February

 

 

 

First Smooth Newt of the year reported from Anglesey Basin.   1 small bat over the west shore (IW, PJ, GE).

Slurry Pool: 2 drake Scaup (GE).

Fly Bay: 1 drake Smew.

Gull Roost: 1 1st year Caspian Gull  (IW, PJ, GE)
Sunday
12 February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly Wildfowl Count (WeBS): 42 Mute Swans, 52 Canada Geese, 466 Coot, 17 Moorhens, 211 Mallard, 3 Teal, 43 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, 395 Tufted Ducks, 121 Goldeneye, 55 Pochard, 1 drake Smew, 1 Ruddy Duck, 21 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes , 1 Heron, 1 Cormorant, 54 Lapwings (NS), 1 immature drake Scaup (PJ).  121 Goldeneye (NS).  The 2 Red-necked Grebes have now moved on to Belvide.

 Gull Roost: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls – the one from last night with a partial hood and abraded primaries and an adult winter bird (GE, PJ, BS, IW). 
1 distant 1st year Yellow-legged/Caspian Gull (GE).

The immature drake Scaup is now looking quite smart (Natalie).
Sat
11 February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Red-necked Grebes (GE, PJ, GJM, IW, PW)

Just about a record shot! GW

1 drake Smew, 2 drake Scaup, 7 Goosanders, 32 Gadwall, 48 Wigeon, 1 Golden Plover, 36 Lapwings, 7 Little Grebes, 38 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Cormorants, 1 Ruddy Duck (GE)

Gull Roost: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (GE, PJ, IW).

Cuckoo Bank: 2 Short-eared Owls, 1 male Peregrine, 1 Stonechat, 80 Fieldfares (GE, PJ).

Goscote Valley: 6 Chiffchaffs (PJ).

Kingswood: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (GE, PJ). 


Yellow-legged Gull at Kingswood (GW)


Leucistic First Year Herring Gull at Kingswood (GE)
Fri
10 February

 

 

 

1 2nd year Caspian Gull unfortunately not photographed but great views at rest and in flight including the near diagnostic ‘mirrors’ on the outer primaries(GE, PJ, IW).  1 1st year Yellow-legged Gull (GE).

38 Gadwall (another record count), 1 drake Smew, 2 drake Scaup, 127 Goldeneye, 3 Goosanders, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Short-eared Owl (near Willow Vale), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff (IW).

Cuckoo Bank: (observed from Chasewater) 3-4 Short-eared Owls (PJ, IW). 
Thurs
9 February

 

 

 

1 second-winter Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW).

600 Lesser Black-backs, 76 Lapwings (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 9 – 11:00 am
3 Golden Plover, 1 Snipe, 3 pair Grey Partridge, 2 Pheasants, 2 Stonechats, a flock of Goldfinch including Redpoll and Siskin. 1 Hare (GR).
 1 Merlin (Survey Team). 
Wed
8 February

No unusual gulls seen in the roost (PJ, IW).
1 Buzzard, 2 Goosanders, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (IW).
Cuckoo Bank: 1 Peregrine and 2 Short-eared Owls (Survey Team) 
Tues
7 February		 2 Mediterranean Gulls – second-winter and adult, 11 000 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backs  (GE, PJ, BS, IW)
Mon
6 February		 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, increased numbers of immature Herring Gulls (PJ, IW).
Sunday
5 February

2 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe (GW).
Slurry Pool: 2 Scaup (GE).
Swag: 1 drake Smew, 117 Goldeneye, 30 Gadwall – 18  drakes, 12 ducks (GE)
12 Goosanders (PW).
Gull Roost: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW).
 Kingswood: Cannock Tip is partially closed due to police investigations and the gull numbers have dropped considerably, however there was clearly a proportionate increase in the number of immature Herring Gulls. (GE).
 Ryders Mere: 289 Wigeon (CM)
Sat
4 February

 

1 drake Smew, 5 Cormorants (GE).
2 Scaup, 33 Gadwall (a record count), 131 Goldeneye, 158 Pochard, 2 Goosanders, 2 Ruddy Ducks (PJ).
 1 Kingfisher (ST).
 Gull Roost: 10 000+ Black-headed Gulls (GE, PJ).
Fri
3 February		  
Thurs
2 February		 1 adult Mediterranean Gull with abraded primaries (PJ).
Wed
1 February		  

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