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JULY 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
August 2006  June 2006  May 2006
April 2006  March 2006  February 2006  January 2006  December 2005  November 2005  October 2005  September 2005  August 2005 
July 2005   June 2005   May 2005   April 2005   March 2005  February 2005  January 2005  December 2004  November 2004

Key to Contributors

2006

Sightings/News

Photos
 
Monday
31 July

After my first weekend away for months it was a great shock to find the huge area of burnt heathland on the north shore. Although not directly affected by the fire the Stonechats could not be found. 2 Kestrels and a Buzzard were hunting over the burnt area and a Sparrowhawk caused panic in a small flock of Sand Martins near the Swag as it carried off one of the flock towards Crane Brook (GE).

North Bog: 16 flowering Round-leaved Wintergreens at the original site but a further 20 in the sphagnum area and at least as many again non-flowering plants.

Swag: 70 Tufted Ducks, 1 drake Ruddy.

Lake: 4 Herons, 9 Common Terns.

22:00 Several Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle type bats were flying around the dam (GE). 

Sunday
30 July		 4 Common Terns (PW).



Fire destroys over half of the North Heath on 29 July. Work continued to fully douse the fire which has destroyed several hectares of heathland (NS)



Photos by Neil Stych ©
Saturday
29 July

A huge fire was deliberately set alight on the north shore heath at around 14:00 resulting in many fire fighters and seven fire appliances working many hours to get it under control. 2 Common Snipe were seen flying from the fire and creatures such as Toads making a less successful escape. This is the most damaging fire since the devastating fires during the 1976 drought. What appeared to be perfect Dartford Warbler habitat has been totally destroyed and will take several years to recover.

4 Common Terns (PW). 
28 July Another hot and busy day with just the usual 2-3 Common Terns seen during a quick visit to he south shore (GE).
27 July

Swag: 78 Tufted Ducks
Slurry Pool: 4 Tufted, 32 Lapwings.
Island: 4 Herons, 3 Common Terns (GE).
26 Jul

1 Black Tern and 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (N, IW). 300 Black-headed Gulls were flying above the Swag/Slurry/Lake at the same time (16:45) as dried grass was falling onto the water from a great height! 2 Herons, 4 Common Terns.

North Heath: 1 pair Stonechats collecting caterpillars for presumed new brood.

Swag: 64 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies, 1 Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Willow Tit.

Slurry Pool: 11 Tufted, 35 Lapwings (GE).

Wyrley Common: 4 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a southerly movement of hirundines and Swifts (GE).
25 July

Swag: 63 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies and 1 Gadwall.

Slurry Pool: 11 Tufted Ducks.

Wyrley Grove Bridge: 5-6 presumed Purple Hairstreaks flying between and over the Oaks and 2 hairstreaks flew into the Wych Elm (GE).
24 July

1 Sandwich Tern at around 18:30, frequently diving and calling as it flew up and down the lake. Unfortunately it didn’t appear to stay longs (GE).

1 Common Sandpiper (IW).

Swag: 47 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool: 16 Tufted Ducks

Gull Roost: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull. 1020 Black-headed Gulls (GE, PJ).


5 Common Terns including an adult with a large scarlet bill with only the slightest smudge of a darker tip (GE).
Sunday
23 July

The swimming stage of ‘The Longest Day Triathlon’ started at 06:00.

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Cormorants, 2 Herons, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Terns.

Swag: 26 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard.

Slurry Pool: 18 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks (2 drakes), 1 Willow Tit (GE)

Saturday
22 July

2 Cormorants disturbed by water-skiers flew north at 06:38. 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Common Sandpipers.

Slurry Pool:
Swag:Gull Roost: 1 adult and 1 probable juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Common Gull (PJ).
21 July
Swag: 63 Tufted Ducks, 2 Pochard.
Slurry Pool: 60 Tufted Ducks.2 Cormorants standing on the north shore in front of the reed bed, looking rather Shag like in the twilight! Just before dark they both entered the water and frequently dived but were unlikely to catch a meaningful meal since the fish population in the Slurry Pool is very low, although a Kingfisher and the grebe family are clearly finding some prey. 80 Sand Martins appeared to be roosting  in the reed bed (GE).


 
20 July

Swag: 131 Tufted Ducks, 2 Pochard, 1 Gadwall.

Slurry Pool: 18 Tufted Ducks, 25 Lapwings, 1 Kingfisher.

Gull Roost: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 35 Lesser Black-backs, 800 Black-headed (GE).
19 July

Hottest July day on record!

Lake: 3-4 Red Admirals.

Swag: 125 Tufted Ducks, 3 Pochard

Slurry Pool: 13 Tufted, 33 Lapwings, 1 Heron, 82 Black-headed Gulls, 1 pair Great Crested Grebes with 3 young.

No Man’s Bank: 1 Beautiful Yellow Underwing, 1 Smokey Wainscot, several Silver Y’s, 100’s Gatekeepers, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Hawker, 1 Brown Hawker, 1 Green Woodpecker (GE).


Beautiful Yellow Underwing (GE)
18 July

Lake: 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Common Terns, 25 Lapwings.

Highfield Farm: 1 Buzzard,

Swag: 2 Kingfishers, 3 Pochard, 159 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe calling.

Gull Roost: 850 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Lesser Black-backs (GE).
17 July

It’s getting hotter by the day; today was 33.

Lake: 1 Yellow Wagtail flew north.7 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers, 41 Canada Geese..

Anglesey Basin/Canal: 2 Emperors, Brown Hawkers, 4 Banded Demoiselles, 1-2 Common Darters, 1 Painted Lady. Many flowering Sundews, 2 Willow Tits.

Sailing Shore/Translocation: 2 Small Coppers, 1 Comma, several Large and Small Skippers, 100’s Gatekeepers.

Swag: 155 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 1-2 Willow Tits, 2 Commas.

Slurry Pool: 33 Lapwings, 5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks (2 drakes), 2 Mute Swans, 1 Emperor.

Jack’s Wood: 5 Holly Blues amongst the tree tops but no sign of Purple Hairstreaks. Jack’s Oak received a severe trim from the tree surgeon today but there is still good signs of life.      

Church Street Pool: Lots of Purple Loosestrife and Greater Spearwort. 1 Emperor, 1 Brown Hawker, 1 Ruddy Darter and Common Darter. Many Azure and Large Emerald Damsels (GE).
Sunday
16 July

Another beautiful, sunny day that brought out the crowds; over 100 people were sunbathing between the Sailing Club and Sandy Bay with many more on the south shore!

Swag: 2 Pochard, 137 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Grebes (2 adults, 1juv), 3 Common Terns and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Gull Roost: 820 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Grasshopper Warbler (NS).

Cannock Extension Canal: Water very turbid due to boat activity so the only area where Floating Water-plantain was discernable was just south of Wyrley Grove Bridge. No White-letter Hairstreaks were seen. Many Common Blue, several Red-eyed and Blue-tailed Damselflies and 1 Banded Demoiselle, 2 Emperors, several Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spotted Chasers, Ruddy Darters, Common Darters and Brown Hawkers. 2 Commas and many Gatekeepers. 1 pair Mute Swans with 3 cygnets (GE).

Saturday
15 July

No sign of the Black-necked Grebe.

Lake: 3 Little Grebes, 8 Common Terns, 2 Holly Blues, Gatekeepers are now abundant.

Swag: 147 Tufted Ducks 4 Ruddy Ducks

Slurry Pool: 9 Tufted, 1 pair of Swans but no sign of the 3 cygnets.

Fair Lady: 2-3 Black-tailed Skimmers and Four-spotted Chasers.

Moth Trapping on the dam: 2 Burnished Brass, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Silver Y’s, Straw Dot, Riband Wave (GE).
14 July

Swag: 1 adult Black-necked Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 165 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Kingfisher (GE).

Moth Trapping at Sailing Heath: 2-3 Noctules.

 Kingswood: 5 Little Ringed Plovers (3 adults, 2 juvs), 5 Herons, 1 Common Tern, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (GE).


Record shot of sleeping adult Black-necked Grebe on the Swag at dusk (GE).
13 July

Swag:

Gull Roost: 500 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backs (GE). 
12 July

Swag: 3 Ruddy Ducks, 151 Tufted Ducks. There are now two broods of Tufted ducklings, the original 5 plus a new brood of 4.

Wyrley Grove Bridge: 2-3 presumed Purple Hairstreaks over an Oak but no sign of White-letter Hairstreaks over the Wych Elm. Plenty of Floating Water-plantain in the canal (GE). 
11 July

North Heath: 1 Dark Green/Silver-washed Fritillary evaded being photographed but was felt to be a female Silver-washed in Dark Green habitat! Neither have been recorded at Chasewater before and this is the first County record for either species this century. Please find it!!! (GE).

Swag: 133 Tufted + 5 ducklings, 3 Ruddies, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 1 calling Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher (GE). 
10 July

Chasetown Brook: appeared and smelt particularly dead and polluted.

Swag: 129 Tufted Ducks + 5 ducklings, 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 4 adult Little Grebes (GE). 1 Teal (PJ).

Slurry Pool: 1 duck and 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, 5 Tufted, several Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Kestrel.

Gull Roost: 1 adult/sub adult Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Lesser Black-backs, 350 Black-headed Gulls. Also at dusk Common Sandpipers and Common Terns were calling and several Noctule, Daubentons and Pipistrelle sized bats were over the south shore (GE, PJ). 
Sunday
9 July

5-6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Oystercatcher (PW). 9 Common Terns, 1 3rd summer argenteus Herring Gull, 1-2 Ringlets on the west shore as well as usual sites (GE).

Swag: 129 Tufted Ducks + 5 ducklings, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swans (SNX, ZEF) with 3 cygnets.

Fly Pool: 2 adult Mute Swans and 4 cygnets now back together. 
Saturday
8 July

Lake: 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns, 35 Canada Geese, 55 Mute Swans + 2 broods of 3 and 4 cygnets (pen V2J), 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 60 Mallard, 2 Herons on Island.

Swag: 123 Tufted Ducks + 5 ducklings, 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, 1 Gadwall, 85 Mallard, 1calling Little Grebe,2 Common Terns, 1 singing Willow Tit.

Slurry Pool: 2 Tufted Ducks

Fly Pool: The quality of water flowing down the brook and into the pool is still giving cause for concern. Only 1 adult Mute Swan (ring Y3V) and 3 cygnets, 26 Mallard.

Plant Swag: suffering from disturbance by youths in boats and only one Mute Swan and one cygnet seen.

Anglesey Basin: 1 pair Mute Swans (rings PEZ, V9A) with 4 cygnets

 Moth Trapping on the dam produced over 30 species including Beautiful Golden Y, Large Emerald, Dun-bar, Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Footman, Spectacle and Engrailed (GE).

Beautiful Golden Y (GE)
7 July

1 juv Peregrine unsuccessfully swooped at a Common Tern (FOMIC).
15 Common Terns on the raft at dusk (IW).  1 Kestrel.

Sailing Shore: 1 pair Mute Swans (ring numbers 6CB, LJF) with 3 small cygnets.

South Shore: 1 pair Mute Swans with 5 well grown cygnets.

Slurry Pool: 1 pair Great Crested Grebes with 3 downy young, 2 Lapwings, 1Reed Warbler singing by the sluice, 2 Gatekeepers (GE).

Swag: 136 Tufted Ducks including a duck with 5 downy young. This is only the second recorded breeding of Tufted at Chasewater. 1 Gadwall, 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, 90 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 15 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Terns 1 pair Mute Swans (ring numbers ZEF, SNX) with 3 half grown cygnets, 1 Willow Tit (GE).

A brood of five downy Tufted Ducklings (GE)
6 July

4 Common Terns, Mute Swans with 5 cygnets, 1 male Ruddy Duck.

Swag: 136 Tufted Ducks, 2 male Ruddy Ducks, 2 Common Terns (GE).
5 July

Swag: 132 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Common Terns, several Black-tailed Skimmers, 1 Ringlet.

Slurry Pool: 2 Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebe with chick, Mute Swans with 3 cygnets (GE).
4 July

3 Common Terns.

Swag: 112 Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Terns, 1 Kingfisher, several Black-tailed Skimmers (GE).
3rd July

Another hot day with temperatures reaching 30 ° C.

5 Common Terns, 1 Tufted Duck

Swag: 6 Wigeon (only the third ever July record), 1 Gadwall, 102 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Tern.

Wyrley Grove Bridge: no sign of the White-letter Hairstreaks yet, 1 Common Tern flew south down the canal (GE).
Sunday
2nd July

Main Lake: 3 Common Terns, 1 Tufted, 1 Kestrel.

Swag: 98 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 92 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swans with 3 cygnets, 1-2 Kingfisher, 20 Black-tailed Skimmers, 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Emperors, 1 male Banded Demoiselle, Several Large Emeralds and Blue-tailed Damsels, many Common Blue Damsels, 1 Red Admiral, 15 Ringlets, 1 Gatekeeper, 8 Meadow Browns, 5 Speckled Woods, 5 Large Skippers.

Slurry Pool: 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 pair Ruddy Ducks, 2 Mute Swans with 3 cygnets, 2 pairs Lapwings, 10 Black-tailed Skimmers (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: Pool nearest Cannock Road – 2 Emperors, 2 Four-spotted Chasers, 3 Black-tailed Skimmers, 1 Painted Lady, several Meadow Browns (GE).
Saturday
1st July

1 Oystercatcher, 3 Herons, 8 Common Terns, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 36 Canada Geese.

North Shore: Superb display of Bog Pimpernel, 20 Ringlets, several Speckled Woods, 1-2 Meadow Browns, 1 Silver Y, 1 Brown Hawker, 5 Black-tailed Skimmers.

Fly Pool: 1 pair of Mute Swans with 5 cygnets (6 were originally hatched (GR), 20 Mallard, 2 male Banded Demoiselles, 1 pair Emperors, many Common Blue Damsels.

Gull Roost: 320 Black-headed Gulls. No large gulls seen 
 


Mute Swan family (GE)

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Pimpernel Point (GE)