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  August 2007 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 our comments page 

July 2007  June 2007   May 2007   April 2007  March 2007  February 2007
January 2007  December 2006  November 2006 October 2006  September 2006  August 2006  July 2006  June 2006  May 2006
April 2006  March 2006  February 2006  January 2006 

Key to Contributors

2007

Sightings/News

Photos
Friday 31 August 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Swifts, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Herons,  33 Lapwings, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Jackdaws, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Bullfinches (GE).

Swag: 105 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool: 204 Tufted Ducks (total = 309), 5 Ruddy Ducks.

Gull roost disturbed by boating and difficult to examine in poor light and choppy water but 6 regular Yellow-legged Gulls identified (2nd w, 3rd w, 2 summer adults, 2 winter adults) and 5 other 'herring' gull types (GE).

Stubbers Green: 1 Cormorant, 1 Heron, 205 Canada Geese, 135 Mallard, 65 Lapwings, 215 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backs (GE).
Thursday 30 August 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Oystercatcher (WMBC), 9 Swifts, 2 Egyptian Geese, 98 Canada Geese, 31 Lapwings.

Swag: 108 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 60+ Mallard.

Slurry Pool: 164 Tufted Ducks, 5 Ruddy Ducks.

North end of Lake: 29 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 20 Tufted Ducks (total = 292).

20:00  10 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 1st w, 1 2nd w, 1 3rd w, 7 adult or near adults), 3 Herring Gulls, 770 Lesser Black-backs, uncounted Black-headed Gulls (GE).
Wednesday 29 August 1 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Little Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Buzzards, 2 Egyptian Geese, 103 Canada Geese , including the 5 hybrids, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Swag: 99 Tufted Ducks, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Slurry Pool: 138 Tufted Ducks (total = 238), 1 Pochard, 3 Ruddies, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Migrant Hawker.

A brief look at the gull roost produced 2 Yellow-legged Gulls in a similar sized roost to last night (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Yellowhammer, 1-2 Grey Partridges (GR).

Tuesday 28 August North end of Lake: 1 Slavonian Grebe, 24 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Ducks.

South Shore: 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Common Tern, 24 Lapwings.

Swag: 135 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool: 98 Tufted Ducks (total = 235), 4 Ruddies, 40 Goldfinches, 15 Long-tailed Tits.

19:00-20:00  2600 Black-headed Gulls, 650 Lesser Black-backs including 2 adult intermedius, 16 grey saddled herring gull types of which at least 8 were typical Yellow-legged and only 3 showed pale grey argenteus Herring Gull type tones. Also one 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Greenshank and 75 Canada Geese flew in (GE).
Monday 27 August
1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher and an adult Hobby took a dragonfly over the North Marsh (PW). 3 Swifts over the dam.

Swag: 77 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool: 122 Tufted Ducks, 7 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Green Woodpecker (GE).

 

Flightless Slavonian Grebe ( P Ward)
Sunday 26 August
1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Common Sandpiper (PW).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 1 Hobby being mobbed by a House Martin, 1 Buzzard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 4 Little Grebes, 5 Green Woodpeckers and Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and Blackcaps passing through (CM).

 

Slavonian Grebe (P Ward)
Saturday 25 August

1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Painted Lady (GE), 1 Common Snipe, 4 Red Deer hinds with calves (PW).

Swag: 1 juv/1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

Slurry Pool: A Harris’ Hawk soared over towards Norton; it didn’t appear to have jesses. Two high flying Hobbies briefly showed an interest in the hawk as it passed by (GE).

Harris’s Hawk (GE).

The Slavonian Grebe is now in heavy moult and should remain for several more days (GE).

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull moulting into 1st winter plumage (GE).
Friday 24 August 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 near adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 150 Lesser Black-backs, 23 Lapwings.(GE). A pair Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Dabchicks (GR).

Old Vicarage: 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Holly Blue (GE).

Clayhanger SSSI/Ryders Mere: 09:00-10:00 2 Greenshanks, 5 Common Snipe, 315 Canada Geese plus the 5 hybrids from Chasewater, 3 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 House Martins, 30 Goldfinches, 1 Migrant Hawker (GE). 1 Shoveler, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Terns (CM).
Thursday 23 August
The Slavonian Grebe showed well in the sun, along the North Shore, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Herons, 72 Tufted Ducks, 2 Buzzards, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Swag: 3 Little Grebes.

19:45 1 juv/1st w Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 assumed Canada x Greylag hybrids (GE).

This Mediterranean Gull has more 1st w grey in the mantle than last week’s bird (GE).

Five hybrid geese amongst the Canada Geese (GE).

Biddulph’s Pool/lower Cuckoo Bank: 3 Stonechats, family party of Willow Tits, Green Woodpecker, 100+ Common Darters (GE).

Wednesday 22 August

A bright sunny day but with a very fresh northerly wind. A juvenile/1st winter Kittiwake appeared to pass through and the Slavonian Grebe was still present but sometimes difficult to find on the choppy water (GE).

20:20 Arrived too late to make much of the gull roost and most birds were facing into the strong northerly wind. 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen and one of the white farmyard geese made a rare flight around the lake (GE). 1 juv Grey Partridge in the North Marsh, 5 Wigeon on the Swag and 2 Egyptian Geese on the South Shore (CM).

Clayhanger Marsh: 167 Canada Geese, 11 Teal, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Small Copper.  

Ryders Mere: 1 juv Peregrine, 1 juv Dunlin, 4 Common Snipe, 5 Little Grebes, 1 juv Common Tern, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers (GE).

Peregrine hunting over the mere (GE)
Tuesday 21 August

1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 intermedius Lesser Black-back, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Common Terns, 4 Herons, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 36 Pied Wagtails (GE).

Pelsall: 1 Swift (GE)
Monday 20 August

1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 imm Little Grebe, 17+ Great Crested Grebes, 3 Common Terns, 1 Cormorant, 1 Common Snipe, 3 Herons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Whitethroat, several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, 1 Ruddy Darter. A count of the Round-leaved Wintergreens produced a total of 52 flowering plants.

Swag: 1 adult Little Grebe, 3 broods of Great Crested Grebes, 5 Jays; one calling with a Tawny Owl type ‘kewick’ call with two others in pursuit giving their usual ‘rasp’.

Slurry Pool: 5 Ruddy Ducks (GE).

Cuckoo Bank (Top fields): 19:00-21:15 1 imm Hobby, 1 juv Whinchat, 10 Grey Partridges, 3 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 50 Linnets, 2 Skylarks, 45 Canada Geese (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh: 1 Lesser Canada Goose, 1 Little Grebe, 2 male and a female Ruddy Duck with brood of 5, a brood of three Tufted, 1 female Shoveler and 4 Teal.

Ryders Mere: 3 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes and a brood of four Tufted Ducks (CM).
Sunday 19 August The Slavonian Grebe continued to perform well and brighten up the dismal weather. 4 Common Terns, 1 Swift, 74 Tufted Ducks and 5 Ruddies were also seen (GE). 

Fly Pool: 1 Kingfisher (GR).

Slavonian Grebe (N Stych)

Coot and Slavonian Grebe (GE).

19:30 –20:30 Only part of the gull roost was examined from south shore – 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 near adults, 1 juvenile), 2 Herring Gulls, many Lesser Black-backs including 2 intermedius, many Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpipers, 24 Canada Geese, 1 Ruddy Duck (GE).

Saturday 18 August The Slavonian Grebe was relocated along the North Shore with the Great Crested Grebes and despite the grey, wet and windy weather it briefly posed well for photos. The 2 Egyptian Geese and 6 Swifts were also present (GE). 1 Arctic Tern (WMBC). 1 Kingfisher at Fly Pool (GR).

This is the first ever Chasewater record of an adult Slavonian Grebe in breeding plumage and the first August record in the West Midland region since 1946 (GE).
Friday 17 August 08:30-09:00 1 adult Slavonian Grebe off the Sailing Club,. 3 Shovelers, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Common Terns, 1 Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Record shot of a distant adult summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe. Lets hope it stays to provide better opportunities to photograph it (GE).

The juvenile Mediterranean Gull contrasts well with the first winter and adult winter Black-headed Gulls (GE).
Thursday 16 August

Swag: 27 Tufted Ducks, 37 Mallard.

Slurry Pool: 32 Tufted Ducks, 5 Ruddy ducks (GE). 
Wednesday 15 August South Shore; 20 Pied Wagtails, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls amongst 100+ Lesser Black-backs, 5 Common Terns (GE).
Tuesday 14 August 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 195 Starlings (GE).
Monday 13 August

1 Greenshank flew through, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern (PW).

14:15- 17:00 WeBS count (a day late): 48 Mute Swans including 6 cygnets from 3 broods, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Canada Geese, 229 Mallard + 10 grossly farmyard types and the flock of 15 Aylesbury Ducks, 55 Tufted Ducks, 5 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Little Grebes, 26 Great Crested Grebes (>12 pairs have nested), 4 Herons, 390 Lesser Black-backs, 7 Yellow-legged Gulls, 44 Black-headed Gulls, 130 Starlings (GE).

 

 
Adult Yellow-legged Gull. Now in winter plumage with paler yellow bill and legs and a dusky patch around and behind the eye (GE).
Juvenile Lesser Black-back, adult Yellow-legged and  intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gulls (GE).
Intermedius and graellsii Lesser Black-backs (GE). 2nd winter and near adult Yellow-legged Gulls behind Lesser Black-backs (GE).

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull pecking at a buoy like so many Yellow-legged seem to do. The second photo shows the extent of grey in the mantle and the second generation tertials (GE).

Yellow-legged Gulls (GE)

 
Sunday 12 August

16:50 Swag: 2 Pochard, 41 Tufted Ducks, 20+ Mallard, 5+ Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Heron, Blackcap, Willow Tit, 5+ Willow Warblers.

Slurry Pool: 35 Sand Martins, 32 Tufted Ducks, 24 Coot, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe (GE).

Only 6 flowering Round-leaved Wintergreens are present at the original site but the newer colony has 35 flower spikes and many plants without flowers (GE).
Saturday 11 August

Swag: 45 Tufted Ducks, 10 House Martins, 2 Swallows.

Slurry Pool: 41 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Hobby caught a dragonfly, 1 Black Darter, 1 Emperor, 1 Southern Hawker (NS).
Friday 10 August

17:00 Norton Bog area: Many Common Darters, 1 Emperor, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, several Emeralds, Common Blues, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1-2 Goldfinches, Reed Warbler(s) heard.

North end of Lake: 1 Cormorant, 17 Great Crested Grebes + broods of 1 and 3 chicks (GE).
Thursday 9 August 1 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper (GR).

16:00 1 Redshank with Lapwings on the Water-ski Club jetty, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Common Terns, 330 large gulls on the water despite 2 water-skiers and a large powerboat zooming around.
Wednesday 8 August

18:00 Swag: 57 Tufted ducks, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 adult Little Grebe, 1 male Ruddy Duck. Swag: 57 Tufted ducks, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 adult Little Grebe, 1 male Ruddy Duck.

Slurry Pool: 22 Tufted Ducks, 1 male Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Kestrel.

19:00-21:00 Lake: Several Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 4 Common Terns, 2 Egyptian Geese (GE).

 

2nd cy Yellow-legged Gull (GE).

Contrasting summer and winter plumages of Yellow-legged Gulls with 2 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

The same summer plumaged Yellow-legged Gull next to an unusually large billed Lesser Black-back (GE).

This near adult bird looks good for Yellow-legged Gull but it has extremely extensive head flecks (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: Yellowhammer, juv Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, small flock of Linnets, Heron and 6 Tufted Duck ducklings on Pool 31 (GR).

Wyrley Common: 2 Buzzards (GE).
Tuesday 7 August

These three Yellow-legged Gulls all posed well on the Water ski club jetty (GE).
Monday 6 August

12:00 Canal/East Heath: 2 male Banded Demoiselles, several very varied Common Spotted Orchids, 5 flowering Sundews, 1 Common Polypody fern.

Lake: 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (4 grey saddled birds and 1 juv) amongst about 150 Lesser Black-backs, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Terns.

19-20:00 Swag: 75 Tufted Ducks, 1 juv Gadwall.

Slurry Pool: 18 Tufted Ducks, 1 Kestrel, 14 Magpies on the shore, sev Reed Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.

Gull Roost: 7 Yellow-legged Gulls, 650 Lesser Black-backs, 1300 Black-headed Gulls (GE).
Sunday 5 August 21:40 A very late and brief visit showed the gull roost to be around the same as recently and the 2 Egyptian Geese were on the Boating Pool (GE).
Saturday 4 August

1 Common Sandpiper.

Swag: 1 juv Gadwall, 91 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool: 19 Tufted Ducks.

Kingswood: 2 Buzzards (GE).

Possibly a 2nd w Yellow-legged although it did appear pale. Resolution is probably not clear enough to be sure (GE).

This gull appeared paler grey than the regular Yellow-legged and it was assumed it would turn out to be an argenteus Herring Gull but certain features seem to fit Caspian Gull (GE).

Friday 3 August

Gull Roost: Similar numbers to last night with around 500 Lesser Black-backs and about 6 Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).

Ryders Mere/Clayhanger Marsh: 1 juv Whinchat, 40 Common Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers (PW).
Thursday 2 August Gull Roost: 1 juv  and 1 first-summer/2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull with the usual sub-adults, 1 adult Common Gull (GE).
Wednesday 1 August

4+ Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Terns, 76 Canada Geese, 3 Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer.

Pier: 22 Pied Wagtails.

Swag: 74 Tufted Ducks, 5 Great Crested Grebes including two pairs each with one chick, 2 Garden Warblers.

Slurry Pool: 2 Shovelers, 1 pair Ruddy Ducks, 1 pair Mute Swans with cygnet, 1 Great Crested Grebe with chick, 30 Tufted Ducks, sev Reed Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay

North end of Lake: 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 calling Little Grebe.

North Shore: 1 pair Stonechats, 13 Linnets (GE).

Male Black-tailed Skimmer (GE)

This 3rd summer/adult Yellow-legged Gull posed well and deserved a better camera than mine to record its beauty (GE)

Cuckoo Bank: At last a summer’s day with no gale.

Birds: Green Woodpecker, 4 Stonechats, 5 Grey Partridges, 30 Linnets, several Goldfinches, 30/40 Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels and a female Sparrowhawk going low into Eights Wood. Jay, Pheasant, several Whitethroats and 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Little Grebes and 4 juv Coots.

Butterflies: good numbers of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, Small Skippers and whites, 1-2 Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells.

Dragonflies: The best spot was between pools 16 and 17, large numbers of Common Blue, a few Blue-tailed and at least 2 Emerald. Several Emperors, Migrant Hawkers, Brown Hawkers, one Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Ruddy Darter and between 100/150 Common Darters. Pool 10 had a good number of Common Blues just above surface (EO).