home

  December 2007 Diary and News

All the latest sightings, news and photos from Chasewater, Cuckoo Bank, Clayhanger/Ryders Mere and surrounding areas

All records and photos (jpegs) are welcome, please send them via our comments page .

November 2007     October 2007   September 2007    August 2007   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 and Photos
Monday 31st December  
2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew (NS, PW), 1 Kestrel.
Swag: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 64 Goldeneye, 14 Goosanders (GE).
Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull (IW, GE), 1 1st w Mediterranean Gull (IW), 300 Lesser Black-backs. 

Cuckoo Bank: A male Peregrine, Buzzard and Kestrel briefly clashed with each other, 1 Heron, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 20 Meadow Pipits, 20 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Willow Tit, 2 Goldcrests, 19 Red Deer (GE).

Vigo Landfill: 1 Raven (PJ).

Goscote Valley: 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Grey Wagtails, 3 Goldcrests (PJ).
Adult Mediterranean Gull coming to bread on the Swag (GE).
Sunday 30th December
2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew.
Swag: 9 Gadwall, 65 Goldeneye, 17 Goosanders (GE).
Gull Roost: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 ( 2 adult, 2 2nd w, 1 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls  (PJ, JA), 8000+ Black-headed Gulls (GE).
Saturday 29th December
1 Merlin (WMBC), 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew.
15:30 Swag: 82 Goldeneye, 14 Goosanders, 650 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backs.
Slurry Pool: 1 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backs, 3 Common Gulls, 80 Black-headed Gulls (GE).
Gull Roost: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 (adult and the 2nd w) Yellow-legged Gulls  (PJ, JA, TP).

Vigo Landfill: 1 Raven (PJ).

Friday 28th December
2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew, 34 Canada Geese.
Slurry Pool: 2 (adult, 1st w) Mediterranean Gulls, 1 sub adult Yellow-legged Gull, 260 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 17 Lesser Black-backs, 160 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 9 Red Deer (GE).
Adult Mediterranean Gull (GE).
1st winter Mediterranean Gull on the water 
and in flight (GE).
Adult or near adult Yellow-legged Gull (GE).

Swag: 85 Goldeneye, 10 Goosanders, 22 Pochard, 226 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 
Roost: A large roost with 2500+ Herring Gulls, 488+ Great Black-backs, 6 (3 adult, 2 2nd w and 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls, adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW, RC).

Vigo Landfill: 2 Ravens, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ).

Thursday 27th December 
A Raven flew over the Feeding Station (NS), 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew, 1-2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ, IW, GE).
Slurry Pool: 2 (adult, 1st w) Mediterranean Gulls (PJ).

Brownhills Common: a probable Short-eared Owl hunting after dark (PJ).
Wednesday 26th December
2 Great Northern Divers.
Swag: 1 drake Smew, 97 Goldeneye, 24 Goosanders, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 7 Gadwall, 5 Common Gulls, 1 Kingfisher.
Slurry Pool: 3 (adult, prob 4th w, 2nd w) Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Goosander, 6 Common Gulls, 1 Kestrel (GE).
Roost: Another 2 (adult, 2nd w) Yellow-legged Gulls giving a total of 5 (PJ, IW, GE).
Two Yellow-legged Gulls with Lesser Black-backs on the Slurry Pool (GE).
Probably the same 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull that was first seen in October (GE). 
 
Cuckoo Bank:
Heathland: An adult Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c 80 Black-headed Gulls all on the large central pool.
Jack Snipe, 21 Snipe, Stonechat, Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipits, Kestrel, 3 Herons, Green Woodpecker, 5 Reed Buntings, Redpoll.
13 Red Deer (including a stag with one antler).
Fields: Stonechat, 40 Linnets, Reed Bunting (JH).
Tuesday 25th December 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Smew, 1 new juv Glaucous Gull, 2-3 (adult, 4th w and prob 2nd w) Yellow-legged Gulls, adult Mediterranean Gull and the white Black-headed Gull (PJ, JA, IW). 1 Woodcock and 53 Siskins near the Feeding Station (NS).
Monday 24th December
2 Great Northern Divers, adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ), 1 Smew.
Swag: 20 Goosanders, 85 Goldeneye.
Slurry Pool: 2 2nd w Yellow-legged Gulls, a duck Tufted with turquoise bill saddle (GE).
 
Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ).
Sunday 23rd December
Slurry Pool, most of the Swag and patches of the main lake frozen for the first time this winter.
1 drake Smew, 31 Goosanders, Tufted x Scaup hybrid, 32 Cormorants and a Kingfisher on the Nine Foot Pool.
Fly Bay: 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Kingfisher (PW, NS, GE et al).
Gull Roost: 2nd w Caspian Gull, 2 (adult, 1st w) Yellow-legged Gulls, adult Mediterranean Gull and the white Black-headed Gull (PJ, IW, JA, TP, SR, RC, MY et al). 
17:00 A Woodcock flew over Pool Road (GE).

Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull (RC).

Kingswood: 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (RC).

Saturday 22nd December
Fly Bay: 2 Great Northern Divers.
Swag: 420 Tufted Ducks, Tufted x Scaup hybrid, 78 Goldeneye, 28 Goosanders, 18 Pochard and a Kingfisher.
Gull Roost: 2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ, JA, PDH), imm Iceland Gull and 2 (adult, 2nd w) Mediterranean Gulls (IW).
The Santa Special on a gloomy, grey day (GE).
A reminder that spring can't be far away, although there have been near breeding plumaged Black-headed Gulls around since November! (GE)

Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ).

Friday 21st December
Dull and cold. 1 Woodcock, 4 Little Grebes, 15 Goosander, 5 Meadow Pipits, 14 Goldfinches, 2 redpoll and Green Woodpecker, a Kestrel and 5 Red Deer hinds behind dam in wooded area (EO).
Fly Bay: 2 Great Northern Divers (PJ, EGP, RB, EO).
25 Goosanders, 10 Ruddy Ducks, 93 Goldeneye, 2 Caspian Gulls (adult, 2nd w), adult Yellow-legged Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, EGP, RB).
 
Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull.
Vigo Landfill: adult Caspian Gull (PJ).
Thursday 20th December No records.
Wednesday 19th December No records.
Tuesday 18th December
09:30 15 Cormorants, 20+ Great Crested Grebes, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull.
Fly Bay: 2 Great Northern Divers, 11 Goosanders, 1 Little Grebe (GE).
Monday 17th December Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull.

Vigo Landfill: Adult Caspian Gull (RC).
Sunday 16th December 2 Great Northern Divers (PW, JA), 8 Teal, 1 Kingfisher (GE).

Swag: 11 Goosanders, 88 Goldeneye, 5+ Gadwall, 1 Teal,  and lots  more wildfowl hiding amongst the bushes, a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying and 1 Kingfisher (GE), 2 Shovelers (PJ).

Slurry Pool: The drake Tufted x Scaup hybrid is still present and also a drake Tufted with a pale blue bill saddle (PJ).

Roost: A very pale juv/2nd w Iceland Gull, 1 2nd w Caspian Gull (yesterday's Kingswood bird), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (3rd w, adult), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, up to 10000 Black-headed Gulls and good numbers of large gulls (PJ, JA, MY, SR, GE et al).
A shot in the dark! (GE)

Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull, 13 Goosanders (PJ).
Saturday 15th December 2 Great Northern Divers (PW), 18 Goosanders, 95 Goldeneye, 6 Ruddies, 11 Gadwall (PJ), 15 Cormorants, 38 Canada Geese + 6 hybrids (CM, GE).

Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 1 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Caspian Gulls (the Stubber's and Kingswood 2nd winters and the adult first seen at Stubber's in October and at Vigo Landfill today) (JA, RC, PJ).

Kingswood: A 2nd w Caspian Gull ( video grabs © R. Clay).

Stubber's Green: A 2nd w Caspian Gull (per PJ).

Vigo Landfill (near Stubber's Green): 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 1 adult Caspian Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 86+ Great Black-backed Gulls (PJ).
Friday 14th December No records.
Thursday 13th December 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 150+ Great Black-backs, 100+ Lapwings (GE).
Wednesday 12th December 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 1 adult Yellow Legged Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Woodcock (IW, N).
Tuesday 11th December 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 juv Glaucous Gull (IW), 6 Shelducks flew through (PW).
Monday 10th December 1 Great Northern Diver off Target Point.

Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 2nd w Caspian Gull, 2 (ad, 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and the white Black-headed Gull has returned (IW).

Stubber's Green: 1 2nd w Caspian Gull (per PJ).

Sunday 9th December There are now two juv Great Northern Divers, one spending most of the time in Fly Bay and the other nearer the dam (PW, NS, GE et al). 124 Lapwings, 4 Goosanders (GE).

The Fly Bay Great Northern Diver (© N Stych)

WeBS count: 2 Great Northern Divers, 13 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 489 Coot, 20 Moorhens, 142 Mallard, 10 Wigeon, 476 Tufted Ducks, 40 Goldeneye, 23 Pochard, 1 Goosander, 5 Ruddy Ducks, 27 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 22 Cormorants, 3 Herons, 186 Lapwings, 1 Kingfisher (NS).

Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 1 2nd w Caspian Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW et al).

Stubber's Green: 1 2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ).
Saturday 8th December Lake: The juv Great Northern Diver, 9 Cormorants, 3 Tufted Ducks, 4 Ruddy Ducks. During the morning 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 2nd w, 1 1st w) were picking up and dropping sticks over the lake. A 1st w Great Black-backed Gull joined in the fun but the Lesser Black-backs had better things to do!

South Shore: 165 Lapwings, 21 Long-tailed Tits foraging through the shoreline bushes.

Swag: 92 Goldeneyes, 184 Tufted Ducks, 4 Ruddy Ducks (total = 8), several Wigeon and Pochard hiding amongst shoreline bushes, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Red Deer hinds.

Slurry Pool: 484 Tufted Ducks (total = 671), 1 Tufted x Scaup hybrid, 2 Siskins, 1 Goldcrest.

Highfield Farm: 25 Canada Geese (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull came in at 16:15, 1 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, JA), 1 !st w Yellow-legged Gull (GE) and  1 adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, JA, N, IW).

Stubber's Green: 2 2nd w Caspian Gulls, 1 adult w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ).

Friday 7th December
Gull Roost: 1 adult Caspian Gull, 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and 3rd w), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW).
The juv Great Northern Diver was in Fly Bay (EO, PJ, IW, PW)
North Shore: 10 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe and a Short-eared Owl.
Feeding Station: 5 Bullfinches, Willow and Coal Tit.

25 Canada Geese in farm fields, 90 Lapwings by ski club, 3 Little Grebes sheltering in that bay. 6 Greenfinches were highlight of south shore; there were very few small birds all day. Sparrowhawk behind dam and Grey Wagtail at south end of dam.

Swag: All wildfowl were sheltering on edges, female Goosander, Wigeon and Pochard. 
Slurry Pool: A flock of 30/35 Goldfinches on the hill (EO).

Stubbers Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull.

Thursday 6th December The juv Glaucous Gull (RC, IW), 2nd w Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Great Northern Diver (IW).

Stubbers Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull (RC).
Wednesday 5th December
Great Northern Diver (N, IW)
The juv Glaucous Gull came in at around 15:55, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (RC).
Stubbers Green: 1 2nd winter Caspian Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull (RC).
Tuesday 4th December 1 juv Glaucous Gull.

Stubbers Green: 1 2nd w Caspian Gull (EGP).
Monday 3rd December 1 Great Northern Diver (WMBC).

1 Juv. Glaucous Gull (BS), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (IW)
Sunday 2nd December The Great Northern Diver spent much of the day in Fly Bay (PW, IW, PJ, NS).

Gull Roost: An excellent roost including the two 2nd w Caspian Gulls recently seen at Stubber's Green, 3 (two 2nd w and one 1st w) Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 juv Glaucous Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (PJ, IW, JA, RC, GE et al).

Video grabs of the juv Glaucous Gull (©RC).
Saturday 1st December 11:10 A juvenile Great Northern Diver was very close to the shore in the Waterski Club bay. It later moved to near the dam and then to the far north of the lake. Also 12 Cormorants, 1 Little Grebe, 100+ Lapwings, 60 Starlings.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver (©GE).

Swag: 87 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 67 Tufted Ducks, 3 Ruddies, 17 Pochard, 16 Wigeon, 1 Chiffchaff and flowering Honeysuckle!

Slurry Pool: The drake Tufted x Scaup hybrid, 581 Tufted Ducks (total= 648), 1 Heron (GE).

Gull Roost: 2 (possibly 3) juv Glaucous Gulls, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 186+ Great Black-backed Gulls, 8000 Black-headed Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls (PJ, GE).

The darker of the two juv Glaucous Gulls was just down from the waterski club at 15:20hrs
( ©N. Smith)		 The adult Mediterranean Gull was hiding on the pier (GE)