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  JULY 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 

 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
Tuesday 31 July

At last, the first ‘real’ summer’s day!

2 Egyptian Geese, 68 Canada Geese, 1 Common Tern, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Herons.

North end of dam: 1-2 Willow Tits calling, including snatches of song.

Sailing Shore: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 egg laying Black-tailed Skimmer, 2 Peacock butterflies, 16 Aylesbury Ducks.

Gull Roost: 1100 Black-headed Gulls, 5+ Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 adult male Peregrine watched for 15 minutes as it flew south over Norton, Brownhills West, Chasewater, Chasetown, Chase Terrace and later back over the top fields. 11 Stonechats, involving 4 pairs. 2 Kestrels, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, several Whitethroats, 12+ Reed Buntings roosting in the reed bed, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Heron, 1 Rook, many Common Darters, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Emperor and many Gatekeepers (GE).
Monday 30 July

17:00 Raft: 1 near adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 juv Herring Gull and a variety of confusing juvenile and immatures.

Highfield Farm: 54 Canada Geese (+ 19 on South Shore).

Dusk: 1 Oystercatcher, 52 Lapwings, 1050 Black-headed Gulls, 420 Lesser Black-backs, 10 grey mantled herring gull types 2-3 of which, at long range, looked pale and Herring Gull like whilst many juv/1st summer birds were out of range (GE).
Sunday 29 July

Swag: 100 Tufted Ducks, 80 Mallard.

Slurry Pool: 17 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies, 2 Red Deer – hind with fawn.

No Man’s Bank: 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 singing Yellowhammer, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, many Gatekeepers, sev Small Skippers (GE), 1 Emperor, 3 Brown Hawkers, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers, lots of Common Darters, Common Blue, Emerald and Blue-tailed Damselflies (NS).  

Cuckoo Bank: 2 Buzzards, 1 Broad-bodied Chaser, 2 Emperors, 3 Brown Hawkers, sev Emeralds and many teneral Common Darters.

Fair Lady Coppice: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Yellowhammer (GE).

Ryders Mere/Clayhanger Marsh: 1 Black-tailed Godwit with green leg rings, 1 adult and 1 juv Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 16 Common Terns, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sparrowhawk (PW)

Male Emperor (N Stych)

Male Emerald Damselfly (NS)

Female Emerald (NS)

Common Darter (NS)
Saturday 28 July

2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Oystercatcher, 110 Tufted Ducks, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 30 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Ringlet, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers, 1 Brown Hawker.

Gull Roost: 1 adult Common Gull, 5+ Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).

A 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull – probably the same bird as on 14th, showing more advanced wing moult towards adult plumage (GE).

Almost certainly the same two birds as photographed on the 21st and both moulting into 3rd winter plumage.

The bird  below is a rather odd looking 2nd summer/3rd winter bird appearing to have ‘muddy’ grey legs and blotches on the head and neck. In most respects it looks good for Yellow-legged (GE).

Adult Common Gull (GE).

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and Lesser Black-back (GE).
Kingswood: 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Tern, 1 Buzzard (GE).

Ryders Mere: 1 Redshank with one fledged chick (CM).
Friday 27 July

Very quiet with strong breeze. More Peacock butterflies around and a few Silver Y moths, still a good number of Common Blue Damselflies and an Emperor and Ruddy Darter.

Slurry Pool: 1 Brown Hawker and up to 10 Common Darters (EO).

Highfield Farm: 1 Oystercatcher, 51 Lapwings.

Gull Roost: 4+ Yellow-legged Gulls (1 1st summer, 1 2nd s, 2 3rd s), about 300 Lesser Black-backs, 550 Black-headed Gulls, 40 Canada Geese (GE).

1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Terns, 2 Egyptian Geese (PW).
Thursday 26 July

An inspection of the dam has resulted in instructions to clear. Work has started on the dam to clear many of the bushes and trees. The water continues to be drawn off to reduce pressure on the dam although the weather is doing its utmost to (TL).

Swag: 80 Tufted Ducks.

Gull Roost: A very quick late look, in the inevitable rain, produced around 500 Black-headed Gulls and 200 large gulls. 40 Canada Geese (GE).
Wednesday 25 July 2 Egyptian Geese (TL).
Tuesday 24 July 16 Aylesbury Ducks have appeared in Sandy Bay (TL).
Monday 23 July 09:00 2 Egyptian Geese on sailing shore, 1 Common Tern, the usual gang of gulls on the raft, several juv Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs (GE).
Sunday 22 July

07:30 1 Egyptian Goose flying over dam and heading off over the canal, 2 Common Terns, 4-5 Herons, 50 Swifts, 1 Kestrel, 20 Lapwings, 2 Green Woodpeckers, several very noisy juv Chiffchaffs, 2 Bullfinches, usual group of gulls on raft not checked.

Swag: 52 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddies.

Slurry Pool: 49 Tufted (GE).

No Man’s Bank: 2 singing Yellowhammers, 2 Emperor Dragonflies, 2 Brown Hawkers (NS, RS).
Saturday 21 July

The continuous drizzle contrasted with yesterday’s monsoon. Water levels are up to 25 cm off max with torrents still pouring in.

13:00 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, 80 Lesser Black-backs, 2 Common Terns, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Egyptian Geese, 50 Canada Geese, 30 House Martins.

Two Yellow-legged Gulls, the standing bird being the same as the one on the 11th (GE).

Swag: 106 Tufted Ducks, 50 Mallard, 3 Great Crested Grebes.

Slurry Pool: 49 Tufted Ducks, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 pair Great Crested Grebes with one juv and 1 pair Mute Swans with one cygnet.

Highfield Farm: 20 Lapwings, 30 Swallows and 26 Mallard on the A5 flood pool (GE).

Kingswood: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Cormorant, 1 Common Tern, 5 Herons, 1 Kestrel (GE).

Ryders Mere: 1 Ruff with Lapwings (CM).
Friday 20 July

A day of non-stop rain with water levels rising 4 cm during the day to 40 cm off overflow.

285 Black-headed Gulls on the south shore grass, 2 Common Terns, 2 Egyptian Geese, 50 Canada Geese, 2 Herons (GE).
Thursday 19 July

21:15 2 Common Terns, gull roost looking similar to 17th but no time to check it.

Boating Pool: 2 Egyptian Geese (GE).
Wednesday 18 July

Swag: 110 Tufted Ducks, 42 Mallard.

Slurry Pool: 57 Tufted Ducks.

North end of Lake: 4 Common Terns, 17 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Herons.

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers (GE).
Tuesday 17 July

North Shore: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Cuckoo over the marsh.

Slurry Pool/Norton Bog: No Lapwings on the hill.

Highfield Farm: 25 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lapwings, 1 Oystercatcher and 30 Starlings.

Butterflies: 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 1 Small Copper, 1-2 Large Skippers and Small Whites, good numbers all over of Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Gatekeeper.

At least 4 Common Darters, good numbers of Common Blue and odd Blue-tailed Damselfly.

After 10.30 Heavens opened, only my feet were dry when I got back to car (EO).

21:10 1 Common Tern.

Gull roost was developing well but no time to do anything other than estimate 250 Black-headed and 100 large gulls.

Boating Pool: 2 Egyptian Geese.

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers, 52 Lapwings (GE).
Monday 16 July

1 Common Tern. (GE)

North Shore: juvenile Cuckoo, family party of Reed Buntings (PS)

Boating Pool: 2 Egyptian Geese.

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers, 33 Lapwings (GE).
Sunday 15 July

St Swithin’s Day and of course it rained, doesn’t it every day!

No sign of the Black-necked Grebe (although there was a report on Birdguides) but there were 17 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Tufted Duck on the north end of the lake. The juvenile Cuckoo was again on the North Shore and 1-2 Common Terns over the lake.

Swag: 121 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Heron, 1 Kestrel.

Slurry Pool: 15 Tufted Ducks, 5 Great Crested Grebes (GE).

WeBS: 33 Mute Swans, 56 Canada Geese, 107 Mallard, 122 Tufted Ducks, 33 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Heron, 2 Moorhens, 202 Coot, 7 Lapwings, 2 Common Terns (NS).
Saturday 14 July
1 hybrid Red-crested Pochard/Bahama Pintail type duck, 2 Egyptian Geese (CM), 8 Common Terns, 1 Common Sandpiper.

North Shore: 1 summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe with 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Heron, 1 juvenile Cuckoo being fed by a Meadow Pipit, 1 Shaded Broad-bar moth.

Pimpernel Point: Good areas of vegetative Bog Pimpernel but no flowers due to recent inundation.

Swag: 129 Tufted Ducks, 14 Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1–2 Gatekeepers.

Slurry Pool: 11 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe with one juvenile, 1-2 Reed Warblers.

Gull Roost: 141 Black-headed Gulls, 220 Lesser Black-backs and 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).

 

Gatekeeper (GE).

Adult Black-necked Grebe (GE).

Distant record shots of 2nd and 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gulls (GE).
Friday 13 July

20:30 Boating Pool: 2 Egyptian Geese but no sign of the hybrid duck.

Rain for most of the day again but water is still being let out into the canal and levels have dropped to 41 cm below maximum. No terns seen, gulls starting to gather but not scrutinised, 50 Canada Geese (GE).
Thursday 12 July

1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Terns.

Boating Pool: The hybrid duck but no sign of the Egyptian Geese.

Swag: 133 Tufted Ducks (GE).

 

The hybrid duck showing quite a 'pintail' (GE).
Wednesday 11 July

5 Common Sandpipers, 4 Common Terns, 50 Canada Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1Willow Tit, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 red deer

South shore boating pool: A hybrid duck resembling a Red-crested Pochard but felt to have at least some Bahama Pintail heritage, 2 Egyptian Geese. Thanks to Joern Lehmhus for advice on this bird, (GE)

19:00 6 Yellow-legged Gulls with 34 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

Red Deer stag photographed from the train on the west shore (GE)
.
Hybrid duck on the Boating Pool (GE).

Yellow-legged Gull with 2 Lesser black-backs (GE).

Common Tern off the dam (GE).
Tuesday 10 July 22:00 100 Black-headed Gulls, 4+ Common Terns, 50 Canada Geese (GE).
Monday 9 July 17:00 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Common Terns, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (GE).
Sunday 8 July

2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Common Terns.

Swag: 85 Tufted Ducks, (GE).

Ryders Mere: 1 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 26 Common Terns, 1Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers (CM).
Saturday 7 July

6 Common Terns, 1+ Egyptian Goose on boating pool island, 15 Lesser Black-backs, 11 Black-headed Gulls including one juvenile.

Swag: 77 Tufted Ducks. 59 Mallard, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler all singing, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers, 4 Ringlets, 1 Comma.

Slurry Pool: 5 Tufted Ducks (GE).
Friday 6 July 22:00 Water levels have now quickly fallen to 20 cm below maximum due to release into the canal. 6 Common Terns, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Egyptian Geese, 50 Canada Geese, 11 Black-headed Gulls including one juvenile, 230 large gulls, mainly Lesser black-backs but it was too late to check them all (GE).
Thursday 5 July  
Wednesday 4 July

Fly Pool: 1 Kingfisher

Sailing Shore: Little Ringed Plover.

Butterflies: 5 Ringlets, 8 Meadow Browns, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Skippers and 1 Small Heath.

Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies but fresh wind keeping things down (EO).

Cuckoo Bank: 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers (NS, RS).
Tuesday 3 July Mill Green Park, Cannock:  18:00 1 Little Egret (SM).
Monday 2 July 6 Common Terns over the lake and one fishing over the canal. 87 Coot seen from the dam (GE).
Sunday 1 July 46 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 26 Mute Swans, 2 Egyptian Geese, 80 Mallard (including domestic varieties), 13 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Common Terns, 1 Ringlet (GE).