home

April 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 Chasewater Chat FORUM
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  December 2005  November 2005  October 2005  September 2005  August 2005 
July 2005   June 2005   May 2005   April 2005  

Key to Contributors

2007

Sightings/News

Photos
Monday 30 April South Shore: 1 Wheatear (PS)

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, 17Tufted, 1 male Ruddy, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Reed Warbler.
Sunday 29 April

60 Swifts, 2 Common Terns, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Highfield Farm: 1 Yellowhammer (GE).

Cuckoo Bank – restored heath area: 8 reeling Grasshopper Warblers, 14 Stonechats including a fledged brood of 4 juvs still with both parents, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Garden Warblers, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 15 singing Skylarks, 12 pairs Reed Buntings, 10+ pairs Linnets, pairs of Little Grebes on 4 of the pools, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Lapwings, 2 Grey Partridges, 3 Pheasants, brood of 9 Mallard ducklings (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 1 breeding plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper,22 Tufted, 4 Common Terns, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Yellowhammer (CM).

Grange Farm Wood: Singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and Jay.
Saturday 28 April

1 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Terns, 1 Buzzard (CM), Greenshank heard (NS) 60 Swifts, 9 Black-headed Gulls (GE)

Dam/ East Heath: 20 Green Hairstreaks, 4 singing Whitethroats, 1 Kestrel (GE).

Sailing Shore Heath: 40 Green Hairstreaks, 1 Small Copper (GE).

North Heath: 1 male Stonechat (CM), 1 Cuckoo (NS).

Slurry Pool: 2 Large Red Damselflies, 2 Reed Warblers, 5 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Coot brood (GE).

No Man’s Bank: 8 Large Red Damselflies, Orange Tip and Peacock, 15 Red Deer (NS).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 08:00 - 1 BarTailed Godwit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, Meadow Pipits, Jay, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Blue Tits, Chaffinches and 6 Common Terns fly about by pool (SC).
Friday 27 April

100 Swifts and 100 hirundines.

Highfield Farm: 1 Sparrowhawk (N, IW), 2 Oystercatchers flew in at around 19:15 and settled in usual field (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 4 Common Terns, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Yellowhammers (CM).
Thursday 26 April

2 Common Terns, several Swifts and good numbers of hirundines.

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers were disturbed by a Crow and flew south over Brownhills Common (GE).
Wednesday 25 April 3 Common Terns, 2 Herring Gulls (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cuckoo, 5 pairs Partridge, 2 Pheasant, 1 singing Yellowhammer, 1 Hare (GR).
Tuesday 24 April

9:30:  Dull, slight rain: Up to 90 Swifts with up to 50 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows and 20 House Martins. 1 Common Tern came in over dam but no sign of it at 12:30. Good number of Willow Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker heard (EO). 1 Arctic Tern during the evening (IW, GE).

North Shore:  1 Common Snipe,  2 Grey Partridge west of marsh.

Slurry Pool Hill: 3 Lapwings, 2 Skylarks and another 2 Grey Partridge.

South Shore: 1 Common Sandpiper

Swag: 1 Common Sandpiper (EO).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 male Merlin past at 11.00 - only 99% sure as it was already past me, small grey falcon with shallow wing beats going west, and on turning north when clear of Eights Wood showed no distinct head markings. 2 Stonechats, 2 Swifts, 3 Swallows. 1 Herring Gull and 2 more Grey Partridge in oil seed rape fields. Good number of Linnets and Skylarks, Meadow Pipit not as abundant as previously.

Eights Wood: up to 10 Willow Warblers, saw 1 Whitethroat heard others as well as odd Blackcap. The 6 pellets (found on 13th) produced 95% fur, odd splinters of bone and one bone end from either a big rat or a small rabbit, so I am none the wiser (EO).
Monday 23 April 1 Yellow Wagtail on the dam, 1 Whitethroat in the overflow below the dam

South Shore Grassland: 1 male Wheatear (IW), 1 Mistle Thrush (GE)
Sunday 22 April Main lake: 2 Common Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Shoveler (N, IW)

1 male Stonechat, 2 Grasshopper Warblers (J), 1 Common Sandpiper, 32 Swifts, 100 hirundines, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Cormorant

Swag: 1+ Little Grebe(s) (GE).

Cuckoo Bank area: 2 male Stonechats, 20 Linnets, 3 Grey Partridges, 3 Pheasants, Little Grebes on two pools, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, several Reed Buntings, many Skylarks.

Eight’s Wood: 2 Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Buzzard (GE)

Clayhanger Marsh: 1 Green Sandpiper (CM)
Saturday 21 April

30 Swifts, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards, 2 Stock Doves, 3 Blackcaps, 1+ Whitethroat, 4 Red Deer.

Heath near OEC: 12 Green Hairstreaks.

Swag: 2 female Goldeneye.

Highfield Farm: 1 Wheatear, 1 pair Lapwings (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/ Ryders Mere: 4 Wheatears, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Terns, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Whitethroats (CM), Lesser Whitethroat (CM, IW, AS).
Friday 20 April

1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher (J).

Jack’s Wood: 1 Nuthatch (GR)

Moth Trapping 20:30–00:00: Amongst those identified were Early Thorn, Engrailed, Knot Grass, Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, 2-3 bats and 2 Oystercatchers (GE, NS).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Cuckoo (GR).
Thursday 19 April 1 Oystercatcher (GE)
Wednesday 18 April

1 cuckoo (per GR) 4 Common Sandpipers on dam.

Swag: 2 female Goldeneye, 30 Tufted Ducks and 3 Ruddies (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh: 1 male Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 singing Yellowhammer.
 Ryders Mere: 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow, 7 Tufted Ducks, 1 Yellowhammer (CM).
Tuesday 17 April

1 Swift, 80+ hirundines, mainly Sand Martins but several House Martins present, 2 Stock Doves (GE). 6 Swallows over two hour period (EO). 

North Shore: 1 Stonechat, 1 Whitethroat. 
Dam: 3 Common Sandpipers (GR, EO).

At least 20 singing Willow Warblers around main water, Swag and Slurry Pool.

Top of hill by Slurry Pool was a male Wheatear at 10.50, 4 Lapwing, singing Skylarks, Heron, female Sparrowhawk.

Butterflies:  Speckled Wood, Small White, Green-veined White, 3 Peacocks but only one Green Hairstreak and Orange Tip over dam.

Eights Wood: 1 Buzzard mobbed by Crow (EO).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: No sign of the Black-necked Grebe between 07:30 - 08:00, 16 Tufted, 2 Teal, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Wheatears, 2 Jays, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Mallard on the mere with 12 chicks (CM).
Monday 16 April

48 Sand Martins.

Swag: 2 female Goldeneyes (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryders Mere: 1 breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the mere (AS), 2 Oystercatchers, 17 Tufted Ducks including 2 Aythya hybrids, 1 male Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Great crested Grebe (CM).

Black-necked Grebe at Ryder’s Mere (GE)
Sunday 15 April
1 pair Teal.
Dam: 3 Blackcaps, 3 Stock Doves.
Anglesey Basin: 20 Green Hairstreaks (GE, NS).
Swag: 1 Goldeneye, 20 Tufted Ducks.
Slurry Pool: 1-2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 12 Tufted, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Heron, 1 Speckled Wood.
North Shore: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 male Stonechat, 5 Green Hairstreaks, sev Orange Tips (GE), 1 Brimstone (GR).
Ruddy Ducks (GE).
WeBS: 45 Mute Swans, 8 Canada Geese, 72 Mallard, 46 Tufted Ducks, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Moorhens, 127 Coot (NS).
Clayhanger Marsh: Still 15 Teal and 4 Tufted Ducks, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers singing.
Ryders Mere: 2 Oystercatchers, 1 male Gadwall, 21 Tufted Ducks, 2 Buzzards. Good numbers of displaying Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, 5 Sand Martins and 2 House Martins flew through. Butterflies included Large White and Holly Blue. Stock Dove were displaying at Grange Farm and during the evening 8 House Martins were over Clayhanger Village (CM).

Although new growth is now appearing, the burnt heath is hardly ideal habitat for Green Hairstreaks.

Green Hairstreak in more typical habitat of Bilberry and Crowberry on the North Shore (GE).

Saturday 14 April

2 Blackcaps.

North Shore: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Tit and a pair of Bullfinch.
 The female Stonechat was carrying nest material (feathers). Good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. Butterflies included Speckled Wood, Small White, Green- veined White, Orange Tips, Peacock, Small

Swag: Two male Ruddy Ducks, three Swallows flew through. Tortoiseshell and five Green Hairstreaks on the north shore (CM).

Coppiceside, Brownhills: 3 Oystercatchers flew over (GE).
Friday 13 April

Chasewater 12.00 north end of dam to burnt heath, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk.

Butterflies: Green Hairstreak 25 yards NW of gorse, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma and by dam 1 Orange Tip (EO).

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers (GE).

Cuckoo Bank: 10.00 - Misty usual birds female Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 2 Swallows but no new migrants, 6 owl pellets (EO) .
Thursday 12 April

1st s Glaucous Gull

Clayhanger Common: 1-2 Willow Warblers, half a dozen Chiffchaffs (one with a faecal sack) and a male Blackcap and willow tit singing (CM).
Wednesday 11 April

Juv Glaucous Gull, 1-2 Great Black-backs circling over water and male Sparrowhawk.

Dam: male Orange Tip and at least one singing Willow Warbler heard another 5 on Fly Bay, North Shore and Swag areas.

Fly bay: 1 female Goldeneye and over wooden walkway in gorse patch nearest path Green Hairstreak.

North Shore area excluding bog: 2 Linnets, 2 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Peacock.

Slurry Hill: 3 Skylarks, 4 Lapwings, 1 Buzzard.

South end of causeway: 2 Small Whites. A very pale Buzzard high up white head and chest, but definitely Buzzard. (EO).

Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull but many boats greatly reduced gull numbers (PJ).
Tuesday 10 April Gull Roost: 1 juv Glaucous Gull (PJ).
Monday 9 April

2 Buzzards (GE).

Gull Roost: 389 large gulls including 7 Great Black-backs (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank: 11 Stonechats, 4 Buzzards, 3 Grey Partridges, flocks of 94 and 30 Fieldfares, 1 Pheasant, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 pair Little Grebes (GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryder’s Mere: Still four Wigeon on the mere as well as a male Gadwall, four
female Goosanders and two Sand Martins. Good Passage of Meadow Pipits during the morning (CM).
Sunday 8 April

3 Shelducks flew over (IW), 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Ringed Plover.

Dam: 1 Willow Warbler.

North Shore: 1 pair Stonechats, 2 Common Snipe.

Swag: 4 Goldeneye, 4Ruddies, 1 Little Grebe calling, 1 Swallow, 52 Tufted Ducks.

Slurry Pool and Hill: 2 male Ruddies, 2-3 pairs Lapwings, 1singing Skylark.

Cranebrook Heath: 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Tits (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 Iceland Gull, 250+ large gulls, 20+ Black-headed Gulls (PJ, IW, N, GE).

Clayhanger Marsh/Ryder’s Mere: The Oystercatchers were forced onto the marsh for most of the weekend, another Curlew and a Redshank. 13 Teal, 4 Wigeon (CM).
Saturday 7 April

1 Iceland Gull, 1 Willow Warbler (GE, CM), 3 Willow Warblers (PJ), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stock Dove (GE), 3 female Goosanders (CM).

Gull Roost: Only 100 gulls roosted as dozens flew off at dusk. The Iceland Gull did not roost (PJ).

Ryders Mere: 1 Little Ringed Plover and a pair of Tawny Owls (PJ).  
Friday 6 April

1-2 Green Hairstreak(s) in Anglesey Basin; the earliest ever record. 2 Oystercatchers (GE). 2 Stonechats, Sand Martin and Swallow (PJ).

2 very early Green Tiger Beetles; not usually seen till May (BR).

Gull Roost: 1 Iceland Gull, the albino Black-headed Gull and 400+ large gulls (PJ).

Kingswood: 1 drake Goosander (GE).

Birch Coppice, Brownhills: 4 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe (PJ).

Clayhanger SSSI: 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Curlews (CM).

 

Green Tiger Beetles (BR).
Thursday 5 April

A beautiful day but the northerly breeze is obviously holding back migration with no sign of any new arrivals today.

1 juv Iceland Gull on the lake for the whole day, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 pair Stonechats, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Stock Doves, 5 Chiffchaffs (GE), 3 Goosander (PJ). 8 Cormorants gaining height and flying west (EO)

Swag: 20 Goldeneye (GE).

Slurry Pool: 9 Red deer (EO).

Butterflies: 1 male Brimstone in Fly Bay, 10 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells (EO, GE).
The sunny weather brought out the crowds, including three youths who thought it would be a good idea to start a fire in the old overflow channel. Lichfield DC has almost completed fencing this part of the Chasewater Heaths SSSI in order to manage the habitat by grazing a few Dexter cattle; there is now little left to graze and the small sundew colony appears to have been destroyed along with valuable habitat for Bilberry, Cowberry, Crowberry, Cross-leaved Heath, Green Hairstreak butterflies, Common Lizards, Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe.

12:35 This was soon after the fire had been started by 3 youths. The fire brigade was called to Pool Road.

12:48 The reed bed bursts into flames.

12:56 Smoke envelopes the site and drifts across the M6 Toll. Fire fighters are walking 700 metres from Pavior’s Row in Chasetown having not realised that Pool Road is now accessed from the by-pass or the A5.

13:03 The first fire-fighters arrive and start beating.

13:55 The fire is still smouldering in places and the sundew colony is being dampened down! (GE

Iceland Gull (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 juvenile Iceland Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull, 400+ large gulls (PJ).

 

Cuckoo Bank: 9.00 to 12.00 - 1 Kestrel, 2 female and 1male Sparrowhawk circling for most of morning. The male was hounded by Carrion Crows as were 3 Buzzards. 7 Stonechats, numerous Linnets with a flock of 14 in top brassica field. Close view of female Green woodpecker. 2 Grey Partridge, numerous singing Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings . Butterflies: Male Brimstone, Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell in Eights Wood (EO).

No Man’s Bank: 1 singing Willow Tit, 1 Chiffchaff (GE).

Brownhills Common: 1 male Brimstone along The Parade (EO 
Wednesday 4 April

1 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Comma (GE).

Gull Roost: As well as the Iceland Gull there were 520 Lesser Black-backs, 48+ Herring Gulls, 9 Great Black-backs, 3 Common Gulls and several Black-headed Gulls (PJ).

 

The Iceland Gull was present at midday before departing to Kingswood. It returned during the late afternoon and roosted. Despite its habit of quickly tucking its head in as soon as it landed, it was eventually established that it had a dark eye and there was no grey in the mantle, which showed the bird to be a very worn juvenile (GE, PJ).

Cuckoo Bank: 1 Jack Snipe, 5 Common Snipe, 1 Little Grebe, 6-7 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Pheasant, 11 Stonechats (6 males), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, several Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Sky Larks, 2 Yellowhammers (GE). 400 Golden Plovers, 2 Jack Snipe (WMBC).

Kingswood: 1 Iceland Gull, 120 Lesser Black-backs, 5 Buzzards (GE).

One of five Buzzards over Kingswood (GE).

 

Today it was the turn of the Iceland Gull to loaf at Kingswood (GE).

Even at long range the Iceland Gull stands out (GE).
Tuesday 3 April

1 House Martin (IW), 120 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 2 Shovelers, 2 Wigeon, 1 Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk (GE, IW).

Gull Roost: 1 1st year Glaucous Gull (GE, PJ, IW), the Iceland Gull and the albino Black-headed Gull (PJ, IW).

Kingswood: The Glaucous Gull showed well amongst 50 Lesser Black-backs and 1-2 Herring Gulls till 16:50 when it flew to roost (GE).

First year Glaucous Gull at Kingswood (GE).

Good to get so close for a change.

Minutes later this was the best I could do in the roost!
Monday 2 April

2 Oystercatchers, 10 Sand Martins, 1 Grey Wagtail, several Peacock butterflies.

East Heath: 3 Common Snipe, 1 Kestrel.

Swag: 41 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard (GE).

Feeding Station: Two Willow Tit, 4 pairs of Bullfinches and some Reed Buntings. It was a bit slow not so much feeding this time of year (NS).

Gull Roost: 1 1st year Glaucous Gull, 1 1st/2nd year Iceland Gull, 400+ large gulls, a flock of 26 adult Common Gulls gathered over the lake but departed to the north (GE, PJ, IW).

Kingswood: 2 Oystercatchers (GE).

First year Glaucous Gull (GE).

The Iceland Gull almost disappears against the water (GE)
Sunday 1 April

1 pair Stonechats, 30+ Sand Martins, 2-3 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Tits, 1 Treecreeper, 1 male Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacocks.

Swag: 44 Goldeneye, 77 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard.

Slurry Pool: 7 Tufted Ducks.

Highfield Farm: 2 Oystercatchers feeding in a field (GE).

Gull Roost: 1 Iceland Gull, 140 Black-headed Gulls including the albino (JA, GE, PJ) and the ‘thayeri’ type Herring Gull (JA, GE, PJ, IW, N).

Cuckoo Bank: 9 Stonechats, 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Pheasant, 1 Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest (GE).

Kingswood: 1 1st year Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Buzzard, 2 Goosanders (GE).

Clayhanger SSSI: 52 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtails.

Ryders Mere: 21 Goosander, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Buzzards, 29 Fieldfares (WMBC).

Cuckoo Bank Sunset © Neil Stych

Is this proof of the existence of Dr Doolittle’s Pushmepullyou!

 

First year Yellow-legged Gull at Kingswood (GE).