| 1st
|
- 3°C
- Sunny until afternoon snow showers
- WNW4
|
|
The Long-eared Owl was seen again after a break
of 4 weeks (per PJ) and at least one Great Northern Diver, the
drake Smew and 9 Goosanders were present (PJ).
The impressive gull roost held a 3rd or advanced 2nd
winter Iceland
Gull, 2nd w Caspian Gull, 3 (adult, 3rd w and 2nd w) Yellow-legged
Gulls and at least 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls (PJ, GE).
|
|
- 2nd
- Sat
|
- 2°C
- Sunny intervals
- W2
|
|
The two Great Northern Divers and Slavonian
Grebe (PJ) were still present along with 13 Cormorants, 29 Mute
Swans, Grey Wagtail and around 30 redpoll/Siskins flew over the dam
(GE).
The drake Smew was on the Swag with 80+
Goldeneye, 20 Goosanders, 40+ Pochard and an adult Mediterranean
Gull (JA, GE) which joined 4 others on the Slurry Pool (PJ, CM).
This is the highest total ever recorded at Chasewater. Two pairs of
Gadwall and 6 Teal were also on the Slurry Pool and a Water Rail
was heard calling (GE).
Two of the Mediterranean Gulls were seen in
the roost along with 2 Caspian Gulls (2nd w and 1st w) and 2
(3rd w and 2nd w) Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ, IW, JA,
CM).
Stubber's Green: The 2nd w Caspian Gull showed
well and a female Red-breasted Merganser and at least 17
Goosanders were briefly present during the early morning. There were
750+ large gulls at the nearby Vigo landfill (PJ).
|
|
- 3rd
- Sun
|
- 6°C
- Grey, cloudy, light rain, cold wind
- S5
|
|
Little change, with the two Great Northern Divers,
Smew and Slavonian Grebe all present along with 84
Goldeneye, 9 Goosanders and 68 Lapwings. Kingfishers were present at Fly Pool and
the Swag. Adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen on the Slurry
Pool and Swag with a total of 4-5 roosting along with single 2nd w Caspian
and Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ, JA).
At Stubber's Green there were 20 Goosanders and a
2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ, JA) and another 2nd w Caspian Gull
and a 'Nordic' Jackdaw were also seen (HK).
|
|
|
| 2nd w Caspian Gull at
Stubber's Green (© P. Parsons) |
Jackdaw showing characteristics of
the Scandinavian (Nordic) race at Stubber's Green (© P.
Parsons). |
|
|
| 4th |
- 8°C
- Bright with light showers
- SSW3
|
The 2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe
and Smew remain.
- Yet another crayfish down the hatch! ©
P. Ward
|
- Slavonian Grebe © P. Ward
|
|
|
|
| Adult
Mediterranean Gull contrasting well with the Black-headed
Gull © P. Ward |
The gull roost held a new probable 2nd w Iceland Gull,
a 2nd w Caspian Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and 2
adult Mediterranean Gulls (PJ, IW, GE, DS).
The 2nd w Caspian Gull was also seen at
Stubber's Green (BG).
|
|
- 5th
|
-
- 10°C
- Heavy showers
- SW4-5
|
-
-
- Drake Smew © P. Ward
|
There was a brisk wind, choppy water and the
board walk still 6 inches under water. The Slavonian Grebe
was on the Sailing Club side of Fly Bay. 7-8 Reed Buntings
were at the Feeding Station along with 5 Bullfinches, 2 Willow
Tits,1 Coal Tit and a Green Woodpecker calling. On the North
Shore there were 4 Common Snipe and 6 Red Deer. Also present
were 2 Little Grebes and 80 Lapwings (EO).
The two Great Northern Divers
and Smew were present, 14 Goosanders and an adult Mediterranean
Gull on the Swag and two on the Slurry Pool, followed by at least
4 in the roost which also held a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and
the same Iceland Gull as last night (PJ, IW, CC). |
At Stubber's Green there were 46 Jackdaws
including the 'Nordic' bird, 21 Goosanders and a sinensis (Continental)
Cormorant (PJ). |
|
- 6th
|
- 8°C
- Sunny
- N3
|
| Last week's grey mantled 2nd w Iceland Gull
reappeared in the roost along with the much whiter probable 2nd w of
the last two nights. Two Mediterranean Gulls, a
2nd w Caspian Gull and a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull were
also seen in the large roost. The Slavonian Grebe (PW) and
the 2 Great Northern Divers
were also present (PJ, IW, N).
At Stubber's Green the 2nd w Caspian Gull
and a juv Glaucous Gull were present during the morning (per
PJ). |
Slavonian Grebe eating what looks
like a Bullhead © P. Ward |
|
- 7th
|
- 12°C
- Cloudy
- SSW3
|
- The 2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian
Grebe and Smew were all present.
- In the roost there were the two probable 2nd w Iceland Gulls,
a 2nd
w Caspian Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and 2
adult Mediterranean Gulls (PJ, IW, EGP et al).
The grey mantled Iceland Gull was seen well
at Stubber's Green and was felt to be a 2nd w rather than 3rd w (EGP). |
|
| 8th |
-
- 11°C
- Sunny
- S3
|
- The two Great Northern Divers, Slavonian
Grebe and Smew were all present (PW).
- It is now clear that the two Iceland Gulls
are both 2nd winter birds as the whiter bird has a pale iris and a
pale tip to the bill. Two 2nd w Yellow-legged Gulls, the 2nd
w Caspian Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were
also present (PJ, GE).
-
 |
|
|
|
|
| These four photos
show the same 2nd winter Iceland Gull © P. Ward.
It is well advanced in the amount of grey in the scapulars
but the underparts and the bill pattern show it to be
still in its 3rd calendar year (2nd winter). |
|
|
 |
| The
pale 2nd winter Iceland Gull. At close range it
shows a pale iris © P. Ward |
- Lapwings © P. Ward
|
- Slavonian Grebe© P. Ward
|
The 2nd w Caspian Gull and grey-mantled 2nd
w Iceland Gull were at Stubber's Green during the day (JA).
- The 2nd winter Iceland Gull at
Stubber's Green (J).
|
|
|
- 9th
- Sat
|
-
- 12°C
- Sunny
- S2
|
- The Slavonian Grebe showed well in Fly
Bay where there were also 3 Little Grebes. One of the Great Northern Divers fed on
crayfish off the dam whilst the other was out in the middle of
the lake and Buzzard, Kestrel and displaying Sparrowhawk were
seen overhead. On the Swag there were 68 Goldeneye and 9
Goosanders (GE).
- In the roost only a winter adult Mediterranean
Gull was of note (IW).
At Stubber's Green the 2nd w Caspian Gull
was present and the 2nd w Iceland Gull was at the nearby
Vigo Landfill (PJ). |
|
- 10th
- Sun
|
- 13°C
- Sunny
- E1
|
| The WeBS count produced 24 Mute Swans,
55 Canada Geese, 284 Coot, 18 Moorhens, 138 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 22
Wigeon, 194 Tufted Ducks, 41 Pochard, 77 Goldeneye, 4 Goosanders, 1
Ruddy Duck, 29 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe and 14 Lapwings.
It seems that we may have lost the
Slavonian Grebe and only one Great Northern Diver was seen
today but the drake Smew was still hiding in Fly Bay. A Willow Tit was
singing on the edge of Southacres farm (NS, GE).
Only a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull, a fairly
well hooded adult Mediterranean Gull and the white
Black-headed Gull were seen amongst the 8000+ Black-heads and good
numbers of larger gulls (PJ, IW, N, SR, JA, JKH, GE et al). Just
after dark an owl flew in from the south over the station. Assumed
to be a Short-eared but the brief view of its under-wing as it was
caught by the lights showed no dark primary tips so it may have been
Long-eared (GE, NS, PW).
|
|
| 11th |
- 12°C
- Sunny
- SSE2
|
| The one remaining Great Northern Diver
was seen to catch 40 crayfish during the day (PW). Also seen
were 97 Wigeon, 76 Goldeneye, 22 Goosanders, including
10 in flight, the drake Smew (PDH) and a flock of 30 redpolls at Plant Swag (IW).
Another impressive gull roost with a 2nd w Iceland
Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull, 8000 Black-headed Gulls
(including the white bird),
700 Lesser Black-backs which now outnumber the Herring Gulls and a
few Great Black-backs (PJ, PDH, IW, GE). |
|
- 12th
|
- 14°C
- Sunny
- ENE1
|
| Another beautiful, spring-like day. The
crayfish population was reduced by at least another 30; just how
large are Great Northern Diver stomachs? The Smew was
skulking in Fly Bay where a Chiffchaff was calling and 2
Herons were on the north shore. The Swag
held 121 Wigeon, a Shoveler, 42 Pochard, 22 Goosanders, a duck
Tufted with a blue 'bill saddle' and a Kingfisher. The Wigeon had
presumably been disturbed from Ryders Mere and were seen flying
high, back towards Clayhanger at dusk. The Feeding Station was busy
with its usual customers, including 2 Willow Tits and 6 Bullfinches
and a watchful Sparrowhawk soared overhead (GE).
Another Kingfisher was by the canal behind the dam. On
the Slurry Pool there was a pair of Gadwall and 8 Meadow Pipits on
the hill. I thought I saw a Stonechat flying into reeds but
couldn't see it once it had landed. 1 Little Grebe was on the
north shore by the causeway. By the time I got back
the car
park was full. I'm amazed how popular Chasewater is to non birdwatchers (EO).
The gull roost contained the 2nd w Iceland Gull
(PJ, IW, GE) and an adult Mediterranean Gull (IW). |
|
- 13th
|
- 8°C
- Sunny
- NE1
|
- The Great Northern Diver
continued to perform just off the dam and the Smew was reported in
Fly Bay.
- The 2nd w Iceland Gull and 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gull were again in the roost which numbered around 2500
large gulls, Lesser Black-backs in the majority and 8000
Black-headed Gulls (PJ, GE).
|
|
| 14th |
- 6°C
- Cloudy, grey with fine afternoon drizzle
- ENE2-3
|
- More like winter today. A brief look from the
dam at midday showed the Great Northern Diver still
catching crayfish whilst a Buzzard flew low into bushes below
the dam. New for the year was a pair of Pintail in the
middle of the lake, later to be seen at Belvide. A charm of 26 Goldfinches fed in alders at
the northern end of the by-pass (GE).
- The 2nd w Iceland Gull was again in the
roost (PJ, GE).
On Cuckoo Bank there were 10 Fieldfares, 3 Herons,
a Stonechat and 2 Song Thrushes (N, PS).
|
|
| 15th |
-
- 5°C
- Cloudy
- E2
- Frost
|
|
The Great Northern Diver was
still present. Two Iceland Gulls roosted tonight, one being
the regular 2nd w that was seen flying over Ryders Mere on its way
to roost (KC) and the other was almost certainly the 3rd w bird that
roosted at Belvide last night. A 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull was also present
amongst 800 Lesser Black-backs, 500 Herring Gulls and a few Great
Black-backs (PJ, GE, IW). The first Tawny Owl of the year was seen
below the dam (IW). |
|
- 16th
- Sat
|
- 7°C
- Sunny
- E2
- -6°C at night
|
| The Great Northern Diver was
only seen to catch one fish and 2 crayfish off the dam today (PW),
perhaps we are running out! The Smew was with 82 Goldeneye,
3 Goosanders and 161 Tufted Ducks on the Swag. Only 4 Tufted and 2
pairs of Gadwall were on the Slurry Pool.
In Jack's Wood there was a singing Siskin,
several Goldfinches, 2 Coal Tits and a drumming Great Spotted
Woodpecker (GE).
The gull roost was rather smaller than of late
but still held a 1st w Caspian Gull, the pale 2nd w Iceland
Gull, a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, JA, IW, N, PDH,
GE, RB et al) and an adult Mediterranean Gull (PDH).
|
 - Another vivid sunset © GE
|
The 2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ, GE) was again at
Stubber's Green during the morning along with what is likely to be
a 1st w female Scaup type hybrid (GE).
|
|
 |
| This may yet turn
out to be a good Scaup but it appeared rather small and the
black on the bill extended beyond the nail (GE) |
|
|
- 17th
- Sun
|
- 7°C
- Sunny
- SE1
- -5°C at night
|
| The Great Northern Diver and Smew
were still present along with a total of 15 Gadwall, 7 Goosanders
and 3 Kingfishers (JA, PW et al).
The gull roost was much larger than last night
with many more immature large gulls and the pale 2nd w Iceland
Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and an adult
Mediterranean Gull (PJ, JA, IW).
At Stubbers Green the pale 2nd w Iceland Gull came
to bread and was superbly photographed - see Surfbirds
(H. King) and the 2nd w Caspian Gull was also present (PJ). |
|
| 18th |
- 8°C
- Sunny
- ESE1
- -5°C at night
|
- The Great Northern Diver was present.
- The pale 2nd w Iceland Gull and 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gull were amongst a fair sized roost but with fewer immature
large gulls than last night. For the third consecutive night a
spectacular orange sunset formed a fine backdrop to the roost (PJ,
IW, GE).
|
|
- 19th
|
- 6°C
- E2
- -2°C at night
|
|
A frosty and foggy morning followed by a brief sunny
period before more fog led to a day with no records of note. The
gull roost was abandoned when it was clear the fog wasn't going to!
(PJ, IW, GE).
|
|
- 20th
|
- 7°C
- Sunny intervals
- SW2
|
| The gull roost held the 2nd w Iceland
Gull and 2 2nd w Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ). |
|
| 21st |
- 11°C
- Cloudy
- WSW4
|
| The Great Northern Diver, 72
Goldeneye, 201 Tufted Ducks and a Teal. The roost held the 2nd w Iceland
Gull, 2nd w Caspian Gull, the two 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gulls, 50 Common Gulls and 300+ Herring Gulls (PDH, PJ). |
|
On
the Cuckoo Bank heathland
there were 2 Ravens, a Buzzard, 4 Jack Snipe, 10 Snipe, a
melanistic male Mallard, 2 Stonechats, Siskin and a Jay. Flocks
on the farmland totaled 40 Fieldfares, 80 Starlings, 52 Linnets and 22
Skylarks. Grey Partridge called (JH). |
|
| 22nd |
- 10°C
- Cloudy
- WSW4
|
A Short-eared Owl was
seen hunting east of the by-pass during the 'early hours' (IW).
The Great Northern Diver was present (IW, PJ) and in Fly
Bay there was a Grey Wagtail and a pair of displaying Great
Crested Grebes. 5 Common Snipe and a Heron were on the North
Heath and a Little Grebe by the causeway. 65 Goldeneye were on
the Swag but there was no sign of the Smew. At the Feeding
Station there were 6 Bullfinches and a Willow Tit (EO).
64 Lapwings were on the jetty (GE).
In the roost there was the 2nd
w Iceland Gull, 2 2nd w and an adult Caspian Gull, a
1st w (GE) and 2 2nd w (PJ, JA) Yellow-legged Gulls and
an adult Mediterranean Gull (IW).
09:00 At Cuckoo Bank, Sparrowhawk,
Buzzard, Kestrel and Peregrine were all seen along with 7
Common Snipe, 20+ Skylarks, several Meadow Pipits and Reed
Buntings, a pair of Stonechats, a Heron and on Pool 16 there were
6 Gadwall but no sign of frogspawn.
On the top cultivated fields there
were more Skylarks, up to 14 Linnets and 2 Grey Partridges. In
Eights Wood a Song Thrush and 3 Great Tits were singing (EO).
|
|
- 23rd
- Sat
|
- 10°C
- Cloudy
- SW4
|
The Great Northern Diver was off
the dam, the first Oystercatcher of the year was on the jetty with
105 Lapwings (GE), a Water Rail was near the Slurry Pool (N, IW) and
a Stock Dove in Highfield Farm (GE). The gull roost held the 2nd w
and a possibly new 3rd w Iceland Gull, an adult Mediterranean
Gull, the new 2nd w Caspian Gull (photographed at
Stubber's Green) and a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, IW, N, JA, GE).
- Visits to Stubbers Green/Vigo Landfill and
Kingswood showed just how mobile the gulls are since the 2nd w Caspian
Gull and 2nd w Iceland Gull were seen at both sites
during the day. Also at Stubbers Green there was a 'Nordic'
Jackdaw (IW) amongst a flock of 60 Jackdaws, a new 2nd w Caspian Gull, 142 Canada Geese, 32 Tufted
Ducks, 3 Goosanders and a Shelduck (GE).
-
|
|
|
| A long-billed, long-necked
and very long-winged Caspian Gull probably in retarded 2nd w plumage (GE).
This bird was photographed
at Moor NR in Cheshire on 14th February and roosted at
Chasewater yesterday and tonight (PJ). |
|
- The 3rd w Iceland Gull was also at
Kingswood during the morning (MY, BS) and the site's impressive pre-roost gathering
also held the two 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gulls and 4 Gadwall and a pair of Stonechats were also
present (GE, PJ).
|
|
- 24th
- Sun
|
- 10°C
- Sunny morning but rain in afternoon.
- SW3
|
- The Great Northern Diver was present and
on the Swag there were 70 Goldeneye, 4 Goosanders and 21 Pochard
(GE).
- The gull roost held the 3rd w Iceland Gull,
a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Mediterranean
Gull (PJ, JA).
- At Kingswood the adult Caspian Gull, 3rd
w Iceland Gull and 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ,
JA, TP, SR) and 3 Buzzards (GE) were present.
-
 |
| Second winter Herring Gull
and Yellow-legged Gull at Kingswood showing strong
contrast between each other and the Caspian Gull at Stubber's
Green yesterday (GE). |
|
|
| 25th |
- 9°C
- Sunny
- SW2
|
| The Great Northern Diver, 3rd
w Iceland Gull, 2nd w Caspian Gull and 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gull continue to entertain (PJ, IW, PDH).
The 2nd w Caspian Gull was also seen at
Stubber's Green (PJ) and the 3rd w Iceland Gull was
reported from Kingswood (per PJ). |
|
- 26th
|
- 8°C
- Overnight rain then sunny
- W5
|
|
Strong winds made the gull roost difficult to watch but
the 2nd w Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls were seen (PJ,
IW).
At Stubber's Green the 2nd w Caspian Gull, 2nd w
Yellow-legged Gull and a 2nd/3rd w Iceland Gull were present (RC).
|
|
 |
| Presumably the 3rd w Iceland
Gull that has been seen locally over the past few days (©
R. Clay) |
|
|
- 27th
|
- 9°C
- Sunny
- W2
|
| The gull roost held the 3rd w Iceland
Gull and 2 2nd w Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ). |
|
| 28th |
- 9°C
- Sunny intervals
- SSW2
|
| The Great Northern Diver was
still present and the gull roost held the same 1st w Caspian Gull
as on the 16th February, the 3rd w Iceland Gull, 2 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gulls, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the white
Black-headed Gull (PJ, IW). |
|
| 29th |
- 10°C
- Sunny intervals
- WSW4-5
|
| A Common Sandpiper along the
west shore was a surprising find early in the morning (IW). The Great
Northern Diver was still present and in the roost the 2nd w Caspian
Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and adult Mediterranean
Gull were found (PJ, IW).
At Stubber's Green the 2nd w Caspian Gull
and 2nd (3rd?)w Iceland Gull were reported (per PJ). |
|
