| 1st
|
8șC
cloudy with light SW breeze
|
The 2 juvenile Great Northern
Divers and drake Smew have made it into the New Year,
spending most of their time in Fly Bay. A total of 61 species has been
recorded today including 33 Pochard, 6 Wigeon, 22 Mute Swans, 33
Canada Geese with 6 hybrids, 7 Cormorants, 4 Goosanders, 36+ Common
Snipe, 3 Jack Snipe, a Kingfisher and 2 Green Woodpeckers.
- At the Feeding Station there were 3
Willow Tits, 8 Bullfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker with 55
Siskins, 10 Lesser Redpolls and 5 Goldfinches nearby (GE).
- Two 2nd winter Yellow-legged
Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull were on the Slurry
Pool.
|
- 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull
with Lesser Black-backs on the Slurry Pool (GE).
|
- A record shot of the Iceland
Gull (NSm).
|
|
Single juvenile Iceland and Glaucous
Gulls and a third 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull were good reward for
the 40 birders who turned up for the impressively large gull roost (PJ)
and there was also a claim of a 1st w Caspian Gull (BG).
On Cuckoo Bank there was a Short-eared Owl
and 15 Siskins (IP).
|
|
| 2nd |
4șC
cloudy. Cold, biting force 3-4 SE |
|
The good start to the year was
continued by a Slavonian Grebe close to the causeway that has
presumably come from Blithfield (PDH, GE),
whilst the 2 Great Northern Divers and drake Smew were still
present. Other sightings were 106 Lapwings on the Water Sports jetty, 8
Cormorants, 48 Pochard, 4 Goosanders and 9 Red Deer below the dam. Only 58 Tufted Ducks remain on
the Slurry pool (GE).
3 Mediterranean Gulls were
found with a 1st winter and adult on the Slurry Pool and another adult on
the main lake (GE, PJ). The choppy water and biting wind made the gull
roost difficult to study for around 15 birders but a juv Glaucous
Gull (possibly 2) and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present (PJ, IW,
GE et al). 250+ Great Black-backed Gulls and 12000 Black-headed Gulls were counted (PDH).
|
- 1st w Mediterranean Gull (GE)
|
- Adult Mediterranean Gull (GE)
|
- The Glaucous Gull was
also seen near the Grove Landfill, Little Wyrley. It was
loafing in the fields at the end of Fishley Lane, along with
many hundreds of other gulls (RC).
|
- Juvenile Glaucous Gull (©RC)
|
|
| 3rd |
Frost
at night, not rising to <1șC. Cloudy and raw force 3 ENE
but forecast snow did not arrive. |
- Adult winter Slavonian Grebe
(© P A King)
|
Another good day with
the Great Northern Divers, Smew and adult Slavonian
Grebe all showing well. The grebe covered the whole length of
the west shore from the causeway to the Watersports Centre, where it
joined 2 Little Grebes, hardly venturing further than 3m from the
shore (GE). The 1st winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls were
again on the Slurry Pool (PJ) and the gull roost produced the juv Glaucous
Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull (EGP, PJ) and
a juv Iceland Gull was also reported (GI). Perhaps the best find of the day
was a roosting Long-eared Owl in an unspecified bush.
Other sightings today include a
Kingfisher, 12 Lesser Redpolls and 8 Cormorants.
|
- Drake Smew (©
P A King)
|
- Great Northern Diver keeping a
low profile
- (© P A King)
|
| The 2nd w Caspian Gull was again
present at Stubber's Green after a break of several days (RC, EGP).
The fields at Little Wyrley held an adult Yellow-legged
Gull, 300+ Herring Gulls, 65 Great Black-backs and 25 Lessers
but the Glaucous Gull was not seen (GE). |
- Grey Heron (©
J Spencer)
|
|
| 4th |
5șC
A grey, dreary, drizzly day. SSE 2-3
|
|
The
Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe and Smew
continue to entertain, although the latter can be very elusive. The adult Mediterranean
Gull was again seen on the Slurry Pool (PJ) and the 2nd w Caspian
Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 ad, 1 2nd w) and 2 Glaucous
Gulls (the usual juv and a 2nd w) were in the gull roost (PJ, IW, EGP,
GJM, PDH, GE et al ). Other records were 6 Goosanders on the Swag,
Kingfisher, 2 Willow Tits, 2 Green Woodpeckers and the Siskin/Redpoll
flock continue to feed in the alders at the end of Fly Bay.
|
|
|
|
Slavonian Grebe (©
N. Stych)
|
|
Jack's Wood held a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrests, several
Redwings, 2 Fieldfares and a Coal Tit but preparations for Chasetown FC's
great day tomorrow made listening for bird calls very difficult! (GE)
At Stubber's Green 410 Herring Gulls, 35 Great Black-backs and the 2nd w Caspian
Gull were present before leaving to join the Chasewater roost (PJ).
The juv Glaucous Gull was again seen at Fishley Lane and later
at Ryder's Mere before heading off to the roost (PN).
|
|
- 5th
- Sat
|
7șC
Much brighter but 1-2 showers in afternoon.
W 3
|
| The
2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe and Smew
were all present along with a Short-eared Owl, Woodcock, a
pair of Stonechats, Grey Wagtail, Rook, Green Woodpecker (GE), a Chiffchaff
(NSm), up to 20 Reed Buntings and a male Sparrowhawk (IW).
The 2nd w Caspian Gull which was
also seen at Stubber's Green (RC, PJ), adult Mediterranean Gull and
adult Yellow-legged Gull were all in the roost (PJ, IW, JA, KC, RB,
NS, ESC et al).
On the Cuckoo Bank farmland there were 4
Golden Plovers, 1 Common Snipe, 6 Grey Partridges, 2 Kestrels, 90
Skylarks, 40 Chaffinches, 6 Linnets, 6 Reed Buntings, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2
Fieldfares and a Redwing (GE).
|
|
- 6th
- Sun
|
8șC
A beautiful, sunny, crisp day. S 1-2
|
| The
sunny weather brought out a constant twitch of birders and with the Great
Northern Divers, Smew and especially the Slavonian Grebe performing
superbly, no-one left disappointed. The adult Mediterranean Gull
showed well on the Swag whilst the 1st winter was in the roost along with
the white Black-headed Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull (GE, PJ,
N, IW et al). There were at least 40 Great Crested Grebes and 30 Common
Gulls during the day with around 70 in the roost. |
-
- Slavonian Grebe (©
N. Stych).
|
|
On the Swag there were also 87 Goldeneye, 14 Goosanders, 159 Tufted
Ducks (+ 101 on the Slurry Pool), 33 Pochard, 5 Wigeon, 1 Ruddy Duck and 2
Kingfishers.
Mistle Thrush and Willow Tit were singing along the Crane Brook to the
north of the Slurry Pool where a pair of Stonechats flitted from reeds to
fence posts (GE).
Golden Plovers were heard on Cuckoo Bank where there were also 200
Fieldfares, 1 Mistle Thrush, over 100 Skylarks and 2 Buzzards in Eight's
Wood which along with a Pheasant along Crane Brook take
the year list to 80 species.
The 2nd w Caspian Gull and another adult Mediterranean Gull
showed well at Stubber's Green but neither were found in the roost.
|
|
- 7th
|
8șC WNW
4 gusting to 5 with showers. |
| At
dusk the 2 Great Northern Divers were together off Target Point and
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were together in the gull roost (GE, IW). |
|
| 8th |
9șC
S 4-5 |
| 2
Great Northern Divers, Smew, Slavonian Grebe, 2 adult
Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull (IW). |
|
| 9th |
8șC
SW 4-5 |
|
9:30-12:00.A windy ol' day! Had the 2 Great Northern Divers
off Fly Bay, drake Smew, 30+ Goldeneye, 2 Green Woodpeckers,
flock of Siskins and Redpolls around trees near the feeding station, 2
Willow Tits, 9 Bullfinches and a 1st w Mediterranean Gull on the
Slurry Pool and a pair of Stonechats (N). |
|
| 10th |
10șC
Rain in morning SSW 4 |
At
least one Great Northern Diver and the Slavonian Grebe were
present (PS). |
| 11th |
Heavy
rain! N 4 |
No
records on a washout of a day. |
- 12th
- Sat
|
6șC
Bright and sunny.
SW 2
|
- The Smew, 2 Great
Northern Divers and the Slavonian Grebe were still present
and a duck Gadwall was the first for the year.
- On the Swag there were 87 Goldeneye (+ 3 on the lake), 12
Goosanders, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Buzzard flew over
to No Man's Bank.
- In the gull roost there was a 3rd w Iceland Gull, the 2nd w Caspian
Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a 2nd w and 3rd w Yellow-legged
Gull (PJ, IW, N).
-
- Cuckoo Bank: A pair of Stonechats (N).
Stubber's Green: 2nd w Caspian Gull (PJ, GE).
|
|
- 13th
- Sun
|
10șC
Cloudy with rain.
SSW4
|
| The WeBS count produced
2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe, drake Smew,
15 Mute Swans, 34 Canada Geese, 443 Coot, 15 Moorhens, 124 Mallard,
4 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 409 Tufted Ducks, 29 Pochard, 94 Goldeneye, 5
Goosanders, 1 Ruddy Duck, 21 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1
Kingfisher, 181 Lapwings (NS, GE) and a Water Rail on the North
Shore and 15
Lesser Redpolls (IW). An adult Mediterranean Gull on the Swag was
possibly different from the two in the roost, which also held the 2nd w Caspian
Gull, 1+ adult Yellow-legged Gull and the white Black-headed
Gull (PJ, IW, EGP, CC, CM, GE).
Brownhills Common: 1 Buzzard (GE).
Stubber's Green: The 2nd w Caspian
Gull (PJ).
|
|
| 14th |
8șC
Cloudy, some rain SW4
|
2 Great
Northern Divers (WMBC).
A 2nd w Iceland Gull was seen in the roost (IP).
|
| 15th |
10șC
Rain S4
|
The
2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe and Smew
were all present (CC). A Short-eared
Owl was mobbed by 2 Magpies. Also present were 4 Goosanders, 4 Little
Grebes, 100 Lapwings, 2 Jack Snipe, 5 Common Snipe, a Great
Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail (EO), Stonechat and a Kingfisher (GR).
The roost held 2 Iceland Gulls (2nd w on the water and juv on the
jetty), 2nd w Caspian Gull (IW) and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(WMBC).
Water levels have risen to near maximum and the Fly Pool/Bay
boardwalk is now 5 inches under water (EO).
|
|
| 16th |
7șC
Bright NW4 |
|
The
2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe and Smew
were all present and in the roost there was a new adult Caspian
Gull and a 'scruffy' juv Iceland Gull which had the
distal half of the bill dark; probably last night's jetty bird but not
the one seen at the start of the year (PJ, GJM).
|
|
| 17th |
8șC
Showers SW3 |
| The
2 Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe and Smew
were all present and in the roost there was an adult Mediterranean Gull,
2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and the white Black-headed Gull (PJ,
PDH, EGP, JA). Also 103 Goldeneye, 330 Tufted Ducks and 23 Reed Buntings
(PDH).
Water is now pouring over the overflow
weir; levels having risen by nearly 30cm since the turn of the year and
the forecast doesn't look good!
|
|
| 18th |
- 13șC
- Early rain SW4
|
| Two
Great Northern Divers, juv Iceland Gull on the jetty, adult Mediterranean
Gull, 2 (2nd w, 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls and
the white Black-headed Gull. The Iceland Gull appears to have something
stuck in its bill, giving it a rather odd appearance (PJ, JA).
Fly Bay: The drake Smew was
feeding very actively and getting tamer, coming from the cover it has been
staying near and over to the near shore of the creek. The Slavonian
Grebe was very close inshore, along with displaying Goldeneye and
three Goosanders. Unusually, the windy weather has not brought Tufted
Ducks into the creek, and only two Cormorants (IP).
|
|
- 19th
- Sat
|
10șC Cloudy, rain
in evening W2-3
|
|
A
sad day. A police helicopter hovered over the Lake and Swag for much of
the morning searching for a missing person. Divers eventually
recovered a body from the Swag.
Bird life was very much the same as usual with 2 Great Northern
Divers, Slavonian Grebe and drake Smew still present.
Different adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen on the Slurry Pool
and Pier, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present during the day
(PD) and a juv Iceland Gull and the white Black-headed Gull were in
the roost (PJ, IW, JA, SR). A surprisingly high total of 62 Pochard
emerged from the bushes on the west side of the Swag when the helicopter
hovered over and totals of 328 Tufted Ducks, 99 Goldeneye and 5 Goosanders
were counted (PDH, GE). A Kingfisher and the flock of Siskins and Lesser
Redpolls were also noted. Below the dam there were 80 Redwings, 1-2
Fieldfares, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Jays and
the first clump of flowering Snowdrops of the winter (GE).
A Woodcock was seen near the feeding station (IW)
|
- Slavonian Grebe (© P.
Dedicoat).
|
- Great Northern Diver (© P.
Dedicoat).
|
- The Nine Foot is now
overflowing (GE)
|
- The first Snowdrops of the
year (GE).
|
|
- 20th
- Sun
|
13șC
Heavy rain WSW4
|
|
A remarkably mild but windy and wet day, reminiscent of late April; it was
tempting to look out for Arctic Terns over the water! The 2 Great Northern
Divers,
Smew and Slavonian Grebe were present and a Water Rail was below the dam. 87
Goldeneye and an adult Mediterranean Gull were on the Swag (GE). The white
Black-headed Gull was in the roost (PJ, JA, IW). A Short-eared Owl was
reported over No Man's Bank (per IW). |
|
| 21st |
11șC
Cloudy with rain WSW4-5 |
2 Great Northern Divers, a small flock of Redpolls and a Green Woodpecker.
Great Crested Grebes are nest building on Fly Pool and the Nine Foot
with another pair displaying in Fly Bay. A good selection of birds were at
the feeding station. The Herons seem to have disappeared, probably back to
Gailey? (GR).
A 2nd w Iceland Gull was seen on the jetty (WMBC). The all white Black-Headed
Gull was in the roost but the birds showed very poorly
in the strong wind (PJ, IW). |
|
| 22nd |
- 9șC
- Sunny
- W2
|
|
A nice calm sunny day. The Slavonian Grebe and Smew were both in Fly Bay.
Up to 50 Lapwings were by the water ski club and a Great Northern Diver
was close in to south shore. Other sightings included 4 Goldfinches, 1
Skylark, 4 Goosanders, a Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker, a male Stonechat, a
small flock of Siskins and redpolls, 10 Meadow Pipits, 25-30 Reed Buntings
and 10 Common Snipe in the waterlogged heath. The whole of the heath on
the north shore is very waterlogged and the walkway is 6/9 inches deep.
Again a good number of birders were around, must be taking advantage of
short dry spell (EO).
In the gull roost there was a juvenile Iceland Gull and the white Black-Headed
Gull (IW). |
|
On the
Cuckoo Bank heathland there were 8 Jack Snipe, 17 Snipe, 3 Siskin and a
redpoll flew over, 2 Stonechats, 2 Skylarks, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting,
Green Woodpecker, Hare and Fox. On the fields
coveys of Grey Partridge totaled 25 and 8 Golden Plover flew over (JH). |
|
| 23rd |
- 11șC
- Light rain
- SSW3
|
| The
Slavonian Grebe was reported. Viewing of the gull roost was difficult
again due to the wind direction but an adult Yellow-legged Gull, white
Black-headed Gull were on the water and the juv Iceland Gull was on the
jetty (PJ). |
|
| 24th |
- 7șC
- Sunny
- WSW3
|
| Chasewater was like
the Atlantic this morning - choppy with a freezing gale blowing
across it. At least the sun shone allowing me to improve on
Saturday's grebe picture, even if I didn't get anything like the
quality one would want from a bird that comes so close (PD).
The divers and Smew were
also present. In the roost there were 300 Great Black-backs, a
small juv Glaucous Gull, the juv Iceland Gull (on the jetty
again), a 2nd w Caspian Gull and a 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gull and a well hooded adult
Mediterranean Gull (PJ, PDH).
|
- Slavonian Grebe (© P.
Dedicoat)
|
|
| 25th |
- 9șC
- Sunny intervals
- WSW5-6
|
- A short visit to north shore produced both Slavonian Grebe,
Smew, Short-eared Owl and Jack Snipe. At the feeding
station there were 5 male and 2 female Bullfinches, 2 Willow Tits, 1
Marsh Tit, 2 Jays and 2 Green Woodpeckers in the area (EO).
At Fly Pool there were 3 Kingfishers and a pair of Great Crested
Grebes nest building (GR).
- The gull roost held juv Iceland and Glaucous Gull,
2nd w Caspian Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and adult
Mediterranean Gull (PJ).
Cuckoo Bank: Copse at side of Pool 10 (see Cuckoo Bank map) 1 Common
(Mealy) Redpoll with large pinky chest, very white underneath and
whitish wing bar, several Lesser Redpolls, 1 Siskin and 2 Goldfinches. A
male Sparrowhawk landed in the same tree and they all dispersed. 3 Stonechats
with small numbers of Reed Buntings and odd Meadow Pipit. On Pool 16 there
were 9 Tufted Ducks, 1 Mute Swan and a drake Teal flew through. 1 Common
Snipe with Buzzard and Kestrel flew over. Finally 14 Red Deer in the field
south of Eight's wood, no stags (EO).Stubber's Green: The 2nd w Caspian
Gull and 1 a juv Glaucous Gull
which was also seen feeding at the Vigo landfill (PJ).
|
|
- 26th
- Sat
|
-
- 11șC
- Sunny intervals
- WSW4
|
- Great Northern Diver (© N.
Stych)
|
The LDC/CWG field meeting attracted over 80 people who were treated to
excellent views of the 2 Great Northern Divers off the dam, the Slavonian
Grebe and drake Smew in Fly Bay, an adult Mediterranean Gull
on the Slurry Pool and a Kingfisher at Fly Pool (GE, NS et al). 254
Tufted Ducks, 102
Goldeneye and 2 Goosanders were counted on the Swag (PJ). Also seen were 2 Herons, 1 Cormorant, 1
Sparrowhawk (GE) and the year's first Yellowhammer was at Highfield Farm
(CM). A juv Glaucous Gull dropped in at 14:30 but flew off to the
north and was seen to roost at Blithfield. The gull roost held an adult Yellow-legged
Gull and a total of 3 adult Mediterranean
Gulls, including an odd white headed and slightly immature looking
bird and the white Black-headed Gull (GE, PJ, IW et al). |
|
Stubber's Green: The juv Glaucous Gull and 2nd w Caspian Gull
were present during the morning (JA, GE).
|
|
- 27th
- Sun
|
- 10șC
- Sunny
- WNW3
|
| An
adult drake Scaup on the Swag was new for the year and it was
accompanied by the drake Smew, 5 Goosanders, 15 Wigeon and 2 adult Mediterranean
Gulls, one being the white headed bird (GE, PJ). The 2 Great
Northern Divers performed well again with the one off the dam seen to
catch and eat 15 crayfish during the morning (NS, PW). The Slavonian
Grebe was in Fly Bay with the other diver and 120 Lapwings were on the
jetty. At the feeding station
there were 7 Bullfinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 Willow Tits, a Coal Tit, a
Green Woodpecker, 2 Siskins flew over and 2 Red Deer hinds were nearby.
Two Song Thrushes sang below the dam (NS) and in Highfield Farm there were
30 Fieldfares and 2 fine Red Deer stags with full antlers (GE).
The gull roost held poor numbers of Herring Gulls and Great Black-backs
but Lesser Black-backs have increased to 450, there was a probable adult Yellow-legged
Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (one said to have only one
leg) amongst the thousands of Black-headed Gulls. Just as we were
commenting on the spring-like weather a medium sized bat fluttered around
the west shore wood (PJ, IW, N, MY, GE).
A herd of 34 Red Deer graced No Man's Bank, a Stonechat, Kestrel and
Heron were on Cuckoo Bank and at Biddulph's Pool a Green Woodpecker called
and Song Thrush sang (GE).
At Stubber's Green an adult Mediterranean Gull and 2nd w Caspian
Gull were seen (JA). |
|
| 28th |
- 10șC
- Sunny intervals
- WSW2
|
| The
2 Great Northern Divers, Smew and Slavonian Grebe
were all present and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the pier (IW,
JB). Poor viewing conditions meant that nothing of note was seen in the
gull roost and the drake Scaup was not seen today (PJ, IW, JB, GE). |
|
| 29th |
- 11șC
- Sunny intervals, rain in evening
- SSW3
|
|
The two Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Smew
and drake Scaup were all present today, although the latter two
were often hiding amongst the flooded bushes of Fly Bay and the Swag.
There were 3 Goosanders, 50 Lapwings and a Mediterranean Gull
was amongst 60 Black-headed Gulls during the morning (EO), whilst there
were 3 adults in the roost which also held a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull
and many more Herring Gulls than last night (PJ, IW).
At the Feeding Station there were 5 Bullfinches, 1 Willow Tit, a Green
Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (EO).
|
|
| 30th |
- 6șC
- Sunny
- WNW3
|
|
Both Great Northern Divers were present
although I only saw one. The Slavonian Grebe was around the
jetties in Fly Bay and the Smew was amongst the Goldeneye
on the Swag.
Five Cormorants were present mid afternoon
including a nice sinensis bird, Willow Tit and Bullfinch
were calling around the feeding station area and a small mixed
party of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls were flushed by a male
Sparrowhawk around Fly Pool. 43 Canada Geese were on the South
Shore and at least four Jays were seen at various points around
the pool.
I stayed until 16:15 but the roost was well spread
and the wind was picking up. It was predominantly composed of
Black-headed Gulls with a smattering of Lesser Black-backs, Common and
Herrings but only one or two Great Black-backs while I was there
(CM). Also seen in the roost was a probable 1st w Caspian Gull,
the usual 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and
the well hooded adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW).
|
|
| 31st |
- 8șC
- Heavy rain clearing in afternoon.
- SW4
|
- At least one Great Northern Diver was
present along with the drake Smew (PJ).
- The gull roost held the 2nd w Caspian Gull
(GE), a probable 1st w Caspian Gull and 2 (1st w and 3rd
w) Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ).
|
|
