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November 2012 Diary
All the latest sightings, news and photos from Chasewater and surrounding areas.
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All records and photos (jpegs) are welcome, please send them via our comments page. Home Key to Contributors
1st
 
At the Swag a male Ring-necked Parakeet was in a tree by the bridge along Norton East Road before flying off over the Swag towards the west shore wood. Also present were 26 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, a Goosander and a 2cy Yellow-legged Gull. The Starlings again roosted in the Norton Bog Lagoon reedbeds and were harassed by a Sparrowhawk (GE).
Ring-necked Parakeet
 

 
Starlings and Buzzard

 
Starlings
2nd
  
No records.
3rd
Sat
  
The gull roost held a 2cy Caspian Gull and a probable sub-adult, 4 (3 adult, 2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls, a putative 2cy fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull (IW).
4th
Sun
  
Adult Caspian Gull
2cy Caspian Gull
Iceland Gull
Mediterranean Gull
A really good gull roost tonight with the early return of what is probably the regular Iceland Gull, now in full adult plumage, along with 2 good looking Caspian Gulls (adult and 2cy), at least 4 (2 adult, 2 2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull. The roost was only partially covered and there was probably more to be found. On the Swag there were 33 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 5 Goosanders, 3 Cormorants and 15 Tufted Ducks (GE). 
On Cuckoo Bank a Short-eared Owl was disturbed by 4 Red Deer. 5 Goosander flew off and were probably the same as the birds flying over the Swag.
Also present were 4 Green Woodpeckers, a Snipe, a Pheasant, a Sparrowhawk, a flock of Linnets and several small flocks of Goldfinches (GR).
5th
  
As suspected, the gull roost has produced more interest in the shape of another probable returning bird; an Azorean type Yellow-legged Gull. The Iceland Gull was also present along with the 2 (adult, 2cy) Caspian Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull (IW). The Ring-necked Parakeet was reported from the North Shore around this date (per GR).
At Kingswood and Stubber's Green there were single adult Yellow-legged Gulls (KSa).
6th
  
The adult Iceland Gull was in the roost along with at least the adult Caspian Gull but viewing conditions were not good (PJ).
7th
  
No records.
8th
  
 No records.
9th
  
The adult Iceland Gull, 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull all roosted (PJ, IW).
10th
Sat
  

11 Goosanders, 12 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, a Cormorant, 90+ Canada Geese and 6 Greylag Geese were present. The gull roost held an adult Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull but the adult Iceland Gull flew north at 16:30 (CM).
11th
Sun
  
On the Swag there were 2 Goosanders, 4 Cormorants and around 20 Wigeon (GE).
12th
  
11 Waxwings were along the canal between Clayhanger and Brownhills this morning (CM).
13th
  

No records.
14th
  

32 Snipe and 3 Jack Snipe were in the North Marsh and 3 Shovelers, 21 Wigeon, 2 Goosanders and 7 Cormorants were also present (GR).
15th
  

No records.
16th
 

An adult Yellow-legged Gull and a possible adult Caspian Gull were present in the roost (PJ).
17th
Sat
  
60 Tufted, 8 Pochard, 6 Goldeneye, 9 Gadwall, 3 Shovelers, 36 Wigeon, 8 Goosanders, 4 Cormorants, 8 Great Crested Grebes and 117 Lapwings were present and a Kingfisher flew over the causeway towards the Swag (GR, NS).
18th
Sun
  
A Barn Owl was seen at 13:00, on Brownhills Common, near Watling Street School (ASc).
19th
  

No records.
20th
 
5 Mistle Thrushes were noted (GR).
21st
  
No records.
22nd
  
An immature Great Northern Diver was on the Swag (GR, PW) and the gull roost held 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull though most of the gulls were head on (IW).
23rd
  
The Great Northern Diver and 4 Goosanders were on the Swag (PW).
24th
Sat
  
The Great Northern Diver performed well on the Swag. 8 Goosanders were also present (PW, NS et al).
25th
Sun
  
The Great Northern Diver was still on the Swag, a Waxwing flew over at 12:05 (SN) and other totals included 130 Tufted Ducks, 11 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Goosanders, 26 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall and 4 Cormorants (GE). The gull roost held the adult Iceland Gull, a 2cy Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull.
Great Northern Diver
26th
  
The Great Northern Diver was still on the Swag along with 12 Goosanders and 2 more on Plant Swag. 30 Snipe were on the North Heath (GR).
27th
  
 
28th
  
The Great Northern Diver was still on the Swag and a Raven was noted (GR).
On Cuckoo Bank the fields are still unploughed and contained many flocks of finches. One flock (c.400 ) of Greenfinches also  had 20+ Yellowhammers. There were also Snipe and Skylarks (GR).
A Waxwing was on berries in Conduit Road, Norton Canes (PJ).
29th
  
The Great Northern Diver, the adult Iceland Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 90 Great Black-backed Gulls were present.
30th  
The Great Northern Diver was still on the Swag and 9 Goosanders were present