2 Black Necked Grebes still present, plus 2 redshank

2 Black necked grebes still present this morning 1000hrs at least

2 Black necked grebes still present this afternoon, plus 4 Redshank & 95 Wigeon.

Female Stonechat also present this afternoon

3-4pm
redshank-2
black necked grebe-1 pair
wigeon-105
teal-2


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 21:11, 2009-03-08

White Wagtail present with 10 Pieds late afternoon

still 2 black necked grebe at 12pm
plus-wigeon-103 (good number for this time of year)

Henry Cook wrote:

---

Who has responsibility for the flash Mike? Might be worth getting in touch just before things kick-off there for passage and breeding.
Henry.

---

HI HENRY
The owner is well aware of the disturbance,but realy he lets people walk around the pool when he could stop everyone as there is only public access at the east end.he only uses the pool for fishing for trout which he stocked there years ago.many groups have tried at houghton green liasing with the owners without any success ,but in the end it is privately owned ,and it could be worse,the owner originally baught it to stop power boating on there.
The pool was my local patch for almost ten years,but i only go occaisionally now due to a dogwalker every 2 minuets.the thing that started the disturbance was the owner stopped the local farmer from grasing his bullocks there,that used to stop the dogwalkers.In fact when i first started doing it it was like my own private reserve,i hardly ever saw anyone on the pool.The black necked grebes have always visited the pool in spring,then again late summer with up to about 12 at times,less last few years.but unfortunately until the owner takes ownership properly,and designates it as private land,then spend a lot of time stopping everyone from going round nothing will change.that why im now back doing pennington,loads of people,but they are kept separate from the birds.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 19:44, 2009-03-06

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 20:23, 2009-03-06

Who has responsibility for the flash Mike? Might be worth getting in touch just before things kick-off there for passage and breeding.
Henry.

2 Black-necked Grebes present this evening. Both well into breeding plumage.

It will be interesting to see if they are still present in the morning. Last year the spring influx was a disaster with birds moving on almost as soon as they appeared due to the plethora of dog walkers disturbing them. True to form lately there were more dog walkers present than birds tonight and quite a few encouraging their dogs to swim into the water near birds. The BNG's appeared nervous and edgy, continually diving to get away. Why places like this are allowed to be abused and abandoned this way is beyond me!

Also present:

86 Wigeon
16 Tufty
1 Pochard
43 Coot
5 Moorhen
4 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
1 Mute Swan
6 Great Crested Grebes

3.30-4PM
OYSTERCATCHER-2,G.C.GREBE-4(1 PAIR DISPLAYING),REDSHANK-3,WIGEON-91,GOLDENEYE-2M,BUZZARD-3,PLUS THE USUAL STUFF

7 Golden Plovers observed through the snow in the field to the west of the pool this afternoon. Approx 80 Fieldfares also present - usual stuff on the pool itself.

This afternoon:

2 Pintail (drake and duck)
1 Goosander (duck)
80 Wigeon
8 Pochard
8 Tufty
63 Coot
4 Redshank
1 Buzzard...

This morning (very blustery)

87 Wigeon
30 Tufty and 24 Pochard
4 Goldeneye (2 drakes, 2 ducks)
1 Canada Goose
107 Mallard
108 Coot and 2 Moorhen
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Redshank and 105 Lapwing
1 Peregrine (flew lazily and low over the pool - probable male given size comparison with female Kestrel present at the same time - nothing stirred)
1 Kestrel and 2 Buzzards
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
55+ Jackdaw and 50+ Rook
2 Stock Dove
195 BHG, 1 Herring Gull, 2 LBBG and 5 Common Gull
1 Heron & 2 Cormorant

and then the rain came.....

This morning:

115 Coot
90 Wigeon
2 Goldeneye (duck plus drake)
19 Tufty
16 Pochard
5 Moorhen
1 Buzzard
4 Redshank
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
69 Fieldfare
31 Lapwing
8 Stock Dove
9 Meadow Pipit
1 Snipe
80+ BHG
9 Common Gull

This morning:

102 Coot
91 Wigeon
14 Tufties
11 Pochard
1 Teal
2 Great Crested Grebes
140+ Black-headed Gulls
9 Common Gulls
2 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
55+ Rook
150+ Jackdaw
1 Grey Wagtail
5 Redshanks
1 Snipe
1 Reed Bunting
1 Buzzard

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 19:13, 2008-12-28

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 19:41, 2008-12-28

Late afternoon:

120 Coot
6 Moorhen
1 Great Crested Grebe
118 Mallard
76 Wigeon
30 Tufty
7 Pochard
2 Redshank
1 Heron
10 Fieldfare
1 Kestrel

This morning

59 Wigeon
40 Tufty
13 Pochard
7 Teal
121 Coot
118 Mallard
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
4 Redshank
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Grey Wagtail - threw me a bit because it was walking around on the ice on the far side and it had no tail!

This morning:

41 Wigeon
17 Tufties
114 Coot
1 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
3 Goldeneye (all drakes)
1 Shoveler (drake)
1 Bullfinch (female)
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
4 Redshank
7 Reed Buntings
4 Redwing
4 Song Thrush
80+ Linnet
4 Mipit
196 BHG
3 LBBG
5 Common Gull
1 Herring gull

1 absolutely soaked birder and 1 very wet dog!

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 12:19, 2008-11-23

50 WIGEON AT 3PM TODAY

Peregrine this morning - flew in from west, skimmed low over water and headed off NE

Plus;

32 Wigeon
1+5+31+38+4+6 Redwing all through south
16+8 Fieldfare west

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 13:55, 2008-11-08

33 Wigeon today with:

1 Stonechat (male)
4 Redshank
1 Teal
3 Pochard
12 Tufty
114 Coot
10 Pied Wags
11 Mute Swans

Also south hedge was alive with Tits, Thrushes and Finches

2 Stonechat today +
27 Wigeon
4 Redshank
87 Mallard
1 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye (female)
117 Coot
5 Moorhen
4 Mute Swan
2 Grey Wagtail
5 Grey Heron
130+ BHG
3 Common Gull
1 LBBG
40+ Herring Gull
3 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
4 Redwing
32 Fieldfare
2 Mipit
1 Skylark
1 Kestrel
280 Starling

Immature drake Goldeneye this morning.

Wigeon up to 24.

4 Redshank plus usual stuff

Mike Baron wrote:

---

Goshawk this morning - approx 07:50.

Prob male from size. The hawk appeared from the NE, flew lazily over the field to the south of the pool for a minute or so and then spiralled off high to the south.

Wigeon now up to 18.

---

working the patch realy pays off eventually-beltin record

Rob Smallwood wrote:

---

I'd have expected the Wigeon count to have gone down rather than up following that visitor!

---

Rob

You would think so, however nothing moved (though the field was empty at the time and the hawk came in through the wooded area to the north east) - I'm not sure if anything saw it.

I have seen Collared Doves perched in the same tree as Sparrowhawks in my garden and yesterday Jonathan and myself watched a male Peregrine dash across the Morecambe/Allen pools which were full of waders and nothing at all moved.

Funny how prey species appear to know when a raptor is not that interested.

Certainly my best patch sighting - am still buzzing!

I'd have expected the Wigeon count to have gone down rather than up following that visitor!

Goshawk this morning - approx 07:50.

Prob male from size. The hawk appeared from the NE, flew lazily over the field to the south of the pool for a minute or so and then spiralled off high to the south.

Wigeon now up to 18.

16 Wigeon this morning plus:

130+ Linnet
45 Goldfinch
560+ Wood Pigeon
13 Tufted Duck
107 Coot
3 Mute Swan
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
26 Redwing
29 Fieldfare
4 Grey Heron
2 Sparrowhawk (female flew low all way up Delph Lane chasing a Blackbird)
1 Kestrel
7 Song Thrush
1 Reed Bunting

1 female Goldeneye this evening plus 8 Wigeon

Yesterday

1 Willow Tit
6 Mute Swan
7 Wigeon
16 Tufted Duck
109 Coot
2 Pochard
1 species which must not be named
4 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
1 Buzzard

Plus 33 Linnets this morning and 25+ Redwing heading west

Today:

6 Mute Swan
5 Moorhen
119 Coot
23 Tufties
1 Pochard
1 Wigeon
47 Mallard
7 Great Crested Grebes
6 Little Grebes
4 Cormorant
3 Heron (all immature)
5 Swallows (through south)
73 Linnets
5 Buzzards (+ 2 more in Winwick)
2 Kestrels
1 Stock Dove

Merlin at lunch time being mobbed by one of three Kestrels in the fields oppsite the pool.

5-6 Buzzards showing.

1 Wigeon present - 1 or 2 have been around for last 2 weeks or so.

2 Shelduck this morning - rare here. Also

1 Cormorant
98 Coot
25 Tufty
2 Pochard
15 Little Grebe
9 GCG
101 bhg
2 LBBG

BNG departed Thursday or Friday night. Plenty of other birds this morning though:

4 Mute Swan
46 Canada Geese
34 Tufty
4 Pochard
20 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
2 Kestrel
19 Swallow
2 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat (juv/fem)
1 Lesser Whitethroat
25 Goldfinch
2 Jays
1 Nuthatch
1 Grey Partridge
40+ Lapwing
1 Stock Dove

Off to Scotland now for a short break!

Adult BNG still present this morning.

89 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin and 7 Swallows over the pool.

124 Lesser black-backed gulls flew over heading NE.

1 Buzzard perched on straw bales
104 Coot
26 Tufties
5 Pochard
20 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
23 Linnets


-- Edited by Mike Baron at 09:30, 2008-09-04

sat-pm b.n.grebe still present,23 little grebe,9 g.c.grebe,1 buzzard,and 1 hobby over fields opposite(are these are becoming more common than kestrels locally ,or is it only me)

Probable Ring-necked Parakeet this evening. The bird was flushed from the south bank by a dog walker and was well described. Despite being only the other side of the pool I could not relocate the bird by the time I walked round - will have another look tomorrow.

BNG still present

Wheatear at lunch in field opposite pool.

Adult BNG in winter plumage still present.

5-6.20pm-b n grebe-1 adult moulting into winter,21 little grebes-these seem to come and go daily,124 coot(building up)72 tufted,15 sand martins,50 goldfinch east side.7 great crested grebe,9 moorhen,61 mallard,2 linnet,2 willow warbler,female sparrowhawk,5 pochard.1 kestrel

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 18:42, 2008-08-23

Only one BNG present tonight (down from three yesterday) - an adult now in winter plumage.

Also:

99 Coot
67 Tufties
8 Pochard
15 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes

Otherwise very quiet and very few hirundines around last few days. The Swifts appeared to stop passing through HGF & Winwick a few days ago.

4 black necked grebes tonight

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 19:05, 2008-08-15

3 BNG's this morning plus a Lesser Whitethroat in the south hedge

4 Black-necked Grebes present this morning - 3 adults

Thanks John - sounds a good theory. Never thought about it like that. I had a theory that the Tufties & Pochard etc used the pool as a safe place to moult and thus were unlikely to fly off any distance - maybe quick flits to somewhere local and then back again.

3 BNG's this evening. The usual juvenile, the adult which is half way moulted into winter plumage and a new adult which is still largely in breeding plumage. I estimate that at least 8 different birds have been on since the end of June.

Cheers

Mike

HI MIKE
I LEARNED OVER MANY YEARS THAT THE POOL WAS A STOP OVER PLACE FOR MOST BIRDS,TUFTED FLUCTUATE SO MUCH,I RECON INSTEAD OF THE SAME 60 OR 70 THERES PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED PASSES THROUGH OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS,POCHARD THE SAME IN FACT,STUFF LIKE GREAT CRESTED YOU CAN HAVE 7 IN THE MORNING,ONLY 3 IN THE AFTERNOON,AND 8 THE SAME EVENING,I THINK BIRDS FOLLOW THE MOTORWAY,FOR DIRECTION,AND STOP BY THE POOL LIKE WE WOULD STOP AT SERVICES. I THINK THE POOL IS UNIQUE LOCALLY IN THIS WITH ITS MOTORWAY PROCIMITY..WHY DOAS THE POOL GET 200 WIGEON IN WINTER ,WHEN PENNY GETS 1-WE'LL NEVER KNOW.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ON THE POOL!SHAME IVE LOST A BIT OF HEART WITH IT WITH ALL THE DOGWALKERS

Got closer views in good light of the aythya hybrid yesterday evening. Looks more like a Pochard x Tufty now than anything else. Doesn't help that the coating has gone on my Leica scope.

Last year there was a Tufty x Scaup hybrid hanging around during the Spring & early Summer.

Both BNG's still present this morning - plus 1 Common Sandpiper and a Chiffchaff singing away.

Numbers of other species have been fluctuating widely over the last few days - for example last night the Tufty numbers had dropped to 51 and were back up at 64 this morning. Also a large number of Little Grebes have gone walkabout.

One thing I notice about HGF is that although when monitored over time (e.g. weeks) numbers appear to be stable, there is often a significant daily fluctuation in most waterfowl, grebes etc. Which begs the question - where do they go when they leave HGF?

I have checked most places in the surrounding area and although odd birds do turn up at places like Penny and Rixton, I can't help thinking they are generally going somewhere else.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Mike

Hi John

I seem to remember there was one hanging around last year fr a few months. It is wierd that they turn up so frequently at HGF. Perhaps one day the real thing will!

Anyway I bagged a drake Fudge at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset early this morning - 2 rare aythyas in the same day would be pushing it!!!

hi mike-had quite a few of these weard hybrid tufted/pochard/scaup in my time when i was regular at the pool,it doas seem to atract these hybrids more than anywere else,even penny.

Interesting aythya present this evening. Saw it while scanning the Tufty flock and immediately thought Scaup. I then noticed the bird was Tufty size, definitely smaller than a Pochard and had a slightly peaked rear crown. Got very interested at this point and dashed off to the far side of the pool. By the time I got there the bird was back out in the middle and asleep. After 30 mins or so it woke up and began swimming straight towards me - and I noticed the broad black band at the end of its bill and that the upper parts appeared to be solid grey rather than vermiculated - though it was raining by then and the light was cr*p. Have now labelled it as a poss Scaup x Tufty - will have another look in the morning if it stays.

Also present:

2 Black-necked Grebes (1 adult, 1 juvenile)
9 Great Crested Grebes
16 Little Grebes
65 Coot
69 Tufties
13 Pochard
2 Common Sandpipers
58 Swifts flew through heading east - if they are migrating to sunnier climes I might just join them!

Mike