Up to 6:40pm today: -

9 White Wagtail
8 Wheatear
3 Common Sandpiper
5 Little Ringed Plover
5 Redshank
2 pair of Gadwall

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

7.00 - 8.30 this morning

Main lodge
4 Redshank
Curlew
Common Sandpiper
10 Pied / White Wagtails (6/4 split)
2 Gadwall
1o Great Crested Grebe

from dam
1 Common Tern
and
brief views of a bird of prey in silhouette which came low over the dam before disappearing over the trees with purposeful wingbeats. Overall impression of Hobby from both size and wing length however,didn't get a good enough view to be sure and having spoken with Ian I am conscious this would be the earlier record for GM. So at the moment it's one that got way but posted incase anyone else catches a glimpse

A Hobby was reported by David Lumb last year in that area, and near the dam.Since that report, locals have told
me of sightings of a Hobby, in this area, over a few years. In addition 2 Photographers showed me a picture of
a Hobby, that they had taken, just further up the Middlebrook Valley last Summer.They said the Hobby
was seen quite often feeding over the Valley.







-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 19th of April 2013 03:39:20 PM

Two hours up to 5pm today . One hour with Steve Almond.
Very blustery wind, but fine.

Lock Lane:
Lapwing..4
Starlings..10
Pied Wagtail..1
Linnets..3 (2m)
Chaffinch..2
Black-headed Gull..4
Swallow..1
Carrion Crow..2

The Lodge:
Teal..1
Redshank..4 or 5
Dunlin..back down to 2
Little Ringed Plover..2 showing
Common Sandpiper..2 showing
Great Black-backed Gull..2
Oystercatcher..4 or 5
Pied Wagtail..5
White Wagtail..9
Swallows..c45
House Martins..c6
Great Crested Grebe..7 at south end alone.
Also a Large immature Gull that I am trying to sort!

... Sorted, being a Second Summer Lesser Black-backed Gull(with thanks to Ian for the ID)





-- Edited by keith mills on Thursday 18th of April 2013 08:35:37 PM

Hey Antony, long time no speak!
Had a walk on about 8 p.m., not much visible, two pairs of GC Grebe at each end of the channel and a pair of Tufted Duck between them, another pair of Grebe on the farm side of the main lake, single Buzzard playing in the wind overhead and a few Corvids tumbling away.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 10:24:50 PM

2 Dunlin still present at 11am
4 Common Sandpiper
2 Gadwall
1 Common Tern through (south!)
Now good numbers of Sand and House Martin plus a good three figure count of Swallow

6am - 9am - to add to Keith's Sightings

Mediterranean Gull 1 ad flew west
House Martin 2
Sand Martin 15
Dunlin 2
Redshank 4
Peregrine Flew over SE

Very nice to meet you as well Keith

Early this afternoon up to 2.35pm. Breeze rising in strength.

Dunlin...5 (summer plumage ) The 2 joined by 3 at 2.30pm.
Little Ringed Plover ...4
Common Sandpiper..only 2 showing.
Little Owl ...1 perched low in the hedge out of the breeze!
Oystercatcher..5
Wren..1
Reed Buntings..4
Meadow Pipit..1
Common Snipe..1

All this morning's Hirundines had left the Lodge and the White/Pied Wagtail down in numbers from this am.
However, 6 Swallows around the Farm



-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 03:24:44 PM

This morning 8 to 9. Of note:

Grey Heron....3 ( together)
Teal..3
Buzzard..1
Shoveler...pair
Common Sandpiper..3
Redshank..2
White Wagtail.....15
Pied Wagtail...10
Swallows......c100 feeding just above the water

Very nice to meet long time Rummy Birder Antony Wainwright,who had been here since 6am.



-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 10:26:12 AM

This Evening 5 to 7 pm.

Lock Lane:
The ''flooded field'' is almost dry!
Common Snipe..1
Linnets ..10
Meadow Pipit..1
Buzzard..1 being mobbed by 2 Corvids
Moorhen..1
Oystercatcher..1
Starlings..8
Lapwing..4
Woodpigeon..15+9
House Sparrow..c10
Chaffinch..1
Canada Geese..2
Mallards..3

The Lodge:
Nothing much around the Islands, apart from a very active fisherman right in front of the channel.
Little Ringed Plover..2
Redshank..1
Common Sandpiper..2
Tufted Duck..8
Oystercatcher..4
Grey Heron..1
White Wagtail..4
Pied Wagtail..10 plus
Reed Bunting..2
Moorhen..3
Great Black- backed Gull..1
Starlings..6
Woodpigeon..45
Lapwing.. 14
Mallards..c20
Coots.. c25
Sand Martins c10, but more Swallows( C 20 ) than last night.




-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 16th of April 2013 08:04:36 PM

Pete - Little Grebe not been seen for several weeks.

Today's sightings 8am to 10.15:

Black-tailed Godwit 4
Common Sandpiper 3
Mediterranean Gull 1
Great black-backed Gull 2
Buzzard 1
Swallow 15
Sand Martin 15
House Martin 1
Willow Warbler 1

There were several Willow Warblers along the North bank of the channel earlier, few Reed Buntings knocking about just around the corner. Not spotted the usual Little Grebes unless they're all up at the top end of the main lake still.

Had an hour at rumworth this afternoon 5.00-6.00 after visiting doffcocker. Not been out much this year so this was my first visit here this year. Only other addition to Keith's list (always good to put posts to a face! Nice to meet you.) was 3 linnets. One female was feeding in the freshly tilled field.

With my usual impeccable timing, I was away over the weekend as the birds arrived. Thanks to Steve,
for keeping me informed.
This evening..4 to 6 pm, sightings:

Little Owl ..1
Buzzard..1
Pied Wagtail..4
White Wagtail..5
Little Ringed Plover..2
Redshank..3
Common Sandpiper..1
Gadwall..2
Shoveler..1 Drake
Pochard..1
Oystercatcher..4
Cormorants..6
Reed Bunting..1
Tufted Duck..5
Lapwing..10
Swallows and Sand Martins over Lodge.

Nice to meet Annette Cutts and Chris Brown

This morning 07.50 to 12.45:

Sanderling 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Redshank 1
Little ringed plover 2
Common snipe 2
Oystercatcher 8
White wagtail 4
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 1
Pied wagtail 20
Sand martin 30
Swallow 15
House martin 1
Willow warbler 1

Sanderling present this morning.

Info thanks to Steve Almond

Swallows in double figures down at dam end around 7.30 p.m., some already showing courtship behaviour.

Up to 7:40pm this evening:

9 Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Redshank
2 Little Ringed Plover
Yellow Wagtail
3 White Wagtail
House Martin
pair of Shoveler

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

This morning 8.10 to 10.00:

Black tailed Godwit 1
Yellow Wagtail 1
Whimbrel 11

All the above alerted to me by Antony from the other side of the lodge. Thanks Antony.

Also:
A further Black tailed Godwit
2 Curlew
1 Common Snipe
1 Redshank
2 Shoveler
1 House Martin
15 Swallow
2 Sand Martin

11 Whimbrel just down in ploughed field. Now flown north

Yellow Wagtail currently on island 8.11

Single Black tailed Godwit currently on island. 1 White Wagtail also

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls following a plough at 1:25 pm today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Scandinavian Rock Pipit around the islands at 12:50 today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

This morning 9.15 to 12.30:

Goldeneye 3
Sand Martin 11
Swallow 1
Buzzard 2
Little Owl 1
Woodcock 1 (Lostock wood)
Little Ringed Plover 2
Oystercatcher 6
Curlew 2
Common Snipe 2
Reed Bunting 6
Linnet 2
Wheatear 2
Coal tit 1
Chiffchaff 1

3.45-7.00pm Highlights as follows:

Goldeneye 3
Swallow 2 - brief over water - my first this year
Little Ringed Plover 4
Pied Wagtail 6
Sparrowhawk 1
Redshank 2
Snipe 4
Jack Snipe 2
Fieldfare 6
Redwing c35

This evening 90 minutes up to 6.35. (main lodge)

Dunlin..1
Little Ringed Plover..3
Redshank..2
Oystercatcher..5
Common Snipe..1

Lapwing..4
Pied Wagtail..6
Meadow Pipit..1
Reed Bunting..1
Cormorants..3
Great Crested Grebe..7
Tufted Duck..5
Teal..1
Canada Geese..c20
Mute Swans..5

Sand Martin..3

Mallards..20 plus
Moorhen..3
Coots C12

Great Black-backed Gull..2
Commmon Gull..2

-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 10th of April 2013 07:02:38 PM

Lock Lane flooded field this evening around 6.20:

Four Common Snipe feeding in same spot as Friday

Also:
Teal..8
White Wagtail..2
Pied Wagtail..5
Meadow Pipits 7 minimum count.

and a few each of Mallards/Lapwing /Jackdaws/Wood pigeons.

6pm this evening:

Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, pair of Gadwall.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Today 8.30 to 10am:

Chiffchaff 1
Sand Martin 1
Ringed Plover 2
Little Ringed Plover 3
Common Snipe 1

6.30-9am.

Wigeon 7, Greylag Goose 2, Dunlin 1 on island, Redwing 5 in subsong, Grey Wagtail 1pair at sluice. Only 1 meadow pipit at Lock Lane field - frozen

-- Edited by Antony Wainwright on Saturday 6th of April 2013 08:39:52 PM

With Pete Lane this morning. After seeing Keith:

3 Willow Tit
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Common Snipe
1 Goldcrest (to 2 feet away catching flies)

90 Minutes around Lock Lane this morning, including chats with the Farmer (Stan) and
Steve Almond and Pete Lane, who were out on their walk.
Pete asked that the 18 Cormorants and a single Snipe just seen by them on the Lodge were given
mentioned in this Post.
Stan has seen the Little Owl twice recently.

Lock Lane Flooded Field.
Things a bit quieter than yesterday. Water Levels low, and up to 7 Horses visiting the flood for water.
Teal..10
Meadow Pipits..7
Pied Wagtail..5
Little Ringed Plover..2 flew off towards Lodge only one seen back.
Common Snipe..4.. Feeding. The first time that I've seen them here.
Greenfinch, 2 singles out of the hedge
House Sparrows in the Hedge
Lapwing..4
Carrion Crow..4
Mallards..3
Common Gull..1
Black-headed Gull...4

In the fields on the other side of the Lane, towards the Motorway.
Starlings ..c250
Lapwings..8
Oystercatcher..2






-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 5th of April 2013 01:37:03 PM

Jon Bowen wrote:

---

2 little ringed plover on flood @ 4.40

---

also 6 Lapwing
5 snipe
2 Pied Wagtails
10+ Meadow Pipits

2 little ringed plover on flood @ 4.40

Called in at the Flood at 1.30 today, on my way to Pennington.

Dunlin..1
Little Ringed Plover..2
Pied Wagtail...8
Meadow Pipit..10 plus
Teal..14
Mallards
The bird flying off towards the Lodge, as I arrived, was I think the Redshank.

We all seem to be singing from the same Hymn-sheet!

20 mins after work for quick scan of flooded field at Lock Lane. 4pm. Little Ringed Plover 2, Dunlin 1, Stock Dove 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Mallard 3, Teal 12, Greenfinch 5, Meadow Pipit c10

Quick trip to the flood on the way home from work
4 Pied Wagtail
1 White Wagtail
10+ Meadow Pipit
6 Mallard
10 Teal
1 Greenfinch on the wires over the road
1 Lapwing

This morning:

Oystercatcher 8
Redshank 1
Little ringed plover 1
Gadwall 4
Cormorant 16
Reed bunting 1

Quick look at Lock Lane Flood, this lunchtime........

A Redshank has joined the Little Ringed Plover.
Also 3 Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtail.
Teal..4, Mallards..3, and a few Black-headed Gulls.

-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 01:19:45 PM

1pm - 4pm Cold & windy. Lock Lane/Regent Park Circular

Highlights follow:

Teal 9 Flooded field
Redwing 25
Willow Tit 1 nr footbridge at Regent Park
Woodcock 1 Flushed nr footbridge at Regent Park
Peregrine 1 Flying East
Lapwing 16 Circling, calling and displaying above flooded field near railway line
Goldcrest 1

A Little Ringed Plover present this afternoon, up to 4.50, around Lock Lane ''Flood'.
Also at the Flood:
4 Teal,
4 Mallards,
6 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtail
A Grey Heron flew in and landed nearby.

c350 Black-headed Gulls in a field by Beaumont Road as the tractor ploughed.

Two hours this morning 8-10am, 90% frozen over. Birds pretty much as yesterdays post with single Little Ringed Plover still present. 5 Cormorant flying over. 23 Teal. Lapwing 2 displaying. Gadwall 1 pair Stock Dove 2 on west side

Two hours today up to 12.15, joined by Steve Almond for most of the time.
Fine and sunny.
Sightings:

Buzzard (Minimum count)..3
Kestrel..1
Sparrowhawk..1

Grey Heron..2
Canada Geese..45
Mute Swan..5
Cormorant..5

Great crested Grebe..4
Teal..41
Tufted Duck..6
Oystercatcher (minimum count)..6
Little Ringed Plover..1
Pied Wagtail..2
Lapwing..c15
Moorhen..3
Plus 1 Common Snipe seen by Steve.

Common Gull (minimum count )..5
Lesser Black-backed Gull..1
Black headed Gull..c70 peak

Fieldfare..c40
Starlings..c15
Jackdaws..c35
Carrion Crow..4

Today's sightings:

Oystercatcher 11
Common Snipe 1
Redshank 1
Fieldfare 25
Willow Tit 1 (in new location at Barton Grange garden centre)
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Also a dead cock Pheasant on Beaumont Road if anyone's hungry.

Lock Lane is a sight to behold with 4 foot snowdrifts and abandoned cars and abandoned rescue trailer.

-- Edited by Steve Almond on Monday 25th of March 2013 04:27:18 PM

This morning 9.30 to 11.00:

Redshank 1
Common Snipe 1
Lapwing 50
Oystercatcher 8
Buzzard 1
Raven 1

2.30 pm - Arctic conditions near the water

Common Snipe 1
Lapwing c40
Oystercatcher 9

And the highlight was the arrival of a Peregrine Falcon which scattered all the above -mentioned

Two hours today up to 1.50. Cold but dry.
Margins around shoreline are the best they have been for a long time.
''Footpath'' from Beaumont Road is heavily ploughed and very heavy going!

Flocks spread out in fields and difficult to count:
Jackdaws..c70
Woodpigeons..c90
Black-headed Gull..150
Canada Geese ..38 minimum count
Lapwing c40

Mute Swans 3 1st-winter on Lodge and 2 adults and 3 1st-winter on Flood (may have been same birds)
Cormorants..5
Greylag Geese..2 NEW.
Grey Heron..2

Shovelers..Pair.
Oystercatcher..5
Teal..4
Great Crested Grebe..6
Tufted Duck..5
Moorhen..3
Lesser Black-backed Gull..2
Common Gull..3

Grey Wagtail..2
Pied Wagtail..6
Great Tit..2
House Sparrows
Plenty Mallards/Magpies/Coots.




-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 20th of March 2013 07:20:20 PM

This morning:

3 Curlew over 10.10am going south
3 Common Snipe
10 Oystercatcher

Today 10.30 to 11.30:

Wigeon 33
Shoveler 2
Pochard 2
Tufted Duck 9
Cormorant 17
Common snipe 4
Ringed plover 1
Oystercatcher 9