Red Kite high up over the lodges drifted off towards Radcliffe. (Worst record shot ever! below )
X2 Common Terns were leaving flying high south as I arrived.
X1 Common Sandpiper (top Lodge)
Also ther have been 5 young mute swans that arrived 2 weeks ago and are still here. 2 of them have Darvic rings..I will try to get the numbers when I next visit.
Nothing of note on any of the lodges apart from 5 Gadwall on the middle lodge and this strange plumage redwing that was foraging on the fields adjacent to Slaidburn drive.
The 2 x Mediterranean Gulls were by Lowercroft Res amongst a flock of 20 Black-headed Gulls at 10.30 this a.m, moving twice but sticking closely together, and still there at 11.30.
Absolutely outstanding numbers of Redwing and fieldfare slowly passing through the reservoirs and the surrounding fields. Low estimations of 4000+ redwing and 500+ fieldfare
One field had 2 perched up juvenile sparrowhawks and one kestrel all looking bemused and overwhelmed by the constant influx of prey flying around them.
A really nice looking adult winter plumage Mediterranean gull on the top lodge with 30+ black-headed gulls. All foraging in the field next to the sub station thing.
x 2 Adult Mediterranean gulls flew through heading North, both on their own, 5 mins apart.
Whilst we are on the subject of Mediterranean Gulls, I received a letter from Belgium last week regarding the rung Mediterranean gull that has turned up here every spring for the past 7 plus years.
Ring number: E929220
Ringing date: 17.05. 2011
Ringing Place: Antwerp, Belgium (51.13 N - 004.22 E)
Reported by me on 15.03.2022 (10 years 9 months and 29 days since it was rung as a chick. 528km from original ringing coordinates)
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Monday 4th of July 2022 07:57:07 PM
Both common Terns still present. I witnessed them mating a few times also. The irony is that there is absolutely nowhere for them to safely brood a chick anywhere on the lodges.
The rung (male) was hunting and displaying to a female on the top lodge, and every time he caught a fish he would land and give it to her along with doing a courtship display.
I also managed a partial ring number 326 and possibly 11 .
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Monday 9th of May 2022 05:34:28 PM
Again like clockwork the Common Tern appeared briefly at the same time as Sunday, flew down to the bottom lodge where it caught a fish. It then spent 5 mins flying around the middle and top lodge calling loudly. It landed in the same spot for 5 mins with the fish but never ate it. occasionally calling. (Im thinking this behaviour was a display to try and attract a mate.) Then it flew off high towards Elton Res, with the fish.
Only thing of note was this Common Tern sat on the overflow control pipes on the top lodge. It had a ring on yet the details were facing the wrong way for the photo. It flew off in the direction of Elton Reservoir after a 5 mins rest.
Both Mediterranean gulls present in the compound of Meadowcroft farm on the middle lodge. Allowing me to get really close enabling me to finally achieved something I've been trying and obsessing about for the past 5 years, and I know Rob Archer has for longer than me. I finally got the full ring number off the Gull complete with photographic evidence. I've been in contact with the Belgian scheme that rung the bird and they were reluctant to take the sighting with us not having 100% confidence in the full number or photographic evidence.
So today I can say with utmost sincerity that the ring number is: E929220. I have just sent my sighting back to the scheme with all the relevant details and photos, where I eagerly await the birds history details.
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Tuesday 15th of March 2022 04:56:56 PM
Both Mediterranean gulls still present on the water on the middle lodge with approx 50 black-headed gulls. Before all flying off to roost in the direction of Belmont.
Juvenile peregrine flew over carrying prey, getting harrased off at least 10 corvids
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Thursday 10th of March 2022 05:29:51 PM
The breeding pair of Mediterranean gulls have turned back up for their 8th consecutive year. Coincidentally the farmer was muck spreading on his field on Slaidburn Drive, giving me some excellent veiws of them whilst they were pre occupied.