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Post Info TOPIC: Doffcocker Lodge


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RE: Doffcocker Lodge


When I arrived at work this morning, one of my colleagues (a doctor of Biology) approached me to tell me about two men she had seen taking photographs at Doffcocker at around 8.00 this morning. She said the two blokes had stationed themselves in the reeds on the small lake side of the causeway. I clarified this point with her several times and she was adamant that they were off the causeway and actually in the reedbed. If I hadn't had a meeting bthis morning I would have headed straight down to Dofffcocker myself.

I do think that any action such as that could only be seen as deplorable and gives all those of us who like to photograph wildlife a bad name. Not to mention being potentially extremely harmful to the subjects.

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Had my dinner break today sat in glorious sunshine at doffcocker. Long may this weather continue!! Managed an excellent photo of a reed warbler at last. One finally came to the front reeds on the causeway. There are lots of common terns present. Looks like both rafts are being used which is brill. The highlight was the pair of mute swans with 4 cygnets. It seems like they have been on the nest for such a long time. They could only be a couple of days old as they hadn't hatched on Friday when I visited. Had a look for the terrapin spotted the other day but no joy. The pair of grebes have moved onto the smaller body of water on the left at doffcocker. Will they try to build a nest here as I have already seen them be unsuccessful twice on the main body of water.

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After our visit to Rumworth and a picnic and bike ride through Moss Bank Park with my daughter, we went to Doffcocker lodge.
Had great views of a Great Crested Grebe swallowing a huge fish and also of the Common Terns fishing.
Others seen included:

Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Reed Bunting
Oystercatcher overhead.

Great day out enjoyed by the both of us.

One other thing to note not bird related was a Bat flying around Moss Bank Park in broad daylight. Obviously very odd as at first glance i was trying to work out what kind of bird it was with such a fast wing beat!!



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Visit this morning between 6.45 - 7.30

2 Reed Warblers giving good views ( for Reed Warblers) at the far end of the causeway
5 Sedge Warblers heard (2 viewed)
8 Common Terns
2 Chiffchaff
3 Willow Warblers
15 Starlings
2 Dunnock (1 carrying food)

plus the usual inhabitants

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of May 2013 08:09:42 PM

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Usual suspects, 6-8 am. Water Rail seen but not heard, one by cut out reeds and another further in to reed bed. Lots of Sedge Warblers. Very good views of a couple of Reed Buntings and a Willow Warbler. Good views of Buzzard. Spent 15 minutes watching a Heron being mobbed by Gulls and Terns.

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Visit before work this morning
6 Common Tern
3 Sedge Warbler
4 House Sparrow
2 Reed Bunting
Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Reed Warbler
6 Tufted Duck

as I crossed back across the causeway all the Terns took flight and a male Sparrowhawk took one of the Reed Buntings I was watching and landed on the causeway within 6 feet mantling it's prey. It then flew off low across the water being noisily pursued by Terns and Gulls

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LOL Anthony Grebes seem to have a thing for coot nests. I remember several years ago the gc grebes at moses gate park would only nest after the coots had deserted their nest. This meant their offspring were often being reared well into september.

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Sightings pretty much same as Annette but noted a Coot sitting on nest with a pair of Great Crested Grebes nestbuilding less than a meter away. One grebe tried the nest out with the Coot not seeming to be bothered. I wonder if the grebes are paying the coots protection money!

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Morning visit 6.45-11.45

Alot of singing warblers:
Sedge warbler 6. Giving great views on prominent trees.
Willow warbler 6
Chiffchaff 5
Wrens 3
Long tailed tits 2
Reed buntings 8
Chaffinch 4
Goldfinch 8
Greenfinch 1
Mute Swan 1 pair
Tufted duck 1 pair
Great crested Grebe - 3 pairs.
Common terns 5
Grey heron 1 that flew onto the tern raft and stayed put for about an hour causing great upset.

The water rail called constantly for 3 hours. I finally managed to confirm it was the same call I heard two years ago. Not the sound of a squealing pig and more like the inner reversing parking alarm of a car that just never stops! It showed itself three times on the cut out square and on the third time as i approached it was right out in the open only to scuttle back when it saw me coming.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 08:34:13 PM

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Yes!!! Only because it was in that cut reed part. once it disappeared into the reed no chance!! Snooze you lose!!!!

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Doh Chris missed it again!!! I knew that i should have gone with you instead of being laid in bed nursing a hang over! :D glad that you got to see it!! did you manage to get a photograph?

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Visited this morning for half an hour 9.00-9.30 Birds included the following: Sedge warbler Reed warbler Reed bunting House sparrow The highlight here was a brilliant view of a water rail. It was in the little square patch of cut reed at the end of the causeway. Brilliant to see so clearly.

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LOL jon there are dog walkers there at everyhour! I often go up in the summer to watch the terns at around 5am and there are still people around walking their dogs.

You are right though over the last few years the site has really matured and is now starting to pull in far more species of birds. Keep an ear out for Grasshopper warbler which i have watched there for the last three years.

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Quick 1/2 hr this morning between 7 - 7.30 produced

5 sedge warblers including good views of 3
1 reed warbler skulking in the reeds at the end of the causeway
3 Common Terns
plus lots of the usual

only just realising what a gem this place is if you get there before the dog walkers

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Visited on the way back from Rindle Road and wasn't disappointed as got great views of Water Rail (county 1st smile) for about 15 minutes on the top right of the causeway in amongst the mud and pools) 2nd bird calling from the other side of the causeway.
Sedge Warbler heard but not seen
also
mixed flock of swallows and House Martins over head and good views of singing Willow Warbler

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Hi Anthony, nice to meet you too. No everything was very quiet after you left. I stayed for about an hour but didnt hear either bird. Large numbers of Swallows and House martins appeared later on. Managed to photograph a very tame reed bunting and watched a pair of song thrush and Bull finch as they sat together. Also got some good glimpses of the sedge warbler as he moved around. Certainly only one bird present at the moment.

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Quick visit this morning produced a single singing Sedge Warbler in the reeds by the causeway which was briefly glimpsed.
Water Rail 2 (1 either side of causeway calling)
Common Tern 1 hawking insects from surface of water

Nice to meet Annette Cutts whilst here. Did you manage a glimpse of the Water Rail?


-- Edited by Antony Wainwright on Sunday 21st of April 2013 10:51:16 AM

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quick walk around lodges at lunchtime birds of note
whitetroat
willow warbler
redstart
reed bunting
common tern
house martin
sand martin
swallow
coal tit
greenfinch

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b. hooley


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11am to 11.55am. Nothing booming or squealing like a pig ! No hirundines either. They all seemed to be at Rumworth.

3 Great Crested Grebes
Pair of Mute Swans
21 Canada Geese
22 Mallards
Pair of Teal
6m + 6f Tufted Ducks
1 Sparrowhawk
8 Moorhens
9 Coots
30+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Tern. On one of the rafts when I arrived, but flew off before I left.
3 Feral Pigeons
12 Woodpigeons
2 Pied Wagtails
6 Wrens
5 Dunnocks
4 Robins
3 Blackbirds
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
1 Blue Tit
2 Great Tits
6 Magpies
4 Jackdaws
1 Carrion Crow
10 Starlings
4 House Sparrows
5 Chaffinches
10+ Greenfinches
3 Goldfinches
1 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting


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Anthony the sighting of a pair of water rail is wonderful! I have been closely watching Doffcocker for about 10 years now and never seen any but two years ago I was almost 100% sure that I heard one calling (didnt know the call so well at the time) but it went on for a full 5 minutes without stopping in the same area that you describe. The reed beds are really maturing now and the list of species moving in is growing. Fabulous!

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8.30-10.30am. Highlights as follows:

Pair of Water Rail showing extremely well in the area of reed management by the north end of the causeway. Both keeping to the edge of the reeds but out in the open even whilst walkers passing by. Also another calling nearby.
Willow Warblers have definitely arrived with at least 5 around the lodge with a couple singing. Think there may have been more.
Chiffchaff - 3 singing
Goosander 1 male
Swallow 2
Sand Martin 1
Willow Tit 1
Teal 6

A friend (non birder) described a bird he had seen in the reeds here whilst he walked past a couple of weeks ago, not sure exact date. He said it was very camouflaged and pointed its bill upward when he walked by. It was also by the causeway in the reedbed. When I showed him a Bittern in the bird guide he said that it was definitely what he had seen - git!

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9.10am to 10.00am. 90% frozen but decent numbers of birds still finding the small open areas, as well as birds on the ice.

2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Mute Swans. Hopefully the regular single bird here has found a mate, or is it a new pair ?
22 Canada Geese
35+ Mallards
1m Tufted Duck
6 Moorhens
13 Coots
80+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Feral Pigeon
12 Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
9 Dunnocks
6 Robins
8 Blackbirds
3 Song Thrushes
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Long-tailed Tits
1 Willow Tit, calling from the reedbed
10+ Blue Tits
A few Great Tits
7 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
4 Starlings
7 Chaffinches
10+ Greenfinches
3 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
Numerous Reed Buntings. 6 seen around the reedbeds, 1m in a garden near the reedbeds, and surprisingly another male at garden feeders at the far end near the Hope & Anchor pub.


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10am to 11.20am

1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Mute Swan
25 Canada Geese
32 Mallards
2 pairs of Teal
2 pairs of Tufted Ducks
18 Moorhens
12 Coots
70+ Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Feral Pigeons
8 Woodpigeons
1 Collared Dove
1 Pied Wagtail
4 Wrens
6 Dunnocks
3 Robins
8 Blackbirds
10+ Blue Tits
5 Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
8 Magpies
8 Jackdaws
3 Carrion Crows
6 Starlings
10+ House Sparrows
5 Chaffinches
10+ Greenfinches
6 Goldfinches
1 Siskin
2 Bullfinches


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9.55am to 10.40am

1 Mute Swan
26 Canada Geese
42 Mallards
6m + 2f Tufted Ducks
15 Moorhens
29 Coots
100+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Common Gull
1 Pheasant
20 Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
1 Wren
2 Dunnocks
2 Robins
1 Blackbird
Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
14 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
6 Starlings
6 Chaffinches
10 Greenfinches
1 Goldfinch
1 Siskin
1 Bullfinch


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11.50am to 12.40pm. Gave up on the woodland birds due to very strong wind. So bad the feral geese sheltered under the trees by the car park with a Moorhen.

2 Great Crested Grebes
53 Canada Geese
30+ Mallards
4m + 1f Tufted Ducks
1 male Goosander flew through without landing
14 Moorhens
27 Coots
120+ Black-headed Gulls


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12.55 to 13.25. Nature Reserve water mostly frozen.

23 Canada Geese
Numerous Mallards
6 Teal pushed into the open by the ice
1 female Gadwall with the Teal
12 Moorhens
29 Coots
75+ Black-headed Gulls
6 Common Gulls



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12.30 to 13.35

2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
23 Canada Geese
37 Mallards
9 Tufted Ducks
2m + 1f Goosanders
10 Moorhens
36 Coots
1 Woodcock flushed
50+ Black-headed Gulls
5 Feral Pigeons
9 Woodpigeons
4 Collared Doves
3 Wrens
3 Dunnocks
6 Robins
7 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
1 Goldcrest
6 Long-tailed Tits
2 Willow Tits
6 Blue Tits
2 Great Tits
10 Magpies
1 Carrion Crow
16 Starlings
5 Chaffinches
15 Greenfinches
3 Goldfinches
4 Siskins
1 Lesser Redpoll
2 Bullfinches
3 Reed Buntings



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3 Teal
3 male Goosanders and 1 female
Wed 20th Dec

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Male and female Goosander yesterday afternoon. Mon 17th

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11.05am to 12.15pm. Heavy rain here again, although tonight's weather forecast on BBC said otherwise. I must have imagined being wet through and seeing Horwich Moors disappear from sight !

1 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
1 Mute Swan
11 Canada Geese
37 Mallards
3 Tufted Ducks
19 Moorhens
33 Coots
50+ Black-headed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls flying over
5 Woodpigeons
1 Collared Dove
3 Meadow Pipits
3 Wrens
1 Dunnock
2 Robins
8 Blackbirds
1 Goldcrest
1 Coal Tit
2 Great Tits
4 Blue Tits
6 Magpies
1 Carrion Crow
3 Jackdaws
50+ Starlings
4 Chaffinches
16 Greenfinches
2 Goldfinches
1 Siskin
1 Bullfinch




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11am to 12.05pm

1 Mute Swan
12 Canada Geese
29 Mallards
3 Tufted Ducks
14 Moorhens
37 Coots
40+ Black-headed Gulls
3 Woodpigeons
6 Feral Pigeons
3 Wrens
4 Dunnocks
3 Robins
7 Blackbirds
4 Redwings
Blue Tits & Great Tits
9 Magpies
3 Carrion Crows
12 Jackdaws
Numerous House Sparrows
4 Chaffinches
5 Greenfinches
1 Goldfinch
1 Siskin
2 Bullfinches



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11.35am to 12.25pm

2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Mute Swan
1 Canada Goose
48 Pink-footed Geese flew directly overhead as I left, heading SW towards the Reebok.
30+ Mallards
4 Tufted Ducks
1 Kestrel
20 Moorhens
24 Coots
30+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
3 Woodpigeons
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
6 Dunnocks
6 Robins
4 Blackbirds
1 flock of Long-tailed Tits with Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Jay
12 Magpies
1 Jackdaw
4 Greenfinches
5 Goldfinches



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11.25am to 12.15pm.

Thanks for your comments about the Willow Tits Annette. I have previously seen them on the north side, but today I found one at the feeders in a garden at the back of Old Kiln Lane. It's no wonder I missed them the other week as someone was mowing the lawn there in the pouring rain. With Bill's sighting recently at High Rid (I saw none there today) it does seem that they are at both sites.

1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Mute Swan
6 Canada Geese
42 Mallards
5 Tufted Ducks
18 Moorhens
19 Coots
50+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Kingfisher
7 Woodpigeons
1 Pied Wagtail
3 Meadow Pipits
2 Wrens
4 Dunnocks
3 Robins
5 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
1 flock of Long-tailed Tits
Blue Tits & Great Tits
5 Magpies
4 Carrion Crows
1 Rook flying over
20+ Jackdaws flying over
13 Starlings
1 Chaffinch
5 Greenfinches
8 Goldfinches
5 Lesser Redpolls
2 Bullfinches




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David, Willow tits are regular inhabitats at Doffcocker. I cannot confirm if they breed there but I have seen them at all times of the year.

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11.10am to 11.55am. Heavy showers most of the time, with rain coming down sideways. At least there was some shelter here, and I had not got as far as High Rid, with no hope of shelter there. A pint of Joseph Holt's bitter and a chance to dry out in the Doffcocker Inn seemed a better option than High Rid as I got wetter and wetter. The bird list is poorer than usual due to the weather. I saw Willow Tits here early in the year but was unable to see if they were still around, which was my main aim.

3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Canada Goose
35 Mallards
8 Moorhens
17 Coots
18 Black-headed Gulls
8 Woodpigeons
2 Wrens
3 Robins
3 Blackbirds
3 Magpies
4 Jackdaws
9 Chaffinches
2 Greenfinches
2 Goldfinches
2 Bullfinches




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Cheers keith.

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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................


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There is an article( ''A Tern for the Worse'') about a raft rescue by Bolton Conservation on the 27th June.
http://www.boltonconservation.org.uk/page5.htm
Cheers
Keith



-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 6th of July 2012 12:59:01 PM

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One of the rafts at the bottom end of the lodge seems to have dissappeared, anyone know what has happened?

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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................


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Great to hear that after a week the ducklings are still alive as so few ducklings ever seem to make it on Doffcocker. Heres hoping we see them breed there regularly.



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There's a good pie shop (Coleman's) nearby too, Geoff.

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Midday visit (after getting through passport control)
2 broods of Tufted duck 8 ducklings on main lake 6 ducklings on small lake
2 Great Crested grebe(no chicks seen)
Common Tern, goose island raft 1 ad 1 juv,main lake raft 3 ad 7 juv,small lake raft 1 adult,adult birds all over and very hard to count.
Hats off to Doffcocker,the rafts are well used and easy to view a credit to all concerned.

cheers geoff

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No sign of great crested grebe chick today. One other pair displaying over on the smaller back lake.

One newly fledged Sedge warbler with adults flitting around feeding. I think the remainder of the young were still in the nest.

And a first for me in 10 years of visiting Doffcocker 1 female Tufted duck with six extremely tiny ducklings.

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A pair of Great Crested Grebe with chick on back today

Regards

Mike

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At least 24 terns on the 3 rafts today. I saw 2 chicks on one raft and half an egg shell floating in the lake margins. Hopefully its going to be a good year for them. Loads of carp spawning in the warm shallow water as well- food for the terns next year!!

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Steve, I moderate all posts on this forum very carefully, more so than anyone thinks, so no, I don't think we're giving too much away here but I appreciate the concern. The information for these birds is freely available (it appears in the annual county reports for instance) and is very well known.

To say there is a particular (common) bird breeding at a particular site is normally ok so long as its not a precise location. It's worked ok for the past six years

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Are we giving too much information out on breeding birds?

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For those who are interested there are more Common terns than ever nesting at Doffcocker this year with 12 pairs sitting on eggs. Two of the rafts are currently occupied and for the first time one pair is also nesting over on goose island (the top waters edge nearest to the rafts) There are no chicks as yet but as the majority of the eggs were laid in the first week of May hatching is due any day now. The males are currently very busy in feisty territorial displays that was getting quite nasty this afternoon. Lets hope when the chicks hatch they will be too busy catching fish to worry about attacking each other.

The Great crested grebe is also still sitting on her nest. Incubation here is 4 weeks and so the eggs should hatch some time this week with luck. Sadly the other two pairs, who attempted to nest earlier have disappeared.

There are numerous reed warblers on the reserve with one particular bird consistently singing and showing well on the causeway. I havent seen any sedge warblers on the reserve this season. A few years ago these birds were more numerous than the reed warblers but it seems recently to have swung in the other birds favour. I have yet to hear any Grasshopper warblers on the reserve this season either.

I have also found at least 4 pairs of nesting reed bunting and 2 pairs of willow warbler. Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Bullfinch can also regularly be heard. On the Chorley old road side there is also a small colony of House Martins nesting in the big residential house.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 24th of May 2012 06:08:43 PM

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Doffcocker Lodge has surely got to be THE place to see Common Terns at the moment. I didn't count them but there must be at least 16, with many of them doing fantastic aerial displays, catching fish and doing fish passes etc. It's fascinating to watch how the Black-headed Gulls gang up on them trying to steal the fish - but the Terns do hold their own in these jousts.

I also had a great view of two Reed Warblers (photos on my blog) quite by chance whilst I was waiting for a Tern to land on the 'No Fishing' sign for a photo. They're very noisy in the reed beds at the end of the causeway and so there must be a few of them here. I've been told there are Sedge Warblers nearby too, but I didn't hear or see any today.

Also seen:
2 Tufted Duck
1 Great Crested Grebe
2 Moorhens
4 Coot
Several chicks of different varieties

... and all the usual ferals.

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After getting some motivation from Martyn's last post, I had a cappuccino at Zest and then went along the causeway this afternoon.
Certainly at least 16 Common Terns.
Two Reed Warblers heard and seen, one getting up on a Willow Bush.

Other sightings:
Grey Heron...1
Tufted Duck....7
Reed Bunting...1
Swifts...4
House Sparrow...1




-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 04:16:00 PM

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late pm
tufted duck-12
great crested grebe-4
sedge warbler-1
reed warbler-1
common terns - 20




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 7th of May 2012 05:27:37 PM

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