sat19.04.08on the way home from penny-2 little ringed plover,1 oystercatcher,4 g.c.grebe,and loads of hurrundines



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 19:58, 2008-04-19

13.04.08-CALLED IN ON WAY HOME FROM PENNY-SAND MARTIN 100+,SWALLOW-10,G.C.GREBE-3,MOORHEN-2,COOT-17,TUFTED DUCK-19,COMMON SANDPIPER-2.

Common Sandpiper present this morning

No sign of BNG's since Tuesday, Wigeon down to 12

Adult Kittiwake again this morning

sat-22.03.08-2 black necked grebe,8 sand martin,68 wigeon-4pm

just been 4-5.30-as mike said in last post b.n.grebe gone-still 102 wigeon,1 buzzard,2 goldeneye,4 teal ,2 oystercatcher,3 redshank

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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ill be on at weekend now the black necks are back-cheers mike

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John

Am off to Anglesey for a holiday at the weekend so I will rely on you to keep abreast of sightings - Sand Martins shouldn't be far off.

I hope that Ring-billed Gull stays for another couple of days too!

Cheers

Mike

First Black-necked Grebe back this morning - nicely moulting into breeding plumage. Good to see one back! I have been visiting daily over the last 2 weeks hoping for these birds - weather has been **ap but last night when the wind dropped and the skies cleared I thought there might be a chance and hey presto!

Alo present:

79 Wigeon (45 drakes)
27 Coot
1 Moorhen
15 Tufties
1 Pochard
5 Goldeneye
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Mallard
2 Redshank
19 Lapwing
1 Corn Bunting
1 Reed Bunting
1 Skylark

This weekend:

91 Wigeon
47 Coot
6 Goldeneye
7 Pochard
17 Tufty
2 Teals
1 Little Grebe
2 Great Crested Grebes
6 Redshanks
2 Oystercatchers
44 Lapwings
2 Pied Wagtails
4 Grey Partridge
1 Heron

Small numbers of BHG, Common Gull and 1 LBBG.

Plus a Song Thrush that does an excellent impersonation of a Redshank contact call. A
bird was present last year that did this but in a totally different area. Don't know if this is the same bird that has moved, however it does appear to get responses from nearby Redshanks!

Most things back this morning, the inflatable was abndoned on the bank.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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mike -i know now why the wigeon numbers are eratic this winter-2 men with bright orange inflatable boats spent from 3pm until i left at 4pm scaring all the duck off the pool-there were 127 wigeon at at 2.50 pm and only 3 left at 4pm,also all the tufted and most of the other duck had flown-just shows how a couple of idiots can spoil a place

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******!

Will we ever live in a world where wildlife can be left in peace?

Let's hope they come back John.

This morning:

94 Wigeon
53 Coot
16 Tufties
15 Pochard
4 Goldeneye
4 Teal
1 Little Grebe
4 Redshank
1 Oystercatcher
70+ Lapwing
154 BH Gull
5 Common Gull

Hi Ian

Best is to proceed down Delph Lane past the flash towards Padgate. Approx 600 yds down (rom Myddleton Lane tuen off) you will see a gate in a field on the left (small road off to right opposite). Park here carefuly and follow the path through the field - it takes you back to the south bank of the flash.

The water is privately owned - the only public access is via the footpath through the field which crosses only the south bank though in reality lots of locals walk dogs all round the pool every day.

Black-necked Grebes should be back in a few weeks.

The field with the path gets Mipits and Skylarks and the odd Wheatear in spring. Barn Owl is occasionally seen.

Behind the hedge on the east side are lots of brambles - this area is good for Warblers etc in spring and summer though no wintering ones observed.

Fields opposite the gate on Delph Lane often have Grey Partridge. Look back up the Lane towards the farm - this is where the Linnet flock often hangs around - usually on the telephone wires.

If you visit regularly you can spot all sorts of birds - in the 2 years I have been watching the site I have clocked 93 species. I bet John Tymon has seen many more! I usually visit either early morning or during the last hour of daylight.

Waterworks Lane in Winwick is only five minutes away - the stubble patch opposite the lay bye has regular Yellowhammers plus Grey Partridges and Corn Buntings. A Buzzard has spent most the winter on the fenceline. To get there proceed back up Delph Lane and turn left. Proceed through Winwick village and turn right before you reach the church - this is Waterworks Lane.

Best food and beer is the Swan near the church!

Rgds

Mike

This morning:

Wigeon 91 (inc 58 drakes)
Coot 58
Pochard 9
Tufties 22
Goldeneye 3 (1 drake)
Little Grebe 1
G Crested Grebe 1
Buzzard 1
Redshank 4
Heron 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Grey Partridge 14
RL Partridge 1
Linnet 128+
Reed Bunting 1
Starling 350+
Goldfinch 19
Fieldfare 27
Stonechat 1 (female)
45 birds in the Delph Lane part of the rookery

Plus range of other common species

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 09:42, 2008-02-09

THIS AFTERNOON
WIGEON-92
COOT-72
TUFTED -32
POCHARD-14
GOLDEN EYE-2
LITTLE GREBE-1
REDSHANK-2
MALLARD-42

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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P.S-MIKE -THOUGHT ID KEEP THE COUNTS GOING WHY YOU WERE AWAY

Hi John

Good to see someone was watching the place - some cracking counts you had there. All the usual suspects still present this morning but in much smaller numbers.

This afternoon:

3 Mute Swan
74 Wigeon
38 Tufted Duck
20 Pochard
74 Coot
5 Little Grebe
5 Goldeneye
3 Redshank
35 Linnet
1 Grey Wagtail
120 Black-headed Gull
5 Common Gull
8 Lesser Black-backed Gull
374 Herring Gull
24 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Kestrek
1 Sparrowhawk
94 Mallard

yesterday:

2 Gadwall
17 Meadow Pipits

Today - finally got round to doing the timed tetrad.

4 Mute Swan
75 Wigeon
48 Coot
1 Teal
20 Tufted Duck
10 Pochard
6 Goldeneye
59 Mallard
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
3 Redshank
1 Snipe
8 Lapwing
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kingfisher (rare one for this patch)
62 Linnet
52 Goldfinch
5 Chaffinch
5 Blue Tit
1 Great Tit
11 Long-tailed Tit
14 Blackbird
4 Wren
7 Robin
5 Dunnock
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
14 Grey Partridge
45 Wood Pigeon
7 Collared Dove
22 Rook
4 Crow
5 Jackdaw
2 Magpie
73 Starling
175 Herring Gull
13 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Common Gull
122 Black-headed Gull

Yesterday:

2 Stonechat
131 Linnet
1 Heron

This morning:

4 Mute Swan
47 Wigeon
47 Coot
1 Teal
11 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
4 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
2 Great Crested Grebe
70+ Black-headed Gull
1 Meadow Pipit
24 Jackdaw
1 Kestrel
130+ Linnet

Watched the Kestrel perch on the telephone wires no more than 6 feet from the nearest Linnet. It then swopped down on the Linnets when they dropped into the thistles and ignored them when they flew back onto the wires. Watched the same scenario recently though with Starlings.

Mike

Female Goosander this morning

Black-necked Grebe this evening plus the usual suspects

7 Wigeon present this morning. It will be interesting to see if this is the start of the migrating birds returning or just a local group visiting. Last year the Wigeon didn't start to return to HGF until late October.

Also this morning 2 Jays, 2 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards in addition to the usual stuff.

BLACK NECKED GREBE STILL ON AT 17.30

Yesterday:

59 Linnets and 83 House Martins on the telephone wires
5 Swifts around

A Chiffchaff was singing away in the hedge by the south bank. I thought he was being a bit optimistic - this morning a Willow Warbler had joined him.

Little Grebe's up to 17.

Mike