7 Kestrel in a row over the southern embankment this morning. 3 Goosander and Lapwing numbers up to 80. 18 Swift, 15 Swallow, c30 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin catching insects over and around the Res. 3 Wheatear and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Disappointing to note that the recent rain has raised the water level such that the island and most of the mud around the perimeter has disappeared. Hence, the wader score this evening was zero! 42 Goosander at roost and 15 Swift the only birds of note.
3 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 3 Common Sandpiper this morning. Also 6 Kestrel, 6 Swift, 2 Sand Martin and a small group of warblers in the bushes on the northern bank. I specifically identified 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Whitethroat ( my first site record) but there were more.
A juvenile female Peregrine flew in at 0700 making a couple of attempts to take one of the Goosanders in the water and a Hobby hurtled through chasing Swifts below Ashworth View . 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher and a Common Sandpiper also present
Fewer Gulls passing through this morning however one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls was colour ringed (4K1B from a UK project.) 3 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sanpiper also present.
Whimbrel flew in from the North but did not stay long continuing South. Redshank, Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and 3 Oystercatcher also present.
A few more Herring Gulls in with the Lesser Black-backed Gulls this afternoon, one of which was colour ringed ( A3RS ) which was ringed as a chick on a rooftop on the south coast.
4 Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin and an Oystercatcher also present.
Another Portugese ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull (F927) dropped in briefly at 1530 before flying off west. Mediterranean Gull, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 Tufted Duck also present.
This morning's Yellow-legged Gull still present and on the island at 1830. 2 Mediterranean Gull on the north shore and another 2 flew over South at 1800. 3 Common Gull also present
Many Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing west again this afternoon including a colour ringed bird (F732) which is from a Wildlife rehabilitation centre in Southern Portugal. Also present Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher and a juv Mediterranean Gull
Steady passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls again this afternoon, nearly all adults and all heading west after washing off. A colour ringed bird (NOUP) was photographed and is from a project in Malaga, Spain and will await its history
Fewer Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving through today but another Yellow-legged Gull dropped in with a small group of them c1315. Was still present on the North side at 1400.
Big numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls again today all heading west. A Yellow-legged Gull arrived at 1350 and swiftly departed west as did 2 Mediterranean Gulls. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived yesterday pm covered in some sort of slime and has somehow managed to preen the majority of it off and is non the worse for wear today.
-- Edited by rob archer on Thursday 4th of July 2019 02:41:07 PM
Possible Yellow-legged Gull has been at the reservoir the last two evenings before flying off east both times. Not certain but managed a photo that show a few salient points.
Grey Wagtails have bred successfully here again with at least 2 fledged young . Two Curlew sites have not fared so well . One was ransacked by a Fox yesterday and the second has also failed and is now deserted too .
Pair of Dunlin still here and 3 Common Sandpiper also present .
Sad to see a very impressive but very sick Great Black-backed Gull barely alive on the south shore this afternoon. Managed to get hold of it and do the right thing.
2 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper also on the reservoir
3 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Wheatear and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls amongst the other large gulls on the reservoir.
-- Edited by rob archer on Monday 13th of May 2019 12:53:13 PM
3 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, Greylag Goose, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 2 Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls in with c100 other large gulls.
One of the better visiits to the Reservoir this afternoon.
2 Turnstone, Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover and 14 Dunlin all appeared to arrive together around 1400 ish feeding amongst the surf on the South shore spit.
2 Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Curlew and 2 Wheatear also present.
Big numbers of Hirundines also present and a constant passage of large Gulls ( mainly Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull with occasional Great Black-backed Gull too) all heading Eastwards across the res.
-- Edited by rob archer on Thursday 9th of May 2019 06:44:21 PM
3 Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin this morning. No trace of the Goldeneye for me today. They had been present at the reservoir for over 6 months and may finally have departed.
Mallard 1 male Canada goose pair on nest Cormorant 2 flew in Goldeneye m&f Curlew 3 on res and at least 3 others bubbling over territory Lapwing 9 L Bb gull 10s in on then off Herring gull singles accompanying Lessers
Pied wagtail 10s on walls and embankment
Wheatear 2 males on rocky grassy outcrop at SW end Sand Martin 3 in and out over res
Nice sight of 33 Whooper Swans flying onto the Reservoir early doors this morning. Still there when I left at 0940. ( Brian Kirkwood and Paul Gorton present) Single Sand Martin also flew over West.
No sign of any Wheatears for me this morning. Lots of activity from the Skylarks and Meadow Pipits though and I counted 7 Curlew in total. 3 Reed Bunting 6 Pied Wagtail. (Some looked suspiciously like White Wagtail, but I struggle to nail the ID with these.) 3 Lapwing on the shoreline 3 Goldeneye 6 Goosander dropped in 1 Cormorant on the pylon Plus the usual gulls on the reservoir, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Had a call on Monday from a local Farmer ( very pro birds and wildlife ) to say he had picked a female Kestrel up out of the mud in one of his Cattle Sheds and put it into a Cat Cage. I called over and ended up taking the bird to Greenmount Animal Hospital. After 4 days of R & R and plenty of food the bird had improved dramatically. I collected the bird today and took it back and released it in its normal territory.
Fantastic to see it flying off strongly. The Sanctuary is all run by volunteers who do a brilliant job and funded by donations so if anybody is interested in chipping in to help out I'm sure it would be appreciated.
Fri 15/2 15:00-16:15 lovely afternoon walk with cool SE breeze ( hoping for a harbinger of Spring but no meadow pipits skylark curlew oystercatcher nor redshank seen nor heard)
As I got out of my car c 50 lapwings and 70 starling erupted out of Bird in' th Field ( second filed east of re) probably caused by a bop possibly a peregrine braise of the panic?
Res
Lapwing 105 on rocky north shore by road wall Goosander 5 fem Goldeneye 2 males and 2 ad females Herring gull 11 mostly juvs Common gull 1 imm L Bb gull 1 ad B hd gull over 120 when I left
Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and a Meadow Pipit in the overflow channel this morning. Also seen around Cheesden Bar ( Lancs) Woodcock, Jack Snipe and several Snipe..4 Goldeneye on the Reservoir.
Had a reply re colour ringed Herring Gull . Another Norwegian bird .. there were at least 8 black ringed Gulls at the reservoir last Autumn that were more than likely all from Norway judging by the info from the one's I could read..CR-Code Black ring with white code: JCN08 LBM;RBNW(JCN08)
Ringing Centre Stavanger Museum (Norway) Ring number FA42196
Species Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Sex Unknown Age Pullus
Date Place Coordinates Observers Days/km/°
02.07 2015 Vorakletten, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°14'41"N 005°29'17"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
-
04.08 2015 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
33/1/341
14.08 2015 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
43/1/341
17.08 2015 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
46/1/341
25.01 2018 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
938/1/341
26.03 2018 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
998/1/341
03.04 2018 Sandshamn, Sandsøya, Sande, Møre og
Romsdal, Norway
62°15'08"N 005°28'58"E Støyle Bringsvor,
Ingar
1006/1/341
25.11 2018 Ashworth Moor, Manchester (Greater), Great
Britain
53°38'22"N 002°15'32"W Archer, Robert 1242/1059/208
-- Edited by rob archer on Monday 14th of January 2019 10:16:24 PM
-- Edited by rob archer on Tuesday 15th of January 2019 03:10:53 AM