3 Pochard, 44 Tufted Duck, 6 Goosander, 120 Black headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black backed Gull, Common Buzzard on m/way lamp.
About 1 ish 2xMute swan 2xCormorant 2xGreat crested grebe 3xPochard Tufted duck in good numbers Lots of Moorhen and Coots 4xMallard Around the feeders All the usual Tits 2xGreenfinch 3xChaffinch Small flock of Goldfinch Magpie city Cheers Jay Don't twitch and drive Oh and a dog walker had a Kingfisher over the Res last week.
2 Ravens flying over, heading west at 10am. also 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Willow Tit. hi Steve, I've replied to the message. Sorry computers been playing up.
It appears both Common Tern pairs have at least 1 hatchling each. The bird on each respective nest kept standing up and shuffling round and each time I could see movement under the birds wing. At one point both pairs took to the wing which in my mind I wouldn't have expected if all the eggs were still unhatched (that was my thought anyway as I do know most Terns and Gulls for that matter are very protective and a bit paranoid with their eggs)
The mesh on the new raft has been ripped off down one side which has been promptly reported to the wardens.
Nice views of a singing Reed Warbler this morning. Sounded, to my ears anyway, as if their was a small bit of mimicry in the song, with short bursts of the "hooeet" call of Willow Warbler and "seeoo" call of Reed Bunting involved.
Brief visit 12ish Hirundines in good numbers Squabbling Coots Moorhen Great crested grebes x2 Mute swan x3 All the usuals Cheers Jay Dont twitch and drive
One Common Tern and then a little later some good but brief views of three Sandwich Terns noisily flying west at around 10.25 am. This is my first ever record of this species in GM! I expect there must be a good chance that these were the same three birds that were seen at Elton Reservoir heading west less than half an hour earlier?
male Redstart, In bushes on the north side of the resesvoir, where the dam side meets the north side, near a black bin, . Also 10 Swallow, Sand Martin, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff. There was also a Woodcock in the nature reserve on the 13th.
Jason, For water rail, stand on the wall side, behind the visitor centre and look to the far side, near the phragmites ( tall reeds),.You may only hear the birds calling, but they often come on to the bank next to the reeds.
Linnyshaw moss Grey heron over Jayx2 very active Treecreeper Goldcrest Usual tits Magpiesxloads Carrion crowsxloads chaffinchx2 goldfinchx3 Single Redwing Cheers Jay Don't twitch and drive Tony....Where's the best spot for the water rail?
5 Goosander, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Common Buzzard, Water Rail at the back of the reservoir, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Meadow Pipit on Linnyshaw Moss, 6 Willow tit (3 pairs).
No Water Rails for me either; brass monkey weather to say the least! Plenty of Tufted Ducks 9 Goosanders Lots of Moorhens Several Great Crested Grebes, including some display-like behaviour with a pair.
Quick half hour on the way back from the gym ( weight still not gone) 12ish Mute swanx2 Goosanderx3 m and 2f Grey heronx2 good numbers of Canada geese, Tufted ducks, coot and moorhen. Gull city Brown ratx2 Cat in the reed beds Cheers jay don't twitch and drive.
High noon On the way back from the gym(still can't shift this Christmas weight) Anyway Cormorantx2 Mallardx11 Canada geesex51 Gb grebe Tufted ducksx80 Mute swanx4 Cootx16 Gadwellx2 grey heron Moorhen Goosanderx2 Car Park and feeders Great titx2 Magpiex7 Wren Blue titsx3 Lt titsx2 Bullfinchx2 Goldfinchx3 Greenfinch Cheers jay Don't twitch and drive
Main lake...50+ Tufted Duck with 1 Great Crested Grebe Countless Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose 1 Grey Heron and 2 Cormorants on the wooden island. Further round near the wooden jetty...roughly another 40 Canada Goose, 1 Lapwing, and mixed Common and Black Headed Gulls in good numbers. 3 Mute Swans (1 near full grown Cygnet) the 2 adults readily feed from your hand as they did today. What annoyed me here was a man and woman with a youngster and a Staffy, encouraging the dog to go for the Swans, not the dogs fault...and I might add...IT DIDN'T GO FOR THEM !!! They soon went when I went over. Idiots!
Feeding Station...the usual Bullfinch, Chaffinch, about 35 Goldfinch, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, and a lone Willow Tit, very active.
Apparently the Ranger here informs me they do well here, 3 breeding pairs no less last year, great news!
Weds 23/1/13 Called in on my lunch break. Plenty of Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan. Walked round to the feeding station at the back of the visitor centre... Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, and it was either Willow Tit or Marsh Tit, watched it for a good 10 mins but without binocs or camera I couldn't get a positive ID