Decided to do a full Linnet survey this morning. Was surprised by the result - at least 9 pairs across the south half of the site. 8 singing Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 10 Willow Warbler. Swallows back at Oliver Fold, 2 pairs. 4 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck also on Swan Lake.
Decided to do a full Linnet survey this morning. Was surprised by the result - at least 9 pairs across the south half of the site. 8 singing Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 10 Willow Warbler. Swallows back at Oliver Fold, 2 pairs. 4 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck also on Swan Lake.
Lapwing numbers high again this morning, 15+ in the air when someone decided to let their dog charge through them :/ Also a pair that have been occupying the field by Oliver Fold farm. Warbler numbers on the south side included 6-8 of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat. A brief female Wheatear on the ground. Pair of Teal. 2 snipe. First ever Mute Swan on Swan Lake, also 2 Greylag Geese. Linnet numbers high, at least 5 pairs.
This afternnon: Lapwing numbers much higher than I saw last year. Perhaps 15 pairs in total. Skylark numbers similarly very high, probably >30 singing males. First swallow of the year over. Pair of Shoveler are back again (there were 5 a few days ago). Pair of Raven. Pair of Linnet. And a strange (to me) Pipit. It was feeding in one of the shallow ponds, moving around the vegetation and reeds. It did not associate with any of the Meadow Pipits, and when it flew off had two distinct short calls. Only one of them sounded like the typical call. Still looked like a Meadow Pipit though so perhaps just some unusual feeding habits?
A single Avocet on the 2nd most easterly pool,feeding out in the shallow water ,also Raven over north carrying possible food,plenty of singing Skylarks and a Little Ringed Plover calling.
Multiple Stonechat still around. At least 4 Snipe around the site, 2 Woodcock, multiple Bullfinch and Willow Tit. Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. Lots of Redwing at dusk.
Huge numbers of Stonechat this afternoon - never seen anything like it. Would say 6 at a minimum (2m,4f) but they were everywhere. Didn't even venture to the western side where there have been 2 pairs in recent winters, so could have been even more. Also: 3 Common Snipe 1 Little Grebe 1 Treecreeper 1 Coal Tit 3 Willow Tit 1 Bullfinch 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Cormorant (on Swan Lake) 3 Skylark 10+ Meadow Pipit 39 species total
A couple of hours around the eastern of the site was worthwhile with the highlights being at least 2 Green Sandpiper and a pair of Stonechat. Still plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipits around the site,also Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch,Grey and 2 Pied Wagtails,and a few Goldfinch. Swan Lake was busy with Mallard,Gadwall,Coot,Moorhen and about 150 Herring Gull and 50 Black Headed Gulls
A wander round the eastern side of the site produced a Merlin being chased by a Carrion Crow,also a couple of Kestrels hunting around the site. 2 coveys of Grey Partridge seen,a party of 12 birds and another one of just 2 birds. Plenty of Skylark around the site including several singing and aerial displaying birds !!! Good numbers of Meadow Pipits in the grassy areas,also 3 Reed Bunting, a small flock of 15 Goldfinch, and a flock of 30 or so Linnet. Plenty of gulls around the site including a mixed flock of 300 plus large gulls which came off the fields by Common Lane and landed on Swan Lake.
This afternoon, quiet again, but a few interesting sightings
-4+ Little Grebe
-16 wading birds high overhead and flying south/south-east, my guess was snipe, they were producing a single note call infrequently
-1 unidentified raptor, accidentally flushed from a dead tree, definitely not kestrel, very dark brown and smaller than kestrel. Perhaps sparrowhawk but looked too slim.
Quite quiet at the moment at Cutacre - most of the grassland is in the process of being cut, so the site looks quite different.
This afternoon:
-4+ Grey Heron, mostly in the freshly cut grass -3+ Common Snipe, accidentally flushed and likely more -1 Lapwing -4 Gadwall -Covey of fully grown 12/13 Grey Partridge, the second covey found this year
also someone had released 5 large white domestic ducks/geese, didn't look capable of flight
Hi Kristian, looks Mallard-like to me, and the orange legs (rather than dull yellowish) would suggest so too! Could be wrong though, young Wildfowl can be tricky.
-hundreds of Swift & Swallow overhead, with smaller numbers of House Martin -2 Little Grebe pairs, one with a single, well-developed young -2 well-grown Shoveler chicks -1 Stock Dove -Whinchat family still present, probably 5 individuals -Grey Partridge family group, at least 6
...and a group of 4 ducks which I previously thought were well-developed Mallard chicks, but a passer-by identified them to me as Gadwall. Picture attached, any comments appreciated!
I haven't seen or heard any Garden Warblers at the site this year after many visits, but there is plenty of suitable habitat! Where abouts was your possible sighting?
Hi Kristian,
The area was about 100 yds north of Swan Lake along a narrow path that runs along the edge of the nearly dried up creek where the two Jays are regularly seen. Red circled area on attached map.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Sunday 4th of July 2021 10:33:43 PM
I haven't seen or heard any Garden Warblers at the site this year after many visits, but there is plenty of suitable habitat! Where abouts was your possible sighting?
family party of Raven (4) on the pylons, perhaps bred locally? Common sandpiper still on swan lake Around 5 of each Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Blackcap and Sedge warbler Shoveler f still with 5 large ducklings Willow tit nest was predated (probably Great spotted woodpecker), but a family party (4+) found further north! Bullfinch more noticeable - at least 2 pairs 2 pairs Swallow nesting at Oliver Fold Farm
Dave Steele - if you are reading this post - you would love this site with its wide untouched hedgerow between fields and side of paths!
House Sparrows x 30 Song Thrush x 1 Reed Bunting x 8 Greenfinch x 1 Oystercatcher x 2 Buzzard x 5 Kestrel x 3 Common Whitethroat x 7 Bullfinch (Male) x 1 Goldfinch x 10 Linnet x 1 Lapwing x 4 Pied Wagtail x 1 Long Tailed Tit x 4 Skylark x 7 Swift x 7 Swallow x 4 House Martin x 1 Little Grebe x 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 30 Herring Gull x 5 Black-Headed Gull x 20 Wren x 3 Robin x 4 Great Tit x 1 Chaffinch x 5 Chiffchaff x 3 Blackbird x 5 Magpie x 10 Woodpigeon x 7 Feral Pigeon x 10 Canada Geese x 25 (with 15 goslings) Coot x 4 Moorhen x 2 Mallard x 5 Starling x 30 Carrion Crow x 8
Few hours at Cutacre country Park today between 12 noon and 2.30. Weather sunshine and cloud. Very few people, but lots of species to report (first time poster so please be kind):
Sedge warblers (2)
Grasshopper warbler
Whinchat
willow warbler
wheatear
reed bunting
Skylark
Grey wagtail
Buzzard
Kestrel
House Sparrow
dunnock
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wood Pigeon
Jackdaw
Magpie
whitethroat (common?)
Chiffchaff
Swallow
Lapwing
Little Grebe
Coot
Moorhen
Canada Goose
Mallard
Starling
Blackbird
chaffinch
-- Edited by Alison Gordon on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 08:26:57 PM
Other Sightings: Ringed & Little Ringed Plover 5 pairs Lapwing 3 little Grebe 1 Common Sandpiper 4 Pheasant Pair of Snipe...present in same location for nearly 2 weeks (possibly a breeding pair?) Usual species...50 in total
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 13th of April 2021 03:05:08 PM
Birds seen on site this morning included single Peregrine, 3 Little ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 2 Swallow, 40 + Sand martin, singing Blackcap and good numbers of singing Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting and Chiifchaff.
3 Black Tailed Godwit on the bottom pool at c. 8.30 this morning but were then flushed along with c. 100 large gulls by someone in camouflage gear carrying bins. The Godwits flew off strongly west.
The lane down to the bottom pool was full of activity with my first Chiffchaff of the year; at least 25 Reed Buntings;
Long-Tailed Tits; M & F Chaffinch; M Bullfinch; 4 Redwing; Goldfinch; Song Thrush & many Wrens, Robins & Blue/Great Tits.
On the bottom pool was a single Little Grebe being harassed by Black Headed Gulls everytime it surfaced & a Lapwing displaying overhead. 2 Grey Partridge were flushed just beyond the pool with a few Skylark singing high overhead.
Elsewhere 5 Kestrel & 4 Buzzards with one hovering facing the wind not too dissimilar to how Kestrels do.
2 Raven flew low east over the site this morning. At least 3 Little grebe, single Redpoll, and c. 30 Skylark. Also a police motorcycle touring the paths but not sure what for as completely ignored large groups of people and the numerous off road motorcycles?