Newchurch Common

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

RE: Newchurch Common

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Very sunny and warm today on patch but my afternoon walk was cut short by unforeseen circumstances.

One bird sighting of note was a really optimistic one. At least 6 adult Lapwings were in the breeding field east of the Pine Belt and with them I found 3 Lapwing Chicks! These were from two different broods as one was smaller than the other two, and they were split into the two 'broods' spatially in the field. The chicks were well enough developed to be looking like miniature adults but fuzzier and flightless, so past the tiny chick stage giving stronger hope of survival. The field is one that was re-ploughed so the adults did well. The deep furrows make it hard to see all birds in the field so other Lapwing chicks may have been out there. This is excellent news and I have everything crossed for their survival.

The only other report was that I heard a Cuckoo calling over to the west of Big Pool somewhere, heard from the east side of the pool.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 18th of May 2024 01:55:54 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A very short afternoon walk with just one real sighting, of two species, a mini-flock flew through Big Pool consisting of 2 Swifts and 5 Sand Martins, my first of the former species anywhere this year!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Last few days were spent on patch in the sunshine but very little news on the bird front until today!

A new bird for the year was seen a 12.15pm when a stunning Red Kite drifted over Shemmy Moss. Initially if circled up to gain height and then floated off to the east at c.12.30pm. A Grey Heron flew over too for the second time in 3 days. The Canada Geese on Shemmy Moss hatched 3 goslings yesterday too and still had them today. On Nunsmere today 2 drake Gadwall were again seen.

Yesterday (11th May 2024) 2 Hobbies and 2 Kestrels were watched over Shemmy Moss, all at the same time and all hunting, the Hobbies taking Four-spotted Chaser Dragonflies and a Kestrel seen to catch a Common Lizard.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

An afternoon in sweltering sunshine! Around the Big pool area only.

A brood of 10 Canada Goose goslings was on Big Pool. The field east of the Pine Belt has been ploughed and contained 6 Lapwings.

A Cuckoo was heard from Big Pool so must have been closer than the mosslands. On the fields east of the Pine Belt 2 Stock Doves and 2 Feral Rock Doves were seen.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A very early pop onto patch and then a more prolonged afternoon walk. Sunny but a bit cooler.

A Common Teal egg was found on Shemmy Moss, broken but I couldn't tell if it had hatched or had been taken by a predator from the nest. On the mossland pools 2 drake Teal were again seen. A Water Rail was heard squealing on Abbot's Moss again.

A Hobby was over Shemmy Moss early afternoon and then moved to Gull Pool where it was later seen patrolling the canopy of Gull Pool Wood.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Fired up by my cracking patch lifer I went onto patch all am and later in the afternoon too. Warm & sunny all day.

Another good day. First the usual bits, 2 drake Teal were again on Shemmy Moss as well as the 2 Greylag Geese. The weirdest record was a Kingfisher sat on a small tree in the centre of Shemmy Moss at 6.05pm, the first record for me here!

Today 2(m+f) Hobbies gave super views around midday, they flew around together as a pair, mirroring each other, superb. Also over Shemmy Moss were a Kestrel and at least 6 Buzzards. Two more magic moments were provided by the male Cuckoo which was seen and heard on Shemmy Moss both early morning and early evening. In the morning it was perched in dead trees cuckoo-ing and then by me imitating its call I called it over and it flew over a group of us just 10m or so above us. Later when back on with Carys we had it calling and flying across the track in front of us again showing really well.