July to December 2004
Birdwatching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January to June 2004 sightings
Thursday 30/12/04 – A Treecreeper
was (again) with a tit flock along the path to the shore. A spectacular flock
of c2000 Lapwing,
c300 Dunlin
and c100 Black-headed Gull
were on Lagoon 3 for the high tide roost. On the coast were 15 Turnstone
and 14 Redshank.
2 Stonechat
(ad + juv) were around the pond behind the hide. Also: a Water Rail
(‘sharming’ on Lagoon 2), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
(heard) and a Jay.
In addition, AM recorded: 8 Oystercatcher,
13 Shelduck,
220 Wigeon,
105 Common Gull,
160 Teal,
12 Curlew
and 1 Black-tailed Godwit.
Monday 27/12/04 – MP reported: 1000+ Lapwing and 1000+ Dunlin, before they were flushed by a Peregrine and then a Sparrowhawk. Also : 300+ Teal, 150 Wigeon, 6 Oystercatcher, 38 Curlew, 70 Turnstone and 3 Ringed Plover. Belated report of a Merlin at OPS on the 19th December.
Sunday 26/12/04 – 2w Iceland Gull
(or possibly 1w Glaucous Gull; but thought not, on size) sat on the shore by
the jetty, with Black-headed Gulls. Watched for 5 minutes before it flew and
was lost behind the jetty. Distinctive pink bill with black tip; dark (looked
black) eye with dark area around, giving ‘angry’ expression.
Nearly-white primaries and very light beige back; Pink legs. Also on the shore:
c700 Lapwing,
c500 Dunlin,
7 Turnstone
and 10 Redshank.
One, may be two, Peregrine
– seen on pylon and then circling tower. 2 Stonechat on Lagoon 2. 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker
and 3 Bullfinch
by entrance.
Wednesday 22/12/04 – AM made a
large count of c1200 Lapwing,
and also: 1 Knot,
72 Wigeon,
176 Teal,
25 Redshank,
10 Shelduck,
100 Dunlin
and 21 Curlew.
Sunday 19/12/04 – AM
reported: c1000 Lapwing,
2 Golden Plover,
2 Oystercatcher,
2 Knot,
3 Black-tailed Godwit,
40 Turnstone,
15 Redshank,
210 Dunlin,
30 Curlew,
130 Wigeon,
270 Teal,
and a Wren
in the hide !
Saturday 18/12/04 – At high
tide on Lagoons 1 and 3 were: 4 Knot,
2 Black-tailed Godwit,
3 Ringed Plover,
c420 Lapwing,
10 Redshank, c20 Dunlin, 1 Shoveler and
10 Shelduck. A Snipe and 2 (probable) Rock
Pipit flew down-river. 2 Chiffchaff were with a Long-tailed
Tit
flock in trees at the South end of Lagoon 2, and a Water Rail heard there. A flock of
15 House Sparrow and 10 Chaffinch were at Jobsgreen farm
(where I last had sightings of Tree Sparrow in this area). On-site were c200 Blackbird, c500 Redwing and c200 Fieldfare.
[I saw
the Velvet Scoter at Barrow Gurney Reservoir on Wednesday 15/12/04.
It was rather flighty and got spooked by something in the water as it surfaced
by the jetty – last saw it at 13:20, in flight, heading towards the NW
bank of Tank 3 – showing the white flash of secondaries superbly. I think
that it was an immature male – had two pale spots on face, but looked
more blackish than brown. Also had light colouring on lower portion of bill.
The bird was first seen on Sunday 12/12/04, but I and at least two other
birders searched for it without luck on Tuesday. Therefore I was rather
pleasantly surprised to see it Wednesday (but it begs the question, where did
it go ?!). I also got a picture of the Avocet on Tank No. 2 (it was
wrongly located as No.1 on www.birdguides.com) on Tuesday
14/12/04 - See Pictures from
other locations.]
Saturday 11/12/04 – A Little Egret
and a Little Grebe
on the pond behind the hide, and 2 Jay. 2 Raven and 4 Snipe
flew over. 4 Stonechat
in and around the reeds at Lagoon 2. 4 Black-tailed Godwit on the shore
towards Shepperdine. 4 Bullfinch
and increasing numbers of Blackbird,
Redwing
and (to a lesser extent) Fieldfare
on berry bushes.
Saturday4/12/04 – 2 Greylag Goose
flew over and headed up-river. A Little
Grebe was on the pond behind the hide. A flock of 7
Bullfinch
were by the site entrance. Along the shore were: 4 Black-tailed Godwit,
1 Knot,
c20 Redshank, c400 Dunlin and 7 Shelduck.
12 Snipe flew over Lagoon 2, and 3 Stonechat
there. AM reported a Merlin,
670 Lapwing, 106 Teal and 98 Wigeon. Numbers of Redwing
and Fieldfare have increased.
Sunday 28/11/04 - AM & I recorded: c750 Lapwing,
c500 Dunlin,
c150 Curlew (commuting
from yacht-club to mud-flats), 12 Black-tailed
Godwit, 7 Knot, 3 Oystercatcher, 50 Turnstone, 6 Redshank,
150 Teal, 60 Wigeon, 7 Shelduck, 8 Snipe (landing in Lagoon 2), 1 Little
Owl,
2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff (south end of Lagoon 2),
3 Stonechat (inc. ad + juv, Lagoon 2), 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay. Also 2 bees still
flying. A Treecreeper and 3 Bullfinch were in the small wood
just before OPS, along the road.
Sunday 21/11/04 - MP reported at
Saturday 20/11/04 - A grey, wet, cold day produced a good selection of waders (mainly on the shore by Lagoon 1): 6 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Oystercatcher, 27 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, c300 Dunlin and c300 Lapwing. 6 Snipe were on Lagoon 1, with 2 Rock Pipit by the outfall. c20 Blackbird along the footpath to the shore were migrants, and an exhausted/sick 1w Black-headed Gull was sat here. Also seen, were singles of: Jay, Peregrine and Raven. The white Aylesbury Duck was still on the pond, with 5 Coot.
Left photo: Black-tailed Godwit. Right photo: Black-tailed Godwit (foreground) with Bar-tailed Godwit (behind), 20/11/04. I certainly captured the greyness of the day, if not the id of the birds !
Sunday 14/11/04 - On a glorious, sunny, windless day some unusual birds. A female Pintail and 4 Knot, near Shepperdine, with c200 Dunlin, c200 Lapwing (inc. 75 on Lagoon 1), 10 Redshank, and c20 Turnstone. Also a Rock Pipit at Lagoon 1 outfall. On Lagoon 2 a Water Rail was heard 'sharming', the 2 Stonechat (ad + juv) are still there, with 3 Reed Bunting. Best bird was a Treecreeper (unusual here) - seen with tit flock in trees at the small reed bed by Lagoon 2. There was an increase in the number of Chaffinch on-site, and 2 Skylark flew over. Also 3 Bullfinch, 2 Song Thrush and a white Aylesbury Duck. 3 Shelduck is an increase - where are they all, this year ?
Saturday 13/11/04 - AM reported: 26 Snipe, 11 Ringed Plover, 98 Dunlin, 90 Lapwing, 10 Redshank, 28 Curlew, 35 Turnstone, 1 Water Rail, 5 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Bullfinch, 181 Mallard, 97 Teal, 2 Gadwall (unusual here), 10 Wigeon, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker.
Sunday 7/11/04 - At high tide the shore held: 4 Knot, c200 Dunlin, c300 Lapwing, c20 Redshank, c10 Turnstone, and 1 Oystercatcher. 2 Stonechat (ad + juv), 1 Green Woodpecker and a Redpoll were on Lagoon 2. A Mute Swan (juv.) and 2 white Aylesbury Duck on the Pond behind the hide. A calling Raven and 7 Stock Dove flew over. Also, 3 Grey Squirrel were seen.
Sunday 31/10/04 - MP reported the following at
Friday 29/10/04 - 13 Dunlin, 323 Lapwing, 19 Ringed Plover, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Stonechat. AM reported a Water Rail from Lagoon 2.
(It looks likely that the Scaup at Barrow Gurney Res. is a hybrid (Scaup x Pochard ?). See Pictures from other locations. Looks convincing, except for head-shape not quite right, and apparently it has grey, not white, wing bars. The bird was still present on Tank No.1 on 28/10/04. See third photo down at http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/bucksbirds/mysite/Pictures/Scaup.htm for a comparison.)
Thursday 28/10/04 - MP recorded the following at Littleton: 4 Golden Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Knot, c.200 Curlew, c.300 Dunlin, 100+ Redshank, 1 Peregrine, 1 Redpoll. Plus a few Skylark, Starling and Meadow Pipit moving SW.
Sunday 24/10/04 - 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Grey Plover were on the shore towards The Passage House Inn, Shepperdine, with c25 Dunlin and 1 Redshank. c70 Lapwing and 2 Reed Bunting were on Lagoon 3. A Peacock butterfly was still flying, and also an orange with cream spots 14-spot ladybird (Calvia 14-guttata) landed on me.
Friday 22/10/04 - AM noted: 64 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 16 Dunlin, 90 Teal and 33 Wigeon.
Wednesday 20/10/04 - HL noted: 102 Black-headed Gull, 85 Lapwing, c70 Teal and c25 Wigeon.
Sunday 17/10/04 - AM noted: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 160 Lapwing, 94 Redshank, 39 Dunlin, 55 Turnstone, 66 Teal, 241 Mallard, 32 Wigeon, 3 Great Black-backed Gull and 14 Common Gull.
Saturday 16/10/04 - A pair of Peregrine were on a pylon. Three tit flocks contained about 30 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Chiffchaff. Along the shore were 25 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover and 5 Curlew. Lagoon 3 still has some water in it and attracted 54 Lapwing, 40 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (ads) and a Reed Bunting. 5 Skylark flew over. Only 5 Redwing seen, including one eating Dogwood berries. Also a Jay and a Song Thrush. A Grey Squirrel was scrabbling along the hedge at Lagoon 1, and a young fox ran across Lagoon 2. Also reported: Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk chasing a Great Spotted Woodpecker, unsuccessfully.
(See Pictures from other locations for pictures of the female/juvenile Scaup I found at Barrow Gurney Reservoir, 1pm Friday 15/10/04.)
Friday 15/10/04 - B.O.G. group lead by SK reported: 5 late Swallow, 71 Lapwing, 10 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 40 Teal, 35 Meadow Pipit.
Sunday 10/10/04 - A Little Gull was reported.
Saturday 9/10/04 - A crisp East wind brought c1000 Redwing, c20 Fieldfare, 14 Skylark, c25 Chaffinch and c100 Meadow Pipit over, heading up-river. A Knot was with c100 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone and 2 Redshank. 5 Stonechat on Lagoon 2. Also single Raven, Jay, Green Woodpecker and Chiffchaff.
Sunday 3/10/04 - On the flooded Lagoon 3 (pm): c100 Wigeon, c80 Teal, c100 Mallard, c30 Lapwing & 4 Pintail (fems/juvs - see photos below).
The following were logged by MP (am): 2 Rock Pipit (nr. outfall); 1 Common Sandpiper & 1 Little Grebe (pond); 1 Stonechat; 110 Redshank and 3 Dunlin (Lagoon 3). Also a Little Egret and Raven noted (HL).
Female/juv. Pintail (centre of picture), with Wigeon, Mallard and Teal on flooded Lagoon 3 (right), 3/10/04
Saturday 2/10/04 - On Lagoon 3 at HT (where they are still pumping water in): 100+ Redshank, 8 Dunlin, 20 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, c320 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull (2ad & a 1st-w), 5 Common Gull, c40 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 10 Meadow Pipit, and 5 Swallow passed through. Along the shore; c40 Turnstone (roosting on green 'Ledges' buoy, nr. Shepperdine) and another 8 Dunlin. Also; 3 Chiffchaff (in tit flock), 1 Jay, c300 Starling (Lagoon 1) and a pair of Mute Swan are back on the pond behind the hide after a 5 month absence.
In addition, AM logged: 1 Pintail (female), 3 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine, 92 Wigeon, 8 Ringed Plover, 82 Teal, 250 Mallard, 43 Lapwing and an additional 3 juvenile Mute Swan.
Comma and Speckled Wood butterflies, and plenty of dragonflies still on the wing.
Tuesday 28/9/04 - 1 Mediterranean Gull (2w), 1 Pintail, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 74 Redshank, 2 Dunlin (MD).
Sunday 26/9/04 - 1 Wheatear, 3 Raven, 2 Dunlin, 7 Wigeon, 250 Black-headed Gull, 30 Swallow, 5 Redshank (PC, TV).
Sunday 19/9/04 - 7 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 200 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, c50 Turnstone (on green 'Ledges' buoy), 350 Black-headed Gull, 2 Raven (AM).
Saturday 18/9/04 - Two Whinchat and a Green Woodpecker on Lagoon 2 today. A Little Owl was in the hedge to north of Lagoon 1, with a Blackcap 'tac'ing madly at it. 24 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin on the mud at low tide. c30 Swallow and 3 House Martin passing through. 2 Great Black-backed Gull (adults) on Lagoon 3 - with water being pumped into there today, which may attract some birds. 3 Comma butterflies seen.
(See Pictures from other locations for photo of juvenile Garganey at Slimbridge on Sunday 19/9/04.)
Saturday 11/9/04 - A Whinchat was on Lagoon 2. On Lagoon 1 were: a Wheatear, 2 Lapwing, c20 Linnet and c300 Starling. The only other waders seen were c250 Curlew on the mud-flats. A constant stream of Swallows headed down-river into the wind. 52 Mallard and 5 Tufted Duck were on the pond behind the hide. Also present: Green Woodpecker, Jay , Stock Dove and a pair of Kestrel. Chiffchaff still singing.
NB. An Osprey was fishing Barrow Gurney Reservoir (Tank 3) from 12:45 to 13:00, at least, on Friday 10/9/04.
Friday 10/9/04 - An adult Mediterranean Gull (MP).
Thursday 9/9/04 - c.2000 hirundines hawking low over Lagoon 2, including 20+ Sand Martin, and a Wheatear (MP).
Sunday 5/9/04 - 190 Mallard, 23 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 13 Wigeon, 5 Teal. And a Brimstone butterfly. (AM)
Monday 30/8/04 - 7 Raven this morning, including a family party of 5 (3 juvs. slightly smaller than the adults). A Common Sandpiper was seen at each end of the site (same ?). A juvenile Little Grebe was on the pond behind the hide - but elusive in reeds around the island. A Wheater was on the sea wall, and c200 Swallow and 2 House Martin were over long grass towards Shepperdine. On-site (mainly in roost on Lagoon 3) were c200 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull (adult, 1st yr & a 3rd-year), 13 Herring Gull (including one with yellow leg-ring 'FR' seen by AM), 2 Common Gull and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also a juvenile Green Woodpecker and one Whitethroat (juv.) were seen.
AM also reported: 2 Peregrine, 26 Turnstone, 13 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 7 Grey Heron and 71 Mallard.
Saturday 28/8/04 - Plenty of Chiffchaff
(including 3 singing still), at least 3
Sunday 22/8/04 - MP reported: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult in field to North of Lagoon 3), 11 Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler, 1 Raven and a Little Owl.
Saturday 21/8/04 - A Raven reported at Lagoon 3.
Saturday 14/8/04 - A Garden Warbler in bushes at south end of Lagoon 2. Also 7 Reed Warbler still in reeds there, including a pair feeding 2 begging juveniles and another singing. The High Tide gull roost had been flushed from Lagoon 3 before I arrived, but there were 4 Great Black-backed Gull (3 adult & a 3rd-year). 4 Whitethroat and 3 Bullfinch also seen. A few Latticed Heath day-flying moths were on the Nature Trail (see below).
Latticed Heath moth, 14/8/04
Sunday 8/8/04 - An adult
High Tide gull roost on Lagoon 3 (from the hide), and zoomed-in on an adult Mediterranean Gull moulting out of summer plumage (8/8/04).
Little Egret, 8/8/04, on the shore by Lagoon 3.
Monday 2/8/04 - Little Owl seen perched in the willow just to North of Lagoon 1.
Sunday 25/7/04 - 4 Mediterranean Gull (adults, moulting out of summer-plumage) with c1300 Black-headed Gull, 25 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull (adult) and a few Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull - all roosting on Lagoon 3 at 12pm, as High Tide approached. Not a lot else around: 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpecker (ad + juv), 2 Curlew, 3 Kestrel (pair + juv). Only one juvenile Tufted Duck seen this morning. Small Copper and Comma butterflies. Emperor dragonfly.
Mediterranean Gull (left of centre, with the black, not brown, head) roosting with Black-headed Gulls, Lagoon 3, 25/7/04.
Sunday 18/7/04 - An ordinary morning turned rather bizarre, when a Turkey Vulture (with jessies) turned up at 12pm to take a bath in the pond behind the hide !! (See photos below.) There were some migrants around this morning, with 2 Yellow Wagtail (juvs.) on the shore by Lagoon 1, 5 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Oystercatcher and 3 Common Sandpiper (seen by AM, towards Shepperdine). Also 2 Lesser Whitethroat (ad + juv) and 16 Whitethroat, along with Bullfinch and Jay. The WeBS count (with AM) produced 685 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull (the first returns) and 2 Great Black-backed Gull. A female Peregrine was also around. The Shelduck brood is up to 9 juveniles (presumably two broods combined), but the Tufted Duck juveniles are now down to just 3 (broods of 2 + 1) - with Lesser Black-backed Gull predation suspected.
Escaped Turkey Vulture taking a bath, 18/7/04
Saturday 10/7/04 - Numbers of Black-headed Gull have increased to c100. As have Curlew to c20. The brood of 6 Shelduck on the shore should be big enough to survive now. A juvenile Green Woodpecker is evidence of successful breeding nearby (photo below). Plenty of juvenile Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Swallow around.
Juvenile Green Woodpecker and Swallows perched on wires, 10/7/04
Saturday 3/7/04 - Three broods of Tufted Duck are now on the lake behind the hide, with 4, 5 and 6 juveniles in each. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen taking one of the ducklings (by AM). A brood of 6 Shelduck is on the shore. A Peregrine (male) was on the pylons. 10 Swallow were hawking insects over Lagoon 1. The HT roost on Lagoon 3 contained 27 Herring Gull and 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull. 30 Black-headed Gull were on the shore.
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