July to December 2005
Birdwatching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January to June 2005 sightings
Saturday 31/12/05 – 18 Black-tailed Godwit
with 333 Wigeon
(AM counted), a Snipe
(+ 1 over), 22 Shoveler
and 2 Raven
on Lagoon 1. AM also counted: 251 Teal,
13 Redshank,
6 Shelduck
and a Ringed Plover
on the estuary. Lagoon 3 had c100 Chaffinch,
c100 Linnet,
26 Skylark,
1 Chiffchaff
and 12 Stock Dove.
Also, 2 Stonechat
(Lagoons 2 + 3), c800 Lapwing
and c800 Dunlin.
My personal tally for the year was 110 species at OPS.
Thursday 29/12/05 – MP reported: 200 Dunlin (+359 at Littleton). The mixed finch flock had increased in cold weather to c200 Linnet, c150 Chaffinch and 20 Skylark. There was also a big gull-roost on the tidal reservoir, with c4000 Common Gull (!) and c2500 Black-headed Gull.
Tuesday 27/12/05
– MP reported: Lagoon 1 – 1 Ruff, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Shoveler,
367 Wigeon,
242 Teal,
500 Dunlin,
20 Redshank.
Lagoon 3 – 2 Stonechat,
25 Skylark,
c100 Chaffinch,
c100 Linnet,
100 Black-headed Gull,
50 Dunlin.
Estuary – 1 Rock Pipit,
11 Oystercatcher,
30 Turnstone,
36 Redshank,
16 Shelduck.
Monday 26/12/05
– The mobile ‘finch’ flock between Lagoon 3 and the shore
today had: 1 Yellowhammer
(male), 2 Redpoll,
100+ Chaffinch,
6+ Reed Bunting,
c100 Linnet,
12 Skylark
and 6 Stock Dove.
The Treecreeper
is still present, with 2 Goldcrest.
The Water Rail
was again by the seaweed dump, and a Stonechat there. At Shepperdine
(low tide) were: 11 Black-tailed
Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover,
21 Shoveler,
20 Redshank,
20 Shelduck
and 2 Raven.
Also: 1 Peregrine,
1 Jay,
6 Bullfinch,
1 Mute Swan
(juv.) and a Fox on Lagoon 1 – which (probably) won’t have to worry
about The Hunt in the area this afternoon ! That all gave me a personal best
OPS total of 63 species today.
Saturday 24/12/05 – MG
reported c750 Lapwing
and c400 Dunlin
on Lagoon 3.
Thursday 22/12/05
– The flock on Lagoon 3 held: 2 Brambling, c100 Chaffinch,
c100 Linnet,
20 Skylark
and 5 Reed Bunting.
A male Kestrel
ate one of the linnets, whole ! On the lagoon at HT were: c600 Lapwing,
c800 Dunlin,
110 Black-headed Gull
and 10 Common Gull.
Lagoon 1 had 3 Black-tailed
Godwit, 19 Shoveler and 20 Redshank
among the Teal
and Wigeon.
Also 30 Magpie
there (+ 10 elsewhere). A Treecreeper
appeared along the path to the shore (seen here last year at this time). A Chiffchaff
was along the rhyne. Also: 3 Snipe
(over), 2 Raven,
2 Bullfinch
and the juvenile Mute Swan
is back on the pond.
Tuesday 20/12/05 – MG
reported the Water Rail
on the pond behind the hide, again.
Saturday 17/12/05
– A Grey Plover
and a Bar-tailed Godwit
were blown in on a cold wind from NE. The mixed flock on Lagoon 3 had: 10 Reed Bunting
(a good number), c50 Chaffinch,
20 Skylark
and c100 Linnet.
3 Raven
flew down-river, calling. Also down-river were c100 each of Herring Gull
and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
A male Tufted Duck
was on the river at Shepperdine, with 10 Shoveler, c200 Teal
and c100 Wigeon.
Pairs of Stonechat
were on Lagoons 2 & 3. An adult Mute Swan was on Lagoon 3. A fresh
Grey Heron
corpse was by the lake. Also: 1 Peregrine,
1 Jay,
1 Green Woodpecker,
4 Bullfinch,
2 Ringed Plover
and c200 Dunlin.
Grey Plover,17/12/05.
I saw a Red Admiral butterfly on the wing in the sun on Sunday 11/12/05,
at
Saturday 10/12/05
– A Golden Plover
was with the c950 Lapwing
and c60 Dunlin
on Lagoon 3 at HT. (Not many of the c900 GP at Slimbridge make it here !) Mixed
flock on Lagoon 3 had: c150 Linnet,
c30 Chaffinch,
16 Stock Dove,
c10 Skylark
and 5 Meadow Pipit.
2 Stonechat
on the shore. A Water Rail
was on the edge of the pond behind the hide at dusk (+ 1 heard on Lagoon 2),
the Mute Swan
is still there, and a Chiffchaff
was nearby. Also: c45 Turnstone,
11 Redshank,
1 Peregrine,
lots of Fieldfare
+ Redwing,
and 2 Snipe
(over).
HL also reported: 7 Oystercatcher,
20 Common Gull
(Lagoon 3) and a Pheasant
on top of the hide ! (Also 5 Foxhounds on Lagoon 1).
Golden Plover with Lapwing on lagoon 3, 10/12/05.
Sunday 4/12/05
– AM reported: 1 Pintail
(male), 1 Kingfisher
(flying out of pipe taking the rhyne under the road !), 14 Snipe,
7 Shoveler,
5 Stonechat,
9 Oystercatcher,
53 Turnstone,
45 Dunlin,
144 Mallard,
153 Wigeon,
360 Teal
and 3 Mute Swan.
Saturday 3/12/05
– The mixed flock on Lagoon 3 remains: 48 Skylark, c150 Linnet,
c30 Chaffinch,
5 Meadow Pipit,
2 Reed Bunting,
11 Stock Dove
and 1 male Brambling
picked out. A Kingfisher
on the rhyne was a site-first for me. 4 Redpoll on Lagoon 2 today, with
2 Stonechat
(+ 1 at Lagoon 3). Another Water
Rail seen on pond behind hide (+ 2 heard on Lagoon
2), where the juvenile Mute
Swan is getting whiter. c1000 Lapwing
is impressive at high tide on Lagoon 3, with c200 Dunlin
and 10 Shelduck.
Also: 1 Peregrine,
6 Shoveler,
4 Great Black-backed Gull,
20 Redshank,
10 Turnstone
and 7 Ringed Plover.
A male Kestrel
having a go at a Grey Squirrel was amusing.
Teal ignoring Fox on lagoon 1, 3/12/05.
Sunday 27/11/05 –
Great views of a Water Rail
in the open at Lagoon 3, and 2 more heard on lagoon 2. Also on lagoon 3 is a
very large mixed flock of birds feeding on weeds: 50 Skylark,
150 Linnet,
30 Chaffinch,
2 Meadow Pipit
and 4 Reed Bunting.
On lagoon 2 weeds were 6 Redpoll.
Also seen: 3 Grey Wagtail,
2 Stonechat,
1 Peregrine,
2 Shoveler,
150 Teal,
100 Wigeon
and 250 Curlew
on the mud-flats.
Water Rail on lagoon 3, 27/11/05.
Saturday 19/11/05
– Freezing fog, with only 75 yards visibility. A Rock Pipit
on the shore at Shepperdine, where there were 20 Redshank. A Little Owl
heard by lagoon 3. A Redpoll
feeding on Alder to south of lagoon 2, where 2 Water Rail heard and a Snipe
over. Lots of Redwing,
6 Song Thrush
and a few Fieldfare.
Also seemed to be more Robin
than usual.
AM reported 1 Jack Snipe and 350 Dunlin.
Video of Grey Phalarope at
(They usually spin in a clockwise
direction, as this one did (according to BoWP). The video is real-time, not
speeded up !)
Thursday 17/11/05
– 2 Bewick’s Swan
reported in BOC Bird News.
Saturday 12/11/05
– At evening roost on lagoon 3: c520 Lapwing, c500 Dunlin,
c300 Black-headed Gull
and 12 Redshank.
On lagoon 1: 2 Black-tailed
Godwit, c100 Teal, c100 Wigeon, c75 Lapwing and 8 Redshank.
1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Fieldfare and 100’s Redwing in fields to south of lagoon 2.
Estimated 5 Water Rail calling from
various places in reeds on lagoon 2, and 2 Stonechat
there. A female Peregrine on pylon.
Also: 2 Shoveler 3 Oystercatcher, 20 Turnstone and 2 Mute Swan
(one on river).
Photo of Grey Phalarope at Ashton Court in Pictures from other locations.
Saturday 5/11/05
– Lagoons 3 and 1 both looking good, with standing water. At lagoon
1: 4 Shoveler, c130 Teal,
c80 Wigeon,
c75 Lapwing,
8 Redshank.
At Lagoon 3: 1 Pintail
(flew to river), 32 Stock Dove,
c75 Lapwing,
c50 Black-headed Gull
and 2 Great Black-backed Gull. Some
migration evidenced by 20
Skylark,
20 Fieldfare,
c500 Redwing
and an increase in Blackbird
numbers. 2 Chiffchaff
with tit flock. On the lake behind the hide were: 1 Snipe,
1 Tufted Duck
and the juvenile Mute Swan.
A Water Rail
was vocal from lagoon 2 reedbed. Also: 2 Peregrine and a Raven.
MP also reported: A total of 445 Lapwing,
10 Curlew,
77 Dunlin
(Lagoon 3), 1 Ringed Plover
and 3 Mute Swan
(on river)
Thursday 3/11/05 – MP reported: 2 Pintail , 36 Redshank, 385 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 187 Wigeon, 265 Teal, 65 Mallard (inc. 1 Aylesbury Duck), 29 Stock Dove, c70 Linnet, 3 Stonechat, 1 Snipe.
Friday 28/10/05
– 4 Redpoll
on weeds at south end of lagoon 2 (+ 1 over), and also there: 2 Fieldfare,
3 Stonechat
and 2 Raven.
Waders seen: 3 Oystercatcher,
9 Ringed Plover,
c20 Dunlin,
2 Redshank,
c20 Lapwing.
Also: 1 Peregrine,
4 Bullfinch,
2 Jay.
Dragonflies on the wing still.
First Fieldfare of the autumn, 28/10/05.
Tuesday 25/10/05
– Anon. reported: c400 Lapwing,
amongst other things.
Friday 21/10/05
– 10 Golden Plover
over. Lagoon 3 is looking good: c250 Lapwing, c200 Teal,
c50 Wigeon,
c80 Black-headed Gull,
3 Great Black-backed Gull,
c30 Linnet.
2 Raven
low over lagoon 2, where there were 3 Stonechat. c10 Redwing
and 4 Song Thrush.
c50 Pied Wagtail
on-site. 3 silent Chiffchaff
with tit flocks. 3 Skylark
included one singing.
Sunday 16/10/05
– A huge visible migration this morning, with birds heading
upriver into wind, and fog pushing them low overhead: c500 Chaffinch,
c20 Brambling,
c150 Redwing,
1 Mistle Thrush,
c20 Song Thrush,
3 Siskin,
c20 Skylark,
7 Bullfinch,
100’s Starling.
(Most of the positively id’d birds were in the half hour after the sun
broke through the fog, and the birds were still low enough.) On the ground
were: 2 Redpoll,
7 Song Thrush,
3 Redwing,
c20 Meadow Pipit,
c50 Pied Wagtail,
1 Wheatear,
2 Blackcap
and 1 Grey Wagtail.
The Water Rail
was again at reed-edge of lake behind the hide. Only waders were: 6 Dunlin,
c20 Turnstone,
5 Lapwing,
3 Curlew.
Butterflies: Clouded Yellow, Tortoishell, Peacock, Large White.
AM reported: c1000 Chaffinch per hour
early morning in fog, 1 Stonechat,
c130 Wigeon,
c60 Teal,
c50 Lapwing.
Sparrowhawk bathing in rhyne, 16/10/05.
Sunday9/10/05
– AM + MP reported: 1 Kingfisher,
1 Little Egret,
2 Whinchat,
1 Stonechat,
2 Wheatear,.
Saturday 8/10/05
– A Water Rail
was at the reed-edge of the lake behind the hide. A Mistle Thrush
on lagoon 1 is sadly a rarity. A few Song Thrush have arrived also.
Lagoon 1 is getting wet and muddy and attracted: 28 Lapwing,
c150 Starling,
c30 Pied Wagtail and
c30 Linnet.
Another 26 Lapwing
on lagoon 3. Only 1 Stonechat
seen on lagoon 2, where 3 Raven
flew low over. Pair of Peregrine
on the pylons. Also: a pair of Green
Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Jay.
4 each of Ringed Plover and
Dunlin.
c250 Mallard,
9 Wigeon
and a Shoveler.
6 Chiffchaff
(inc. 1 singing). 15 Meadow
Pipit by the water works and a Skylark
over. c20 House Sparrow
in hedge to South of lagoon 2. (52 species seen this morning.)
Photo of Red-necked Phalarope at Slimbridge in Pictures from other locations.
Sunday 2/10/05
– AM reported: 2 Whinchat,
1 Stonechat,
3 Bar-tailed Godwit,
2 Shoveler,
1 Pintail.
Saturday 1/10/05
– 4+ Stonechat
still on lagoon 2. 2 Swallow
through. 4 Oystercatcher
and c200 Curlew
on the shore. Only 2 Redshank,
1 Great Black-backed Gull,
3 Common Gull
and c50 Black-headed Gull
on lagoon 3, where water still being pumped. 3 Chiffchaff included 2 singing. 2 Skylark
flying over the river. Also 3 Jay
and a Grey Wagtail.
A juvenile Mute Swan
on the lake. The white Aylesbury Duck back with Mallard at Shepperdine.
Thursday 29/9/05
– MG reported: 2 Little
Egret on lagoon 3.
Sunday 25/9/05 –
AM and MG reported: A Kingfisher
along the rhyme. The Whinchat
and 3 Stonechat
on lagoon 2, a Wheatear,
6 Lapwing,
4 Ringed Plover,
6 Dunlin,
7 Wigeon,
3 Teal,
270 Mallard.
Saturday24/9/05
– A Whinchat
was with 6 Stonechat
at the north end of lagoon 2, and a Wheatear was on lagoon 3, by the
hide. 500+ House Martin
and a few Swallow
were over lagoon 3, where water is being pumped in. c50 Turnstone,
6 Lapwing
and 6 Dunlin
were the only waders. The pair of Peregrine
are still being vocal on the pylons. Wigeon increased to 5. A Raven
was over lagoon 3, where there were 2 Grey Wagtail. A Chiffchaff
singing still in sun. 10 Meadow
Pipit through.
Turnstones on green buoy, 24/9/05.
Whinchat on lagoon 2, 24/9/05.
Saturday 17/9/05
– A Yellow Wagtail
called continuously as it headed over downriver. Waders seen were c110 Dunlin,
10 Ringed Plover,
c35 Turnstone
and 2 Lapwing.
Two Peregrine
were very vocal on the pylons. 3 Jay
seen on-site – less elusive during autumn. 6 Chiffchaff
were with a tit flock. A Blackcap
was singing its sub-song and another (male) seen. A Wigeon
and 2 Teal
were on the shore. A juvenile Mute
Swan, a Little Grebe and only 1 Tufted Duck
were on the pond. House Martin
and Swallow
are still passing through. Also a Great
Spotted Woodpecker.
A picture of the juvenile Sabine’s Gull on
the water at Chew is at Pictures from other locations.
Saturday 10/9/05 – AM
reported: 1 Jay,
c40 Chiffchaff,
1 Blackcap,
40 Ringed Plover,
135 Dunlin,
16 Cormorant,
177 Mallard,
2 Wigeon,
60 Turnstone,
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
350 House Martin,
500 Swallow,
1 Tufted duck.
Sunday 4/9/05
– 2 juvenile Little Stint
on sea-wall by lagoon 2 at High Tide, with 73 Dunlin, 21 Ringed Plover
and an Oystercatcher.
c50 Turnstone
on the green buoy. 2 Whinchat
in NE corner of Lagoon 2. Hirundines pushed low in misty conditions included: 1
Sand Martin,
c100 Swallow
and c300 House Martin
(landing on the cooling towers). A Raven on Lagoon 1. At least 15
Chiffchaff,
including 3 still singing. Two Great
Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Green Woodpecker.
High tide gull roost on lagoon 3 included: 267 Black-headed Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gull.
MP also reported: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat.
Little Stint (taken by MP), 3/9/05.
Saturday 3/9/05 – MP reported: 1 Little Stint (juv.), 1 Curlew Sandpiper (ad winter), 88 Dunlin, 66 Ringed Plover, c.45 Turnstone (on buoy), c.150 hirundines inc. 2+ Sand Martin,1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal.
Friday 2/9/05
– MP reported: 3 Curlew
Sandpiper, 7 Knot, c100 Ringed Plover and c150 Dunlin.
Sunday28/8/05
– 2 Little Egret
roosting on Lagoon 3. 3 Whinchat
were elusive in the tall weeds at the NE corner of Lagoon 2. 2 Yellow Wagtail
with the cows on lagoon 1. On the shore towards Shepperdine were c70 Ringed Plover,
c50 Dunlin
2 Turnstone
and an Oystercatcher.
The high tide gull roost on lagoon 3 had 374 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 8 Herring Gull and c10 Lesser
Black-backed Gull. 8 Chiffchaff,
with Long-tailed Tit flock, included
one still singing. Plenty of Swallow
and a few House Martin still around.
Also BK reported: 32 Pied Wagtail,
5 Linnet,
3 Stock Dove,
1 Jay.
Saturday27/8/05 -
PC/TV reported: 1 Whinchat,
1 Wheatear,
1 Little Owl,
1 Green Woodpecker,
40 Turnstone
(on the green buoy), 60 Mallard.
Sunday 21/8/05
– MP reported: An adult Yellow-legged
Gull, 1500+ Black-headed Gull, 49 Common Gull, 1 Peregrine and c70 Dunlin.
Saturday 20/8/05
– An adult (winter plumaged)
Mediterranean Gull, 20/8/05.
Note: Wednesday 3/8/05 –
MP reported a Pectoral
Sandpiper.
Friday 19/8/05 - MP reported: A large evening gull roost; 3000+ Black-headed Gull, 1 juv. Mediterranean Gull, 98 Common Gull, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull. Also 72 Mallard and 1 Tufted Duck on pond.
Wednesday 17/8/05 – AM
reported: 300 Swallow
roosting in reeds, 5 House
Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 12 Dunlin,
46 Ringed Plover,
35 Turnstone,
29 Common Gull.
Sunday 14/8/05 – AM
reported: 139 Mallard,
1500 Black-headed Gull,
12 Dunlin,
1 Redshank,
10 Ringed Plover,
35 Turnstone.
The Canada Goose
family have left – probably to moult.
Sunday 7/8/05 – An
Adder reported outside the hide.
Wednesday 3/8/05 –
MP reported: A Pectoral
Sandpiper seen in flight heading north.
Sunday 31/7/05 – AM reported: 2 Common Sandpiper, 20
Turnstone
(on buoy), 1 Oystercatcher,
3 Ringed Plover,
9 Dunlin,
1 Little Grebe
(juv.), 3 Redshank,
Chiffchaff,
Whitethroat,
Lesser Whitethroat,
2 Peregrine
and a Clouded-yellow butterfly.
Sunday 24/7/05
– 4 Common Sandpiper
were on the shore at High Tide, with another on the lake behind the hide. A Peregrine
was on a pylon and the 4 Canada
Goose are still present on the lake. A shrew was
watched on the path around Lagoon 2, accompanied by 3 Dunnock
and a Reed Bunting.
Sunday 17/7/05
- An adult and juvenile Green
Woodpecker were on the grass by the entrance. A Peregrine
was heard – sounded like a juvenile calling for food, but not located. On
the lake were 10 Tufted Duck
and 4 Canada Goose,
with the 2 juveniles well-grown now. On the shore were 2 Oystercatcher
and c200 Curlew
on the sandbanks. A shoal of mullet were in the shallows of the marine lagoon.
Sunday 10/7/05
– AM reported: 20 Shelduck
(including 18 juvenile), 1 Oystercatcher,
8 Tufted Duck
(no juveniles left – probably predated by Gulls, as witnessed last year),
1 Whimbrel
(heard), 2 Common Gull,
600 Black-headed Gull,
and a Ferret carrying a young in its mouth !
Sunday 3/7/05
– AM reported: 5 Canada
Goose, 37 Shelduck (including broods of 18
+ 9), 11 Tufted Duck
(only one juvenile left). 425 Black-headed
Gull, 3 Common Sandpiper.
January to June 2005 sightings
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