July to December 2007
Birdwatching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January to June 2007 sightings
Total of 136 species seen at the site in
2007 (see Latest Site Species List
for details). With my personal total for the site in
2007 at 129 species.
Monday 31/12/07 – A very large flock of 98 Skylark in fields to SW of lagoon 3, including an abhorrent individual which looked like a Snow Bunting (see photos below). Also c500 Lapwing and 9 Yellowhammer here. There were 7 Canada Goose and a Little Egret at the Yacht Club. Also: 5 Stonechat, 23 Snipe and 6 Shoveler.
Abhorrent Skylark,
looking like a Snow Bunting (31/12/07).
Sunday 30/12/07 – A surprisingly calm day, with a few bird surprises. A pair of Siskin on alders at south end of lagoon 2, and a Redpoll on weeds at other end of lagoon 2. A pair of Pintail on the tidal lagoon. As MP found (below), there was a large flock of c800 Lapwing in fields to SW of lagoon 3, with c200 Dunlin, 3+ Skylark and 1+ Yellowhammer here. Also: 2 Raven, 34 Turnstone, 2 Stonechat, 7 Shoveler (lagoon 1), 12 Snipe and 2 Water Rail (lagoon 2 reeds; one of which was seen). (61 species seen today – a good winter total.)
AM reported: 15 Grey Plover, 37 Redshank, 336 Mallard, 195 Wigeon, 95 Teal, 9 Shoveler and 4 Raven.
Saturday 29/12/07 – MP reported: 2 Yellowhammer (foreshore just to north of lagoon 1), 1000+ Lapwing (with Dunlin) on flooded fields to south of lagoon 3, 200+ Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 25 Redshank (lagoon 1) and
2 Water Rail (flushed from flooded path in SW corner of lagoon 3).
Friday 28/12/07 – MP reported, from lagoon 1: 213 Lapwing, 7 Shoveler, 146 Wigeon, 76 Teal, 25 Snipe (feeding in SW corner), 13 Redshank, 45 Dunlin. Also: 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat (pair) and lots of Fieldfare and Redwing.
Wednesday 26/12/07 – A Little Owl in old willows to SW of lagoon 3. One Little Egret and a Mute Swan by the yacht club. 7 Shoveler with the other ducks at Shepperdine. A Mistle Thrush over to west (briefly landing on overhead cables). Also: 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Stonechat, 2 Water Rail (heard), 1 Peregrine, c250 Lapwing and c500 Dunlin.
Little Owl (26/12/07).
Monday 24/12/07 – 4 Little Egret roosting in a field to SE of main rhyne – probably a site record. 3 Shoveler on lagoon 1, c400 Lapwing in the air, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2+ Yellowhammer, 2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat and a Peregrine.
4 Little Egret
(24/12/07).
Saturday 22/12/07 – Some new birds brought in by this week’s cold easterlies. A Treecreeper was with a tit flock in trees between the lake and the road, and a Siskin landed in a tree briefly before flying off, calling “seeoo”. There were 13 Moorhen seen; 5 by the frozen lake and another 8 along a rhyne by lagoon 3. Nearby were 7 Yellowhammer again. Number of Stonechat increased to 5 (2 each on lagoons 2 and 3, and 1 on shore), 2 Water Rail called from reeds on lagoon 2, and 5 Snipe there. Also, a Grey Wagtail (lagoon 1) and a Fox was sat by the lake.
Friday 21/12/907 – AM reported: 1 Peregrine, 17 Shelduck, 463 Wigeon, 48 Teal, 25 Turnstone, 54 Lapwing, 2 Water Rail, 300 Common Gull and 1000 Black-headed Gull.
Sunday 16/12/07 – 2 Rock Pipit on the foreshore at Shepperdine, and lots of waders there, including 13 Grey Plover and a Knot. A Raven was on a half-frozen lagoon 1, and there were 3 Stonechat about (2 on lagoon 2, 1 on lagoon 3). Also, 7 Canada Goose by the yacht club.
Saturday 15/12/07 – A Rock Pipit by lagoon 1 outfall. On the shore at the yacht club: 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Oystercatcher and a Mute Swan. A total of c1,000 Dunlin and 20 Shelduck along the shore. Also, a Raven.
AM reported (WeBS count): 3 Jack Snipe and 45 Snipe (lagoon 2), 11 Yellowhammer (along shore to yacht club), 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Canada Goose, 75 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 71 Lapwing, 260 Mallard, 174 Wigeon and 87 Teal.
Note – A ringtail Hen Harrier reported again by dog walkers, on Sunday 9/12/07; “slimmer than Buzzard with an owl-like face”, along the shore.
Monday 10/12/07 – HL reported (during U3A Group Walk): Little Egret, Mute Swan, 7 Canada Goose, 5 Shelduck, 3 Skylark, 3 Stonechat, Jay, c700 Dunlin, 100 Curlew, c200 Wigeon and a Merlin (at Littleton).
Sunday 9/12/07 – A male Yellowhammer in a hedge by the small wood to SW of site. A good count of 31 Snipe on a very flooded lagoon 1, and c200 Common Gull in flooded fields at Shepperdine. Also, 2 Buzzard ‘sky-dancing’ around the towers in the NW wind, to claim territory.
HL reported: 7 Canada
Goose and c1,000 Starling - at
least 6 flocks flying S, possibly to roost at
A few of the Snipe on
lagoon 1 (9/12/07).
Saturday 8/12/07 – A miserable morning, with the only notable bird being a Black-tailed Godwit in a flooded field to SW of lagoon 3.
Black-tailed Godwit
(8/12/07).
Sunday 2/12/07 – High winds from NW. A male Peregrine in ‘hunting mode’ flying low down-river, flushed the waders at high tide from the yacht club; c600 Lapwing and c1000 Dunlin all taking to the air at once in panic is a spectacular sight. The number of Shelduck increased to 20, and 7 Canada Goose flying upriver. Also 6 probable Grey Plover downriver.
Note – a possible ringtail Hen Harrier reported by a dog walker on Wednesday 28/11/07.
Saturday 1/12/07 – Heavy showers rolling up the estuary, but mainly avoiding OPS. At high tide: c500 Lapwing, c100 Teal, c140 Wigeon, c20 Redshank, c120 Dunlin and 6 Shelduck. Also, 2 Stonechat.
Lapwing (and a few
Dunlin) overhead (1/12/07).
Sunday 25/11/07 – A lovely sunny morning, despite the cold northerly blast. A Redpoll was on weeds with c10 Linnet at north end of lagoon 2. 3 Chiffchaff were together in a tit flock. The wader roosted was spread over Lagoons 1 & 3 and at Shepperdine: 8 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, c1,000 Dunlin, c400 Lapwing, 30+ Turnstone, c20 Redshank and 1 Snipe. A Peregrine gracefully hung over the towers in the wind, and 2 Water Rail heard in the Lagoon 2 reeds.
Saturday 24/11/07 – 7
Wednesday 21/11/07 – A Little Owl calling and seen perched in an old tree in field to SW of lagoon 3. Two adult Mute Swan over to west, and a Water Rail calling from reeds on lagoon 2.
Tuesday 20/11/07 – 4 Siskin landed on alder by the lake, and same or more went over SE later. Higher numbers of duck today: c270 Wigeon, c60 Teal and 7 Shelduck. At least one Mistle Thrush was still on a mistletoe covered tree in the small wood to SW of lagoon 3. Also: 3 Stonechat, 5 Grey Plover and c350 Lapwing.
Saturday 17/11/07 – Good numbers of waders: c750 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plover, 50+ Redshank, c30 Turnstone, 2 Snipe and an Oystercatcher. Also: 3 Stonechat, 10 Bullfinch, the Peregrine pair vocal on a pylon and a Red Admiral.
AM reported 2 Mistle Thrush, appropriately, on mistletoe in small wood to SW of lagoon 3.
Friday 16/11/07 – SK reported a ringtailed Hen Harrier ranging between lagoon 2 and the orchard in the afternoon.
Saturday 10/11/07 – 18 Grey Plover and 1+ Ringed Plover reported at high tide at Shepperdine. Also: 9 Oystercatcher (yacht club), c300 Dunlin, c250 Lapwing and 1 Chiffchaff. A flock of c40 Chaffinch and c20 Linnet on lagoon 3, and 2 Stonechat there.
Sunday 4/11/07 – AM reported a dark-bellied Brent Goose flying upriver at about 10.30am, in patchy fog. Also 2 Little Egret at Shepperdine.
Still good waders at Shepperdine this afternoon: 12 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Snipe, with another 6 Snipe on lagoon 1. Elsewhere: 7 Greylag Goose flew downriver, a Black-tailed Godwit and another Little Egret. A total of c300 Dunlin and c300 Lapwing along the shore. Also 3 Red Admiral in the late sunshine. MP reported 6 Stonechat on the seaweed dump on lagoon 3 and 4 Oystercatcher.
Some of the GreyPlover
at Shepperdine (4/11/07).
Saturday 3/11/07 – 2 Water Rail heard this morning (lagoon 2 and ditch to SW lagoon 3) and lots of Thrushes and Blackbird. A Grey Plover and 4 Oystercatcher were at Shepperdine. Also on the shore were: 2 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Lapwing and c200 Dunlin. Also: 1 Blackcap, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 3 Stonechat and 4 Bullfinch.
Tuesday 30/10/07 – AM reported: 357 Lapwing, 46 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Redshank, 7 Ringed Plover, 9 Teal, 1 Shoveler and 96 Wigeon.
MP/AP also reported 2 Canada Goose.
Monday 29/10/07 – MP reported: the Peregrine pair fighting with a Buzzard near the towers, 4 Redpoll (track to hide), 2 Stonechat, 2 Mute Swan (flew up river), 68 Dunlin, 28 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 390 Lapwing on a bright and sunny morning.
Sunday 28/10/07 – MP reported: a Short-eared Owl flushed from the Yacht Club flew upriver and went down along the shore by lagoon 3; 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank (lagoon 3), 30+ Grey Plover, c200 Dunlin, 6 Canada Goose (yacht club) and 4 Stonechat.
Saturday 27/10/07 – The main wader roost was at the Yacht Club, where there were: (a remarkable) 26 Grey Plover, 2 Little Egret, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, c20 Redshank, c200 Dunlin, 2 juvenile Mute Swan, and 9 Canada Goose. Lagoon 1 had the Spotted Redshank, 39 Redshank and c50 Lapwing. On Lagoon 3 were: 2 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Lapwing and a Water Rail (heard in corner by lake). Also: 6 Stonechat and 4 Siskin (over).
Spotted Redshank
(right), lagoon 1 (27/10/07).
Friday 26/10/07 – An extremely late adult male Common Redstart showed very well along the fence between lagoon 1 and the shore, and 2 Redpoll on weeds there. Also: 7+ Stonechat around the site, 3 Grey Plover at Shepperdine and 2 Red Admiral butterflies.
Redstart still present
at 2pm (26/10/07).
Thursday 25/10/07 – A good selection of waders at Shepperdine again: 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, c120 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover and c100 Lapwing. And more waders on shore by lagoon 3: 2 Black-tailed Godwit, c150 Dunlin and c100 Lapwing. Also: 2 Raven, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Owl (heard) and 1 Water Rail (heard). Plus a Fox.
Wednesday 24/10/07 – A taste of winter in the cold wind this morning, and some visible migration. 27 Siskin and 4 Redpoll low over, heading east, as were Chaffinch at a rate of 100+ per hour. There were 5 Yellowhammer in trees to SW of lagoon 3. Also: 2 Blackcap, 3 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail and lots of thrushes about.
Tuesday 23/10/07 – The Spotted Redshank was on lagoon 1 this evening with 23 Redshank, c25 Dunlin, c30 Lapwing, 12 Curlew and 17 Teal. No sign of the Black Redstart, but difficult to see it among the c400 Pied Wagtail roosting ! Also a Tawny Owl hooted at dusk.
A female (or 1st-winter) Black Redstart flew from the water works to the buildings by the jetty at 11am this morning. Some good waders at Shepperdine: 1 Spotted Redshank, 7 Grey Plover, c50 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, c50 Lapwing, c15 Redshank and 5 Turnstone. Also a Wheatear and a Raven there. Another Wheatear on the shore and 2 Stonechat. Also: 1 Chiffchaff singing, 3 Little Owl calling to each other, 2 Skylark over and a Red Admiral.
Thursday 18/10/07 – A Little Egret was seen on a brief visit at dusk, and there were 200+ Pied Wagtail in the roost on warehouse buildings.
Sunday 14/10/07 – A Kingfisher was the surprise find on lagoon 3 this morning, with 138 Lapwing and 15 Dunlin also there. Migrants over were: 115 Fieldfare, c100 Redwing, 6 Skylark and c30 Chaffinch. A flock of 9 Grey Plover and c40 Dunlin flew downriver at high tide.
AM/MP reported: 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Plover and 7 Stonechat.
Saturday 13/10/07 – 5 Fieldfare were the first of the autumn (13 days earlier than 2006, and the Redwing last week were 9 days earlier); and the first Water Rail heard on lagoon 2. A Common Sandpiper was on the shore, and a few migrants went over in the low cloud: c5 Siskin, 2 Skylark, c50 Chaffinch and 10 Meadow Pipit (with another c30 on lagoon 1). Unfortunately, the security patrol flushed lagoon 3 at 8:30am, at about high tide, but there were still 147 Lapwing. Also: 6 Ringed Plover, 7+ Stonechat and the Peregrine pair on pylons.
AM reported: 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, 98 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 183 Mallard and 1 Wheatear.
Wednesday 10/10/07 – This evening, lagoon 3 held: 2 Green Sandpiper, 3+ Ruff, c40 Lapwing, c100 Teal and 100+ Wigeon. There were 2 Stonechat on the shore, and at dusk 2 Little Owl called. Also 2 bats.
[The 2 Bunting sp. that flew over on Sunday, I now think were most probably Corn Bunting. They went over at about 80 feet up, and were larger than Reed Bunting, with light grey-beige beneath (with no flecking visible, and also no white areas). I concentrated on the head of one, expecting to see Reed Bunting-type markings, but saw no markings at all – this confused me at the time. The shape was typical bunting, and the flight was less ‘flappy’ than Reed Bunting, and more direct. They gave two Robin-like ‘tic’ calls.]
Tuesday 9/10/07 - MP reported, on lagoon 3: 2 Golden Plover, 6 Ruff and 2 Stonechat.
Monday 8/10/07 – MP reported, on lagoon 3: 1 Golden Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8+ Ruff, 52 Lapwing, 2 Pintail and 1 Shoveler.
Sunday 7/10/07 – At high tide, on lagoon 3, were: a very good count of 6 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Gadwall and 2 Pintail. Another Pintail was on the shore, with 111 Wigeon and 7 Canada Goose. (Thanks for the text, MP.)
This morning, migration was less evident, but 2 Siskin flew high upriver (and then back downriver !), and 2 Bunting sp. with ‘tic’ing call went over to SE.
Saturday 6/10/07 – The newly flooded lagoon 3 held loads of birds at high tide: 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 1 Knot, 3 Pintail (reported by MP), c50 Lapwing, as well as lots of gulls and ducks.
Lots of birds around this morning in light mist and slight east wind. The best was a Treecreeper along the bridleway to the shore. The first Redwing (26 of them, mainly at back of lagoon 1) were seen plus 22 Song Thrush. There were also 2 late Wheatear and a great count of 9 Stonechat. But the main feature were flocks of Chaffinch passing upriver at a rate of c80 per hour, and 5 Siskin over. A marked increase in ducks on the estuary included 123 Wigeon (count by AM), 2 Pintail and a Shoveler. Also, 2 Little Stint with c20 Dunlin. AM also reported: 2 Little Egret, 38 Redshank and 81 Lapwing. Also 2 emperor dragonfly still.
Wednesday 3/10/07 - MP reported from
Tuesday 2/10/07 - MP reported from
Sunday 30/9/07 – A large number of House Martin around this morning, including gathering on the cooling towers (estimate c1000), but only 5 Swallow, and 1 Sand Martin identified. A Mistle Thrush, 2 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail over. There were 7 Skylark today, with 5 on lagoon 3, and also there were 29 Lapwing. (And it looks like water will be pumped into lagoon 3, as pipes being fitted today.) Also: 7 Stonechat and 8 Chiffchaff (3 singing).
MP reported from
Saturday 29/9/07 – A large flock of 17 Greylag Goose over, heading south, this evening (record for the site) and 3 Grey Plover at Shepperdine. Also 1 Little Egret and 1 Raven.
Migration in evidence again this morning with heavy cloud and a light north easterly wind. House Martin and Swallow flocks passing upriver, increasing in frequency all morning, with an estimated rate of c100 every 5 minutes by 10:30am ! Also over were: 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Snipe, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting and some Chaffinch movement. There were also: 20+ Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat (4 on lagoon 2 and 2 on lagoon 3), a Wheatear, 3 male Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler and 18 Lapwing (lagoon 3).
MP reported from
Friday 28/9/07 – MP reported, from
Wednesday 26/9/07 – MP reported, in evening: 4 Great Black-backed Gull squabbling over
a large fish.
Tuesday 25/9/07 – MP reported, in evening: 3 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, c2,500 Black-headed Gull, c100 Common Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (adult and juvenile), c150 Mallard and 2 Ringed Plover.
Sunday 23/9/07 – This evening, a flock of c60 Black-tailed Godwit flew downriver, and 4 Wheatear were on the shore. Also, 5 Song Thrush bathing in puddles along the track to the hide.
AM reported c550 Curlew on the mudflats this morning.
Kestrel, by SD
(23/9/07).
Saturday 22/9/07 – Lots of evidence of migration for
first time this autumn. A Guillemot
was floating slowly downriver on the tidal reservoir at 6pm, after high tide
this evening. A juvenile Curlew
Sandpiper and a Little Stint
were with c15 Dunlin and 11 Ringed Plover at Shepperdine, and 22 Redshank were on shore by lagoon 2.
This morning, a Spotted Flycatcher
was along the hedge by the main
Saturday 15/9/07 – On the shore at high tide this morning were: 1 Wheatear, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Dunlin. There were c300 House Martin and c100 Swallow flying around, and landing on, the cooling towers. A Stonechat was on lagoon 2. Also: 3 Raven, c10 Chiffchaff (including 4 singing in the sun), 1 Peregrine, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Fox. Plus, a Salmon/Sea Trout leapt out of the water in the tidal reservoir.
AM reported a Grey Seal heading slowly downriver at high tide, past lagoon 1. (Repeating last year, when one appeared on 23rd September.)
Monday 10/9/07 – PD/HL (+ Thornbury U3A Birdwatching Group) reported: Probable juvenile Merlin preening for several minutes on top of low alder tree on lagoon 2, Raven, Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, and Great Black-backed Gull.
Sunday 9/9/07 – At high tide this evening, lagoon 1 held: 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Snipe, 1 Raven, 1 Grey Wagtail, c30 Teal (including a light-beige leucistic) and a Fox. On the shore were: 28 Ringed Plover and 7 Dunlin. Also: 23 Meadow Pipit low over, heading downriver.
Saturday 8/9/07 – A large number of House Martin this morning (AM estimated 300) and 1 Sand Martin picked out. Warblers in the
trees and bushes included: Lesser
Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and c10 Chiffchaff
(including one singing). 26 Black-tailed
Godwit and 5 Dunlin on the shore
by lagoon 1 headed upriver at 8:30am. There were about 200 Goldfinch on lagoons 2 and 3. Also: 2 Raven, 5 Jay (single
flock) and 1 Yellow Wagtail (over).
A Weasel ran across the track by the
main
AM reported: 2 Stonechat and 1 Peregrine.
Thursday 6/9/07 – This evening, there were 25 Black-tailed Godwit and a Yellow Wagtail on the shore. A Stonechat and a Wheatear were on lagoon 2.
Sunday 2/9/07 – In the evening a Knot and 19 Black-tailed Godwit were on the shore.
This morning, a Little Owl called to south of lagoon 3 (first record at site since 3rd February). There were 5 Snipe and 63 Teal on lagoon 1, where 16 Canada Goose flew in briefly, before heading downriver. A total of 10 Chiffchaff were on-site, including one still singing. Also: 4 Reed Warbler and 4 Kestrel (together by lagoon 1).
AM reported: 1 Little Egret, 2 Wheatear, 89 Ringed Plover, 21 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 17 Turnstone.
Saturday 1/9/07 – This evening, at low tide, there were 17 Black-tailed Godwit on the shore. A Tree Pipit and a Whitethroat were with the tit flock on lagoon 2, and another Tree Pipit flew over calling. Also over were 4 Yellow Wagtail + another in the field to SW of lagoon 3. Also: 1 Wheatear, 2 Raven and the Peregrine pair on the tower. A Clouded-yellow butterfly was on lagoon 2, and a Fox was at the back of lagoon 1.
PCTV reported, this morning: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 60+ Teal, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Great Black-backed Gull (adult + immature).
Friday 31/8/07 – MP reported: 5 Turnstone, 26 Dunlin, 34 Ringed Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 300+ Curlew (in pre-roost flock on shore, before flying down-river to yacht club), 8 Snipe (lagoon 1), 1 Wheatear and c2000 Black-headed Gull.
AM reported a Bar-tailed Godwit and 40 Teal in the morning.
Wednesday 29/8/07 – MP reported: 41 Canada Goose, 17 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Curlew, 6 Snipe (showing well on muddy edges of lagoon 1) and 2 Yellow Wagtail.
Monday 27/8/07 – AM reported: 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 49 Ringed Plover, 26 Dunlin, 21 Turnstone, 2 Raven, 100 House Martin, 115 Teal and 172 Mallard.
Sunday 26/8/07 – AM reported: A very large flock of 72 Canada Goose, 1 Whinchat (lagoon 1), 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 45 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 16 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Sand Martin, 75 Teal, 2 Mute Swan, 11 Cormorant and 161 Mallard. PD also reported: 2 Reed Warbler and 20+ Pied Wagtail.
Saturday 25/8/07 – PCTV reported: 1 juvenile Whinchat on lagoon 1, 3
Friday 24/8/07 – The Tree Pipit was still there this morning. Quite a few warblers about, including 5 Reed Warbler and 1 Whitethroat. A Little Egret and 2 Raven were out on the exposed estuary. There were 93 Teal on lagoon 1 and a Mute Swan by the yacht club.
Thursday 23/8/07 – A short visit at dusk on a lovely sunny evening produced a Tree Pipit in the hedge between lagoons 2 and 1, and seemingly going to roost there. Also a Greenshank with a Knot on the shore. There were 23 Teal and a pair of Mute Swan on Lagoon 1, with another Mute Swan on the shore (this species has been absent from the site since 21/4/07). Also a Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler on lagoon 2, and 200+ Swallow. The big surprise on the tidal reservoir was a boat beached on the outer wall of the reservoir ! Possibly an unmanned victim of the floods ?
For half an hour after dusk I sat in the car by the entrance (looking down the track over the road from the hide, which is lit by the road), during which: a Fox trundled along the track towards me, then a Badger came out of the hedge 10 yards from me, then it or another trundled along the track to within 5 yards, and finally a female Tawny Owl started calling, ‘Ker-wick’, loudly.
Beached Boat on the
tidal reservoir wall (23/8/07).
Saturday 18/8/07 – AM reported 3 Common Sandpiper, 12 House Martin, 24 Teal, 50 Goldfinch, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler.
Friday 17/8/07 – A Black-tailed Godwit was with 6 Curlew on lagoon 1, and also 20+ Teal and a Fox there.
Juvenile Green
Woodpecker, lagoon2 (17/8/07).
Wednesday 15/8/07 – MP reported: 1 Whinchat, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 3 Raven, 1 Sand Martin and a Hare (lagoon 3).
Tuesday 14/8/07 – MP reported: 1 Green Sandpiper (juvenile), 1 Wheatear, 3 Whimbrel and 2 Sand Martin.
Monday 13/8/07 – MP reported the following in the evening: 1200 Black-headed Gull, 105 Common Gull, 8 Herring Gull, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Raven, 4 Teal, Peregrine pair, 11Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 6 Turnstone.
Panoramic view of the
estuary towards the
Panoramic view of the
tidal reservoir(Photo by MP),13/8/07.
Sunday 12/8/07 – The evening tide brought 2 Greenshank to lagoon 1. Also 26 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 1 Redshank. There were 1300+ Black-headed Gull roosting on lagoon 3, with c10 Common Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gull (ad + 1st year). A Green Sandpiper flew into a small scrape in the field to SW of lagoon 3. Also: 4 Raven again, and the Peregrine pair on the tower.
Saturday 11/8/07 – When the fog lifted it revealed: 2 Stonechat (lagoon 2), 1 Whimbrel, 1 juvenile Dunlin, 4 Raven being very visible and vocal, and a wisp of 13 Snipe which landed on lagoon 1. Also the Peregrine pair.
Friday 10/8/07 – A few migrants: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Sandpiper and 10 Turnstone. Also 2 Raven and a Hare on lagoon 1.
Thursday 9/8/07 – 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult + moulting 2nd winter with ring on left leg) on shore this evening, as were 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone and 1 Oystercatcher. There were 26 Canada Goose on lagoon 1 (thrashing the site record of 16 from last year), with 5 Teal. 2 Peregrine were seen, including a very unusual sighting of one in a tree at Shepperdine (female, I believe).
MP also reported: 14 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 7 Teal and 4 Turnstone.
Peregrine sat in tree
at Shepperdine, 9/8/07.
Tuesday 7/8/08 – MP reported a Stonechat on lagoon 2.
Saturday 4/8/08 – The Little Ringed Plover still on lagoon 3, plus 1 Green Sandpiper and 3 Sedge Warbler there. Also 14 Dunlin on the shore, including 2 juveniles.
Juvenile Sedge
Warbler, Lagoon 3, 4/8/07.
Thursday 2/8/07 – On lagoon 3 this evening were: a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpiper and 9 Snipe which flew over. On the shore there were: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult approaching winter plumage), 4 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher and a juvenile Peregrine which was very unprofessionally landing in the water, hidden by seaweed, as the tide came in. On lagoon 1 were: a Hare, a Fox and 56 Magpie. There were an estimated c1,200 Curlew on the distant mudflats.
Little Ringed Plover,
Lagoon 3, 2/8/07.
Monday 30/7/07 – MP reported: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel, 1000+ Black-headed Gull and 57 Common Gull (all adult).
Sunday 29/7/07 – This evening, a Hobby was over lagoon 2, before gaining height and heading South. Lagoon 3 had 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult, moulting into winter plumage), c900 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull and 11 Common Gull. Also, Green-veined White butterfly.
MP reported in morning: On lagoon 3: 1 Common Tern, 30 Shelduck (27 juveniles), 13 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper, 115 Black-headed Gull, 7 Sedge Warbler, 35+ Pied Wagtail and a family group of 4 Reed Bunting. Also: 48 Mallard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 9 Turnstone, 10 Cormorant and 1 Whimbrel.
Saturday28/7/07 – It was raining again for the evening tide, but some waders showed: 1 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 7 Ringed Plover, c35 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and c50 Curlew (including 43 flying slowly down-river, in a line, into the wind). The 2 Green Sandpiper were on lagoon 3 again. The roost on lagoon 3 had: c300 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull (adult) and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Green Sandpiper,
Lagoon 3, 28/7/07.
It was like Spring had finally arrived this morning
(weather-wise) ! In the first sunny morning for 2 months, a male Peregrine stooped at one of 3 Raven (which had to take avoiding
action). The Peregrine pair were
later on the tower with the female plucking a kill (probably Pigeon). Also: 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Oystercatcher (on shore), c500 Black-headed Gull (with a further c300
at the Yacht Club), 42 Shelduck, 1 Sedge Warbler (lagoon 2) and 1
AM reported: 2 Green Sandpiper and 1 Sedge Warbler (lagoon 3), 2 Turnstone (on buoy), 1 Sand Martin and 1 Dunlin. Also, that the male and female Peregrine were plucking separate kills on the tower !
Thursday 26/7/07 – PFE reported: 2 Peregrine, c1000 Black-headed Gull and 42 Shelduck.
Tuesday 24/7/07 – MP reported: On lagoon 3 this morning: 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, c30 Pied Wagtail (mostly juveniles, surprisingly) and 24 Shelduck.
See Scotland07 for report of birds seen on trip to
west coast of
Sunday 22/7/07 – 2 Common Sandpiper on lagoon 3, c15 Dunlin at the Yacht Club and 1 Oystercatcher. Also 2 well-grown Fox cubs.
MP reported: 1 Whinchat, 3 Common Sandpiper (lagoon 3) and a female Peregrine.
Common Sandpiper,
Lagoon 3, 22/7/07.
Saturday 21/7/07 – 4 Common Scoter on the tidal reservoir this morning (3 male + 1 female) and a Hobby flying low over the river from lagoon 1, then hawking insects along the sea wall before heading off north. Waders starting to increase, with 500+ Curlew on the mudflats at low tide, c25 Dunlin by the Yacht Club, 2 Common Sandpiper (lagoon 3) and 2 Oystercatcher. There were 18 juvenile Shelduck at Shepperdine. Lagoon 1 is as high as in winter after the torrential rain yesterday (as is lagoon 3), and had 6 Sand Martin and 7 House Martin. Also: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Peregrine.
AM reported: 3 Peregrine – 2 female and a male, being very vocal. Also: c330 Black-headed Gull and a Clouded-yellow Butterfly.
Sunday 15/7/07 – A few waders along the shore this evening: 6 Common Sandpiper (Shepperdine), 1 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher and 20+ Curlew. c35 Swift and c20 Swallow (including some juveniles) skirting the showers. Also, 2 adult Common Gull
Saturday 14/7/07 – A summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull with c200 Black-headed Gull and a juvenile Common Gull on lagoon 3 and then on shore. A Raven was on lagoon 1. A Peregrine flew over the estuary before heading back to the towers. Also: 13 Curlew, 3 Green Woodpecker (juv + ad + 1) and 15 juvenile Shelduck in a single brood of varying sizes at Shepperdine.
BSK reported a Sedge Warbler.
Adult Mediterranean
Gull (with silver ring on left leg) and juvenile Common Gull, 14/5/07.
Friday 13/7/07 – AM reported: 1 Little Egret (lagoon 1), 2 Tufted Duck and 1 Peregrine.
Thursday 12/7/07 – MP reported: 2 Little Egret on lagoon 1, the lagoon 3 roost contained 533 Black-headed Gull (including 16+ juvs.) and 1 Common Gull, the Peregrine pair were on the towers and 2 Kestrel over lagoon 2.
Tuesday 10/7/07 – 277 Black-headed Gull (including 8 juveniles) roosting on lagoon 3 at high tide, with 300+ seen in total. On the shore were: 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew and broods of 9 (large) and 3+ (small) juvenile Shelduck. Also: 2 adult and 2 juvenile Green Woodpecker and c140 Starling.
Saturday 7/7/07 – AM reported: 2 adult + 4 juvenile Green Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 5 Tufted Duck and 1 Redshank.
Sunday 1/7/07 – Heavy showers coming up the estuary in the evening. At high tide: c120 Black-headed Gull (including 2+ juveniles), c30 Swift dodging the showers and 13 small juvenile Shelduck at Shepperdine. Also, a young (but independent) Fox by Lagoon 2 reedbed.
January to June 2007 sightings
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