January to June 2007
Saturday 30/6/07 – 8 Black-tailed Godwit feeding on Lagoon 3 this morning. The Peregrine pair were vocal on the pylons – both moulting outer wing feathers. A Reed Warbler in sub-song in bush by Lagoon 1 may be a migrant. Juveniles seen: Green Woodpecker, lots of Whitethroat, Moorhen, Blackcap and Robin. Also: 8 Curlew and 10+ juvenile Shelduck.
Black-tailed Godwit,
Lagoon 3(30/6/07).
Sunday 24/6/07 – The first juvenile Black-headed Gull of the year on the shore. As well as the well grown Shelduck brood of 8, another of 14 small ducklings was at Shepperdine. The female Peregrine was on a pylon. A young Fox was on Lagoon 1. Also, 3 Oystercatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat still singing.
Saturday 23/6/07 – 126 Curlew on the mudflats at Low Tide, and 59 Black-headed Gull. Two Shelduck broods seen, of 8 and 3+ juveniles. A few Bee Orchid in the meadow near the entrance.
AM reported 2 Teal (lagoon 1) and a Peregrine.
Sunday 17/6/07 – 27 Black-headed Gull today (13 on shore and 14 heading down-river). Also: 2 Oystercatcher and 5 Swift. Lots (6+) of Marbled White butterfly.
PD reported a Weasel and a Fox.
Large Skipper(male)
and Pyramidal Orchids (17/6/07).
Saturday 16/6/07 – 2 adult Great Crested Grebe floated upriver on the High Tide (same noted on 3rd June last year). The Peregrine pair were flying around the towers. There were newly-fledged Whitethroat and Great Tit. 2 juvenile Moorhen were with 2 adults on a small pond behind the security fence by lagoon 2. The Shelduck still had 8 juveniles; one of which is noticeably smaller and probably came from another duck’s brood. The first high tide gull roost on lagoon 3 for a while held: 7 (adult) Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 13 Herring Gull and 8 Lesser-Black-backed Gull. Also: 3 Swift, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing behind the hide) and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Sunday 10/6/07 – Unexpected sighting of 4 adult Arctic Tern feeding on the tidal reservoir at 11:45am, before departing high (and upriver I believe) at 12. Just before that, a Hobby flew fast and low from lagoon 2 to farm buildings to south, hunting hirundines. Also: 2 Curlew, 2 Black-headed Gull, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Sedge Warbler (singing; lagoon 2 and by hide) and 8 juvenile Shelduck still.
Saturday 9/6/07 – 1 Cuckoo (heard), 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Oystercatcher, 21 adult + 8 juvenile Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 House Martin, 1 Moorhen chick. Two Fox cubs again seen on mown meadow, and a Hare again on lagoon 1. Also, lots of Cinnabar Moth and a male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly on a small pond to SW of lagoon 3.
AM also reported a Little Egret on the tidal reservoir wall.
Broad-bodied Chaser
(9/6/07)
Wednesday 6/6/07 – 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Sedge Warbler and 4 Swift.
Tuesday 5/6/07 – A Cuckoo heard calling, distantly. On lagoon 1 were a Grey Wagtail and a Hare. 5 pairs of Tufted Duck on the lake will hopefully nest. Also: 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Green Woodpecker and a Carrion Crow still nest-sitting. Small Skipper butterfly.
Monday 4/6/07 – A juvenile Grey Wagtail on the shore was probably from the pair thought to be nesting in the water works. Bee Orchids flowering on lagoon 1 and Small Heath butterfly. Also: 1 Swift, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker.
Sunday 3/6/07 – 8 Dunlin upriver (2 flocks of 4) on evening tide – unusual in June. 2 Peregrine on towers. A family of 4 Fox cubs with adult, playing in a newly cut grass field. Two Shelduck broods of 7 and 8.
Fox cub (3/6/07)
Saturday 2/6/07 – Birds singing in the glorious sun this morning: 1 Cuckoo, 2 Sedge Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat , 1 Goldcrest and 1 Skylark. On lagoon 3, 2 Oystercatcher were showing some territorial behaviour. An unusual sight was of 4+ Mistle Thrush heading over to SE. The 7 Shelduck duckling were still on the shore. A Raven flew over. Also a Grey Mullet in the tidal reservoir.
There was no sign of any pollution caused by the accident at the plant on Wednesday – see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6705243.stm.
Friday 1/6/07 – AM reported: 3 Sedge Warbler, 40 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine, 3 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher. Also Pyramidal Orchids on lagoon 2.
Monday 28/5/07 – A pale phase Arctic Skua flew low upriver at 7:20am, plus 8 Dunlin into a cold wind from NE. Also: 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 11 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Black-backed Gull and a short-tailed field vole. (No Peregrines this weekend.)
Cormorant, on shore by
lagoon 3 (28/5/07)
Sunday 27/5/07 – 2 Sedge Warbler (lagoon 2 and hedge by lagoon 3), 17 Whitethroat and 1 Lesser Whitethroat all singing on-site, despite the rain. Also: 4 pairs of Tufted Duck on the lake, 7 Song Thrush and a Skylark.
Shelduck ducklings, on
shore by lagoon 3 (27/5/07)
Saturday 26/5/07 – 7 Dunlin flying upriver at high tide, and 3 Oystercatcher. The 7 Shelduck ducklings again, and 5 well-grown Mallard ducklings on lagoon 1, with 59 adults around the site. Also: 4 House Martin.
AM reported: the site police saw a Red Kite over the site ‘one day last week’; 1 Cuckoo (lagoon 2), 1 Turnstone, 3 Curlew, 3 juvenile Kestrel with an adult mobbing a Peregrine on the towers and a Lesser Whitethroat family.
Wednesday 23/5/07 – 7 Shelduck ducklings on shore by lagoon 3, and c70 adults along shore. A Sedge Warbler still singing on lagoon 2. 3 pairs of Tufted Duck on the lake. The Peregrine pair on the tower, but not nesting.
Saturday 19/5/07 – AM reported: 20 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 10 Swift and lots of Swallow on lagoon 1.
Wednesday 16/5/07 – A Cuckoo seen at the small reedbed by lagoon 2; a Ringed Plover on the shore and a Hare on lagoon 1.
Hare, lagoon 1
(16/5/07)
Sunday 13/5/07 – Another large passage of waders this evening, with c200 Dunlin and 5+ Ringed Plover at Oldbury Yacht Club. Plus another c125 Dunlin upriver and a Knot on lagoon 3. There were 12 Swift, c35 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin and c50 Swallow flying low between heavy showers. 3 Sedge Warbler were singing on lagoon 2. A Cormorant was sat on the shore at Shepperdine, where there were 2 Oystercatcher and c10 small Shelduck ducklings. Also: 73 adult Shelduck, 1 Peregrine, 9 Tufted Duck, a Grey Wagtail singing at the water works and 2 downed Racing Pigeon.
Saturday 12/5/07 – A few waders battling into a strong westerly wind: 1 Turnstone, c20 Dunlin and 3 Oystercatcher. (But no seabirds blown upriver.)
Late addition for yesterday evening, when MP had great views of a Badger foraging at the back of Lagoon 1.
Friday 11/5/07 – A large flock (for the time of year) of small waders flew along the shore; when they settled by Oldbury Yacht Club I counted c80 Dunlin and 8 Ringed Plover. Also a Common Sandpiper there. 2 Whimbrel, 3 Oystercatcher and a Canada Goose along the shore. There were 2 Lapwing on lagoon 1. There are 2 occupied Carrion Crow nests by lagoon 2. Also: 1 Grey Wagtail and a Sedge Warbler.
Thursday 10/5/07 – On a damp evening, 41 Swift moving low NE (including a flock of 25), and Swallow still constantly moving through (as they have been continually for 2 weeks now). A Sedge Warbler and a probable Garden Warbler singing on lagoon 2. A fledgling Pied Wagtail was fresh out of the nest. Also, 3 Oystercatcher, 68 Shelduck and the Peregrine pair sat, wet and bedraggled, on the tower.
Saturday 5/5/07 – 1 or 2 Garden Warbler singing (one seen well) along footpath to shore. There were 3+ House Sparrow in the hedge on SW side of lagoon 3 – unusual on site, and not seen here before. Only movement upriver were from 8 Black-headed Gull and an adult Common Gull. Only waders were: 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel and 1 Curlew. 2 Sedge Warbler were singing on lagoon 2. The dried-out corpse of a Great Crested Grebe was a surprise on the footpath to SW of lagoon 3. Also: 12 Swift, 1 Raven, a Grey Wagtail singing at the water works, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and 15+ Whitethroat.
The Great Skua seen at
6:45pm on Sunday was seen at
Wednesday 2/5/07 – At 7pm on this evening’s tide, 6
Arctic Tern passed slowly upriver
close to the shore. Then at 8pm an Arctic
Skua was spotted pursuing what looked like 4 ‘Commic’ Tern high towards the
Whimbrel on the shore
(2/5/07).
Sunday 29/4/07 – Evening: A Great Skua went upriver at 6.45pm; it was following the near shore, very low, and passed within 20 yards of me. It was rather ‘tatty’ with wing-feather moult. AM had an even better view, as it passed within 10 yards, whilst being attacked by the male Peregrine ! 4 Grey Plover (in summer plumage) and 67 Bar-tailed Godwit were also on the move (that’s a total of 289 in 2 days !). The male Ring Ouzel was seen by AM, still on the grass next to the footpath to the shore at 6pm. Also: 1 female Wheatear, the female Peregrine on the nest-ledge, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and 12 Black-headed Gull (upriver).
(Total of 69 species seen today – my site record.)
Morning: The male Ring Ouzel from yesterday was still on the grass next to the footpath to the shore this morning (in same place where one stayed for a day 10 years ago). On lagoon 3 were: 4 Ringed Plover and an Oystercatcher. Hirundines, etc., moving upriver into wind: c50 House Martin, 10 Swift, 2 Sand Martin and c100 Swallow. Also: a Yellow Wagtail over, 1 Sedge Warbler, 35 Black-headed Gull upriver and 1 Common Gull.
MP reported a Cuckoo by lagoon 1 and 2 Common Sandpiper on the shore.
Ring Ouzel and Linnet
by MP (29/4/07).
Saturday 28/4/07 – Evening: The male Ring Ouzel was still on the grass along the footpath to the shore (6:40pm). And there was another mass of Bar-tailed Godwit with a huge flock of 130+ high upriver and 29 at Shepperdine. Just to prove you can’t predict the next bird, 2 Great Crested Grebe flew upriver without stopping. Also, loads of Swallow and 3 Swift, 1 Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail again by the water works.
At 3pm, PD/SK/DH reported a Red Kite drifting over Lagoon 2 upriver (only second record at site, after first 2 weeks ago !).
Bar-tailed Godwit,
Shepperdine (28/4/07).
Morning: A large movement of Bar-tailed Godwit upriver early this morning with flocks of 25, 8 and 29 passed; 75% of which were in summer plumage. Also one on the shore, giving a total of 63. With the first flock were 3 Knot (one in summer plumage). There were c10 Whimbrel on the shore. Then at 8:30am AM found a male Ring Ouzel on the flood bank of lagoon 2, by the shore ! It flew to the shore-path by lagoon 1, and then on towards Shepperdine, where it flew back past me and was relocated in the hedge between lagoons 1 & 2. I then was on my way to the hide, at 9:40am, when I flushed another Ring Ouzel from the bank of lagoon 3 ! I then refound this on the lawn by the footpath from the entrance to the shore; a male. It is most likely that this was a different bird, as it was over half a mile away from first and appeared to have a ‘less adult’ plumage; throat not as white, and wings not as silvery. Also: 1 Swift, 5 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, lots of Swallow, 2 Wheatear, 8 Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroat singing, 2 Peregrine and a Grey Wagtail. (That brings my personal total to over 100 species at the site this year.)
Ring Ouzel on lawn by
footpath near lagoon 3 (28/4/07).
Friday 27/4/07 – MP reported: 3 Swift, 1 Whinchat, 1 Common Sandpiper , 1 White Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 6 Whimbrel, 10 Black-headed Gull (up-river), a steady flow of Swallow into the wind, 2 Sand Martin, 8+ House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail (carrying food into sewage works area) and the female Peregrine on nest-platform. Also 2 Brimstone butterfly.
Wednesday 25/4/07 – MP reported a Wood Warbler singing in trees in the north-east corner of lagoon 1 (by ruins of old building) at 7:15am. Also: 1 Whinchat, 1 female Wheatear (lagoon 2), female Peregrine on the nest platform and 5 Canada Goose (lagoon 1).
In the evening were: 11+ Whimbrel, 1 Wheatear, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 20 Swallow, 2 Peregrine, 3 Teal and 1 Oystercatcher.
Sunday22/4/07 – 2 Whinchat by the pond, on lagoon 2. There was a passage of Reed/Sedge Warbler last night, with 3+ Sedge Warbler and c10 Reed Warbler (AM counted) on site. Also: 1 Wheatear, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Green Woodpecker (including a pair together in a tree) and 4 Lapwing on lagoon 1.
MP reported: 1 Tree
Pipit (lagoon 2, singing), 1 Yellow
Wagtail (over), 12 Whitethroat,
6 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Blackcap, 2
(The Wood Warbler yesterday was the 100th species
reported at the site this year.)
Whinchat on lagoon 2 (22/4/07).
Whitethroat and Tree
Pipit (lagoon2) – photos by MP (22/4/07).
Saturday 21/4/07 – A Wood
Warbler was singing (and seen well) for 20 minutes until 9:25am in the
trees by the entrance and down the bridleway to the shore (first at site for 10
years). The number of Lesser Whitethroat
(4) and Whitethroat (7) has
increased. There were c280 large gulls on the estuary this morning; mainly
sub-adult Herring Gull, with some Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull. Lagoon 1 had 5 Canada Goose and 2 Mute Swan
(including ‘AAAU’). Also: 2
female Wheatear, 5
Wednesday 18/4/07 – An evening visit produced: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Dunlin, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Gull, 10 Swallow, 8 Tufted Duck (lake) and the Peregrine pair on the towers.
MP/AM reported: 3 ‘White’ Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Lapwing, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Comma butterfly.
Late News: A Red Kite was reported on a field trip by 9 members of the Bath Natural History Society (including RC) at 10:30 on Saturday morning, over fields just inland of the Power Station car park. It drifted North. (First record for the site.)
Sunday 15/4/07 – We joined in the local Ring Ouzel fest with a superb male giving good views (but very flighty) between lagoons 1 and 2 this morning (staying until 10am at least). Also a Grasshopper Warbler reeling intermittently on lagoon 2. Other birds thin on the ground: 1 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Swallow, c20 Black-headed Gull upriver, 2 Pintail and 2 Shoveler. Late addition - 1 Whimbrel on the evening high tide.
AM/MP reported: 1 Sedge Warbler (lagoon 2) and 1 Common Sandpiper (lake).
Ring Ouzel on lagoons
1 & 2 (15/4/07).
Saturday 14/4/07 – 14 Blackcap (including 4 in one bush !) and 5 Willow Warbler singing this morning. A constant flow of Swallows. The Peregrine pair put on a flying display over the towers. Lagoon 1 had: 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 1 Grey Wagtail and 35 Teal. The Black-tailed Godwit was on the shore. 5 Canada Goose disputing control of the lake. MP reported a Tree Pipit over.
The pair of Peregrines
together, with female on left (14/4/07). Showing size difference, and also
plumage difference of this pair. The female has a more heavily barred front,
especially darker on upper breast and much less of a ‘moustache’ on
the hood.
Friday 13/4/07 - A Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedge by lagoon 3 this evening. A constant stream of Swallows, with 23 counted. On lagoon 1: 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 24 Teal and 2 Mute Swan (‘AAAU’ + Mate).
Black-tailed Godwit on
lagoon 1 (13/4/07).
Thursday12/4/07 - AM reported: a Greenshank on lagoon 1, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Peregrine, Mallard with 9 duckling (lagoon 1), 37 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 12 Tufted duck, 2 Canada Goose, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Pintail, 1 Swallow, 51 Shelduck. Also 5 Brimstone and 1 Orange Tip butterflies.
Monday 9/4/07 – A Raven was on the shore. A Willow Warbler and 3 Blackcap singing. Lagoon 1 still has 2 Pintail and 4 Shoveler. One Swallow over.
In the evening: 225 Curlew on mudflats and female Mute Swan ‘AAAU’ on lagoon 1 with mate.
Sunday 8/4/07 – The only new birds from yesterday were: 6 Canada Goose, 6 Mute Swan (‘H97’ and her mate nest-building on the lake), 18 Black-headed Gull (heading downriver) and a brood of Mallard ducklings on the lake.
(LR Plover not seen on lagoon 1 today.)
Saturday 7/4/07 – A Little
Ringed Plover was on lagoon 1 this morning, with the Pintail pair, 4 Shoveler,
35 Teal, 2 Wigeon and 3 Redshank.
Singing migrants were: 1 Whitethroat,
1
MP reported 2 Wheatear.
Late addition: 10 Mallard ducklings on lagoon 1.
Little Ringed Plover
on lagoon 1 (7/4/07).
Wheatear and female
Peregrine (7/4/07).
Friday 6/4/07 – Definite taste of Spring today, with some
singing migrants: 1 Blackcap, 1
MP also reported: 1 or 2 Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail (water works) and a 7th Shoveler on the river.
AM also reported: 1 Swallow and 6 Wigeon.
Pintail, lagoon1
(6/4/07).
Monday 2/4/07 – A lovely sunny evening, but with cold NE
wind, saw a Swallow over the lake.
Lagoon 1 attracted a pair of Pintail,
7 Shoveler, 40 Teal, c40 Wigeon and 15 Shelduck. Another 54 Shelduck were on the flooded lagoon 3
(with 10 along the shore, giving a total of 79). About 70 Pied Wagtail went to roost in the reeds on lagoon 2. A Fieldfare and 5 Redwing roosted in the hedges along the main
Sunday 1/4/07 – A male Gadwall on the lake, with 2 Canada Goose, 9 Tufted Duck and 2 Mute Swan (inc. ‘H97’). Lagoon 1 had 65 Teal, 2 Mute Swan and 8 Shoveler. Along the shore were: 59 Shelduck, 40+ Wigeon, 7 Cormorant (including a flock of 6 upriver), 9 Oystercatcher and 15 Curlew. The Peregrine pair were on the cooling towers.
AM reported: 6 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 13 Chiffchaff and a Redwing.
Saturday 31/3/07 – A small movement upriver into a cold NE wind, under this morning’s low cloud: c35 Meadow Pipit, 12 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch and c50 Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull. A Fieldfare still on lagoon 1. Also 6 Shoveler and 6 Redshank there. 4 Mute Swan on lagoon 3 (including female with orange darvic ‘H97’ on left leg). Also: 14 Chiffchaff, 2 Peregrine, 9 Tufted Duck and 2 Oystercatcher.
PC/TV reported: 2 Grey Wagtail, plus Brimstone and 2 Peacock butterflies.
Thursday 29/3/07 – A Sand Martin was over lagoon 1 this evening, where there were also 58 Teal and c20 Pied Wagtail. A tight flock of c120 Common Gull were migrating upriver at 7pm. On the shore were 67 Wigeon and 8 Shelduck. Water has been pumped into lagoon 3 all week, and attracted 50 Shelduck. The Peregrine pair were on the cooling towers, but appeared to have had a tiff, as one sat at each end ! Also: 9 Chiffchaff singing and 7 Tufted Duck.
[See Pictures from other
locations for a photo of a white Coot that has been at Coate Water (nr.
Wednesday 28/3/07 – HL reported: 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Woodpecker, c25 Fieldfare, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 4 Common Gull, 8 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swan (over), 7 Tufted duck.
Sunday 25/3/07 – Not a lot to report, despite a lovely
sunny evening. On the lake there were: 11 Tufted
Duck, the Mute Swan pair and a
single
Saturday 24/3/07 – AM reported: 2 Peregrine (pylons), 9 Tufted Duck, 9+ Chiffchaff, 4 Mute Swan (lagoon 3), 4 Raven, 25 Teal, 59 Wigeon and a Redshank.
Wednesday 21/3/07 – HL reported: 28 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck (lagoon 1), 2 Canada Goose (lagoon 3), 6 Tufted Duck (lake) and 6 Chiffchaff. Also 1 Comma and 1 Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Sunday 18/3/07 – AM reported: 77 Wigeon, 14 Teal and 4 Canada Goose.
Saturday 17/3/07 – 8+ Chiffchaff singing in the Spring-like sunshine; also 4 Brimstone butterflies and the first hoverfly. But still 4 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing present. The Peregrine pair were on the pylons, but later one hunting over river. Also: c130 Curlew on mudflats, 12 Oystercatcher, 7 Great Black-backed Gull (but only about c25 other gulls in total), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 10 Tufted Duck.
Sunday 11/3/07 – 6 Chiffchaff this morning. The female Mute Swan with orange darvic ring ‘H97’ on left leg was with a mate on the lake, while the female with orange darvic ring ‘AAAU’ on right leg was with a mate on lagoon 1. Also 2 Canada Goose and 10 Tufted Duck on the lake. 2 Peregrine on the pylons. Also: 8 Oystercatcher and 22 Redshank.
MP also reported: 2 Raven, 2 Stonechat, 3 Water Rail, 238 Wigeon and 49 Teal.
HL reported 2 Little
Egret from
Saturday 10/3/07 – A Bar-headed Goose flew around lagoon 3, before flying off upriver with a Canada Goose (+ another 5 Canada Goose seen). The Peregrine pair put on a great flying display around the cooling towers between 9.30 and 10am, with the male on the nest-ledge twice. They then flew off south to the pylons. There were 6 Mute Swan around (4 adult + 2 juvenile), including a female (I think) on lagoon 1 with orange darvic ring on RIGHT leg, ‘AAAU’ (i.e. different to ‘H97’ on left leg). Also: 3 Chiffchaff singing again, 235 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 25 Mallard, c20 Shelduck, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatcher, c65 Curlew, 3 Redshank, c20 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing.
Thursday 8/3/07 – MP reported: 1 female Peregrine, 13 Tufted Duck on lake and 2 pairs of Mute Swan (Lagoon 1 and lake).
Tuesday 6/3/07 – MP/HL reported: 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 121 Wigeon, 71 Turnstone, 5 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swan (lagoon 1), 12 Tufted Duck, 2 singing Chiffchaff, the Peregrine pair active around reactor towers, with male in display flight. (The male has much darker and complete hood with less defined moustache, also whiter upper breast. Heavier barring on female with paler hood, Plus obvious size difference.) Also, no gulls in evening roost, strangely.
Sunday 4/3/07 – 14 Tufted Duck and the Mute Swan pair on the lake. Also 9 Oystercatcher.
Saturday 3/3/07 – 3 Chiffchaff singing in the sun this morning are the earliest I have heard (by 5 days). The female Mute Swan with orange darvic ring ‘H97’ on left leg was displaying with a mate on lagoon 3, and they were aggressive to 2 juveniles there. A fifth Mute Swan flew upriver. There were 300+ Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher roosting at high tide on the shore by the yacht club. The Peregrine pair were on the cooling tower (with one briefly on nest-ledge), while a third was sat on a pylon. There were 2 Canada Goose and 11 Tufted Duck on the lake. 3 Water Rail heard on lagoon 2, and a Grey Wagtail over. (Also, a stolen red Toyota Supra abandoned along the main bridleway track !)
AM reported: 7 Water Rail heard on lagoon 2 ! c200 Wigeon, 45 Teal and 5 Shoveler.
The Teal with red
nasal tag ‘F5’ seen at OPS on 15/10/06 was resighted on 17/2/07 at Trimley Marshes, near Felixstowe,
Wednesday 28/2/07 – Very strong westerly winds didn’t produce any seabirds in a 30 minute seawatch over the evening’s high tide. Two short-tailed field vole running around on the path were unusual.
Sunday 25/2/07 – The Peregrine pair were in the air, over the cooling towers. 2 Raven were on the shore at Shepperdine. The Knot was on lagoon 1 again with 9 Redshank.
Also, MP reported: c350 Wigeon, c100 Teal and c100 Turnstone.
Turnstone at Shepperdine
(Photo by MP) (25/2/07).
Saturday 24/2/07 – A Knot, a Mediterranean Gull and 5 Shoveler were on lagoon 1 at high tide.
AM reported: 367 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 25 Lapwing (only) and 5 Oystercatcher.
Knot and Mediterranean
Gull on lagoon 1 (24/2/07).
Wednesday 21/2/07 – MP reported: 1 Knot, c100 Turnstone, c350 Wigeon, c200 Teal and 4 Jay.
Tuesday 20/2/07 – MP reported: 1 Knot, 21 Redshank, 17 Curlew, 448 Lapwing, 4 Shoveler, 155 Wigeon, 203 Teal, 15 Dunlin, 9 Bullfinch (together on bridleway track), 1 Water Rail (seen by lagoon 2 reeds) and the Peregrine pair active around the nest-platform.
Sunday 18/2/07 – It was perfect conditions for the evening gull roost on the tidal reservoir; high tide about 2 hours after sunset and no wind. A Mediterranean Gull (adult moulting into summer plumage) was with c1000 Common Gull and c1000 Black-headed Gull, along with some distant large gulls. There were 4 Stonechat on the shore by lagoon 3 and the Peregrine pair were together on the nesting ledge (fingers crossed!). Also 120+ Pied Wagtail on the shore, pre-roost. A Water Rail was again seen by the reeds on lagoon 2 (with 3 others heard).
Saturday 17/2/07 – Lagoon 1 had: c 100 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck (with another on the lake), 7 Shoveler, c100 Lapwing and c100 Dunlin. On lagoon 2, 4 Water Rail were calling from the reeds. Also: 5 Canada Goose (on lake), 10 Oystercatcher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Bullfinch (including one singing).
MP reported: 19 Golden Plover over.
A late report of an escaped Bateleur Eagle over OPS on about the 8/2/07 (correction). Also
reported on http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk/
(go to Photo Gallery then Mystery Birds for photos). It escaped on 1/10/06 in
Sunday 11/02/07 – 2 Raven and a Water Rail seen again on edge of lagoon 2 reedbed.
AM reported: 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Buzzard, 5 Water Rail (heard) and c800 Lapwing.
Sparrowhawk on lagoon
2 outfall railings (11/2/07)
Saturday 10/2/07 – 2 Water Rail were on snow covered grass next to the reedbed on lagoon 2. Lagoon 1 had: c200 Wigeon, c250 Dunlin, c200 Lapwing, 11 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swan and 2 Curlew. Another c100 Wigeon were at Shepperdine, as were c135 Turnstone and 9 Oystercatcher. The Peregrine pair were on a pylon. Chaffinch song was heard in several places.
Stonechat on the shore
by the jetty (10/2/07)
Thursday 8/2/07 – HL reported 3 Little Egret a mile from the site along the
Wednesday 7/2/07 – HL reported: 2 adult and 2 Juvenile Mute Swan on the pond, a pair of Pintail, several Shoveler, and 2 Snipe on lagoon 2. Also, a Barn Owl half a mile from the site, along the main road at 5pm.
Monday 5/2/07 – HL reported: 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Snipe and 2 Mute Swan on the lake.
Sunday 4/2/07 – Sunny and frosty (-2 degrees C) this morning. A very good count of 103 Turnstone at Shepperdine, and 3 Canada Goose there. 83 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 77 Herring Gull and 4 Great Black-backed Gull moving upriver in small flocks. A Sparrowhawk demonstrated its ‘butterfly’ and undulating display flights. Skylark singing and Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Also: 6 Bullfinch.
Saturday 3/2/07 – Glorious sunshine elsewhere; dense fog
on the
Pintail on tidal
reservoir(3/2/07) Golden Plover with Dunlin and Lapwing,
Shepperdine (3/2/07)
Friday 2/2/07 – 4 Tufted Duck reported.
Sunday 28/1/07 – 16 Shoveler and 3 Raven were the only birds of note this afternoon. (Dog walker on lagoon 1 at high tide.)
A flock of 17 Brent Goose was seen flying upriver yesterday by the Dursley Birders (inc. HL) – reported on the Gloster Birder site http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/.
Ringing details for the Mute Swan with orange darvic ring
‘H97’ (which nested at OPS last year and has been a regular since)
– Ringed as a cygnet 16/3/03 at River Avon, Strensham Lock,
Worcestershire by Edward Bird. Sightings: 29/3/04 – R. Severn, Bewdley,
Worcs.; 7/8/04 – Sharpness canal, Slimbridge; 1/2/05, 11/3/05, 21/4/05
– WWT Slimbridge; 20/5/05 – canal, Slimbridge. (Any more sightings
in the area gladly received.)
Saturday 27/1/07 – A female Goldeneye was on lagoon 1 this morning (until 11am at least). It
was diving repeatedly, so presumably found something to eat there. The tidal
reservoir was flat as a mill-pond in the windless conditions, and 4 Raven flew over it heading upriver. On
lagoon 2 were 3 Stonechat and 3 Water Rail (heard), with another in the
AM reported: 234 Mallard, 190 Wigeon, 249 Teal, 3 Snipe, 10 Shelduck, 50 Oystercatcher, c400 Lapwing, 100 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin and 1 Little Owl. Also, MP reported 14 Shoveler.
Goldeneye on lagoon 1
(27/1/07)
Wednesday 24/1/07 – HL reported: 14 Canada Goose (lake behind hide), 1 Green Woodpecker and lots of Redwing/Fieldfare.
Tuesday 23/1/07 - HL reported: 14 Canada Goose (flushed from lagoon 1 by dogs and walker), 6 Redshank, 10 Curlew, 25 Common Gull and 10 Turnstone. (No Mute Swan.)
Sunday 21/1/07 – PD reported the Peregrine pair soaring together over the cooling towers at midday.
Saturday 20/1/07 – A possible Shag was fishing on lagoon 1 (unusual for a Cormorant sp. as it is just a flooded field). It flew to the estuary before I had a good look at it, giving only rear views in flight, but it partially turned its head once to show what appeared to be a thin bill. Distant views on the river were inconclusive. It then flew strongly upriver at about 10am. There were a remarkable flock of c700 Common Gull on the river again. On the lake were: 14 Canada Goose, 2 Mute Swan and 3 Coot. Also: 1-2 Yellowhammer, 2 Shoveler, 36 Redshank, 2 Raven and the female Peregrine.
AM/MP reported: up to500 Lapwing, c250 Dunlin (distant) in flooded fields by yacht club, and a very good count of 86 Turnstone. Also: 230 Mallard, 62 Curlew, 25 Shelduck, 113 Teal, 370 Wigeon, 60 Stock Dove and a Water Rail.
Sunday 14/1/07 – A Lesser Redpoll was alone on alder along the footpath to SW of lagoon 3. The lake had 5 Canada Goose and a male Tufted Duck. 15 Oystercatcher is a high count. The flooded fields to SW of lagoon 3 had c250 Lapwing, c100 Dunlin, 2 Stonechat, 5 Skylark, 4 Reed Bunting, c20 Meadow Pipit and c100 Redwing. Also a fox in fields to South of lagoon 2.
AM reported: 4 Water Rail on lagoon 2, including 2 seen on the small reedbed.
Saturday 13/1/07 – 2 Yellowhammer in the hedges to SW of lagoon 3. A pair of Mute Swan on lagoon 1 included the female (I think) ‘H97’ (orange darvic ring on left leg). Also: 300+ Redwing, 9 Oystercatcher, 17 Redshank and 9 Shelduck.
Wednesday 10/1/07 – A gull-fest this morning started with a Little Gull flying around the tidal reservoir in a strong westerly wind. It then went to roost on lagoon 3, and trying to relocate it I found an adult winter Mediterranean Gull roosting. At around midday there were 500+ Common Gull on the river. The only other birds of any note were a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Little Gull on lagoon
3 (10/1/07)
Mediterranean Gull on
lagoon 3 (10/1/07)
Sunday 7/1/07 – 2 Rock Pipit at Shepperdine on a very wet morning.
Saturday 6/1/07 – 2 Little Egret in fields to south of lagoon 2. A Water Rail was on the grass near the lake and another 3 heard (by AM) on lagoon 2. Lagoon 1 held 14 Canada Goose, 72 Turnstone and 3 Shoveler. There were 25 Fieldfare in hedges to SW of lagoon 3. AM counted c600 Lapwing and c200 Dunlin on lagoon 3.
2 Little Egrets and a
WaterRail (6/1/07)
What’s that
coming over the hill . . .? It’s AM ! (6/1/07)
Tuesday 2/1/07 – A strong W/NW wind didn’t produce any seabirds. The Mute Swan pair were nest prospecting on the island in the lake, and now 2 Coot there. Plenty of Redwing around. Also: 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stonechat.
Total of 141 species seen at the site in
2006 (see Latest Site Species List
for details). With my personal total for the site last
year at 134 species.
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