January to June 2008
Sunday 29/6/08 – An amazing ‘creche’ of 39 Shelduck ducklings at Shepperdine, plus the 9 again at the yacht club.
Saturday 28/6/08 – No birds upriver at high tide, in strong westerly wind, but a Common Sandpiper and 9 Shelduck ducklings at the yacht club, and 62 Black-headed Gull (inc. 3 juvs.) roosting on lagoon 3. Also a juvenile Peregrine on the cooling towers.
This morning - 10 Black-headed Gull included the first 2 juveniles. The Canada Goose goslings are half-grown now. Also: 2 Raven, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Oystercatcher and some Ringlet butterflies.
Ringlet butterfly.
(28/6/08).
Sunday 22/6/08 – A very windy day, with 10 Black-headed Gull and 3 (probable) Whimbrel downriver at low tide. The female Peregrine was carrying a large prey item over the mudflats, but dropped it, and the male fed on it. Also 17 Curlew on mudflats.
Friday 20/6/08 – Nine young Shelduck ducklings with parents are the first of the year. There were 22 Black-headed Gull and 3 Dunlin on the shore at the yacht club. Also, 3 Fox cubs playing together on-site.
Shelducks. (20/6/08).
Tuesday 17/6/08 – A Red Kite slowly flew over lagoon 3 from the south at 3.30pm, and then drifted NE along the shore to lagoon 2 before being lost behind the cooling towers. The Canada Goose family still contain two gosling on the lake. Marbled White butterfly and lots of Pyramidal and Bee Orchids.
Friday 13/6/08 – 11 Ringed Plover and 6 Dunlin on the shore are unusual for mid-June.
Saturday 7/6/08 – A pair of Grey Wagtail taking food to the Water Works. Singing in the sun were: 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Reed Warbler (inc. one in each of 4 small reedbeds to SW of lagoon 3) and a Sedge Warbler. Also: a Little Owl, 4 House Sparrow in paddock to south of lagoon 2, and a Chiffchaff family.
Little Owl. (7/6/08).
Sunday 1/6/08 – A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling again on lagoon 2 early this morning. Also a Little Owl calling at each end of the site.
AM reported: 1 Little Egret, another 3 Canada Goose and 3 Raven
Grasshopper Warbler,
lagoon 2. (1/6/08).
Canada Goose with 2
goslings. (1/6/08).
Saturday 31/5/08 – An Osprey with a fish in its talons flew low upriver at 2:55pm. It flew over the tidal reservoir by lagoon 3 then started gaining height and headed NNE over to the other side of the river. As it passed the reservoir wall it was mobbed repeatedly by the female Peregrine. The Canada Goose pair have 2 goslings on the lake (first reported by AM on 28th). The first juvenile Whitethroat was on lagoon 2, and a pair of Grey Wagtail were at the Water Works. A single flock of waders held 1 Sanderling, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin. Also, 4 Oystercatcher and a distant Cuckoo.
Drinker Moth
caterpillar. (31/5/08).
Friday 30/5/08 – A Grasshopper Warbler reeling on lagoon 2 this evening (and reported by security guards yesterday), with 2 Lesser Whitethroat there. A pair of Raven with 2 juveniles, one of which was fed by parent, in sheep field by lagoon 1. The Canada Goose pair have at least one gosling on the lake. Also: a Little Egret on the shore, 2 Lapwing and a Little Owl (heard).
Friday 23/5/08 – A female Yellowhammer was a surprise in trees by the lake. A Grey Wagtail was by the small triangular reedbed on lagoon 2.
Impressive display of
buttercups on lagoon 1, where the cattle are grazing now the water level has
dropped. (23/5/08).
Wednesday 21/5/08 – Another Spotted Flycatcher this evening, in hedge to SW of lagoon 3, and a Sanderling on the shore. Also, Cuckoo calling again and a Wheatear.
Sanderling, on shore
(21/5/08).
Sunday 18/5/08
– 3 Yellow Wagtail in the
marshy corner between lagoon 2 and the water works this afternoon. More House Martin and also 30+ Swift moving upriver into wind. A flock
of 6 Mute Swan were on the tidal
reservoir, plus the usual one at the
yacht club. And 3
Saturday 17/5/08 – A Spotted Flycatcher was mobile in trees around the meadow by the car park late morning. There was a movement of c90 House Martin upriver into wind and 1 Yellow Wagtail also. A Mistle Thrush was unusual on Lagoon 1 and a Grey Wagtail on lagoon 2 is also new. A count of 4 Sedge Warbler singing is good. Only waders were 1 Oystercatcher and 4 Curlew ! 5 Mallard ducklings on lagoon 1 and the Canada Goose still nest-sitting.
MP reported c300 House Martin passing through early morning and a Garden Warbler singing by the entrance.
Mistle Thrush, Lagoon
1 (17/5/08).
Poor photo of Spotted
Flycatcher, in meadow by car park (17/5/08).
Wednesday 14/5/08 – MP reported a Garden Warbler by the pond next to Lagoon 2. Also a Little Egret reported.
[ See Pictures from other locations for photos of a Tawny Owl that was sun bathing in a tree at Coate Water, Swindon today (12/5/08).]
Sunday 11/5/08
– MP reported from
‘Greenland’
Wheatear,
Saturday 10/5/08 – A male Cuckoo in flight, calling (has been around a couple of weeks now). 3 Dunlin and 3 Ringed Plover on lagoon 3. A Little Egret again, at Shepperdine. 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Sedge Warbler.
AM reported: 5 Grey Heron, 41 Mallard, 42 Shelduck, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Black-headed Gull and 4 Collared Dove.
Male Sparrowhawk
bathing (10/5/08).
Friday 9/5/08 – Another (or same) summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit this evening (on lagoon 1) and a Little Egret on the shore. 12 Black-headed Gull and 4 Common Gull in a flock moving upriver.
Thursday 8/5/08 – MP reported: 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel in morning.
Wednesday 7/5/08 – A Bar-tailed Godwit in summer plumage and a Yellow Wagtail over this evening. A flock of 17 Whimbrel upriver. Also 4 Lapwing on the shore (and over lagoon 1) and a Teal there.
Bar-tailed Godwit
glowing in the setting sun (7/5/08).
Monday 5/5/08 – 3 Arctic Skua upriver at 7:25am into a NE breeze (at least 2 of them dark phase). A Garden Warbler was singing (and seen well) at south end of lagoon 2. At high tide, 20 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin went on lagoon 3 and a Greenshank was on lagoon 1. Also: a Little Egret by the yacht club, 1 Wheatear and 3 Sedge Warbler singing.
Sedge Warbler and
3rd-year Great Black-backed Gull (5/5/08).
Sunday 4/5/08 – A Red Kite flew in off the estuary at the yacht club at about 4pm and then slowly flew East, up over pylons, mobbed by crows. While searching for this from the back of lagoon 2, MP saw a Crane flying to NE before being lost behind trees a few seconds later, also mobbed by crows. MP then watched a flock of c46 Arctic Tern plus c2 Common Tern drop out of the sky to feed on the tidal reservoir. Most left after about 15 minutes, but 17 sat on the reservoir wall, and at least 6 lingered for about an hour. Another flock of 5-10 Common Tern passed upriver. Both flocks were accompanied by a few Black-headed Gull. Some small flocks of waders also passed upriver, gaining height: 1 Sanderling (found by MP), 13 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 3+ Whimbrel. The corpse of a Porpoise was on the mud flats, sadly.
AM reported (in morning): 2 Grey Plover (1 in summer plumage), 26 Ringed Plover and 18 Dunlin.
HL reported along road to yacht club: 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Skylark, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Grey Wagtail
Saturday 3/5/08 – MP reported a female Marsh Harrier over lagoon 2 at 8:05am, when it headed upriver.
7 Arctic Tern flew up the centre of the river at 6:50am; at 7:50am a Common Tern flew upriver close to shore; and at 8:50am 4 Common Tern flew down river. Other migrants heading upriver: c20 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail and lots of Swallow. The late Short-eared Owl is still at the yacht club and the Australian Shelduck was at Shepperdine. There were 5 Sedge Warbler singing (a good number for here), a Cuckoo, 1 Wheatear and a Collared Dove on-site (unusual). Waders seen: 2+ Whimbrel, 2 Dunlin, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Lapwing. Canada Goose and Coot on nests. The Peregrine pair were together on separate kills on the towers. (A total of 66 species seen.)
Friday 2/5/08 – AM reported the Short-eared Owl again by the yacht club and a Tree Pipit (singing) and Cuckoo there. Plus a Common Sandpiper on lagoon 1, 5 Ringed Plover (lagoon 3), 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Whimbrel. Also, 5 Fox cubs on-site.
Thursday 1/5/08
Rock Dove/Feral
Pigeon(1/5/08). (Photos by MG)
Wednesday 30/4/08 – A male Australian Shelduck on Lagoon 3 this evening, which appears to be similar to the bird on 15th March, but more grey in the body. Also, a Cuckoo calling, and a Little Egret on the shore.
Australian Shelduck,
Lagoon 3(30/4/08).
Monday 28/4/08 – MP reported: a Little Grebe on the lake, 25 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and 2 Mute Swan.
Sunday 27/4/08 – Lots of warblers singing in the sun: 1 Garden Warbler (seen eventually) in bushes at south end of lagoon 2, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 15+ Whitethroat and c10 Reed Warbler. 2 Little Egret flew upriver together and 2 Common Sandpiper, 8 Whimbrel and the male Wigeon on shore. A Canada Goose was nest-sitting on the island in the lake. The first Hawthorn blossom seen today.
Canada Goose on nest
in lake (27/4/08).
Saturday 26/4/08
– MP found a male Bearded Tit
in the main reedbed on lagoon 2 at 8.30am ! (Only the second record for S.
Gloucs., since one was ringed at
Thursday 24/4/08
– MP reported c30 Sand Martin
looking like they were going to roost in the reeds on lagoon 2 in the evening.
Wednesday 23/4/08 – The Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling from the middle of lagoon 2 this evening, with a Lesser Whitethroat there and a Little Egret over. Also: 10+ Whimbrel and a sick looking Common Gull on the shore.
MP reported: 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling on lagoon 2, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (first for year) and 4 Whitethroat in morning visit.
Monday 21/4/08 – MP reported: 4 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 14 Shoveler and lots of Swallow still moving through.
Sunday 20/4/08 – This evening, a Porpoise wallowing around in the shallows, just 20 yards from shore, by lagoon 3 !
MP reported: 3 Tree Pipit and 2 more Yellow Wagtail over.
Wow, what a morning ! Misty, overcast conditions led to a huge visible migration. Minimum numbers of common migrants heading into wind upriver (inc. from AM): 700 Goldfinch (AM est. c500 per hour !), 300 Linnet, 100 Meadow Pipit, 700 Swallow (c200 per hour), 6 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 4 Yellow Wagtail, and lots of Feral Pigeon (racing). A Whinchat and 4 Wheatear were on the shore, along with a Short-eared Owl (considered lighter coloured than recent one). Grounded birds singing were: c75 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, c10 Whitethroat, lots of Blackcap and finally a cracking male Pied Flycatcher in trees at south end of lagoon 2 (but v. elusive) (my 100th species at OPS in 2008). The only waders were a few Curlew and 1 Lapwing.
(60 species seen in the day.)
Saturday 19/4/08 – The first Sedge Warbler singing from the lake behind the hide. Other migrants were: 5 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whimbrel and c10 Swallow. Also, 12 Shoveler still on lagoon 1.
Friday 18/4/08 – This evening, A Little Egret over and a Common Sandpiper on the shore. Also, 2 Raven, 10 Swallow. [c20 Fieldfare at Thornbury Sewage Works 1 mile inland from OPS.]
MP reported: No sign of Avocets. 2 Greylag Goose (to NE), lots of Swallow; Linnet and Goldfinch still moving NE; 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Peregrine together.
Thursday 17/4/08 – MP reported: 4 Avocet at Shepperdine, an adult male Black Redstart by water works, 26 Teal, c70 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank (lagoon 1), strong passage of Goldfinch, a few Linnet moving NE, a steady passage of Swallow, 1 House Martin and 2 Sand Martin.
Avocets, Shepperdine
(17/4/08).(Photo by MP)
Wednesday 16/4/08 – AM reported: a Ring-necked Parakeet (first for OPS), Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Short-eared Owl.
Sunday 13/4/08 – Braving some cold, heavy showers this morning paid dividends, as some good birds showed in the Spring-like breaks in between. At 8am a Cuckoo flew from lagoon 2 out over the river, heading North and gaining height. It flew straight for a dark grey storm cloud and gained height using the updraft around the cloud, before being lost to view. Then at 9:40am a Short-eared Owl was hunting by the yacht club and it was still there at 10am. A Whimbrel was with Curlew in the fields by the yacht club and 3 Whitethroat at lagoon 3 were the first of the year. Lagoon 1 had a Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Shoveler and 20 Teal. Also: a flock of 6 Raven; 7 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin and a Willow Warbler.
HL reported: 12 Oystercatcher, 9 Redshank and c45 Shelduck south of the yacht club.
Short-eared Owl at
Thornbury yacht club, 2 Ravens at Shepperdine and a Skylark(13/4/08).
Saturday 12/4/08 – The first Willow Warbler singing by lagoon 2 (the 100th species reported at OPS this year), 3 Swallow, 2 Canada Goose and 7 Tufted Duck on the lake. One male Wigeon remains with 7 Shoveler and c15 Teal.
MG reported a Short-eared Owl by the yacht club again.
Friday 11/4/08 – MP reported: a female Black Redstart mobile around the water works (the 100th species reported at OPS in 2008), 3 Greylag Goose (flying around), 1 Wheatear, 31 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon and 2 Raven.
Black Redstart, Water
Works (11/4/08). (Photo by MP)
Wednesday 9/4/08 – MP reported: 2 Spotted Redshank and 8 Redshank just to the north of OPS, between Shepperdine and Berkley Pill.
Spotted Redshank with
Redshank, Shepperdine (9/4/08). (Photo by MP)
Tuesday 8/4/08 – MP reported: 4 Raven, 2 Canada Goose on the lake and 4 Swallow near Great Leaze farm.
Monday 7/4/08 – MP reported: 3 Blackcap, 27 Teal, 15 Shoveler, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 6 Oystercatcher and the Peregrine pair very active with lots of calling and male display flighting.
Sunday 6/4/08 – AM reported an early male Redstart and a Short-eared Owl at the yacht club this morning.
(MP reassessed the Harrier as a young male yesterday.)
Saturday 5/4/08 – MP reported a 1st/2nd Summer Marsh Harrier heading south at 7.15am.
5 Swallow and a Sand Martin through lagoon 3, and also 10 Ringed Plover there. 4 Blackcap singing and lots of Chiffchaff. A Siskin and c30 Meadow Pipit heading upriver. Also: 1 Wheatear, 2 Raven , 3 Canada Goose, 1 Mute Swan and 3 Redshank.
25 Oystercatcher by the yacht club this evening.
Friday 4/4/08 – A dusk visit was fruitful, with 4 Swallow and another 3 probables, a Greenshank on lagoon 1 (thanks MP) and a Wheatear on the shore. The Peregrine pair were on the nest platform. A Little Owl was again in old trees. Also: 9 Oystercatcher, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 50+ Pied Wagtail and a Fox on lagoon 1.
MP also reported: 83 Shelduck, 15 Shoveler and a ‘White’ Wagtail.
Greenshank, lagoon 1
(4/4/08).
Sunday 30/3/08 – A change to warm sun brought some
migrants and butterflies. A Wheatear
was on lagoon 2 and then the shore, a male Blackcap
was singing with a female nearby and Chiffchaff
were singing everywhere. There were 11 Canada
Goose on the lake and another 3 on lagoon 1, with 25 Shoveler still there. Also: 5 Fieldfare,
1 Redwing, 3 Stonechat (lagoon 2), 4 Oystercatcher,
3 Redshank and a Snipe (lagoon 2). Butterflies: 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 1 Comma.
Wheatear, lagoon 2
(30/3/08).
Saturday 29/3/08 – A Little Owl in old willows to SW of lagoon 3, 7 Canada Goose on the lake, 10+ Chiffchaff, the Peregrine pair on the nest platform for a short time, 25 Shoveler (lagoon 1), 2 Fieldfare, 6 Great Black-backed Gull (inc. 2 adults, lagoon 3) and 5 Cormorant flying inland (likely migrants). Also, the first Cowslip flowering.
AM also reported: The first Wheatear of the year, 43 Shelduck, 32 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 37 Curlew, 1 Redshank and a Spitfire over ! RC reported 3 Stonechat on lagoon 2.
Shoveler on lagoon 1
(29/3/08).
Wednesday 26/3/08 – RC reported: A very early Swallow, c40 Shoveler (lagoon 1), c40 Wigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 20 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 3 Raven, 10+ Chiffchaff, 6 Tufted Duck (3 pairs) and 1 Canada Goose.
Monday 24/3/08 – A lovely early male Garganey on the lake this morning, watched from 8-8.30am, when it visited lagoon 3 and was last seen flying low around the rhynes/fields to SW of lagoon 3. Still 8 Chiffchaff around plus c20 Redwing and c10 Fieldfare. A Stonechat was on lagoon 2 and the male Peregrine called to the female on the cooling towers.
MP reported the Peregrine pair mating on a pylon, then flying to the cooling towers at 12:30pm.
Male Garganey on the
lake (24/3/08).
Sunday 23/3/08 – Very little to report all weekend, apart from some horrible weather, with Northerly winds and very cold showers. But 6 Chiffchaff and the Peregrine pair still around. Up to 9 Tufted Duck and 2 Canada Goose on the lake. Also Shelduck increased to c40 today. A Weasel crossed the road and a Fox on lagoon 1 on Saturday. 3 Green woodpecker were together on lagoon 2 this morning.
A pair of Green
Woodpeckers (23/3/08).
Sunday 16/3/08 – Nothing moving in the biting NE wind this evening, but a Black-tailed Godwit on lagoon 1 and 11 Canada Goose on the shore. Also, 150+ Pied Wagtail went to roost on the roofs of buildings.
[Pumping of water into Lagoon 3 resumed today after a long stop due to repairs.]
Saturday 15/3/08 – The first Spring migration this morning, in still and overcast conditions. 13 Sand Martin headed upriver, as did c30 Meadow Pipit and 4 Skylark. Also, 10+ Chiffchaff singing. An aberrant Shelduck, or Australian/Ruddy Shelduck cross (?) was at Shepperdine, then flew downriver. The female Peregrine landed on the cooling towers with a kill, then after eating for a while flew a short way to allow the male to land on the kill and eat. Also: 20+ Canada Goose (10 on-site and 10+ over), 3 Raven, 2 Stonechat, c15 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, c70 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher and 24 Shoveler.
Aberrant Shelduck or
Ruddy/Australian Shelduck x ?, at Shepperdine (15/3/08).
Tuesday 11/3/08 – It’s a funny old world ! News of the Great Bustard at Oldbury Power Station on 26th JANUARY has suddenly hit the outside world !
I was watching the local BBC Points West news last night when MP’s photo from this website (see below) appeared on-screen followed by the story. Then I heard it was in the Bristol Evening Post, and this evening I read it in The Independent. A quick Google found the following:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7288808.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/11/1
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article900170.ece
http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/go-green/great-bustard-living-at-power-plant/article/20080310140809990016
Sunday 9/3/08 – A Short-eared Owl along the shore and then went to roost on lagoon 3 at 9am (first spotted by AM hunting along the shore and fields to SW of lagoon 3, and then circling near the yacht club). The Knot was back with 8 Grey Plover. The Peregrine pair were on pylons (and one earlier on nest ledge on cooling tower). A Skylark sang over lagoon 2. Also: 1 Raven, 8 Oystercatcher (yacht club), 1 Water Rail (heard), 3 Canada Goose and 3 Green Woodpecker.
AM reported (WeBS count): 6 Stonechat (Lagoon 2), 4 Snipe, 43 Shelduck, 36 Redshank, 34 Mallard, 28 Teal and 229 Wigeon.
Sunday 2/3/08 – The number of Shoveler on the very flooded lagoon 1 rose again to 38 today. Also: 2 Raven, 2 Stonechat, 9 Grey Plover, c250 Dunlin, c70 Fieldfare, the female Peregrine over the cooling towers and a notable exception of any Lapwing over the weekend.
Saturday 1/3/08 – AM reported: 9 Kittiwake downriver at 11am (High Tide), 36 Shoveler on lagoon 1 and the Peregrine pair on the nesting ledge (but no other nesting activity noted this year).
A blustery westerly wind, but a quiet morning: 6 Canada Goose on the shore and a Mute Swan by the yacht club. Also: 9 Grey Plover and 2 Raven.
MP reported a Kittiwake upriver early morning, 33 Shoveler on lagoon 1, 168 Wigeon and a Stonechat.
Tuesday 26/2/08 – A male Merlin flashed low and fast through the flooded fields to SW of lagoon 3 at 3.30pm – picked up when it flew through my telescope view while scanning. It didn’t stay, but kept heading NE, 150m inland. The number of Shoveler on the very flooded lagoon 1 increased to 32.
Sunday 24/2/08 – A couple of very unusual sightings this
morning: A Tawny Owl sat in a
classic hole in a dead tree to SW of lagoon 3 (8.30am); and a Great Crested Grebe flying high over,
heading south. Also, the 10 Grey Plover
still, 29 Shoveler (lagoon 1), 4 Stonechat (lagoon 2), 2
Saturday 23/2/08 – AM/MP reported a Short-eared Owl again flushed from the path around lagoon 3 and then perched for some time on a log along the shore, at 9am. Also 28 Shoveler on lagoon 1.
A walk with Bristol Naturalist Society found: 2 House Sparrow (calling from hedge by lagoon 3 – unusual on site), 1 Peregrine, 3 Green Woodpecker, 10 Tufted Duck (lake), 1 Stonechat and some bat droppings in the hide !
Thursday 21/2/08 – MP reported: on lagoon 1: 28 Shoveler, 229 Wigeon, 31 Teal, 150 Dunlin, 200 Lapwing, 23 Redshank. Also, 2 Water Rail (Lagoon 2) and roost on Tidal Reservoir: c1500 Common Gull, c3500 Black-headed Gull, 42 Lesser-black Backed Gull and 20 Herring Gull.
[Also of local interest: 13 Brambling reported by HL from a Thornbury garden this week.]
Wednesday 20/2/08 – JL reported a male Red-crested Pochard on the lake behind
the hide at 1pm (a first for the site, and only the 5th for
Red-crested Pochard
(20/2/08). (Photos by JL)
Sunday 17/2/08 – A fresh and sunny afternoon with some
big bird counts: 83 Turnstone
(Shepperdine), 21 Shoveler (lagoon
1) and c3,000 Starling going to
roost in trees by the yacht club. Also: 10 Grey
Plover, 7 Canada Goose, 45 Curlew, 6 Snipe, and c300 Dunlin.
Lots of Blackthorn bushes flowering.
[1 mile inland of OPS, 2 Little Egret roosting along rhyne by Severn Drainage Board office.]]
Turnstone (17/2/08).
Daffodils in the
orchard (17/2/08).
Saturday 16/2/08 – On a very cold morning (-3 degrees), a Little Egret and 7 Canada Goose on the lake. The 10 Grey Plover and an Oystercatcher were at Shepperdine. Also: 5 Stonechat (3 on lagoon 2 and 2 on lagoon 3), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Raven and a Weasel bounding through the long grass along the shore.
AM also reported 2 Ringed Plover and 36 Shelduck.
Sunday 10/2/08 – The Treecreeper was with a Long-tailed Tit flock again. At Shepperdine there were 10 Grey Plover, 5+ Raven and a Grey Wagtail. A Green Woodpecker was heard calling and drumming (unusual). 3 Chaffinch singing again.
AM reported (WeBS count): c30 Skylark (towards yacht club), 8 Ringed Plover, 221 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 580 Lapwing, 210 Dunlin, 42 Redshank, 34 Snipe, 115 Mallard and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.
Saturday 9/2/08 – A foggy and cold start turned into a warm sunny morning and encouraged some birds to sing, including: 1 Skylark, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Song Thrush and a Bullfinch. There were 2 Siskin in alders by the lake and MP reported a Redpoll by lagoon 2. At high tide, c60 Turnstone at Shepperdine, 2 Oystercatcher and a ‘Continental’ Cormorant. 8 Tufted Duck on the lake and 2 Water Rail heard in lagoon 2 reeds. Also: 8 Shoveler, 2 Stonechat, 7 Skylark and 7 Canada Goose (yacht club).
Saturday 2/2/08 – AM flushed a Short-eared Owl from the path round lagoon 3 this morning. There were 2 Mistle Thrush along the track to the shore. A Little Owl was in an old tree to SW of lagoon 3. 8 Canada Goose flew downriver and landed on the shore. 5 Great Black-backed Gull were around; 2 adults eating a 2ft-long dead eel, another adult and 2 juveniles. Also: 4 Stonechat (pairs on lagoons 2 and 3), 1 Raven, 4 Grey Plover, 8 Shoveler, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Tufted Duck and a Peregrine.
No owls at dusk, but a Redpoll on lagoon 2, 14 Shoveler on lagoon 1 and 8 Grey Plover. Also, a Fox came within 2 yards of me as I sat by lagoon 3 !
Sunday 27/1/08 – A Bullfinch was singing in the warm sunshine. A Redpoll on alders along track to hide, and 2+ Chiffchaff by lagoon 2 outfall. Also: 1 Ringed Plover, 5 Tufted Duck, 7 Shoveler and 25 Shelduck. MP reported 8 Grey Plover.
Saturday 26/1/08 – Update from MP: The Great Bustard flew NE, upriver, over the power station at 3.20pm. (New photo below.)
A Great Bustard
from the Salisbury Plain introduction project (orange wing-tag 15) was the
surprise find in the flooded fields to SW of lagoon 3, by the yacht club. (View
from the metal gate along the
AM reported 2 Water Rail (lagoon 2).
Great Bustard, to SW of
Lagoon 3 (26/1/08). (Photo by MP)
Thursday 24/1/08 – Reported by HL: 6 Tufted Duck, 500+ Dunlin, 1000+ Lapwing, c200 Curlew and 1 Stonechat.
Tuesday 22/1/08 – Reported by HL: 2 Tufted Duck and c250 Wigeon.
Sunday 20/1/08 – To the SW of Lagoon 3, towards the yacht club were: 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Oystercatcher, (the first since 15/12/07), 7 Canada Goose, c450 Dunlin and c400 Lapwing. A Mute Swan is on the flooded lagoon 3. An evening gull roost on lagoon 3 contained: 610 Black-headed Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and c10 Common Gull. Also: 2 Stonechat and 1 Peregrine.
Saturday 19/1/08 – A Little Stint with Dunlin at Shepperdine, and 15 Grey Plover there. 16 Shoveler on lagoon 1. Totals of c300 Fieldfare, c250 Redwing and c400 Starling around. A Mute Swan in flight.
MA reported a Barn Owl at Oldbury village on Friday 4/1/08. WK reported: 2 Rock Pipit and a Merlin.
Tuesday 15/1/08 – A Kingfisher along the main rhyne. A Mistle Thrush was at Lagoon 1, and 22 Snipe were foraging along a hedge there with c50 Fieldfare and 60+ Redwing. Also: 2 Raven and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Sunday 13/1/08 – A two hour sea-watch (10:45 – 12:45) produced a female Common Scoter, picked out from a flock of Wigeon in-flight by darker plumage (especially no white on belly). It settled on the considerable swell with 5 Shoveler, 100 yards off shore and drifted downriver on ebbing tide. Also 3 probable Kittiwake, wheeling fast upriver in strong SSW wind – too fast and distant to be certain of id. Lots of other gulls going upriver: c50 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, c10 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gull.
HL reported: 7 Canada Goose, 25 Curlew, 10 Shelduck.
Saturday 12/1/08 – A Treecreeper was with a tit flock in the hedge by the metal tower. Lagoon 3 held a Little Egret and 10 Ringed Plover. A Grey Wagtail and a Siskin flew over. A Canada Goose flew downriver, and another 6 were on the lake. Also 35 Turnstone and 2 Stonechat.
AM’s WeBS count: 78 Snipe, 73 Redshank, c1600 Lapwing, c850 Dunlin, 187 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 1 Knot , 13 Grey Plover and 2 Water Rail. Also 8 Yellowhammer (by yacht club), and a Rabbit on top of a hedge ! (Keeping out of all the water in the fields.)
Little Egret, Lagoon 3
(12/1/08).
Sunday 6/1/08 – Lots of birds this evening. A huge roost on the tidal reservoir contained c1,000 Common Gull and c3,000 Black-headed Gull. The flock of 13 Grey Plover and a Knot was at the yacht club, plus 7 Canada Goose and a Mute Swan there. The flocks of c600 Lapwing and 47 Skylark (including the ‘partial-albino’) were in the flooded fields to SW of lagoon 3. A Black-tailed Godwit and c30 Redshank were at Shepperdine. A Little Egret in the flooded field by the entrance, with a Little Owl calling at dusk (and another at Shepperdine). Also: about 500 Dunlin in total, 2 Raven, 4 Stonechat, 9 Shoveler , 2 Siskin heard over and a Peregrine. A Fox by the main rhyne, and a Hare reported at Shepperdine.
Saturday 5/1/08 – A Mistle Thrush briefly landed on Mistletoe then flew along hedge towards yacht club, and c600 Lapwing and c300 Dunlin there. A Grey Wagtail at back of lagoon 1, 4 Stonechat (2 on lagoon 2 and 2 on lagoon 3), 3 Grey Plover (yacht club) and 10+ Shoveler (Shepperdine).
AM reported: 2 Lesser Redpoll at south end of lagoon 2, 240 Wigeon, 200 Mallard, 12 Shoveler and c1,000 Lapwing.
Wednesday 2/1/08 – MP reported: 4 Stonechat, 7 Canada Goose, 12 Shoveler, 572 Lapwing, 2 Water Rail, 1 Peregrine.
Tuesday 1/1/08 – The flock of 13 Grey Plover and single Knot was still around (they have been present for over a month now), and a good winter count of 9 Ringed Plover at Shepperdine. Also a Raven on a rabbit carcass there. The 7 Canada Goose were still at the Yacht Club, the Peregrine was on the pylons, the 7 Shoveler were by lagoon 1, and the impressive flock of c1,000 Lapwing were in fields to SW.
Total number of species seen at the site in 2007 was
136 (see Latest Site Species List
for
details), with my personal total being 129 species.
Monday 31/12/07 – A very large flock of 98 Skylark in fields to SW of lagoon 3, including an aberrant 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.
Aberrant Skylark,
looking like a Snow Bunting (31/12/07).
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