The 3rd w Iceland Gull and 2nd w Caspian Gull were at Stubber's Green during the morning (JA).

The 3rd w Iceland Gull at Stubber's Green (© P. Parsons)

The 3rd w Iceland Gull paid a visit to Kingswood during the afternoon (JA) and pairs of Oystercatcher, Buzzard and Stonechat were also present (GE).

The Great Northern Diver was again feeding on crayfish near the pier. 16 Goosanders were on the Swag and another 8 flew north over Anglesey Basin (GE, NS). A Kingfisher was at Fly Pool and the year's first Brambling was seen at the feeding station along with a Willow Tit and 5 Bullfinches. At Highfield Farm there was a good count of 6 Yellowhammers and a Mistle Thrush (DH).

In the roost there were 2 2nd w, 2 3rd w and an adult Yellow-legged Gull, the white Black-headed Gull and the 3rd w Iceland Gull eventually settled on the jetty (PJ, SR, IW, JA, GE).

At Kingswood there were 2 Oystercatchers, 60 Lapwings, 21 Canada Geese (GE) and a presumed hybrid 1st w Glaucous x Herring Gull that looked good for Glaucous apart from Herring Gull features in the head and bill (PJ).

At Stubber's Green the 2nd w Caspian Gull, an intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull and a 'Nordic' Jackdaw were present (PJ, JA, SR).

The Great Northern Diver was still present and an Oystercatcher was on the jetty (GE). A pair of Grey Wagtails by the sailing club looked stunning in the sunlight and at the feeding station there were 2 male Bullfinches, 2+ male Reed Buntings and a pair of Willow Tits (LB).

The gull roost held the 3rd w Iceland Gull, 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull and the white Black-headed Gull (PJ).

On Cuckoo Bank there were 30 Golden Plovers, a Sparrowhawk, a mixed flock of 70 Redwings and Fieldfares, 2 Stonechats, many singing Skylarks, a Pheasant and lots of frogspawn. Red Deer were in Eights Wood (GR).

Around 30 Red Deer were on No Man's Bank (GE).

Over 1520 large gulls roosted including last week's 1st w Caspian Gull. The white Black-headed Gull was also seen and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the south shore (PJ, IW).

2nd yr Caspian Gull and 3rd yr Herring Gull (GE)

Intermedius Lesser Black-back and 2nd yr Caspian Gull (GE)

A Water Rail was heard near the Slurry Pool (N, PS).

Too windy to do justice to the gull roost but there were 1280 large gulls including 20 Great Black-backs, a 2nd w Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Common Gulls and the white Black-headed Gull (PJ).

At 07:50 the Great Northern Diver was just off the dam and made 6 consecutive successful dives for crayfish (GE). It was later seen to take at least another 20 crayfish during the early afternoon (PW, NS, AP). At 14:10 58 Sand Martins arrived and stayed for around an hour; many taking time to rest on wires at the Water-ski Cub. Other records included 2 singing Chiffchaffs, a Buzzard, a Snipe, 21 Lapwings, 13 Canada Geese, 5 Teal, 45 Goldeneye, 7 Goosanders, a Pheasant, a Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 3 Goldcrests, a Fox and 6 Red Deer.

Two Yellowhammers were on the Raceway heath and 2 Teal at Highfield Farm. 

The gull roost was small with only 1000 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls and much smaller numbers of large gulls but heavy rain prevented  careful scrutiny (GE).

A Red Kite, mobbed by crows, flew north low over Cuckoo Bank at around 14:35 from the direction of Chasewater and No Man's Bank (JW). Presumably the same bird was seen at Gailey at 13:45 (WMBC).

The white Black-headed Gull and a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull were in the roost (IW, GE).

A Muntjac was seen below the dam early in the morning (CD).

The Great Northern Diver was present along with up to 20 Sand Martins and the roost held the 2nd yr Caspian Gull and same 2 Yellow-legged Gulls as last night with an increase to 42 Great Black-backs and 1480 Lesser Black-backed/Herring Gulls (PJ, IW).

Great Northern Diver (© P. Ward)

Crashing waves (GE)

Very choppy water, especially at the south end of the dam but the Great Northern Diver was still feeding just off the dam and a Cormorant was on the raft. Up to 6 Sand Martins were present. A female Brambling and 6 Bullfinches were at the Feeding Station (EO) and a Kingfisher, 46 Goldeneye, 1 Ruddy Duck and 77 Tufted Ducks were on the Swag (GE). The 2nd yr and adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost which was small with Great Black-backed numbers down to 22 (PJ, IW).

The adult and 2nd yr Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost again (PJ).

8 Greylag Geese flew over Chase Terrace (IW).

The gull roost held the juv Iceland Gull, the regular 2nd yr Caspian Gull, 2 (2nd and 3rd yr) Yellow-legged Gulls and 650 Black-headed Gulls including the white bird (IW, PJ, GE). 

Blue skies produced a beautiful spring morning but only the Great Northern Diver remained from from yesterday's bonanza. Five Cormorants were on the raft, 9 Lesser Redpolls on the west shore, 2-3 Buzzards soared overhead, 6 Jays on the north shore, 50 Sand Martins over the lake, a Grey Wagtail on the dam and 2 Oystercatchers on the jetty (GE). A female Merlin was seen on the north shore and 22 Goosanders on the Swag (JT).

Only about 250 Black-headed Gulls roosted along with 2 (2nd and 3rd yr) Yellow-legged Gulls, about 40 Great Black-backs, 50 Herring Gulls and several hundred Lesser Black-backs (IW, GE, JT). At dusk a very distant and high flock of 150+ geese flew north, likely to have been Pink-feet but far too distant to be sure (IW).

The Great Northern Diver, 2 sinensis type Cormorants and up to 100 Sand Martins were present (GE, IW).

The gull roost was very small with a 2nd yr Yellow-legged Gull, only 300 large gulls and 60 Black-headed Gulls (IW).

A possible Mealy Redpoll was seen with 15 Lesser Redpolls on the burnt heath area of the north shore (RG). Beware the antics of the local Jays that are very able at impersonating the calls of other birds. By the Swag one Jay was making perfect Tawny Owl 'keewicks' and another thought it was a Buzzard! A Curlew was heard calling (or was it a Jay?), 120 Sand Martins were overhead and 2 Oystercatchers were on the jetty. 35 Goldeneye were on the Swag along with 77 Black-headed Gulls, 2 1st s Common Gulls, a Kingfisher, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. A Little Grebe was calling from the Slurry Pool reeds.

The small gull roost was tightly packed and numbered around 200 large gulls and a few Black-heads. Single Noctules and pipistrelles were around the Waterski Club/ Station area (GE).

The lower heathland on Cuckoo Bank produced 4+ Stonechats, 5 Snipe, 4 Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Pheasant and a Small Tortoiseshell. Three Chiffchaffs sang at Biddulph's Pool (GE).

The highlight of the day was seeing a Rook standing on the concrete overflow at the Nine Foot. This is the first time in forty years that I've seen a Rook on the ground at Chasewater! The Great Northern Diver continued to reduce the crayfish population by at least another twenty, a Swallow flew over the dam and 2 Oystercatchers flew in at dusk (GE). A Willow Warbler was in song between the Slurry Pool and Swag and a Jay was heard to impersonate a Woodcock (JT). The Short-eared Owl, a Stonechat, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were on the north shore during the morning (GR).

The gull roost only held 175 Lesser Black-backs, 11 Herring Gulls, a Great Black-back and 16 Black-headed Gulls (GE).

Great Crested Grebe ©Andy Purcell

Great Northern Diver ©Andy Purcell