- 1st
|
- 14ºC
- Light showers
- SW2
|
|
The Great Northern Diver has made it into
another month but little else apart from good numbers of Swifts
and 2 Common Terns were seen (GE).
|
|
- 2nd
|
- 16ºC
- Sunny intervals
- SSW2
|
10.30: The Great Northern Diver was off the
dam and 4 Common Terns, a possible Arctic Tern and up to 200
Swifts with small numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins over the
lake. There were good numbers of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs,
Blackcaps and Whitethroats. A Black-headed Gull and 2 Lesser
Black-backs flew over. Lapwings and a singing Skylark were on
Norton Bog hill and Reed Warblers were in the reed bed. Up to 8
Green Hairstreaks were on the heath, 8-10 Peacocks, 1 Orange Tip
and a Brimstone (EO).
2 Buzzards flew high over Cuckoo Bank (EO).
|
|
- 3rd
- Sat
|
- 19ºC
- Light rain
- SSE4
|
| A Little Owl was seen at
Chasewater Heaths Station (JW).
2 Common Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers and
the 2 adult Herring Gulls were on the raft (GE).
There was a Ring Ouzel on Cuckoo
Bank (MY).
|
- Ring Ouzel (MY)
|
|
- 4th
- Sun
|
- 19ºC
- Light rain
- SE2
|
|
2 Black Terns, 3 Common Terns, the Great
Northern Diver and an Oystercatcher (JA).
|
|
- 5th
|
- 16ºC
- Murky start. Sunny later
- NW1
|
|
The Great Northern Diver was still taking
crayfish by the dam. There were also 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin
on shore in front of sailing club, 400+ Swifts low over water, up
to 100 hirundines on the raft and a Common Tern flying around (EO).
2 Common Terns were present in the evening (GE).
|
|
- 6th
|
- 20ºC
- Sunny
- SE2
|
|
A good record of 3 Little Terns, 3 Black
Terns, a 1st summer Little Gull and about 8 Common/Arctic
Terns (PW) but they had all
left by late afternoon leaving just an Arctic Tern (CM), a
Common Tern and the Great Northern Diver (JA, GE).
|
First summer Little Gull (© P Ward)
|
- Great Northern Diver
- still with an odd right wing (© P Ward)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two superb photos of Little Tern and one that's not so
good! (© P Ward)
|
Black Tern (© P Ward)
|
Common Tern and Black Tern (© P
Ward)
|
Common Tern (© P Ward)
|
|
- 7th
|
- 23ºC
- Sunny intervals
- ESE3
|
| 3 Little Gulls were present
early in the morning (GR) and 3 Black Terns later (PW). |
|
- 8th
|
- 23ºC
- Sunny intervals
- ESE3
|
|
A very brief visit at 17:10 produced 5 Black Terns
but they had gone by 19:00 (GE).
|
- A Spotted Redshank was a good find at Clayhanger
Marsh.
- For full details of Clayhanger/Ryders Mere
records click
here.
|
|
- 9th
|
- 23ºC
- Overcast
- ESE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver,
1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers,
1 Cormorant, 3 Common Terns (PW), Stonechat, Reed Warbler, 2 Herons
and 200 Swifts (EO). The 2 adult Herring Gulls were
on the raft and a Grasshopper Warbler sang at dusk on the
North Heath (GE). |
|
- 10th
- Sat
|
- 24ºC
- Sunny intervals
- E1
|
| Over 20 people turned out for the dawn
chorus on a beautiful, calm and warm morning. Amongst the regulars
there was a Tawny Owl calling and a Grasshopper Warbler
and Stonechat performed
well on the North Shore. The Great Northern Diver was still
present along with 3 Common Terns, the 2 adult Herring Gulls, 2
Black-headed Gulls and 3 Herons flew in from the west. Below the dam
there were 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Goldcrest, Reed Warbler, Kestrel, Buzzard and 2 Jackdaws flew south.
35 Mute Swans were on the South Shore boating pool. At least 5 Holly
Blues were seen along with Speckled Woods, Green Hairstreaks,
Green-veined Whites, Orange Tips and Peacock. A Common Lizard scuttled
into cover at Anglesey Basin (GE). |
- Holly Blue (GE)
|
- Sunset (GE)
|
|
- 11th
- Sun
|
- 25ºC
- Sunny
- ESE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver
continued to catch crayfish off the dam whilst avoiding the assorted
water skiers and floating rubbish that results from a sunny weekend.
Four Buzzards soared over the Anglesey Basin whilst Green
Hairstreaks flitted over the Bilberry and Cowberry below. 3-4 Reed Warblers
were in song in the Norton Bog reed beds (GE). |
- Buzzard (GE)
|
|
- 12th
|
- 23ºC
- Sunny
- ENE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver and 1
Common Tern (PW). A fire has burnt much of the heather and gorse on
the Raceway Heath; 4-5 pairs of Linnets were particularly
distressed. Reliable sources now link the same youths with this fire
and at least four others in the last three weeks (GE). |
- Another fire! (GE).
|
|
- 13th
|
- 20ºC
- Sunny
- ENE3
|
| The Great Northern Diver and 1
Common Tern (PW), 100 Swifts (GE). |
|
| 14th |
- 16ºC
- Sunny
- ENE3
|
| 2 Ringed Plovers were briefly on
the Sailing Shore before being disturbed by a dog walker and flying
off over the dam (PW). |
| On Cuckoo Bank a Hobby chased
and caught a moth at the 3rd attempt; not much of a meal!. Also
Buzzard, Cuckoo, Lapwing, Linnets, 3 calling Pheasants, Meadow
Pipits and Skylarks (GR). |
|
- 15th
|
- 14ºC
- Cloudy with afternoon drizzle
- ENE2
|
|
2 Common Terns (PW), the Great Northern Diver, 4
1st summer Black-headed Gulls, 200 Swifts and an Oystercatcher flew
over (GE).
|
|
A limping Oystercatcher was seen in the field by the new
canal bridge near Wyrley Common (GE).
|
|
- 16th
|
- 15ºC
- Light rain
- ENE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver was
still present. 15 Common Terns arrived during the late morning (PW)
but only 2 remained during the evening when the only hint of a gull
roost was the presence of 2 first summer Black-headed Gulls
(GE). |
|
- 17th
- Sat
|
- 15ºC
- Sunny intervals
- ENE3
|
| Early in the morning 2 Little Ringed
Plovers were on the Sailing Shore and the Great Northern
Diver enjoyed the peace before the boating started. A Sedge
Warbler was singing from a bramble patch near the Slurry Pool whilst
at least 6 Reed Warblers sang from the reed beds. Also seen were 3
Common Terns, 300 Swifts, 16 Tufted Ducks, 2 Herons and 2
Oystercatchers flew in during the evening when 3 Lesser Black-backs
came in to roost (GE). |
|
- 18th
- Sun
|
- 15ºC
- Sunny intervals
- NE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver made it
onto another WeBS count but did at least make a short, low flight.
Also counted were 24 Mute Swans, 5 Canada Geese, 99 Coot, 78
Mallard, 22 Tufted Ducks, 26 Great Crested Grebes, a Ruddy Duck, 2
Common Terns and 3 Oystercatchers, including one with an
injured leg (NS). |
- North shore Cotton Grass (GE)
|
4
Buzzards passed over including a dark looking bird with a slightly forked
tail, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk and tantalizing views of a falcon
that appeared more like a compact Hobby than a Kestrel, until it
hovered! Also seen were 300 Swifts, a Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler
(GE, NS). |
|
- 19th
|
- 14ºC
- Sunny
- ENE2
|
| The Little Owl was again seen
Chasewater Heaths Station (JW). The Great Northern Diver was
still present along with a Redshank,
Common Snipe, Cormorant, Common Tern and 2 Oystercatchers (GR). At
dusk a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull was with 39 Lesser
Black-backs and 4 Black-headed Gulls (GE). |
|
- 20th
|
- 15ºC
- Sunny intervals
- E2
|
The Great Northern Diver, a Cormorant, up to
250 Swifts, Green Woodpecker, several Reed Warblers, 2 Kestrels,
distant Buzzards, a Black-headed Gull and Heron
over the dam. East of the dam there was a Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler
and many singing Willow Warblers. A Large Red and two Common Blue
Damselflies were seen (EO). During the evening Grasshopper
Warblers 'reeled' on the North Shore and near the Slurry Pool, 2
Grey Partridges were present. Two Little Grebes and 26 Tufted
Ducks were on the Swag. A new colony of Round-leaved Wintergreens
was found well away from the usual site (GE).
10:15 On Cuckoo Bank a croaking Raven flew
south and a dark Buzzard was circling overhead showing a slightly
indented tail. I watched for 10mins and at no time did it use its
tail as a rudder. It hovered several times and its tail was fanned
out showing a very noticeable outcurve. How can a bird in some
positions show an incurve and then such an outcurve on its tail?
When it was fanned out no feather appeared to be missing. Also seen
were Cuckoo, Buzzard, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Blackcap, several
Whitethroats and good numbers of Willow Warblers along with 8 Red
Deer, 4 Small Coppers and a Wall butterfly (EO).
|
|
| 21st |
- 17ºC
- Sunny intervals
- ESE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver, 6 Common
Terns, 2 Grey Partridges, many hundreds of Round-leaved Wintergreens,
several emerging Adders-tongue ferns and Common Spotted Orchids (GE). |
- Round-leaved Wintergreen (GE)
|
|
| 22nd |
- 17ºC
- Sunny intervals
- ESE2
|
| The Great Northern Diver, 2 Common
Sandpipers, 6 Common Terns, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Herons, 6 Rooks
and 3 Jackdaws (GE). |
|
- 23rd
|
- 19ºC
- Cloudy
- E2
|
| The Great Northern Diver, a
Little Ringed Plover, 10 Common Terns and the Mute Swans near the
Waterski Club now have 7 cygnets (PW). |
|
- 24th
- Sat
|
- 19ºC
- Sunny intervals ENE4
|
| A Hobby flew over the dam and 3
Common Terns were present (GE). |
|
- 25th
- Sun
|
- 13ºC
- Heavy rain
- NE5
|
| The Great Northern Diver was
near the north shore where 3 Cormorants were loafing. A Common
Sandpiper was on the Sailing Shore and 15 Common Terns, an adult
Herring Gull, 50+ House Martins and 100+ Swifts were over the lake.
Also present were 30 Mute Swans with the brood of 7 cygnets, 16
Canada Geese with a crèche of 6 medium and 3 small goslings and a
Green Woodpecker. At 17:05 a Hobby scattered a large
gathering of 200+ House Martins over the Swag as it flew through to
the north (GE). |
|
- 26th
|
-
- 12ºC
- Heavy rain
- NE6
|
|
A male Yellowhammer was at Highfield
Farm, <100 House Martins, 5 Sand Martins and 40 Swifts over the
dam, a Fox by Fly Bay and 12 Common Blue and one Blue-tailed Damselfly
on the Slurry Pool (EO).
Cuckoo Bank: It was blowing a gale so
not a lot was flying but Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Grebe,
Buzzard, Kestrel, Cuckoo, 4 Lapwings and 3 Lesser Black-backs were
seen (EO).
|
|
- 27th
|
- 11ºC
- Grey, miserable with drizzle
- ENE3
|
| The Great Northern Diver was off
the west shore, 5 Common Terns were present (GE) along with a Common
Sandpiper (JT). |
- Common Blue (GE)
|
|
|
|
| The Great Northern Diver
has now lost the pale feather fringes on its back and its wings look
good for a flight (GE). |
|
| 28th |
- 17ºC
- Rain
- ENE2
|
| 16 Common Terns were over the lake and
2 Oystercatchers arrived on the jetty during the evening (GE). |
|
- 29th
|
- 19ºC
- Overcast start, sunny afternoon
- Variable
- S-ESE
|
| A Sanderling was on the Sailing
Shore during the afternoon and posed well for photos. It was a
surprisingly small bird, smaller than a Pied Wagtail, and was given
the name 'Stinterling'! 5 Common Terns were over the lake, 2
Grasshopper Warblers and a Stonechat were singing on the north
shore. 7 Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler sang from the Slurry Pool
reed beds. 3+ fresh Dingy Skippers and 2+ Common Blues were on the
bank between the Slurry Pool and Swag and Small Heaths have also
emerged (GE). |
|
 |
|
Always good to find flowering marsh
orchids in May (GE). |
 - Sanderling (GE)
|
- Dingy Skipper (GE)
|
|
- 30th
|
- 19ºC
- Sunny intervals
- N2
-
|
| The Great Northern Diver was
preening and flapping off Target Point, 2 Buzzards were mobbed by
crows over the south shore and 28 Mallard, 22 Tufted Ducks and 2
Ruddy Ducks were on the Swag. A Reed Warbler was in the overflow
willows (GE). |
|
-
31st
- Sat
|
- 21ºC
- Sunny intervals
- N1
|
| No sign of the Great Northern Diver
this morning despite a
thorough search, yet at dusk it was out by the raft where the 14
Lesser Black-backs had gathered. Other morning sightings were 5 Common Terns over the lake, 38 Mute Swans (+
the brood of 7), 37 Canada Geese (+ 9 goslings), 3 Herons, 6 Black-headed Gulls, a Jackdaw, Kestrel, a Cuckoo was
calling over the north shore and a Kingfisher flew over the Slurry
Pool (GE). |
|
