November 2008 Diary and News

All the latest sightings, news and photos from Chasewater, Cuckoo Bank and surrounding areas

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November 2008

Sightings, News and Photos (scroll down to view whole month)
1st
Sat
10°C
Sunny, cloudy then rain
NNE4
On the Swag at dusk there were 22 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, 1 Wigeon, 43 Tufted Ducks and a Kingfisher. On the Slurry Pool there were 2 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 455 Tufted and a flock of around 500 Starlings was wheeling over the reed beds. Little time was left to look at the impressive gull roost, but numbers of Herring Gulls have certainly increased with 95 being on the jetty but only 12 Lesser Black-backs and 3 Great Black-backs (GE).
2nd
Sun
9°C
Light rain
NNE4
The Great Northern Diver was by the Watersports Club and 6 Common Gulls were on the South Shore. 23 Goldeneye, 3 redhead Goosanders and a Common Gull were on the Swag (GE).

Very few gulls were present at Stubbers Green but there was a new 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull (PJ).

3rd
10°C
Cloudy
NE4
Several Goldeneye, 4 Cormorants and a Grey Wagtail were noted (PW).
4th
10°C
Cloudy
ENE2
5th
10°C
Light rain
NNE3
6th
11°C
Cloudy
SSW1
7th
10°C
Bright start then cloudy
SSW3
All fairly quiet on a walk from the dam to the north shore which produced one Goldeneye, 11 Snipe and a Stonechat (EO). During the evening the Great Northern Diver occasionally called and in the gull roost there were over 68 Great Black-backed Gulls, a 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and the white Black-headed Gull has returned (PJ).

Cuckoo Bank: Bright start at 8:50 am: Buzzard, 45 Linnets, 6 Grey Partridges, a mixed flock of Goldfinches and Greenfinches, a Jay and up to 80 Carrion Crows. Over the heath there were 9 Teal, 2 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, 2 Ravens glided over putting up Starlings and Wood Pigeons, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Kestrels were being constantly attacked by crows (EO).

8th
Sat
10°C
Cloudy
SSW3
The Great Northern Diver was seen to catch a perch and also made a low flight over the lake (PW). A juvenile Peregrine flew though to the west making a couple of dramatic but unsuccessful passes at birds on the water. On the Slurry Pool there was a female Tufted Duck with a green bill saddle marked with black 'OV'. The gull roost held 3 (adult and 2 3rdw) Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ).
During the morning at Stubbers Green there was a magic raptor moment when a Peregrine, 2 Buzzards, a Kestrel and a male Sparrowhawk were all in the air together and a female Sparrowhawk had earlier  flown along the shoreline disturbing the gulls. Totals included 88 Herring Gulls, 110 Lesser Black-backs, 6 Great Black-backs, 6 Common Gulls, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Cormorants, 130 Lapwings and 22 Jackdaws (GE, PJ). Later in the morning a 3rd W Caspian Gull was present (photos © P Parsons).

 Peregrine (GE)
9th
Sun
10°C
Bright start then heavy rain
S2-5
  
The Great Northern Diver called again this morning and then flew round four times at pylon height before posing for photos near the Watersports Centre (NS) where it remained until dusk (GE).
The Great Northern Diver now in 2nd winter plumage and starting to get rather vocal and flighty (© Neil Stych).

At Stubbers Green there were 25 Great Black-backs during the morning (PJ).
10th
11°C
Heavy rain
S5
11th
10°C
Light rain
W6
Good views were had of the Great Northern Diver preening and wing flapping and other totals included 120 Lapwings, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Pochard, 12 Goldeneye, 4 Wigeon, a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. The best area was Norton Bog hill with 2 Goldcrests, 25 Goldfinches, 8 Siskins, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Skylarks, a Buzzard, a Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker (EO).
12th
10°C
Sunny
WNW4
13th
11°C
Cloudy
SW3

At dusk there was an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gulls and the Great Northern Diver (PJ).

At Stubbers Green there was a 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull, over 265 Herring Gulls and 46 Great Black-backed Gulls (PJ).

14th
14°C
Sunny intervals
WSW3
A Raven was reported flying over (WMBC) and in the roost there were 4 (adult, 3 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ).
15th
Sat
 
14°C
Afternoon drizzle
NW3
The Great Northern Diver was seen near the dam and off the South Shore. At 13:50 two Ravens flew north over the Swag where there were also 42 Goldeneye, 59 Tufted Ducks, 12 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 23 Mallard, 124 Black-headed Gulls, a Sparrowhawk and 6 Bullfinches. There were a further 380 Tufted Ducks and a Gadwall on the Slurry Pool (GE). Several Snipe and a Kingfisher were also reported.

An adult and 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull were seen in the roost before drizzle and poor visibility curtailed the fun! (PJ, GE).

16th
Sun
11°C
Drizzle clearing to sunny pm
NNW2
Water levels have risen over 20 cm to 132cm off maximum since the sluice was closed last weekend. An adult Mediterranean Gull took a nap on the pier during the afternoon. The WeBS count produced 40 Mute Swans, 749 Coot, 12 Moorhens, 173 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 8 Wigeon, 537 Tufted Ducks, 39 Goldeneye, 11 Pochard, 1 redhead Goosander, 1 Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Cormorants, a Heron, 3 Common Gulls, 105 Lapwings and a Kingfisher (NS, GE). At the Slurry Pool, at dusk, around 500 Starlings were wheeling around prior to roosting in the reeds (GE).
Adult Mediterranean Gull © G Evans
On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Goosanders, 2 Herons, a Pheasant, a large flock of Fieldfares, a small flock of Redwings, a Goldcrest and 30 Long-tailed Tits (GR).
17th
 
10°C
Heavy rain
WSW3

A Slavonian Grebe was present close to the dam during the afternoon (IW, JW).

18th
 
10°C
Sunny intervals
NNW3
A Short-eared Owl was hunting over the North Heath during the afternoon (IW). The Great Northern Diver was still present and the Slavonian Grebe was seen to catch at least 12 Bullheads (PW). It was still present near the dam wall at dusk (GE). Two dead pythons were found dumped in the wet scrub next to the boardwalk! One was collected and the RSPCA is going to investigate (TK).
19th
 
10°C
Cloudy
WNW4
An adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose was photographed on the lake during the morning (JHo). The Slavonian Grebe, 10 Little Grebes, Great Northern Diver were present along with 7 Goosanders, 8 Teal, Sparrowhawk, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 3rd w Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ, GR).
Pale-bellied Brent Goose © J Horton
20th
11°C
Cloudy
WNW4
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and 2 (2nd and 3rd w) Yellow-legged Gulls were seen in the roost (PJ, IW).
21st
8°C
Sunny intervals
NNW4

A Grey Wagtail was on the dam. Near the Feeding Station there was a Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll and a Woodcock. There was a good flock of 40 Goldfinches, 4 Siskin, 5 Bullfinches, several Fieldfares and a Green Woodpecker. On the Swag there was a Wigeon and a male Shoveler. A Little Grebe was on the main water and a Buzzard near the A5 (EO). 11 Cormorants were also present (PW).

In the gull roost there was an adult Caspian Gull on the raft and also a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (PJ).
22nd
Sat
4°C
Cloudy
NNW4

A Water Pipit was reported on the South Shore (Birdguides). The Great Northern Diver, 8 Cormorants, 17 Goosanders, 44 Goldeneye, 7 Gadwall, 14 Pochard, 3 Herons and over 250 Lapwings were present (GE). Two Short-eared Owls were hunting over the North Heath during the afternoon (SR, DG). The gull roost held a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the 2 (adult and 3rd w) Caspian Gulls that were present earlier at Stubbers Green (JA, PJ).

At Ryders Mere there was a Whooper Swan (CM).
At Stubbers Green there was a 3rd w Caspian Gull (PJ, GE) and later an adult flew in which appeared to be the same as the one seen at Dosthill recently (AC, PJ).  
3rd winter Caspian Gull © G Evans
23rd
Sun
7°C
Heavy wintry showers
WNW5
A case of trying to avoid the downpours today. Between soakings the following were seen: the 3rd w Caspian Gull, 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull, the Great Northern Diver, Short-eared Owl (PJ, IW, ESC), 21 Pochard, 12 Goosanders, 39 Goldeneye, 414 Tufted (on the Slurry Pool but those on the Swag not counted), 6 Teal (GE).

On Cuckoo Bank a Yellowhammer, Stonechat and Pheasant were seen but did not stay long as weather was vile! (GR).

The 3rd w Caspian Gull was also present at Stubbers Green during the morning (GE, PJ, IW, N, EGP).
3rd w Caspian Gull © P Parsons

24th
5°C
Cloudy
N4
The Great Northern Diver, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 7 Cormorants were present (PW) and a new adult Caspian Gull was found in the roost (JA).
25th
6°C
Sunny
NNW4
The Great Northern Diver was still present along with a 1st w Mediterranean Gull and a Short-eared Owl (IW).
26th
10°C
Cloudy
W2

A Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, and Lesser Redpoll were seen on the North Shore (JH).

On the Cuckoo Bank heathland there were 3 Jack Snipe, 4 Snipe, a pair of Stonechat, 30 Lesser Redpolls, 9 Skylarks, 9 Meadow Pipits, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and a Goldcrest. 11 Grey Partridges and a female/imm Stonechat were on the fields (JH).
27th
10°C
Heavy showers
SW5
28th
6°C
Sunny
S2
 

The Great Northern Diver was present during the morning (GR). A still, calm day with flat water.  2 Grey Wagtails were on the North Shore also 7 Teal. Around the Feeding Station there were 2 Coal Tits, 1 Willow Tit, a Green Woodpecker, 9 Long-tailed Tits with 1 Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 7 Bullfinches with 4 more in other areas. 7 Red Deer were on the hillock by the woods. On the Swag there were over 30 Pochard, 15 Goosander and the odd Wigeon. 9 Little Grebes were on the main lake and over 100 Lapwings by the ski club (EO). The gull roost was rather small and disturbed but an adult Mediterranean Gull was noted (PJ, IW).

At Stubbers Green the adult and 3rd w Caspian Gulls were present (EGP).
29th
Sat
2°C
Fog
N2
 

The only record for the day was a most unwelcome one, as a Mink was seen near the boardwalk between Fly Pool and Fly Bay (GR).

A 3rd winter Caspian Gull was at Stubbers Green (PJ, JA).
30th
Sun
4°C
Overcast
N2-3
 
Short-eared Owl © G Evans
 A Winter Atlas count for tetrad SK0309, which includes the lake north of the Island, the Swag and Slurry Pool produced totals that included 12 Mute Swans, 431 Tufted Ducks, 61 Goldeneye, 21 Goosanders, 11 Pochard, 1 Ruddy Duck, 94 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 6 Shovelers, 3 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 30 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 419 Coot, 6 Moorhens, 1 Heron, 4 Snipe, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The highlights were a very obliging Short-eared Owl over the North Heath (where there were also 8 Red Deer) and a Woodcock that flew from near the Feeding Station (GE) where a Treecreeper was seen (DG). The adult Mediterranean Gull was again seen near the pier and a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost (PJ, JA). There has been no record of the Great Northern Diver since the 28th.