- 1st
- Sat
|
- 17°C
- Rain
clearing by early evening
- SSW3
|
| Of the 8 Great Crested Grebes on the
Swag, 2 pairs were still sitting, 2 were asleep in the middle and
one pair had 3 very young chicks that spent much of the time being
carried on the back of one of the parents. A total of 36 Great
Crested Grebes was counted. Other sightings included 69 Mute Swans, 3 Common Sandpipers, 40 Lapwings and the Little Ringed
Plover family (GE). |
|
- 2nd
- Sun
|
- 22°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW2
|
| A Dunlin was present (PW) and 8 Common
Sandpipers were on the North Shore (per PW). An evening walk to the Swag and Slurry
Pool produced 59 Tufted Ducks and the gull roost now numbers at
least 450 large gulls and 2000 Black-headed Gulls. Because of
intermediate states of moult from now on we will be using the
'calendar year (cy) method of aging gulls which basically means that
any gull born this year is 1cy, born last year is 2cy and so on (GE). |
| At Stubbers Green there were 7 Yellow-legged
Gulls including the usual adult, 4 4cy and 2 3cy
birds. Balearic B5VZ was present again. Two intermedius
(4cy and adult) Lesser Black-backs were seen. Danish VO33 and
a 4cy with black ring and yellow DC were also
present (PJ). |
|
- 3rd
|
- 18°C
- Sunny
intervals
- S3
|
| A Greenshank put in
a brief appearance and 4 Common Sandpipers, a Ringed
Plover and 6 Common Terns were also noted (PW). 2 probable Yellow-legged
Gulls were loafing on the raft, 30 Goldfinches and a Buzzard
were along the by-pass, a Stoat scampered across the road at
the north end of the dam and at dusk around 30 large gulls were
flying in from the south indicating that at least some of the
Stubbers Green gulls may be starting to roost at Chasewater (GE). |
|
- 4th
|
- 20°C
- Rain
- S4
|
| 26 Common/Arctic Terns flying
south-west over Brownhills West at around 07:40 had clearly passed
over the lake and gave hopes of a day of passage (PJ) but by 08:15
all seemed very quiet apart from 3 Yellow-legged Gulls
amongst 50 Lesser Black-backs on the Waterski jetty. A family group
(2 adults , 2 juvs) of 4 Common Terns were present and another adult
flew out to the south-west carrying a small fish. At dusk there were
2 Oystercatchers and the gull roost was impressive with 2250
Black-headed Gulls and over 500 Lesser Black-backs, including some
very dark birds, and 1-2 Yellow-legged Gulls but the awful
light prevented detailed observation (GE). |
|
|
|
| Two of the three Yellow-legged
Gulls present in the morning in company with Lesser Black-backs
with an interesting variety of shades of grey. The left photo shows
a 4cy or older Yellow-legged and the right photo shows a probable
3cy bird since it showed a tail band and secondary bar in flight
(GE). |
| At Stubbers Green there was an adult,
4cy and 2 3cy Yellow-legged Gulls, the very dark 4cy intermedius
Lesser Black-back and 3-5 other possible intermedius
birds. Several ringed Lesser Black-backs were present: the Belgian blue GR.AN,
a
Ribble Estuary black ring with yellow RORN (PJ), a Walney
black with yellow W5UF, blue with orange ACW (also
seen at the Vigo Landfill), the Danish V033 and the
Yellow-legged Gull B5VZ from the Balearics. Also at the Vigo
was a Lesser Black-back with black and yellow B:N (RC). |
|
-
5th
|
-
- 21°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSW3
|
| The gull roost was heavily disturbed by
boating but many gulls settled north of the Island where good views
were had of 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, 8 intermedius
type Lesser Black-backs and an adult Common Gull. 3 Oystercatchers
settled on the Island and probably a different 4 flew in
later. Common Sandpiper(s) were heard and 2+ Common Terns
were present (GE, PJ). |
| At Highfields South Landfill there were
8+ (2 adult, 5 4cy, 1 3cy) Yellow-legged Gulls,
including Balearic B5VZ and 3 intermedius type Lesser
Black-backs. A possible adult Caspian Gull was seen. The Bristol ringed A:W argenteus Herring Gull
was seen and the Buzzard with a rufous tail was present. When they
took flight they circled Stubbers Green but then most headed north
towards Chasewater to roost (PJ, GE). |
|
- 6th
|
- 20°C
- Sunny
intervals
- NNW1
|
|
During the evening there were at least 12 Common Terns,
2 Common Sandpipers and, most surprising of all, a very early
1st winter Goldeneye. The gull roost numbered about the same as
on the 4th and held 8 Yellow-legged Gulls but the Stubbers
Green Caspian Gull was not seen (GE).
|
- A very early Goldeneye very late in the evening
(GE)
|
|
|
|
| An adult Caspian Gull was at Stubbers Green
and on the Highfields South
Landfill. Old primaries 10, 9 and 8 are distinctively marked, p6 and
7 are missing and p5 is half grown and has a thin black band across
its width. This state of moult is typical of Caspian Gull at this
time of year. What do you think? (GE). |
|
-
7th
|
- 18°C
- Rain
at night. Sunny intervals
- NNW2
|
| A drake Common Scoter was a
first for the year and it managed to survive the day by flying to
the Swag where it was still present at dusk. Three Yellow-legged
Gulls, 16 Common Terns, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common
Sandpipers, 120 Lapwings, an Oystercatcher, a Kingfisher,
Buzzard and 2 Kestrels were also present. On the Slurry Pool the
pair of Great Crested Grebes have at least 2 chicks. One of the 3
remaining cygnets from the Plant Swag pair of Mute Swans, now
resident at the north end of the lake, has been taken into care with
suspected blue-green algae poisoning (GE). A juvenile Mediterranean
Gull was seen in the evening (JA). |
|
|
|
|
On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Little
Grebes, a Stonechat, Buzzard and 2 Kestrels.
Butterflies were not as numerous as 2 weeks ago: <80 Meadow
Browns and Gatekeepers, 10 Peacocks, about 10 Small Heaths and Small
Skippers, odd Commas, 3 Painted Ladies, 3 Common Blues, about 5
Silver-Y moths and several Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on ragwort.
About 70 Common Blue Damselflies, 10 Blue-tailed and 20 Emerald
Damselflies, 5 Brown Hawkers, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers, 40 Common and
15 Ruddy Darters (EO). |
| At Stubbers Green the adult Caspian
Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, including B5VZ and
the Lesser Black-back GR:AN were present (GE). At Highfields
South Landfill there were 6-7 Yellow-legged Gulls, including B5VZ
and a 4-5cy argentatus type Herring Gull (PJ). |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Adult Caspian Gull at Stubbers Green.
The brownish eye, lack of gonys angle and the distinctive underside
of primary 10 stand out well, but what do you think? (GE). |
|
- 8th
- Sat
|
- 21°C
- Sunny
- NNW2
|
| Blue-green algae is causing a real
problem especially around the Island and near the Pier where the
whole bay is covered by a turquoise and green toxic scum that has a
sickly smell of seaweed soup. Despite the algae being a proven
killer of dogs, the Newfoundland Dogs and their owners were still
swimming around Fly Bay today, which admittedly is relatively clear
at the moment but the whole shoreline does fall within the dog
exclusion zone that LDC have drawn up and can be seen by
clicking here.
I wonder how many dog owners have seen it?
Large numbers of Black-headed Gulls were on the
water this morning with numbers totaling over 1100 at 11:00. A Ringed
Plover was on the Sailing Shore, a Yellow-legged Gull was
on the raft and 3 Cormorants circled the lake (GE). |
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Hobbies,
2 Ravens and a Buzzard. Butterflies were numerous in
particular Gatekeeper and Large White and a few Painted Ladies were
still about (MY). |
|
- 9th
- Sun
|
- 21°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW2
|
| A very busy day on the South Shore with
Dragon Boat racing the main attraction. The patch of buddleia near
the Rangers' office was covered with 60 Peacocks, 15 Painted Ladies
and 2 Red Admirals but no Small Tortoiseshells which have sadly
become very scarce.
The 4 cattle from the
Anglesey Basin have been moved to the heathland translocation site
at the north end of the dam. The grazing period will be dependant
upon monitoring the site condition and vegetation structure but is
likely to be until the end of September (JL).
|
| The new pool at Kingswood had attracted
over 80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, many of which were dark enough to
be intermedius, 2 Herring Gulls and overhead two Hobbies
made an unsuccessful joint attack on a Swift which not only
lived up to its name but also demonstrated incredible ability to
change direction at speed (GE). |
|
- 10th
|
- 21°C
- Light
rain
- SSW3
|
| 2 Turnstones were on the North
Shore during the afternoon (GR). |
| At Stubbers Green the highest count of Yellow-legged
Gulls was 9 but up to 13 individuals were seen during the day
and also a possible 4th cy argentatus Herring Gull. Ringed
Lesser Black-backs included V033, AVV, ASC and
blue with orange DVA (PJ). |
|
- 11th
|
- 22°C
- Sunny
intervals
- NW2
|
| Flocks of 6 and 4 Dunlin were
flying around but not seen on the ground. Also seen were a
Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, female Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and
Kestrel. 14 species of butterfly were seen including 1 Small
Tortoiseshell, 2 Small Skippers, 3 Small Heaths, 4 Specked Woods, 5
Common Blues and a Small Copper. 2 Silver Y and 3 Six-spotted
Burnets were also noted along with 50 Common Blue Damselflies, 5
Brown Hawkers, 3 Ruddy and 4 Common Darters and a male Common Hawker
(EO). A Common Sandpiper, a Common Tern and 5 Buzzards were
also seen (JT). |
|
- 12th
|
- 23°C
- Light
showers
- W4
|
| 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 (adult and
juvenile) Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpipers and an Oystercatcher
were present (PW). |
|
- 13th
|
- 22°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W2
|
| 2 juvenile Dunlin were present
and a Green Sandpiper flew over calling (PW). |
| At Stubbers Green there were 4-5
streaky headed adult Yellow-legged Gulls, an adult intermedius
Lesser Black-back and one with ring BN. A probable 4th cy argentatus
Herring Gull was also present (PJ). |
|
- 14th
|
- 20°C
- Cloudy
- SW3
|
| A juvenile Dunlin was on the
South Shore (PW). |
| In the Stubbers Green - Highfields
South Landfill area there were 5-8 Yellow-legged Gulls, at
least 7 intermedius type Lesser Black-backs and 2
probable (4th cy and adult) argentatus Herring Gulls.
Lesser Black-back ring numbers were blue with orange AVV and GRAN,
lemon with black VF, black with yellow HYON, red with
yellow 053K and black with silver J67K which was a
darkish 4th cy type which was also in Norway on 8th July 07 and at
Stubbers Green in June and July 08 (PJ). |
|
- 15th
- Sat
|
- 20°C
- Cloudy
- SW4
|
|
- 16th
- Sun
|
- 20°C
- Cloudy
- SW4
|
| An adult Turnstone was present (PW). |
|
- 17th
|
- 21°C
- Cloudy
- W3
|
| The Dunlin and a juvenile Ringed
Plover were present (PW). |
|
- 18th
|
- 22°C
- Sunny
intervals
- WSW3
|
|
A short walk along the South Shore produced a Sand
Martin and a Dunlin by the pier (EO). A Common Tern was also
present (PW).
|
|
On Cuckoo Bank a Raven was croaking and was
joined by a second as they soared over Eights Wood. There were 2 juv Stonechats,
35 Goldfinches, 4 Buzzards, 15 Swallows and 2 Little Grebes. The
following butterfly numbers were counted: 50 Meadow Browns, 50
Gatekeepers, 3 Specked Woods, 6 Common Blues, 2 Small Heaths, 3 Small
Skippers, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Painted Ladies, 5 Peacocks and a
few whites. Also noted were 3 Brown Hawkers, 1 Emperor, 2 Black-tailed
Skimmers, 30+ Common and up to 20 Ruddy Darters and 50 Common Blue and
40+ Emerald Damselflies (EO).
|
|
- 19th
|
- 24°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSW3
|
| The Dunlin was still tolerating
life on the South Shore (PW, GE), a Wheatear was on the
Sailing Shore and 17 Common Terns briefly appeared (PW). There was
also a report of <30 Sandwich Terns passing through (per
PW) and more details of this remarkable record would be welcomed. |
|
- 20th
|
- 21°C
- Heavy
Showers
- SW4
|
| A young Kestrel was perched
on the Education Centre fence and a little gang of Tufted Ducklings
were doing a grand job of learning to dive for food with their mum on
the main lake (N). A Common Sandpiper,
60+ Lapwings, Common Tern, 13 Swifts, 30 Sand Martins, 20
Swallows and 10 House Martins were also present. A fish survey has started
but the first trawl was made near the pier where large quantities of
Blue-green algae have sunk to the lake bed causing problems when
hauling in the net and a depleted oxygen supply to trapped fish,
several of which died. The haul was abandoned and most of the catch
escaped unidentified but the 30+ examined were year old Perch and also
2 Ruffe and a small Pike. It is not known how successful subsequent
trawls were in other locations (GE). |
|
- 21st
|
- 20°C
- Light
showers
- SW3
|
| A new juvenile Dunlin (PW) and 10
Pied Wagtails (EO) were on the South Shore, 7 Swifts over the lake (JHu)
and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were on the
pontoon (JT). |
| At Stubbers Green there were 5 adult or
near adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an odd 4th cy type argentatus
Herring Gull or Yellow-legged Gull or even a hybrid (PJ). |
|
-
22nd
- Sat
|
- 19°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW2
|
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 4 Buzzards and
a Hobby. Also Emerald, Common Blue and Azure Damselflies, Large
Red Damselfly, Common Darters, Brown Hawkers and a Black Darter (N). |
| At Stubbers Green there were 4 adult and
a 4th cy Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 intermedius
Lesser Black-backs and ringed birds including VF, BN and
two adults with red with white PYC (ringed at Orfordness,
Suffolk) and 9JF (PJ). |
|
- 23rd
- Sun
|
- 20°C
- Cloudy
- SSE3
|
| The WeBS count produced 63 Mute Swans,
30 Canada Geese, 464 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 188 Mallard, 136 Tufted Ducks,
34 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Ruddy Ducks and 162
Lapwings (NS). 6 Common Sandpipers were on the
Island during the morning (RSo). 3 Cormorants flew over and 8 Common
Terns were present at dusk (GE). |
|
- 24th
|
- 19°C
- Heavy
showers
- SSW2
|
|
- 25th
|
- 20°C
- Light
showers
- SW3
|
| 6 Ringed Plovers and a Wheatear
were on the Sailing Shore (GR, PW), an adult Yellow-legged Gull
and a Cormorant were on the raft and a Buzzard was over the Raceway
Heath (GE). |
|
-
26th
|
- 20°C
- Rain
- S5
|
| A 1st cy Mediterranean Gull was
present along with 6 Common Terns, 5 Ringed Plovers, 3
Common Sandpipers, 140 Lapwings, 4 Cormorants, 2 Wheatears,
12 Swifts, 80 mixed hirundines, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 229 Tufted Ducks and
2 Little Grebes (GE, PW, GR). |
|
- 27th
-
|
- 20°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSW2
|
| 5 Ringed Plovers, 5 Common
Sandpipers, 3 Common Terns, 4 Cormorants and 6 Swifts
were present (PW). |
|
- 28th
|
- 17°C
- Heavy
showers
- W5
|
| The most striking feature noted during
a brief look at the gull roost was that the 1cy Black-headed Gulls
showed the whole range of plumages from very fresh, full juvenile to
full 1st winter (GE). |
|
-
29th
- Sat
|
- 18°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W4
|
| An adult Hobby and a Redshank
flew through and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present
throughout the day. A large influx of Tufted Ducks has occurred with
over 400 present. Also present were 3 broods of Great Crested
Grebes, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Ruddy Ducks and 2 Common Terns. The gull
roost was impressive with 2034 large gulls counted, the vast
majority being lesser Black-backs (PJ). 5 Buzzards and 2 Common
Sandpipers were also seen (GR) and 137 Canada Geese were on the Swag
(GE). |
|
-
30th
- Sun
|
- 19°C
- Cloudy,
rain in pm
- SW4
|
| 3 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin
were present. |
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 2
Buzzards and 2 pairs of Little Grebes (GR). |
| At Stubbers Green there
were 3 (adult, 4cy, 3cy) Yellow-legged Gulls and ringed
Lesser Black-backs included VF and 9JF and another with green ring and white E654.
There were at least 4
adult intermedius, including one
with a black ring and yellow JP09 which was ringed in Norway
on 4/7/06, was at sea in Germany on 24/5/08 and spent 15/7/08 till
4/9/08 at Stubbers Green. Also a
darkish 3cy bird with blue and white J8NY which was ringed in Norway on
15/7/06, was
at Stubbers Green on 26/8/08 and in Norway only 21 days ago
on 9/8/09 (PJ). It would seem that these Norwegian birds are at
least using our area as an early autumn migratory staging post. I
wonder where they winter (GE). |
|
|
31st
|
- 19°C
- Cloudy
- SW4
-
|
| An adult Yellow-legged Gull was
on the raft and 4 Swifts over the lake (GE). Also noted were
3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin (NS), up to 4 Common
Sandpipers, 1 Common Tern, 12 Swifts, 60
hirundines, 15 Pied Wagtails and 8 Goldfinches. Butterfly totals
included 5 Speckled Woods and 2 Small Heaths and dragonflies
numbered 1 Brown Hawker, 12 darters and 2 Common Blue Damselflies (EO). |
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 30 Swallows,
1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Green Woodpecker (EO) and a
Raven (NS).
Butterfly and dragonfly totals included 2 Gatekeepers, 5 Meadow
Browns, 2 Common Blues, 4 Speckled Woods, 7 Painted Ladies, 1 Small
Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Common Hawker,
45 Common and Ruddy Darters with 6 Common Blue and 8 Emerald
Damselflies. The strong breeze kept most of the insects down (EO). |
| at Stubbers Green there was a near
adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Lesser Black-back with red
ring and white PYC (GE). |
|
