- 1st
-
|
- 5°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSE3
|
| More trees are being felled on the
heath near the end of the canal. A Dunlin flew out to the
west, 2 Goosanders were near the dam and up to 30 Cormorants, 10
Teal, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Grey Wagtails and 2 Jays were also seen (PW). |
|
- 2nd
|
- 8°C
- Sunny
intervals
- S3
|
| A Raven was mobbed by a Carrion
Crow over the Slurry Pool and 2 Green Woodpeckers were nearby. Scrub
clearance has started near the Feeding Station (DG). We will need to
monitor the effect of this heathland management on the nationally
declining Willow Tit population but I'm sure that LDC will have
carefully considered the issue in its management plan (GE). |
|
- 3rd
|
-
- 6°C
- Light
showers
- W4
|
The Starling roost provided
another good display this evening. A Sparrowhawk made five attempts
at making a kill but failed every time. You can just see the
Sparrowhawk under the flock in the second photo (GR).
|
|
|
- © Geoff Richardson
-
|
|
- 4th
|
- 6°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW2
|
| The gull roost held the usual 4cy Caspian
Gull, 4 (3 adult, 3cy) Yellow-legged Gulls, the adult Mediterranean
Gull and at least 120 Great Black-backed Gulls (PJ, IW). |
| The 3cy Caspian Gull was
reported from Stubbers Green along with 8 Goosanders (per PJ). |
|
-
5th
- Sat
|
- 10°C
- Sunny
becoming
- wet
late afternoon
- W4
|
|
The regular adult Mediterranean
Gull was on the South Shore along with 275 Lapwings. On the Swag
there were 72 Pochard, 49 Goldeneye, 3 Goosanders, 6 Gadwall, 14
Wigeon and a Kingfisher and on the Slurry Pool there were a further
4 Pochard and a Goosander with the Tufted Ducks. At the north end of
the lake there were over 50 Great Crested Grebes and a further 14
Goldeneye (total=63) (GE). The gull roost held 2 (3cy, 4cy) Caspian
Gulls and 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls amongst the
impressive but uncounted numbers of large gulls and Black-headed
Gulls (IW, JA, GE). |
- Anglesey Basin (© G Evans)
|
- Adult Mediterranean Gull (© G Evans)
|
|
At Stubbers Green the 3cy Caspian Gull was
seen and 36 Goosanders were present during the morning (PJ). |
|
- 6th
- Sun
|
- 9°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW4
|
| Two Woodcocks were near the
Feeding Station (IW) where a Willow Tit was heard (NS). Other
totals included 75 Goldeneye, 4 Goosanders, 38 Common Snipe (SR), 88
Pochard, 13 Wigeon and 10 Gadwall (GE). The adult Mediterranean
Gull roosted along with 3 (2 adult, 2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls,
the 3cy Caspian Gull and a probable adult bird (IW, SR, JA,
GE). |
| The 3cy Caspian Gull and a Peregrine
were seen at Stubbers Green (IW). |
|
-
7th
|
- 8°C
- Heavy
rain
- S4
|
|
At Stubbers Green the 3cy Caspian
Gull, over 500 Herring Gulls, 70+ Great Black-backs and a Curlew were reported (WMBC). |
|
- 8th
|
- 8°C
- Cloudy
with drizzle
- S3
|
| On Cuckoo Bank there were Teal, Wigeon,
Heron and a Great Spotted Woodpecker but no sign of any owls (IW). |
| At Stubbers Green the 3cy Caspian
Gull was present along with 42 Great Black-backed Gulls (WMBC). |
|
- 9th
|
- 10°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSW3
|
|
12 Goosanders were in Fly Bay and over 50 Cormorants
were present (PW). The 3cy and 4cy Caspian Gulls were in the roost
along with 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls (IW).
|
|
- 10th
|
- 8°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W3
|
| Water is again being drawn off and more
trees are being felled near the canal basin. The adult Mediterranean
Gull was on the South Shore (PW). A Short-eared Owl was hunting
over the North Heath at dusk but the Starlings are no longer
roosting in the Slurry Pool reed beds (GR). |
|
- 11th
|
- 5°C
- Cloudy
- NE2
|
| In the roost there were at least 2720
Lesser Black-backs, 1100 Herring Gulls, 6 (4 adult, 2 2cy) Yellow-legged
Gulls, the adult Mediterranean Gull, the 3cy and 4cy Caspian
Gulls but a big decline in Black-headed Gull numbers (PJ). |
| The 3cy Caspian Gull was also
reported from Stubbers Green (per PJ). |
|
- 12th
- Sat
|
- 7°C
- Sunny
intervals
- NE2
|
| Totals for the day include 26
Goosanders (GR), the adult Mediterranean Gull (BG), 77
Goldeneye, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 12 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 2 Shovelers, 50+
Cormorants, 5 Jack Snipe, a Kingfisher and 6 Red Deer. At dusk 2 flocks of around 100
Starlings wheeled around the Slurry Pool but appeared to drop down
to roost either in the wood to the west of the Swag or further into
Norton (GE). The gull roost held the 3cy and 4cy Caspian Gulls,
3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls (IW) and on the Swag and north
end of the lake there was probably one more adult, a 4cy and 2 2cy Yellow-legged
Gulls (GE). |
- 2cy Yellow-legged Gull (GE).
|
| In the Stubbers Green / Vigo Landfill
area there were 600+ Herring Gulls, 50+ Great Black-backs, an adult Yellow-legged
Gull, the 3cy Caspian Gull, a Peregrine and a Raven
(PJ). |
|
- 13th
- Sun
|
- 6°C
- Sunny
intervals
- N2
|
| The adult Mediterranean Gull was
present during the day along with 76 Goldeneye, 8 Goosanders, 2
Ruddy Ducks and 25 Lesser Redpolls (SR). An Iceland Gull was
a pleasant surprise in the roost tonight. Found in failing light its
age couldn't be confirmed beyond juv/2cy although it did have a
clearly demarcated pale bill with black tip and pale, rather
unevenly marked, scapulars and coverts. Also seen was a distant
probable 4cy Caspian Gull and 5 (2 adult, 4cy, 2 2cy) Yellow-legged
Gulls (PJ, IW, SR, JJH, GE). |
| The 3cy Caspian Gull was present
at Stubbers Green (PJ). |
|
- 14th
|
- 5°C
- Light
rain
- NW1
|
|
The Feeding Station was attracting the regulars and a
dog owner was deliberately sending his two dogs into the Slurry Pool
reeds in the hope of making a killing. Apparently this man has been
hunting with dogs for many years (DG).
|
|
The 3cy Caspian Gull was reported from Stubbers
Green (per PJ).
|
|
- 15th
|
- 4°C
- Light
rain
- SSE3
|
| The imm Iceland Gull was present
in the roost along with the 4cy Caspian Gull, 2500 Lesser
Black-backs, at least 1650 Herring Gulls and 3 (adult, 2 2cy) Yellow-legged
Gulls (PJ). |
|
- 16th
|
- 4°C
- Cloudy
- NE3
|
| The gull roost was larger than last
night and a very probable 2cy Caspian Gull was present along
with an adult Yellow-legged Gull and adult Mediterranean
Gull (PJ). |
|
- 17th
|
- 3°C
-3°C
- Sunny
intervals
- NE4
|
| The Mediterranean Gull was
present and the imm Iceland Gull appeared in the roost at
16:15 (PJ). |
|
- 18th
|
- 0°C
-5°C
- Sunny
intervals
- N4
|
| Two Willow Tits were at the
Feeding Station (EGP). There was a noticeable change in the
composition of the gull roost tonight with over 2430 Herring Gulls
but only around 1400 Lesser Black-backs. The 4cy Caspian Gull
arrived at 15:00 and the imm Iceland Gull at 16:15 and 2
adult Yellow-legged Gulls were also present (PJ, IW, EGP,
JA). |
|
- 19th
- Sat
|
- 2°C
-3°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W2
|
| The Slurry Pool and Swag were almost
completely frozen resulting in the wildfowl having no refuge when
the first Ski-boat came on the lake at 11:20. Most of the 97
Cormorants departed to the north-east but most of the 39 Goosanders
and the Goldeneye flock managed to find refuge north of the island
along with a record 76 Great Crested Grebes. 4 Shovelers, 3 Gadwall,
3 Ruddy Ducks, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk were
also seen (GE). The gull roost was impressive with probably more
Herring Gulls and certainly more Lesser Black-backs than last night.
A new adult Mediterranean Gull was present, along with 5 (4
adults, 2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls, the 3cy Caspian Gull and
the 2cy Iceland Gull (PJ, IW, EGP, GE et al). |
|
|
|
| Close views of the Iceland Gull
at Stubbers Green (photos © G Evans) show it to be a 2cy bird (PJ,
EGP, IW, GE) and the 3cy Caspian
Gull was also seen (IW, N). |
| At Silver Court along
Brownhills High Street the heavily laden Rowan trees are being
stripped by 20+ Blackbirds (GE). |
|
- 20th
- Sun
|
- 1°C
-2°C
- Sunny
- W4
|
| At least 107
Cormorants were present along with 40 Goosanders, 42 Teal, 8 Gadwall,
3 Ruddy Ducks, 284 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochard, 50+ Goldeneye, a Dunlin, 3
Grey Herons, 2 Grey Wagtails. The gull roost held the 2cy Iceland
Gull, the 3cy and 4cy Caspian Gulls, 4 (2 adults, 3cy, 2cy)
Yellow-legged Gulls, the usual adult Mediterranean Gull,
over 150 Great Black-backed Gulls and an estimated 15000
Black-headed Gulls (IW,GE, PJ, JA). |
- The only ice free water on the Swag (GE)
|
- Frozen Slurry Pool (GE)
|
- South Shore (GE)
|
- Red Deer stag on the North Shore (© N Stych)
|
- The 2cy Iceland Gull
was again present at Stubbers Green during the morning (© J
Almond).
|
|
- 21st
|
-
- 2°C
-4°C
- Sunny
- SW3
|
| 110 Cormorants were present during the
day with most departing to the east at dusk when the 2cy Iceland
Gull was seen in the large gull roost (GE). |
| At Stubbers Green the Iceland Gull and
an adult Yellow-legged Gull were noted (RC). |
|
-
22nd
|
- 0°C
-4°C
- Sunny
- SW3
|
| The willows at the base of the dam are
now being cleared. The northern end of the lake was frozen allowing
reasonable counts to be made from the South Shore. Counts included 29
Goosanders, 9 Gadwall, 90 Cormorants, 67 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 7
Pochard and 6 Herons. The gull roost was very impressive with the 2cy Iceland
Gull, 3cy Caspian Gull, 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls and
adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the 15000 Black-headed Gulls,
3000+ Herring Gulls, 2500+ Lesser Black-backs, 100+ Great Black-backs
and several Common Gulls (PJ, IW, GE). |
| At Stubbers Green 7 Golden Plovers flew
through, a yellow-legged argentatus Herring Gull was
present and the 2cy Iceland Gull was there until 09:05 and then
at Highfields South Landfill (PJ, SR). |
|
- 23rd
|
- 1°C
-1°C
- Sunny
intervals. Snow in evening
- S2
|
| A Golden Plover flew over (PW),
42 Goosanders and 9 Gadwall were near the dam but there were fewer
Cormorants than recently. There was another impressive gull roost
with Lesser Black-backs possibly outnumbering Herring Gulls. Two Caspian
Gulls were present, one being an adult and the other the
2cy that was seen on the 16th and probably the same as the one
recently recorded in Warwickshire. 7 (2cy, 2 3cy, 4 adults) Yellow-legged
Gulls and the 2cy Iceland Gull were also present (PJ, GE,
IW). |
- Record shot of 2cy Caspian Gull (GE).
|
|
- 24th
|
- 2°C
-2°C
- Fog
- SE2
|
|
A cold, grey and foggy day with snow lying and only the
usual assemblage of Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallard and Coot clearly
visible on the South Shore whilst a few indistinct silhouettes of
Goldeneye and Goosanders drifted by out on the lake (GE).
|
|
|
Shoals of small Perch and Roach were in the outlet pool
at the very end of the canal and as can be seen from the photos (© N
Stych) they were clearly gasping for air, implying that their huge
numbers had depleted the oxygen in the water. It seems likely that
they had found their way down the sluice from the lake, perhaps having
taken refuge from the large numbers of Cormorants, Goosanders and
Great Crested Grebes that have been very actively feeding just off the
dam for the past few days.
|
|
|
|
|
These retrospective comments were written on 25th
January 2010 when these photos became available. They certainly help
to explain the mystery regarding the eventual fate of these
unfortunate fish but not why nothing was done to help them until it
was too late (GE).
|
|
- 25th
|
- 2°C
1°C
- Sunny
intervals
- WNW3
|
- A five minute visit to the South Shore during
the morning produced some new arrivals! (GE)
|
| The 3cy Caspian Gull appeared at
Stubbers Green for a couple of minutes around 11:00 am (PJ). |
|
-
26th
- Sat
|
- 7°C
2°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW3
|
| A Chiffchaff was near the Swag
and over 20 Goosanders were on the lake (JH). Due to the Christmas
closure of local refuse tips the gull roost was reduced in size,
although there were still around 10000 Black-headed Gulls present. A
2cy and 3cy Yellow-legged Gull roosted and the same adult Caspian
Gull as on the 23rd was seen well on the ice when the following
details were noted: cold grey legs and pale bill with diffuse orange
gonys spot only on the lower mandible (PJ). It was later seen on
the water (PJ, JA, JH, GE). |
|
- 27th
- Sun
|
- 6°C
-3°C
- Sunny
intervals
- NW3
|
| 57 Goosanders, 64 Goldeneye and 9
Pochard were counted. The gull roost was large but difficult to work
with the majority of birds head-on, facing into the north-westerly
wind. However, 3 adult or sub-adult Yellow-legged Gulls, the
2cy Caspian Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were
all noted along with a 3cy Herring Gull carrying a red ring with
black, unread, lettering (PJ, GE). |
- A record shot of the Mediterranean Gull (GE)
|
|
|
|
| These two Yellow-legged
Gulls spent much of the time together on the ice. Although the bird
on the right looked adult at rest, it had extensive dark markings on
the primary coverts and was probably a 4cy bird (GE). |
| At Stubbers Green the 3cy Caspian
Gull and 104 Great Black-backs were seen (PJ). |
|
- 28th
|
- 3°C
-1°C
- Early
fog then sunny
intervals
- ESE1
|
| Over half of the lake was frozen and
Goosander numbers were down from yesterday although at least 40
Great Crested Grebes were still present. The gull roost was
difficult to study due to large numbers of birds standing close
together on the ice, however, 2 (3cy, 2cy) Caspian Gulls, 3
adult Yellow-legged Gulls and the adult Mediterranean Gull
were found (JA, PJ, GE). |
| At Stubbers Green the fog lifted to
reveal the 3cy Caspian Gull (photos below © GE) and an adult Yellow-legged
Gull (PJ, GE). |
|
|
|
| At Kingswood there were very large
numbers of gulls on the frozen lake, adjacent fields and Poplars
Tip. Over 2000 Herring Gulls were present along with good numbers of
Lesser Black-backs and Great Black-backs. Amongst the hoards were 3 (2
2cy, 3cy) Caspian Gulls and 6 (4 adult, 3cy, 2cy) Yellow-legged
Gulls. A Black Swan was also present on the lake (PJ, GE). |
- 2cy Caspian Gull at Kingswood (GE)
|
- 3cy Caspian Gull.
- It is very similar to the Stubbers Green 3cy
bird but it is of more typical slender proportions, longer
bill and has
fewer markings on the tail (GE).
|
- Another very smart 2cy Caspian Gull (GE)
|
|
Also present was the small leucistic Herring Gull photographed at Stubbers Green
on November 14th, which is actually probably a 2cy bird, a 1cy Herring Gull with an abnormally long and
hooked bill (photo), and a very confusing white headed, dark eyed
3cy bird with grey at least as dark as Yellow-legged Gull
but pink legs (photo below) (GE, PJ). |
|
|
|
|
-
29th
|
- 2°C
1°C
- Drizzle
turning to evening snow
- NE4
|
| A slight thaw
and biting wind had cleared most on the lake of ice. The regular 2cy
Yellow-legged Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull were
bobbing up ad down on the choppy lake (see photos) and 36
Cormorants, 17 Goosanders, 40 Great Crested Grebes and several
Goldeneye were also present. The gull roost was very large with over
3000 Herring Gulls counted along with over 315 Great Black-backs, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and the 3cy and smart 2cy Caspian
Gulls from Kingswood. No doubt the Stubbers Caspian and the
adult and other 2cy from Kingswood were also roosting but it can be
like looking for a needle in a haystack - and nowhere near not as
warm (PJ, GE). |
|
|
|
| At Kingswood large numbers
of gulls were loafing in the fields after feeding on the nearby
Poplars Tip. The hook billed and leucistic Herring Gulls were
present and the 3 Caspian Gulls from yesterday were found
along with a very smart adult bird which means there are likely to
be at least 5 Caspian Gulls roosting at Chasewater tonight (PJ,
GE). |
- 2cy Caspian Gull, the same as the one
photographed standing on the ice yesterday (© GE).
|
|
|
|
| This adult
Caspian Gull showed classic features including a long, thin and pale
yellow bill with the orange spot restricted to the lower mandible.
The grey was paler than that of Yellow-legged Gull, the eye was
dark, legs pale greyish-yellow and the very long wings showed the
perfect pattern of 'white tongues' in flight (© GE). |
| The 3cy Caspian Gull was present during the morning
at Stubbers Green along with an adult Icelandic Lesser Black-back
with a blue ring and white YE62 (RC). |
|
-
30th
|
- 2°C
1°C
- Miserable!
- NE4
|
| 35 Cormorants were gathered on the raft
but they departed before dusk and the gull roost was constantly
disturbed by wind-surfers, which along with the wind, rain and waves
made careful scrutiny impossible. However, the Stubbers Green 3cy Caspian
Gull and at least 5 (4 adults/near adults, 2cy) Yellow-legged
Gulls were identified (PJ, IW, GE). |
| At Stubbers
Green the 3cy Caspian Gull and Lesser Black-back YE62
were present during the morning (PJ). |
|
|
31st
|
- 1°C
-4°C
- Sunny
intervals
- ENE3
|
| The year ended with the
water level at 222 cm below maximum and water was being let out into
the canal. Presumably this will now continue throughout the new year
until levels are low enough for work to start on the dam in April.
There was another very large gull roost and although 6 Caspian
Gulls probably roosted only 2 were found; the Stubbers Green 3cy
bird was on the South Shore and the Kingswood 3cy performed
beautifully on the Swag along with a gathering of at least 555 Lesser
Black-backs, 650 Herring Gulls and 40 Great Black-backs. What
appeared to be 5
times more were on the main lake, although proportionately fewer
Lesser Black-backs, giving totals of around 3500 Herring Gulls and
2000 Lessers, many of which were at least intergrades. The adult Mediterranean Gull and 5 Yellow-legged
Gulls were also present (GE, PJ, IW, EGP). |
- 1200 large gulls on the frozen Swag (GE).
|
- This photo shows how the proportion of
Herring Gulls to Lesser Black-backs greatly increased after
they had been counted when numbers were fairly even (GE).
|
| The many postures of a 3cy Caspian
Gull (© GE) |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| At Kingswood/ Poplars Tip 4
(adult, 3cy and 2 2cy) Caspian Gulls were present again along
with 4 (3 adult, 2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ,
EGP). |
| At Stubbers Green a new 2cy
Caspian Gull was found and the Icelandic Lesser Black-back YE62
was also present (RC, IW). |
- 2cy Caspian Gull (© RC)
|
- Ringed Lesser Black-back (© RC)
|
|
