- 1st
|
- 0°C
- Cloudy
- E1
|
| 08:15 A calm, frosty start to
the year was enlivened by the trilling of 60 Waxwings at the
top of a tree at Brownhills West Station. They flew down to feed on
the M6 Toll embankment and during the day they ranged between the
Norton Canes Service Area, Norton East, Brownhills West and Chasewater's south shore.
Numbers were usually around yesterday's total of 93 but during the afternoon 3 flocks, possibly totaling over 100 birds, flew from the
Pear Tree Cottage Inn area towards the south shore. The drake Smew
was still present along with 12 Goosanders, a Ruddy Duck, 2 Gadwall,
9 Cormorants, a Kingfisher (GE) and a Buzzard (CM). A flock of 10 Yellowhammers was in
Highfield Farm (GE). The gull roost held a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull
(PJ, JA) and an adult Mediterranean Gull (SR). |
- A Waxwing welcome to the New Year (GE).
|
- A beautiful image to mark the start of 2009
© J Almond
|
- The Pier (GE)
|
- The Nine Foot (GE)
|
|
At Stubbers Green there were 917 large
gulls including 88 Great Black-backs (PJ). |
|
- 2nd
|
- 3°C
-4°C
- Sunny
- NE2
|
| 60 Waxwings were
near the Pear Tree during the morning (FC) but unnecessary
disturbance reduced the flock to 6 (PJ) and none was seen during the
afternoon. The drake Smew, 18
Shovelers (PJ), 2 Stonechats, 2 Snipe, 5 Fieldfares, 15
Redwings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, a Grey
Wagtail, <15 Goldfinches, 20+ Siskins and 10+ redpolls were also
recorded. At the Feeding
Station Bullfinches, Reed Buntings, Coal Tit, Willow Tit and Marsh
Tit were recorded (EO) although there has only been one
confirmed Marsh Tit in the last 20 years at Chasewater and great
care needs to be taken in their identification. In the gull roost
there were up to 10 000 Black-headed Gulls (GE), 1 (possibly 2)
adult Mediterranean Gulls and the 3rd w Caspian Gull (PJ,
PDH). The Short-eared Owl was also reported. |
|
- 3rd
- Sat
|
- 2°C
-4°C
- Sunny
- Calm
|
|
The lake was largely
frozen over and it was clear that there had been some influxes of
birds from other frozen waters with 18 Little Grebes, 28 Shovelers,
17 Gadwall, 13 Wigeon, and 71 Pochard all considerably higher totals
than usual. The drake Smew, a Ruddy Duck, 4 Goosanders, 3
Cormorants, 2 Herons, 33 Great Crested Grebes, 50 Lapwings, a
Jackdaw, Grey Wagtail and good numbers of Tufted Ducks, Goldeneye
and Coots were also present. 8 Red Deer were in Highfield Farm (GE).
The Short-eared Owl (PJ, CM, AW), 12 Teal, a Stonechat and a
Snipe were on the North Shore (FC). The gull roost held a large
influx of 1400+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 (2 adults and 2nd w)
Yellow-legged Gulls (PJ, CM). |
- Short-eared Owl (© A Wootton)
|
|
- 4th
- Sun
|
- 1°C
-1°C
- Cloudy
Snow showers at night
- W2
|
- Six redpolls feeding in the south shore alders
proved to be 5 Lesser Redpolls and one male Mealy Redpoll
which showed a streaked pale rump, whitish supercilium and wing
bar, frosted nape, very white underparts with rosy flush on upper
breast sides, thinly streaked upper flanks and a single thin, dark vent
feather. More of the lake was frozen and, apart from 23 Gadwall
and 75 (+ 6 hybrids) Canada Geese, numbers were down from
yesterday's totals. The drake Smew remained along with 15
Great Crested Grebes, 10 Little Grebes, 2 Teal, 2 Shovelers, 4
Wigeon, 2 Goosanders, 1 Ruddy Duck, 20+ Goldeneye and uncounted
numbers of Coot, Tufted Ducks and Pochard (GE). A Mink was seen at
the Feeding Station at 11:30 which is not good news for any ground
nesting birds (M).
- 11 Waxwings were found in Brownhills West
(PJ) and at 15:30 a flock of 30 briefly landed in the Station
hawthorn bush and flew to the north along the west shore,
presumably to roost on Cannock Chase as they did in the influx of
2005 (PJ, JA).
- The gull roost is probably helping to keep a
sizeable area of the centre of the lake free from ice and tonight
it held the 3rd w Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged
Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, JA, GE).
|
- Only parts of the lake to the south of Fly Bay
were free from ice (GE).
|
|
The 3rd w Caspian Gull and a 3rd w Yellow-legged
Gull were at Stubbers Green (PJ).
|
|
-
5th
|
- 2°C
-5°C
- Sunny
intervals
- ENE3
|
|
2cm of snow had fallen overnight but little more of the
lake had frozen since yesterday. Amongst the roost there was an adult Iceland
Gull, the first of the winter (GE).
|
|
- 6th
|
- 0°C
-3°C
- Sunny
- N1
|
|
65 Waxwings and the drake Smew
were present (EGP) and the adult Iceland Gull was in the roost
(PJ, IW, BS, JSB, EGP).
|
|
On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Stonechats,
16 Grey Partridges, 12 Redwings and 2 Snipe on the top fields with
20 Lapwings flying over. On the
heath there was a Green Woodpecker, a further 15 Snipe and a
helicopter disturbed a Woodcock. Several Meadow Pipits were recorded
and over a dozen active Wrens. 17
Red Deer were counted and a superb Fox (EO).
|
|
The 3rd w Caspian Gull was seen at Stubbers
Green (EGP).
|
|
-
7th
-
|
- 2°C
-3°C
- Cloudy
with snow showers
- SW1
|
|
At least 75 Waxwings fed on rose hips, guelder
rose and cotoneaster berries on the south shore during the early
afternoon and eventually flew off over the motorway towards Brownhills
(PW). The adult Iceland Gull and 2 (adult and 2nd w) Yellow-legged
Gulls roosted (IW).
|
|
- 8th
|
- 3°C
1°C
- Cloudy
- S2
|
| A record 9 Whooper Swans
were seen around
midday (per PJ) and a Little Egret was near the
jetty at 15:00 (AT). Two Waxwings were seen briefly by the
Innovation Centre (PW). The drake Smew was present, a juv Iceland Gull
was seen in the roost (IW) and 2 adult Caspian Gulls were
reported (RB). |
|
- 9th
|
- 2°C
-4°C
- Cloudy
- S3
|
| The drake Smew was
still present and 30 Waxwings flew through but the gull roost
was rather small with only 250 Lesser Black-backs, <100 Great
Black-backs and 800 Herring Gulls with nothing of note seen amongst
them (PJ, PDH, IW). 1 Treecreeper, 1 Stonechat, a Kingfisher,
Shoveler, Gadwall and several Little Grebes were also seen (GR). |
|
- 10th
- Sat
|
- 3°C
1°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SSW3
|
| Over 50 Waxwings
were feeding on berries near the Innovation Centre at 09:30 and the
drake Smew, 4 Shovelers, 4 Lesser Redpolls and 5 Goldfinches
were seen from the south shore (GE). The Short-eared Owl was
seen and in the gull roost there were 2 (adult and 3rd w) Yellow-legged
Gulls and a possible 3rd w Caspian Gull was seen but was felt to be a shade too dark (PJ,
IW, N, JA, MY). |
|
|
(© G Evans) |
| At Stubbers Green there were several
hundred large gulls standing on the ice, including a 2nd w Yellow-legged
Gull and this rather Caspian Gull like 3rd w bird. Several
features look good for Caspian, including the hint of the pattern on
the underside of the outer primary but the legs look rather short.
Is this another possible hybrid? It contrasted with other white
headed argentatus and especially argenteus and
Yellow-legged Gulls of this age would normally show more yellow
tones in the bill and legs (GE) but when seen at range in the
Chasewater roost it was thought to be a Yellow-legged (PJ). |
|
|
- 11th
- Sun
|
- 9°C
7°C
- Cloudy
- SSW5
|
| The thaw has well and
truly set in although there is still no open water on the Swag,
where 15 Common Gulls were standing on the wet ice, and the main
lake is only half open. The drake Smew was near the dam and a 4th w Yellow-legged
Gull was present throughout the day and joined by a 3rd w in the
roost which also held the winter's first Glaucous Gull, a
smart, pale juvenile (PJ, IW, GE). |
| 2 Waxwings were
feeding on the abundant rowan berries in Silver Court, Brownhills (PJ). |
|
- 12th
|
- 10°C
5°C
- Rain
- WSW4
|
| The drake Smew was still present
and the roost held an adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW, JA). |
| At Stubbers Green the 3rd w Caspian
Gull was seen (EGP). |
|
- 13th
|
- 7°C
-2°C
- Sunny
intervals
- WSW3
|
|
Rather quiet. A Reed Bunting was singing
by the feeders. About 12 Snipe were on the heath and marsh but no Jack
Snipe. On the hill 3 Skylarks
were singing, a Green Woodpecker was present and a Great Spotted
Woodpecker flew to the pylon on No Mans Bank.
24 Goosander, 14 Wigeon and about 10 Pochard were on the Swag. 2
Kingfishers were along the South Shore; one had a fish lengthwise in
its beak. A Buzzard and Kestrel flew over and the Smew was on
the edge of Fly Bay (EO). Nothing of note was seen in the roost apart
from the 3rd w Yellow-legged/Caspian Gull bird photographed at
Stubbers Green on 10th (PJ, IW,
JA).
|
|
- 14th
|
- 3°C
0°C
- Sunny
- SE3
|
|
The drake Smew was presumably present but no
records were received today.
|
|
- 15th
|
- 7°C
4°C
- Light
rain
- S4
|
|
The drake Smew was off the dam. 2 adult Mediterranean
Gulls and a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull were in the roost (PJ,
JA).
|
|
- 16th
|
- 8°C
4°C
- Cloudy
- S4
|
| 1 drake Smew and 24+ Goosanders
were present. An adult Mediterranean Gull, a 3rd w Yellow-legged
Gull and 180 Great Black-backed Gulls roosted (PJ, JA). |
| At Stubbers Green there was a 3rd w Yellow-legged
Gull, 104 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Waxwings were
feeding on berries opposite the Spring Cottage pub in Shelfield (PJ). |
|
- 17th
- Sat
|
- 7°C
2°C
- Bright
morning. Heavy rain in evening
- S4-6
|
| The drake Smew was off the
Sailing Cub during the morning (JAl). 145 Lapwings, a Cormorant, 4 Wigeon,
2 Snipe, a Jack Snipe and a Grey Wagtail were also present. On the Swag there were 72 Goldeneye, 24
Goosanders, 5 Gadwall, 34 Mallard, 195 Tufted Ducks, 22 Pochard, a
Kestrel, Heron and a Kingfisher. On the Slurry Pool there were 80
Tufted, 5 Gadwall and 2 Pochard. The gull roost was rather small
with 6000 Black-headed Gulls (GE), an adult Mediterranean Gull,
<1000 large gulls including 2 (3rd w and 4th w) Yellow-legged
Gulls (PJ, IW). |
- Drake Smew © Jim Almond
|
| At Stubbers Green there
were 120 Great Black-backs and a Green Sandpiper and 20 Teal
were on the marsh (GE, PJ). |
|
- 18th
- Sun
|
- 6°C
1°C
- Sunny
- WSW4
|
| The drake Smew
showed well on the Swag along with 66 Goldeneyes and 20 Goosanders
(GE). The WeBS count produced the following additional totals: 28
Mute Swans, 22 Canada Geese, 386 Coot, 17 Moorhens, 165 Mallard, 4
Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 271 Tufted Ducks, 97 Goldeneye, 15 Pochard, 1
Ruddy Duck, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Cormorants
and 26 Lapwings (NS). A Brambling was reported
near the station and in the roost the only bird of note was an adult
Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, IW). |
| On Cuckoo Bank 4 Ravens
flew over and many wintering Skylark and Meadow Pipit were noted.
The top fields also held a small flock of Linnets (MY). |
|
- 19th
|
- 5°C
1°C
- Heavy
showers
- SW4
|
|
A Woodcock flew over the west shore at dusk (PJ,
IW) and a 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost (IW, GE).
|
|
- 20th
|
- 4°C
-1°C
- Sunny
- S3
|
|
A juv Iceland Gull, darker billed than the bird on
8th, was in the roost along with an adult Mediterranean Gull and
the Short-eared Owl was also seen (PJ, IW).
|
|
It was very quiet on Cuckoo Bank; a
flock of 40 redpolls and Siskins, 2 Snipe, 4 Grey Partridges, 3
Stonechats, 40 Skylarks, 14 Reed Buntings, 20+ Linnets. 80
Starlings, 15 Fieldfares, 10 Redwings, 35 Carrion Crows and 15 Red Deer
(EO).
|
|
|
|
|
The juv Iceland Gull was also seen
at Stubbers Green (© R Clay).
|
|
- 21st
|
- 5°C
3°C
- Cloudy
- SE4
|
| 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults,
3rd w and 4th w) were in the roost tonight (PJ). |
| The juv Iceland Gull was again
seen at Stubbers Green (BG). |
|
- 22nd
|
-
- 9°C
2°C
- Light
rain
- SW3
|
|
The juv Iceland Gull came into the roost at 17:00
to join a probable adult Caspian Gull, 2 (adult and 3rd w) Yellow-legged
Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, IW). The Short-eared
Owl was seen over the north shore during the late afternoon (DG).
|
|
- 23rd
-
|
- 5°C
-1°C
- Light
showers
- SW2
|
| 71 Goldeneyes, 18 Goosanders and the
drake Smew were on the Swag (PDH). A Willow Tit was on the
feeders, 24 Snipe were on the waterlogged heath, a Green Woodpecker
and 4 Little Grebes were present. A male Kestrel with a small bird
in its talons flew across Norton hill (EO). The Short-eared Owl was
seen again (DG) and in the roost the juv Iceland Gull, 3rd w Caspian
Gull, 2 (adult and 4th w) Yellow-legged Gulls and an
adult Mediterranean Gull were present (PJ, IW, PDH). |
| At Stubbers Green the juv Iceland
Gull and 3rd w Caspian Gull were reported. |
|
- 24th
- Sat
|
-
- 5°C
1°C
- Sunny
- W4
|
| On the Swag there were 74 Goldeneyes
and 17 Goosanders with the drake Smew on the Slurry Pool. The
Short-eared Owl was present and the gull roost held a juv Iceland
Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and 3rd w Yellow-legged
Gull (PJ, IW, N, JA, MY, ICW, ESC, NSm, ST). |
- Iceland Gull (© N Smith)
|
- Iceland Gull (© N Smith)
|
| 94 Waxwings were feeding on
rowan berries at Silver Court, Brownhills High Street (GE, PJ). It
seems that they have been regularly visiting the site for the past
week. |
| Little of note at Stubbers Green
although there was a Herring Gull with an orange ring 0712 (PJ, GE). |
|
- 25th
- Sun
|
- 7°C
1°C
- Cloudy
- S3
|
| On the Swag there were 78 Goldeneyes,
29 Goosanders, 21 Pochard and 20 Wigeon (PJ, GE). The drake Smew
was seen on both the Swag and Slurry Pool where a drake Scaup
was also rumoured. On the North Heath there were 2 Jack Snipe and a
pair of Stonechats (SR). A good sized gull roost held 2 (adult and
2nd w) Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Iceland Gull
(PJ, JA, IW, SR, SH). |
| Up to 140 Waxwings were counted
feeding on rowan berries at Silver Court, Brownhills (PJ et al). |
|
|
26th
|
- 6°C
-1°C
- Cloudy
- E1
|
|
A Ring-necked Parakeet flew from
Pool Road, Chasetown towards Jack's Wood at 09:15 and the Short-eared Owl flew
in quite high over the power pylons mobbed by gulls at around
15:30 (AW). 10 Goosanders and 50+ Goldeneyes were on the Swag (KD).
The juv Iceland Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and an
adult Yellow-legged Gull were in a large roost (PJ, KD, GE).
|
- Short-eared Owl
- (© A Wootton)
|
|
The flock of Waxwings was at Silver Court as I
passed at 08:13 (GE) and 140 were later counted (WMBC).
|
|
- 27th
|
- 7°C
4°C
- Early
fog clearing, some drizzle
- S2
|
|
The drake Smew was still present (EGP). In the
roost there was an
adult Mediterranean Gull (PJ, EGP) and juv Iceland Gull
which was on the Waterski Club jetty/pontoon at around 16:30 (RK).
|
|
Rather gloomy over Cuckoo Bank, even after the mist
lifted. On the top fields there were up to 30 Linnets, 17
Chaffinches, 15 Skylarks, 20 Magpies and the odd Meadow Pipit and
Reed Bunting. On the heath there were 2
Stonechats, 3 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker and 6 Lapwings flew through
(EO).
|
|
140 Waxwings were again at Silver Court,
Brownhills (EGP).
|
|
- 28th
|
- 8°C
3°C
- Heavy
overnight rain then cloudy
- N2
|
|
The Short-eared Owl and Smew were present
(JA) and the juv Iceland Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull
were in the roost (PJ, JA, IW, N).
|
|
A Barn Owl was at Kingswood this evening (IW).
|
|
- 29th
-
|
- 5°C
4°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SE4
|
| The drake Smew was still
present, a Woodcock flew over the west shore and in the roost
there were 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, the juv Iceland
Gull and the 2nd w Caspian Gull (the possible hybrid
one) has returned (PJ, JA). |
| Up to 70 Waxwings were seen at
Silver Court, Brownhills (JA). |
|
- 30th
|
- 5°C
2°C
- Light
drizzle
- SE4
|
|
The drake Smew was close to the
dam again. A Kingfisher and 4 Goosanders were on the Swag. At the
Feeding Station there was a Coal Tit ,Willow tit, several Bullfinches,
Green Woodpecker and 10+ Reed Buntings. Another Green Woodpecker was
by the Slurry Pool and other records included 4 Little Grebes, 2
Wigeon, 70 Lapwings, Kestrel, a Snipe and a Jack Snipe (EO). In the roost there were 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls
and an adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, IW, GE).
|
|
Over 162 Waxwings were at Silver Court,
Brownhills at 08:15 (GE) and 156 were counted an hour later (EO).
|
|
-
31st
- Sat
|
- 5°C
-2°C
- Sunny
- ESE4
|
| On the Swag there were 22 Goosanders,
67 Goldeneye, 2 Gadwall and an adult Mediterranean Gull. The
drake Smew was reported and in the roost the 3rd w Caspian
Gull and white Black-headed gull were present again (PJ, IW, N, GE). |
| 163 Waxwings were at
Silver Court but very few berries are now left on the rowan trees
(GE). |
- Waxwing © N Stych
|
- Waxwings at Silver Court © N Stych
|
| At Stubbers Green there were 40 Teal
and 62 Lapwings (GE) and the 3rd w Caspian Gull was present (WMBC).
|
|
