March 2009 Diary and News

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

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March 2009

Sightings, News and Photos (scroll down to view whole month)
1st
Sun
10°C
Sunny intervals.
WNW3
The adult Iceland Gull returned to the roost tonight and was joined by a new juv with a pale based bill. A 3rd w Yellow-legged Gull was present but no Mediterranean Gulls were seen. A total of over 1700 large gulls was counted (PJ, IW, N, JA, ESC).
2nd
10°C
Sunny
W3
The adult Iceland Gull was joined tonight by a new 2nd w bird, which had extensive grey in the upperparts and is the 5th Iceland Gull in 3 days (PJ, IW, JA). The white Black-headed Gull was also present (GWe, CW).
3rd
 
9°C
Sunny intervals. Rain later.
S5
Three Iceland Gulls roosted tonight, the adult, 2nd w and a juvenile. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also present (PJ, IW).
On Cuckoo Bank there were 4 Buzzards, a Green Woodpecker, a Little Grebe, Jack Snipe, 11 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Teal, 4 Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail. The top fields held 45 Lapwings, 25 Linnets, about 60 Starlings, singing Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits. Then from the south 50+ Golden Plovers flew around for 30+ minutes, nearly landing on 2 occasions but at other times were several hundred feet up. A Jackdaw flew west, as did 45 Fieldfares, there were also 2 Redwing and 4 Grey Partridges but the star was a male Sparrowhawk that landed on a fence post whilst eyeing up his luncheon options. Much more frogspawn was in most pools (EO).
4th
6°C
Sunny intervals.
SSW3
Two Curlews flew north over the Swag (FC). The adult and 2nd w Iceland Gulls roosted along with an adult Yellow-legged Gull and around 5000 Black-headed Gulls (PJ, IW, GE).
5th
7°C
Sunny
NE2
Two (2nd w and juv) Iceland Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted (PDH, GJM, GE, PJ, IW). A Brambling was seen at the Feeding Station (IW).
6th
8°C
Sunny intervals
NW3
2 Ravens were being mobbed by crows on the west shore. In the roost there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a dark billed juv Iceland Gull which is the same as the one that roosted on February 22nd, 23rd and 28th and March 3rd and probably 5th (PJ, IW).
7th
Sat
9°C
Light showers
NW3
On the Swag there were 14 Goosanders, 67 Goldeneye and a Gadwall and on the Slurry Pool there were 8 Gadwall (GE). The same juv Iceland Gull as last night roosted along with the white Black-headed Gull. A Treecreeper was near the Feeding Station and 2 Snipe and a Jack Snipe were on the Anglesey Basin heath (PJ, IW, N, JA).
On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Tree Sparrows, a Woodcock, , 6 Yellowhammers, many singing Skylarks, a Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, Meadow Pipits, 50+ Lapwings and several Red Deer in the woods (GR).
An Oystercatcher and 28 Teal were at Stubbers Green (GE).
8th
Sun
 
7°C
Hail showers
W5
By the Station there were 13 Yellowhammers and 2 Stock Doves. Two juvenile Iceland Gulls roosted tonight; one being a new bird with typical plumage and a half dark bill (PJ).
A juv Iceland Gull was at Stubbers Green and in the Goscote Valley there were 3 Chiffchaffs and 7 Grey Wagtails (PJ).
9th
8°C
Sunny intervals
W4
Last week's 2nd w and last night's new juv Iceland Gulls roosted along with a summer adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, IW, PDH).
10th
 
8°C
Light showers
NW3
A small, whitish 2nd w Iceland Gull, with less grey in the coverts than last week's bird, was present in the roost (PJ, IW).
Cuckoo Bank: Last week the ground was drying out quite nicely but this week it was back to very heavy going.
On the heath there were 4 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Mute Swans, a Little Grebe, 2 Herons, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipits, Skylark and 2 Stonechats. On the top fields there were 120 Golden Plovers,
7 Linnets, 3 Grey Partridges, 30 Lapwings, 30 Fieldfares, 25 Redwings and 50+ Starlings. 9 Red Deer were seen and there was still frog activity in several pools (EO).
A juv Iceland Gull was reported at Stubbers Green (per PJ).
11th
 
12°C
Light rain
S2
The 2nd year Iceland Gull was seen in the roost (PJ, IW, JA).
12th
12°C
Sunny intervals
W4
Two Sand Martins were present during the morning (GR). Amongst the 1000 large gulls still in the roost there was last week's 2nd year Iceland Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ, IW).
13th
10°C
Sunny intervals
SSW3
3 Sand Martins passed through during the afternoon, 5 Goosanders were present and a 2nd w Iceland Gull roosted (PJ).
14th
Sat
 
9°C
Sunny intervals
WNW5
In the roost the 2nd year Iceland Gull was present along with a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull and a very interesting juv Kumliens type which has been present on several occasions recently. The Black-headed Gull numbers are now down to around 1000 and an Oystercatcher was also present (PJ, IW, GE).
15th
Sun
13°C
Sunny
W2
Yet another fascinating gull roost with a new adult Iceland Gull (which had been seen flying over Gailey on its way to roost), a very white juv Glaucous Gull, a probable hybrid 1st year Glaucous x Herring Gull, a 1st year 'Thayers' type Herring Gull, and an adult Yellow-legged Gull amongst the 1100 large gulls (PJ, IW, N, GE, JA). During the morning several groups of Lesser Black-backs and Herring Gulls had passed through to the north and 150 Black-headed Gulls were on the water. There were counts of 51 Goldeneye, 2 Goosanders, 85 Tufted Ducks, 1 Ruddy Duck, 6 Gadwall, a Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Lapwings, 2 Snipe, a Heron, 4 Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, a Green Woodpecker, 4 singing Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail, a Yellowhammer and a Comma butterfly. Water is still being let out into the canal and levels have dropped to 162 cm off maximum, exposing a very good shoreline to attract migrant waders and dog walkers, although there were far more of the latter today (GE, NS).
16th
13°C
Sunny intervals
W3
Another warm and sunny spring day graced by the appearance of a pair of near breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebes, 2 Shelducks, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Goosanders. The gull roost has now greatly declined in size with only around 100 Black-headed Gulls and a few hundred large gulls including the adult Iceland Gull, pale juv Glaucous Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, a 1st year 'Thayer's' type Herring Gull and several intermedius type Lesser Black-backs. 1-2 Noctules, pipistrelles and probable Daubentons bats were flying at dusk when the cup like crescent of Venus shone in the western sky (PJ, IW, GE).

On the Cuckoo Bank heathland there were 2 Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe, 3 Buzzards, 2 Meadow Pipits in song flight, spawn in pools with one pool still active, 4 Bumble Bees noted, Common Lizard sunbathing but disappeared quickly. On the top fields 105 Golden Plovers were in stubble and a number of Lapwings were  in tumbling display. Skylarks were singing and Grey Partridge coveys seem to have broken up now with 3 separate pairs noted (JH).
17th
 
12°C
Sunny intervals
ESE3
08:00 No sign of the Black-necked Grebes this morning but 2 Redshanks were flushed off the Sailing Shore by a dog, a Sand Martin was over the water and 6 Teal and 6 Gadwall were present (GE). By this afternoon Redshank numbers had increased to 4 (PS), there was a Ringed Plover and numbers of Sand Martins had risen to 35. The gull roost was quiet with nothing of note seen (PJ).
08:00 On Cuckoo Bank heath a Woodcock was flushed by dogs and there were also 2 Herons, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Snipe, a Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal and 40 Redwings flew over. Over 200 Golden Plovers are now on the top fields along with 40 Lapwings, 15 Linnets and a Sparrowhawk (EO).
18th
 
 
14°C
Sunny
S2
Chasewater's 2nd ever Avocet was present during the afternoon and was still on the island at dusk. A 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was amongst the roost of only 72 Black-headed Gulls (PJ, IW, N, JA).
A male Ring Ouzel was reported from Grange Farm near Ryders Mere (WMBC).
19th
 
12°C
Sunny
E3
No sign of the Avocet this morning with a singing Chiffchaff, 2 Goosanders and 6 Gadwall the only birds of note (GE). A Swallow was with several Sand Martins during the afternoon, 2 Oystercatchers were present (IW) and the gull roost contained 350 Lesser Black-backs, 1 Great Black-back, 25 Herring Gulls and a handful of Black-headed Gulls (GE).
20th
 
11°C
Sunny
SSE2
The year's first Wheatear and Dunlin were present along with 50 Sand Martins and an Oystercatcher (IW). About 250 Lesser Black-backs, 20 Herring Gulls and 15 Black-headed Gulls roosted (GE).
21st
Sat
13°C
Sunny
NNW3
The hybrid 1st year Glaucous x Herring Gull from last Sunday roosted and there were 3 Greylag Geese (PJ). 75 Sand Martins, 6 Gadwall and 3 Teal were also present. On the Swag there were 48 Goldeneye, 90 Tufted Ducks, a drake Shoveler, 6 Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe. Two Tufted were on the Slurry Pool where a Jay was mimicking the call of a Little Grebe, 2 Buzzards and a Kestrel were present and a pair of Willow Tits and 2 Siskins were along the Crane Brook (GE).
There were 2 Little Ringed Plovers at Kingswood (PJ).
At Stubbers Green there were 2 Oystercatchers, a Green Sandpiper, 9 Lapwings, 21 Teal, 31 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Lesser Black-backs (GE).
22nd
Sun
11°C
Sunny intervals 
WNW4
During the morning there were 88 Sand Martins, 6 Gadwall, a Great Black-backed Gull, Buzzard, an Oystercatcher and on the Island there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull. In Jack's Wood there were 6 Stock Doves, Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Coal Tit and 2 Siskins (GE). Later in the day a Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover were on Target Point, a female Goosander was on the lake and over 755 large gulls roosted but nothing of note was seen amongst them (PJ). A flock of around 20 probable Waxwings flew over the Raceway Heath towards the lake at 18:00 (GE).
23rd
 
9°C
Heavy showers
WNW6
Over 40 Sand Martins were sheltering from the strong wind in Fly Bay, an Oystercatcher was on the north shore, a Ringed Plover and 3 Little Ringed Plovers were on the Sailing Shore and a White Wagtail was on the South Shore. The adult Yellow-legged Gull was again on the Island and later on the water (GE, PJ, IW).
24th
 
9°C
Sunny intervals. Evening rain
NW3
110 Sand Martins (GE), 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Ringed Plover, an Oystercatcher and a Wheatear. The roost held over 925 large gulls, including about 100 immature birds, 6 Great Black-backs, 1 Common Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 50 adult Herring Gulls including 3 argentatus and the rest were Lesser Black-backed Gulls (PJ, IW).
25th
 
10°C
Light showers
NW3
Over 45 Waxwings were near the station at 17:00 and twenty minutes later 22 flew north along the west shore. 2 Little Ringed Plovers (PJ, IW) and 50+ Sand Martins (GE) were also present.
26th
9°C
Showers
W4
A Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher, over 200 Sand Martins and a female Wheatear were present. The roost held 89 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and a 2nd year Herring Gull with a Glaucous type bill and fairly pale wing tips (IW).
27th
9°C
Hail showers, sunny intervals
W5
The Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Oystercatcher and Wheatear were still present along with 30 Goldeneyes, male Goosander, Ruddy Duck, 6 Teal and 4 Gadwall. Also seen were 60 Sand Martins, a Chiffchaff, 4 Lapwings, a Buzzard, 8 Skylarks, 2 Bullfinches and several  Meadow Pipits. The gull roost was tiny with an adult Common Gull and 2 Great Black-backs being the best on offer (PJ, IW, N, EO).
Cuckoo Bank: On the top fields there were 150 Golden Plovers now in summer plumage, 100 Starlings, 30 Fieldfares, 14 Linnets, 3 Snipe, 35 Lapwings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. A Green woodpecker was in Eights Wood and on the heath there were 4 Buzzards,1 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, 2 Grey Wagtails, Linnet, a Heron and 4 Little Grebes (EO).
28th
Sat
 
7°C
Showers
NNW5
A Swallow was with 100 Sand Martins, 1-2 Chiffchaffs were singing and an Oystercatcher was on the North Shore. A pair of Little Grebes was on the Slurry Pool and 95 Tufted Ducks were on the Swag. There were totals of 20 Goldeneye, 4 Teal and 2 Gadwall (GE).
Red Deer at Wyrley Common (GE)

 

At Stubbers Green a Red Kite passed over low at around 13:30 and headed north (PJ). This bird was very likely to have passed over Chasewater but was not seen by anyone. Earlier at Stubbers Green there were 7 Goosanders, 28 Tufted Ducks, 10 Teal, 44 Black-headed Gulls and 17 Lesser Black-backs (GE).
Over 40 Red Deer were on Wyrley Common (GE).
29th
Sun
9°C
Sunny
W2
A beautiful day made even better when an Osprey passed over the west shore and headed north at 11:22 (GE, RSo). Earlier in the morning a gathering of dabbling ducks on the lake included up to 20 Teal, 7 Gadwall (GR) and 2 Shovelers, whilst on the Swag there were 115 Tufted Ducks and 22 Goldeneye. A Curlew flew to the north at noon and other sightings included up to 100 Sand Martins, a Swallow, a male Stonechat, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, a Snipe, 25 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Herons, 3 Buzzards, a Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Willow Tits, 2 redpolls, 1-2 Siskins, 5 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler was singing near the Norton Lakeside platform (GE).
North Shore (GE)
Slurry Pool (© G Evans)
30th
10°C
Cloudy
W3
A Ringed Plover and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were on the Sailing Shore, an Oystercatcher was on Target Point and a Swallow was with 80 Sand Martins over the lake where 35 Black-headed Gulls were loafing (GE).
On Cuckoo Bank  there were over 150 Golden Plovers, a Grey Partridge, 2 Herons, displaying Meadow Pipits and many Skylarks (GR).
31st
14°C
Sunny intervals
NW1
The result of scrub clearance from the overflow (GE)
Iceland Gull (GE)
As early as 06:30 there were 4 dog walkers on the water's edge and 2 Shovelers on the lake (GR).
A juv Iceland Gull was with around 100 large gulls but it appeared to fly south at around 18:30. Several Sand Martins and an Oystercatcher were also present. Three children were checking under the rocks on the south shore and had caught by hand over 25 Bullheads and 3 White-clawed Crayfish (GE).
On Cuckoo Bank there were still 60 Golden Plovers in the top field, also 18 Linnets, a female Wheatear, 2 Grey Partridges, several singing Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, and over 100 crows. On the heath there were 2 Stonechats, 5 Teal and a Heron. 5 Buzzards were around, 2 Peacock butterflies and 10 Red Deer were also seen (EO).