- 1st
|
-
- 15°C
- Light
showers
- SSW4
|
| 4 Ringed Plovers and 4 Oystercatchers
were on the Sailing Club Shore this morning (GR). Tawny Owls
have successfully bred near Pool Cottage (JL). This evening two
youths and a dog flushed the three Oystercatchers off the shore by
the pier and then threw stones at the swans and mallards! (GE). On
the North Shore there was a Dunlin and the Grasshopper
Warbler was reeling and the Sedge Warbler and Reed Warblers were
around the Slurry Pool (N, IW). |
|
- 2nd
- Sat
|
- 14°C
- Sunny
intervals.
- WNW2
|
| Two amazing sighting of Cranes
were reported today through our email service. "We saw two Cranes
this morning at 9.15 am. We were in the car traveling on the
Brownhills Road from Norton Canes towards Brownhills and they were
flying towards Chasewater. Later this afternoon we went a
walk to Chasewater and saw three Cranes at 4.26 pm by the
power boat club. They flew from the south and
appeared to pick up thermals and soar upwards eventually flying off north"
(JJ, BJ). Other sightings were 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little
Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Common Terns
and 70+ Swifts. In the Norton Bog area there was a Little Grebe,
Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, 1-2 Reed Warblers and a pair of Willow Tits
(GE). |
- Tawny Owl chicks
|
|
- 3rd
- Sun
|
- 12°C
- Sunny
intervals.
- NW4
|
|
- Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Dunlin © P Ward
|
| A good day of passage in
the fresh and cool north-west wind. 8 Little Ringed Plovers
and a Grasshopper Warbler were present during the early
morning (IW). Chasewater's first confirmed Turtle Dove since
1992 flew over the lake to the west. Waders included
3 Turnstones, 6 Ringed Plovers increased to
14 in the evening (PW), 4 Oystercatchers,
4 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel flew
in at 09:37 staying for a while on the Sailing Shore (GE, NS, PW).
During the early afternoon 19 small waders were in flight and
probably passed through (PW). A
Cormorant, 25 Black-headed Gulls and 10 Lesser Black-backs flew over
but there was no sign of any gull roost in the evening (GE). Up to 6
Common Terns
were present throughout the day (GE, PW) plus 10 that passed through in the afternoon
(GR), A drake Gadwall, Cuckoo, 2 Buzzards and
4 Red Deer were also noted (GE). |
- Ringed Plover © N Stych
|
Ringed Plover © P Ward
|
|
- 4th
|
- 12°C
- Light
showers
- WSW4
|
- Sanderling © P Ward
|
As soon as the winds turn
south-westerly in May we can expect a Sanderling and sure
enough one was on the Sailing Club shore with 12 Ringed
Plovers and 5 Dunlins (PW, NS, GE). Four Little
Ringed Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers and 2 Common
Sandpipers were also present along with a splendid pair of Yellow
Wagtails and 1-2 Wheatears. Common Tern numbers
peaked at 11 and there were around equal numbers of Sand Martins,
House Martins, Swallows and Swifts totaling around 500. A
Buzzard was east of the dam, a Kestrel was over the North Shore and
the pair of Gadwall is still present. At dusk all the waders were
still on the Sailing Shore but the call of an Oystercatcher made me
look over to the south shore by the pier and the Bank Holiday
weekend ended as it started with the Swans being stoned by kids;
this time four out of five, probably not even teenagers, were
joining in the 'fun'! (GE). |
|
-
5th
|
- 16°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W4
|
| During the morning there
were 12 Ringed Plovers, at least 11 Dunlin, 4
Common Sandpipers, at least 2 Little Ringed Plovers and
the Sanderling. A Peregrine chased the waders off the
North Shore, 2 Cuckoos were chasing each other and 4 Common Terns
were present (PW). By late afternoon Oystercatcher numbers
had risen to 7 (GR). Also recorded were 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Wheatear,
a Jay, a Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warblers, 12 Lesser Black-backed
Gulls and good numbers of hirundines and Swifts (EO). |
|
On the Cuckoo Bank/Eights wood area there
were Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Cuckoo, 2
Stonechats, 2 Kestrels, 3 Buzzards, 6 Grey Partridges and Lapwings
in constant dogfights with straying crows. 4 Red deer were also
seen (EO).
|
|
- 6th
|
- 14°C
- Cloudy
- WSW4
|
|
Another good day with a Hobby, 2 Shelducks,
2 Gadwall, 2 Sanderlings, 12 Ringed Plovers, 11 Dunlin,
2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 10 Common
Terns and at least 2 Whimbrels, one of which appeared to fly
out twice but possibly the same bird returned on each occasion (PW, et
al).
|
|
-
7th
|
- 13°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW4-5
|
| Wader passage continued throughout the
day making it difficult to be sure of total numbers. A Whimbrel spent much of the day
on the Sailing Shore (FC, PW, GE). At least 2 of
the 3 Sanderlings in the morning were different from the 2
present in the evening and the morning counts of 7 Dunlin and
8 Ringed Plovers rose to at least 25 and 19
respectively by the evening and up to 5 Common Terns were present
during the day (PW). |
Whimbrel © P Ward
|
- Sanderling © P Ward
|
- Sanderling © P Ward
|
|
- 8th
|
- 13°C
- Light
showers
- W5
|
| During the evening 3 Sanderlings
were with 15 Ringed Plovers and 6 Dunlin on the North
Shore (PW, GE). Over 100 Swifts were present and 32 Tufted Ducks
were on the Swag (GE). |
|
- 9th
- Sat
|
- 15°C
- Light
showers
- WSW4
|
| At around 6:00am an immature female Peregrine
made a low level pass over the North Shore (MY). A Bar-headed Goose flew around the lake
for several minutes around 08:30. Maximum wader counts were 15 Ringed
Plovers, 9 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 3 Oystercatchers,
2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. A Hobby
flew over the North Shore, 2 Common Terns and a Cuckoo were present
and 2 Reed Warblers were singing below the dam. Up to 200 Swifts
were with 200 hirundines (PW, CM, GE). On the Swag there were 24
Mallard, 24 Tufted Ducks and the first Pochard since the end
of February (GE). |
- It can be done! A very informative and
persuasive sign at the Fair Lady Coppice less than a mile away
- click on he photo to read it (GE).
|
|
- 10th
- Sun
|
- 15°C
- am
Sunny SE2
- pm
Cloudy
- NE3
|
| Results of the WeBS count to follow. 14
Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpipers
and 3 Oystercatchers were on the North Shore (GE, NS) where 4
Buzzards, a Cuckoo (GE) and a Whinchat (IW) were also seen. 8
Common Terns, a Herring Gull and 7 Black-headed Gulls were over the lake but
there were very few Swifts and hirundines during the morning. At
least 2 Garden Warblers were in scrub at the end of Fly Bay
where I spent over half an hour listening to, but never seeing, a Reed
Warbler singing from dense Blackthorn and Hawthorn cover (GE).
At least 4 Dingy Skippers and a Small Copper were
around the Slurry Pool embankment and north end of the causeway (GE,
NS) and Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies are in flight (NS).
The terrapin was again basking on the tyre in the Nine-foot (GE). |
- A good try, but not quite what we need! (GE)
|
- Dingy Skipper © N Stych
|
- Large Red Damselfly© N Stych
|
- Common Tern © N Stych
|
|
- 11th
-
|
- 14°C
- Sunny
- NE5
|
| The 14 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin
and 3 Oystercatchers were still present. One Common Tern and
good numbers of hirundines and Swifts were over the lake. During the
evening two quad bikes on the shore north of the Watersports Centre
flushed a flock of 15 waders and obviously disturbed the nesting
Little Ringed Plovers and over 60 children from the OEC 'let off
steam' on the North Shore which would hardly encourage anything or
anyone to start breeding! (GE). |
|
|
- 12th
|
- 16°C
- Sunny
- E5
|
| A Greenshank and Turnstone
were present early in the morning (GR) with the Greenshank staying
all day with at least 11 Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed
Plover, a Dunlin and 2 Common Terns. A probable
Yellow-legged Gull was on the raft but only seen from the South
Shore. As a result of the
swan death and resulting publicity, one or two signs have now been
put up encouraging people to be aware of young birds and to control
their dogs. However, there was no sign anywhere near the point where
a man and his off the lead dog went onto the shoreline by the
Watersports Centre and 'accidentally' flushed the Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover,
Ringed Plovers and Dunlin (GE). |
|
|
|
| At last! We seem to be
getting the idea but they hardly compare with the Fair Lady sign and
I'm afraid most dog walkers have no idea when they are near a bird
that is smaller and more cryptically coloured than a swan. The sign
is actually encouraging dog walkers to go near 'the birds'! Dogs
should always be under close control (ie on a lead) in a
public place (GE). |
| A Red Kite was again seen over
Chasetown (per JL). |
|
- 13th
|
- 14°C
- Light
rain
- E3
|
| It was quiet during the early morning
with only 2 Oystercatchers, 7 Ringed Plovers, a Cormorant, 10
Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backs, 4 Common Terns, 2
Kestrels, 150 Swifts, 40 Sand Martins, 35 House Martins and a few
Swallows reported (EO). However, by the afternoon the weather had
brought down 2 Black Terns, a Little Stint, 2 Sanderlings,
a Turnstone and a Whimbrel to join the Greenshank,
15 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers,
3 Oystercatchers, Lapwing and 2+ Little Ringed Plovers.
Up to 200 Swifts were along the West Shore and over 100 House
Martins were over the dam (GE, PW). |
|
Greenshank © P Ward
|
- Little Stint © P Ward
|
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 2 Stonechats,
2 Little Grebes, a brood of Lapwings and 4 Red Deer (EO). |
|
- 14th
|
- 14°C
- Light
rain
- NE3
|
| Another very good day! Numbers of
waders were very difficult to count due to disturbance causing
flocks to fly from shore to shore and these totals must be seen as
minimums: 1 Grey Plover, 1 Little Stint, 45 Ringed
Plovers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 30 Dunlins, 4 Sanderlings,
2 Turnstones, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers
and 2 Common
Sandpipers. A Shelduck was present during the morning, a Hobby
was seen, 5 Common Terns were present and a Black Tern
paid a brief visit during the evening (GE, IW, PW, MY, JA, EGP, PJ). |
|
- 15th
|
- 15°C
- Heavy
rain
- ENE2
|
| An amazing day of wader passage with
record numbers of Turnstones and Ringed Plovers. Again numbers must
be seen as minima since there was ongoing passage throughout the
day. During the early morning there were 44 Ringed Plovers,
25 Dunlin, a Little Stint, Turnstone, 3 Sanderlings
(PJ, GE), a remarkable 13 Whimbrels flew out and at least
700 Swifts were over the lake (EO). Ten Turnstones
were then seen on the North Shore and by late afternoon there were
at least 143 waders on the South Shore alone including >80 Ringed
Plovers, 55 Dunlin and 5 Sanderlings. The Grey
Plover, Greenshank, a Whimbrel, 3
Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 8 Common Terns
were also present (PJ, GE, IW, N). |
- Grey Plover © P Ward
|
|
- 16th
- Sat
|
- 14°C
- Very
heavy
showers
- S5
|
| A strange day of anti-climax as it was
hoped that there could be an even greater number of waders present.
However, on any other day the following totals would have been
remarkable: 52 Ringed Plovers, 45 Dunlin, 3 Sanderlings,
1 Little Stint, 1 Greenshank, 3 Oystercatchers,
2 Arctic Terns, 4 Common Terns and 2 Hobbies (GE, PJ,
PW, NS, FC et al). A Small Copper butterfly was near the Nine Foot
(GE, NS). |
| At Kingswood there were 2-3 pairs of Little
Ringed Plovers, 3 pairs of Lapwings, a Wheatear and a
Reed Warbler was singing from the lakeside reeds (GE). |
|
- 17th
- Sun
|
- 14°C
- Very
heavy
showers
- SSE4
|
| 35 Ringed Plovers, 18 Dunlin
and 2 Oystercatchers were still present but most of the other waders appear to have
departed. Two summer plumaged Sanderlings and a Redshank appeared
during the day, single Hobby passed over during the morning
and afternoon, 3 Buzzards and 6 Common Terns were present whilst the
only obvious passage involved gulls with around 25 Lesser
Black-backs, 2 Herring and 4 Black-headed Gulls passing over. The
first Small Heath butterfly of the year was on the North Shore (GE,
PJ, PW, RS). |
|
- 18th
|
- 14°C
- Showers
- SSW4
|
|
Although the South Shore was devoid of waders in the
early evening with just an Common Tern over the lake (GE), the North
Shore produced a Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plovers, 5 Little
Ringed Plovers, 12 Dunlin and an Oystercatcher (IW,
N).
|
|
- 19th
|
- 16°C
- Sunny intervals
- Heavy showers
- SW4
|
| At 06:30 there were 21 Ringed
Plovers, 11 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper on the
North Shore (GR) and 3 Oystercatchers and 2 Common Terns
were present in the evening. However, the best surprise was left
until after dark when, whilst bat detecting, several Group members
saw a Nightjar flying around the Nine-foot Pool and Anglesey
Basin. Several bats including both Pipistrelle species and 2 Noctules,
a Red Deer and a Fox were recorded and a Tawny Owl called at the north end of the
dam (GE, N, JL, NS, RS, IW, PW). |
| A Red Kite in heavy wing moult
was seen at Hammerwich (PJ). |
|
- 20th
|
- 16°C
- Sunny intervals.
- Heavy showers
- SW4
|
| Three Hobbies were
together over the North Shore (PJ). Maximum counts during the day were
24 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Dunlin,
2 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper and 7 Common
Terns (PJ, GR, EO). 22 Lesser Black-backs flew north-west, over
100 Swifts and 25 House Martins were over the lake and other sightings
included a Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Kestrel and
3+ Reed Warblers (EO). The Swans on Fly Pool are
making their 3rd nest, just as they did last year (GR). The same
number of bats as last night were seen after dark but no sign of the
Nightjar (GE). |
|
On Cuckoo Bank's top fields there were 60 Carrion
Crows and 3 Grey Partridge. On the
Heath there were up to 6 Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Stonechat and
4 Red Deer (EO).
|
|
- 21st
|
- 14°C
- Light
showers
- W3
|
| Highest counts for the day were 2 Sanderlings,
20 Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover
(IW) and 2 Oystercatchers (GE). A Spotted Flycatcher near
Target Point was new for the year (IW). |
|
|
22nd
|
- 15°C
- Sunny
intervals
- W3
|
|
In the morning there were 25 Ringed Plovers
and 16 Dunlin by the Watersports Club (EO) but numbers had
dropped to 16 and 11 respectively by late afternoon when there was
also a Sanderling, Little Ringed Plover and a female Wheatear
(PJ). 4 Common Terns, an Oystercatcher, Grey Wagtail and Tawny Owl
were also seen (JT, VT).
|
| On Cuckoo Bank there were 8 Golden
Plovers and a Lesser Whitethroat. A Spotted Flycatcher
was in the pines north of Biddulph's Pool (IW). |
|
- 23rd
- Sat
-
|
- 18°C
- Sunny
intervals
- SW3
|
| 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little
Ringed Plover, 13 Dunlin and 5 Lapwings were present. A
Four-spotted Chaser was on the heath near the OEC. A Cuckoo called
near the Slurry Pool and 2+ Buzzards were seen. At dusk 2+ Noctules
were over the Nine Foot, several small bats were under the canal
motorway bridge (GE) and 2 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling on the
North Shore (PJ). |
|
- 24th
- Sun
|
- 20°C
- Sunny
- WSW3
|
- During the morning 15 Ringed Plovers and
14 Dunlin were on the shore by the Watersports Centre but
the beautiful weather brought the dogs out in droves (in many
cases it was hard to determine if they had owners) and there
wasn't a single bird on any of the other shorelines. 4 Common
Terns were over the lake and a Raven was mobbed by a crow
as it passed over Norton Bog where up to 10 Reed Warblers and a
Sedge Warbler were singing.
- A pair of Mute Swans (rings POU and HBF) with 8 cygnets were on
Plant Swag where there were also 3 pairs of Tufted Ducks,
singing Garden Warbler and Blackcaps, 3+ Dingy Skippers, a
Common Blue and several Small Heaths (GE).
|
- Little chance of waders on the Sailing shore!
(GE).
|
|
|
|
|
Plant Swag is usually a good nest site for Mute Swans
but will they try to walk their brood across the by-pass to the main
lake? (GE).
|
|
- 25th
|
- 18°C
- Sunny,
- rain
later
- SE2
|
| 8 Ringed Plovers and 7 Dunlin
were feeding on the shore north of the Watersports Centre along
with a Mute Swan and 3 small cygnets which presumably are the
offspring of the cob killed by the huskies. Another 2 Ringed Plovers
were on the Sailing Shore and 3 Oystercatchers on the Rugby
pitch. Other counts included 4 Common Terns, 21 Canada Geese with 4
goslings and 52 Mute Swans (GE). A Green Hairstreak and Four-spotted
Chaser were on the OEC Heath (NS). |
- Flowering Shoreweed (GE).
Low water levels at this time of year
should allow the Littorella to produce good quantities of
seed and potentially recolonize the shoreline. |
A single parent family (GE).
|
|
-
26th
-
|
- 15°C
- Sunny
intervals
- WNW4
|
|
8 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin and a
Painted Lady were near the Watersports Centre (PW). There were up to
70 Swifts, 50 House Martins, a few Swallows, 25 Lesser Black-backs
flew west, a Black-headed Gull, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Terns and
2 Green Woodpeckers. On the Norton Bog area there were 3
Painted Ladies, 4 Common Blues, 5 Small
Heaths, 2 Dingy Skippers and 4 Burnet Companion moths. At least 70
Large Red and 50 Common Blue Damselflies were also present (EO). At
dusk there were 35 Canada Geese but the only gulls roosting were 3
Black-headed (GE).
|
|
07:20 Cuckoo Bank: The top fields were very quiet
with only Skylarks singing. There were 50 Carrion Crows, 90+ Starlings,
2 Grey Partridges, Sparrowhawk and 4 Roe Deer
including 2 bucks. On the heath there was a pair of Stonechats,
a Raven being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, 2 Little Grebes, a
Cuckoo, a Buzzard, 6 Red Deer, a Fox and 6
Painted Ladies (EO).
|
|
- 27th
|
- 17°C
- Cloudy
- W4
|
| 8 Dunlin and 8 Ringed Plovers
were on the North Shore and a wary Little Ringed Plover was
on the shore near the Watersports Centre, where the 3 young cygnets
are still surviving. 3 Common Terns and 3 Oystercatchers were also
present. The Plant Swag Mute Swans (POU, HBF) have managed to walk
their brood across the by-pass and onto the main lake with the loss
of only two cygnets; 6 still remain (GE, FC, PW). |
|
- 28th
|
- 19°C
- Overcast
am Sunny pm
- WNW3
|
| 8 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers
and 4 Oystercatchers were near the Watersports Centre (GE)
and probably an additional 3 Ringed Plovers were on the Sailing
Shore (PW). 2 Common Terns and a Buzzard were also present. |
| At Stubbers Green there were 3
Oystercatchers, 80 Canada Geese and 13 Lesser Black-backs (GE). |
|
-
29th
|
- 22°C
- Sunny
- SE3
|
| Water levels are again falling and are
now at 2.52m below maximum. Three Shovelers were present at
06:30 (GR). A Ringed Plover was by the
Watersports Centre and 4 Oystercatchers by the pier. 2 Common
Terns were present and 3 Painted Ladies were seen in a very short
visit (GE). |
|
-
30th
- Sat
|
- 21°C
- Sunny
- ESE4
|
| Between 11:00 and 13:00 17 Painted
Ladies flew north or north-west through a 20m wide survey area
at the top of Norton Bog hill. Only 3 were seen outside the sample
area at the time but the total number passing through Chasewater and
Cuckoo Bank must have been many times greater. Whilst doing the
survey a total of 5 off lead dogs ran all over the site, disturbing
and chasing Skylarks and Lapwings. Up to 50 Southern
Marsh Orchids were in flower, 3 Four-spotted Chasers were in flight,
two Common Terns were
over the lake and 5 Buzzards were seen. 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little
Ringed Plovers and an Oystercatcher were on the shore
near the Watersports Centre until it too became a venue for
sunbathing. The crazy season has arrived with 6 youths swimming out
to the raft with one needing to be hauled out by the Sailing Club's
rescue boat as he struggled on the return swim to the west shore
(GE). |
- Southern Marsh-orchid (GE)
|
|
-
31st
- Sun
|
- 23°C
- Sunny
- ENE4
|
| 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little
Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Lapwings were by the
Watersports Centre and a Common Tern,4 Black-headed Gulls and 2
Lesser Black-backs were present. A Broad-bodied Chaser was
near Anglesey Basin (GE). |
|
