On Saturday with a cold easterly still blowing, we completed the monthly Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS). In total 2,867 ‘water-birds’ of 31 species were recorded by the wardening team. Highlights included: 1 Jack Snipe, 9 Snipe, 4 Woodcock, 11 Pintail, 4 Mandarins, 4 Goldeneye,19 Shelduck, 3 Kingfishers, 19 Little Grebes, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 17 water Rails, 144 Shoveler, 239 Gadwall, 132 Pochard, 249 Mallard, 687 Tufted Duck and 507 Teal. In addition there was a record count of 520 Stock Doves taking advantage of the Fodder Radish Crop to the south of Bollin Point. This video link shows a few of the sightings from this winter period, including the long-staying Penduline Tit. https://youtu.be/cQvRbXAN7Vg
Cheers David (with Dan Owen, Helen Wynn and Brian Baird)
Submitted by: David Bowman
A bitingly cold east wind has kept temperatures down all week at Woolston Eyes but that didn’t take the edge off some good birding. The long-staying Penduline Tit showed well on occasions, including this morning. Monday’s highlight was an early adult Mediterranean Gull, while Tuesday saw a Yellow-legged Gull on No.4 bed, along with 6 Pintail, with a couple of Bramblings visiting the Morgan Hide feeders along with the Chaffinch flock. This morning’s variety included: 1 Penduline Tit, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Egyptian Geese, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Pintail, 4 Goldeneyes, 11 Common Gulls, 1 Snipe, 50 Redwings and 6 Marsh Harriers. The latter were particularly interesting, as two pairs were noted displaying, on different, beds, raising hopes that we could be hosting a two breeding pairs this year. Photo of a Long-tailed Tit Cheers David Bowman (with Dan Owen)
Submitted by: David Bowman
My first butterfly of the year today, a Peacock on No1 bed
Submitted by: Eyesbirder
While most of our Saturday morning visitors were focussed on looking for the Penduline Tit on No.4 bed, we opted for a lazy morning in the Morgan Hide on No.3 bed. This turned out to be a good choice, as blue skies and sunshine, albeit with a cold breeze, triggered quite a bit of pre-breeding behaviour. A pair of Marsh Harriers were tentatively displaying throughout the morning and we are hoping for a breeding attempt on the bed this year, in addition to the well-established pair on another part of the Reserve. With around 500 wildfowl on the bed, it was no surprise when a hunting male Peregrine arrived, though the surprise of the morning came when four Egyptian Geese dropped in. Originally of African origin, they have established a feral breeding population in the UK, with around 1,800 pairs currently breeding, mainly in the south of England. They remain a very scarce visitor to the Reserve and so were nice to add to a growing year-list. Finally, a Great White Egret arrived and, as we were walking off the bed around 60 Redwings were feeding in the shelter belt, harbingers of the easterly movement which will take them back to the east coast and then on to their Fenno-Scandian breeding grounds as spring progresses. Photo of the Egyptian Geese. Cheers David Bowman (with Helen Wynn and Brian Baird)
Submitted by: David Bowman