Saturday 25 September 2010

25 September 2010

Very different weather conditions today, very cold felt much colder than the 6c the clock was saying, there was a ground frost in places, bright sunshine no wind of note, visit from 07.00 - 09.00.

As I entered the park a Chiffchaff was calling in the nearby trees, in total 9 were seen during the morning all around the park with a couple singing, 2 Grey Herons flew over the boating lake and headed off north, 102 Tufted Ducks on the main lake and a single one on the boating lake, 2 Kingfishers were seen all around the boating and main lake, still just 5 Mute Swans remain and only 5 Great Crested Grebes were noted today, a single Treecreeper was in the trees along the nature reserve side of the main lake, 2 male Pochards on the main lake with the 3 Ruddy Ducks, on the top pool a Little Grebe along the edge of the reeds, on the old gas works 5 Geese Sp flew over high at a distance and 3 Jays, another Jay was seen on the old sewage works and one near the visitor centre, just 3 Mistle Thrushes were seen today, 6 Blackcaps were seen, 2 near the top pool and 4 on the sewage works, a few Meadow Pipits could be heard flying over high but couldn't be seen, a Willow Tit was on the sewage works and a Coal Tit along the canal side of the main lake.

Also Phil Jones and Dave Kelsall had 5 Cormorants and 2 Redwings flying over from the grass bank, and yesterday Phil had a Raven over the distant hill at the back of the sewage works.

Friday 24 September 2010

24 September 2010

At last 3 days off work and after that 2 noon shifts so gives me 5 full visits to Westport, after very heavy overnight rain it was a cool 12c with heavy cloud coverage with the odd light shower, wind was strong north/northeast, visit from 07.30 - 09.40.

Despite a good long visit there wasn't much to see, the small birds were keeping low due to the high winds, so very few Warblers etc were seen, 83 Tufted Ducks were on the main lake with 8 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Mute Swans, on the playing field 6 Pied Wagtails and another 5 on the grass verge and bank, a single Teal was on the boating lake and later went onto the main lake, just a single Mistle Thrush was still on the berries by the car park and the boating lake, a single Willow Tit was in the Tit flock by the top pool with a Bullfinch and a Chiffchaff, also single Chiffchaffs were on the gas works and along the canal side of the main lake, back on the main lake a single male Pochard and the pair of Ruddy Duck, a single Swallow was on the old gas works and a Blackcap on the old sewage works, a Treecreeper was in the trees at the top of the main lake and lastly a Feral Pigeon had me thinking it was something else when I found it having a swim in the middle of the canal.

Nipped back down Westport this afternoon, conditions pretty similar but not quite as windy, 121 Canada Geese on the playing field, Ruddy Ducks have increased to 2 females and 1 male and Great Crested Grebes 10, a Jay flew across the boating lake and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are on the main lake, a Sparrowhawk flew over the top of the main lake and Nick had a couple of House Martins along the canal side of the main lake.

Wednesday 22 September 2010

22 September 2010

Roll on Friday when I'm off work and can get back down to Westport, after having 'sit down' job's for the last 20 years, staying on my feet none stop for 9 hours a day has come as a bit of a shock, anyway as per Nick managed a quick 20 minute visit this morning, as the mornings close in and get darker he's losing time and his visits are getting shorter until the clocks change.

2 male and 1 female Wigeon, 96 Tufted Duck, 6 Mute Swans, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 'Sammy' Shoveler, a single Grey Heron, Coal Tit, female Ruddy Duck and male and female Pochard.

At approx 10.25 Jeff Jones had a Hobby flying along the housing estate near the canal.

21 September 2010

Again at work so another report from the pen of Nick.

Kingfisher 1, Great Crested Grebe 9, Grey Heron, pair of Ruddy Duck, Teal 2, Tufted Duck 98, Shoveler, Grey Wagtail, Mute Swans 6, Meadow Pipit 4, Chaffinch 4, Chiffchaff 3, a single Blackcap, Willow Tit 3, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush 8,

Then a bird flew over sewage works, heard it call, I thought I know that call, Twite? Lapland? Tree Pipit, took me 5 mins to think and then

Reed Bunting - 1 over! (first one since Spring/early Summer)

Finally the following great photo's are by Dave Kelsall of last weeks Med Gull.


Monday 20 September 2010

20 September 2010

Nick had to cope on his own this morning as I was on early shift at work, so his highlights are as follows.

Dark, damp, dreary (and that was just his mood) saw 6 Mistle Thrush, 82 Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Shoveler, 6 Mute Swan, 9 Great Crested Grebe, pair Ruddy Duck, male Pochard, 7 Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch, 5 House Martins, 2 Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, 7 Starling, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and lastly 5 Swallows.

Sunday 19 September 2010

18 September 2010

Cool 11c, slight northerly breeze, cloudy with sunny intervals visit from 06.40 - 08.45.

Mute Swans continue to drop slowly with just 7 seen, Tufted Ducks are up to 97 and the pair of Ruddy Ducks remain on the main lake, the only new bird in today is a single Wigeon, Nick was so excited at hearing about the Wigeon he got himself a bit stuck and needed a bit of help to get free!

1o Great Crested Grebes were on the main lake and boating lake with 4 being 1st year birds, Pied Wagtails have increased slowly this week with at least 10+ around the park and flying over, a couple of Bullfinches were near the sidings and a Kingfisher was flying between both lakes at regular intervals, about 7+ House Martins were seen flying around and about 5+ Swallows, 3 Grey Wagtails were also seen flying around, back on the main lake just a single male Pochard, there seems to have been a bit of a clear out on the Warbler front with only 5 Chiffchaffs around and 2 Blackcaps, a couple of Meadow Pipits were seen flying over with at least 5+ more heard flying over as well, lastly the Green Woodpecker was flushed along the old railway tracks on the gas works.

The below pictures are of the many fungus that are around at this time of year, I haven't got a clue what any of them are so if you can help then please let me know, cheers.











Friday 17 September 2010

17 September 2010

First day off work so was able to spend a good 3hrs around Westport this morning, was down from 06.25 - 09.35, weather was very cool at 10c with a real nip in the air, bye bye summer, very slight northwest breeze at first picking up later on, good clear skies with very little cloud,

After last nights Med Gull I was hoping it would still be around this morning, as I was entering the park around 150+ Black-headed Gulls were going over in groups of around 50 all heading towards the lake, Nick text me to say the Med Gull was on the main lake and as I scanned the main lake there was no sign, I then noticed it on the grass bank at the side of me, it then flew off towards the A500 and then headed south never to be seen again.

Four Lesser Black-backed Gull also went through most were 1st years with one adult, 2 first year Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake with another 2 on the main lake with 8 adults, Mute Swans continue to drop daily with just 8 today, a Kingfisher was on the boating lake with our usual male Shoveler, on the main lake 78 Tufted Ducks the pair of Ruddy Ducks and a single male Pochard.

Both Swallow and House Martin numbers have taken a huge drop going from 3 figures too low double figures, just 8+ Swallows were seen and 6+ House Martins, a few more Chiffchaffs were around with the sunny weather a few were on the top pool in the nature reserve but the rest (12) were on the old sewage works, also on the top pool a couple of Blackcaps and 1 on the sewage works, 2 Willow Tits were also on the top pool, a single Jackdaw flew over calling there and later another 2 flew over by the top of the main lake, a single Whitethroat was on the sewage works were a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over with another later on at the bottom of the nature reserve, back to the sewage works and a couple of Meadow Pipits flew over I heard a few more going over while around the main lake but couldn't see them, along the canal side of the main lake 7 Mistle Thrushes were near the housing estate with at least another 8+ in the trees by the boating lake and car park.


Back at the top pool and a single Coal Tit in the Tit flock and a Grey Wagtail flew over, a Sparrowhawk was chasing a Swallow on the sewage works and a Bullfinch was on here, as I was leaving a Cormorant flew over the main lake heading north and then as I was watching the Mistle Thrushes I mentioned earlier by the car park I picked up a nice Spotted Flycatcher among them, a couple of the lads were down and managed to get onto it with Steve Seal taking this and the Mistle Thrush photo.


Thursday 16 September 2010

16 September 2010

Managed to get down to Westport for a quick hour this morning before work, it was just a quick walk around the main lake and a look on the old sewage near the main lake end, weather was cold with a heavy shower late on, although the temp was 13c it felt colder with the moderate northwest breeze.

Not very much to note really I didn't do any counts with it being so short, but 13 Mute Swans were noted at least 3 Pochard with the usual Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebes seemed about normal and the couple of Ruddy Duck still remain, Chiffchaff numbers have dropped slowly with only around 8+ seen/heard and a couple of Blackcaps on the old sewage works, also dropping off slowly are the House Martins and Swallows with around 15+ of each and I'm pretty sure a single Sand Martin which is a bit more unusual at this time of year.

Things warmed up a lot by mid afternoon when Dave Kelsell found a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on the main lake not far from the front edge near the boat ramp, unfortunately I was at work when the news came in and it was a frantic few hours before I could finish and get down, luckily it was the first Gull I looked at when I arrived exactly were I was told it would be, it then flew towards the Black-headed Gull flock and settled down on one of the plastic pipes sticking out the water, I did try to get a couple of photo's but I was shaking due the the cold and wind plus the light was fading rapidly so sadly none came out 'gutted', hopefully it will still be around in the morning and I'll have another go.

Also seen earlier in the afternoon was a Raven flying over the lake but quite high up, this was seen by Bill Low who himself is a bit of a rarity at Westport these days, these two species (that's the Med Gull and Raven not Bill!!) put Westport on 123 species for the year and with 3 and a bit months still to go fingers crossed we can make 130+, with the Med Gull it puts myself on 102 for the year at Westport.

Wednesday 15 September 2010

15 September 2010

Work commitments have stopped me from getting down to Westport so far this week, hope to get down tomorrow and definetly on Friday because that's my first day off.


Nick has kindly kept me up to date and today's records are as follows, Ruddy Duck still the usual pair, 6 Mistle Thrushes, 13 Mute Swans, Shoveler, 5 Chiffchaffs, Pied Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, 90 Tufted Ducks, Pochard, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 40 House Martins and Swallows, Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher, Treecreeper and Willow Tit.

Monday 13 September 2010

13 September 2010

As it was my first day in my new job, I thought I'd better not go down to Westport this morning and turn up on time for my new job, luckily Nick didn't manage to find a new Westport tick!

'Sammy' Shoveler still present, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Mistle Thrushes, 71 Tufted Ducks is another drop the numbers have been really up and down over the last few weeks, a single Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, the pair of Ruddy Ducks are still present (oh sorry they left last week), 3 Willow Tits, 12 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, and singles of Grey Heron, Linnet, Pochard and Meadow Pipit flying over.

Sunday 12 September 2010

12 September 2010

The forecast wasn't quite to plan, it had forecast a nice day, but with sunny intervals the odd rain shower and a rainbow it wasn't what I had expected, wind was medium north/northwest, temp 14c, visit from 06.30 - 09.00.

Rainbow over Westport

So far September has been quite quiet, esp compared to August which was a great month, things weren't to change today with very little happening, the Mute Swans continue to drop slowly with 5 on the boating lake and 8 on the main lake, Tufted Ducks are also down with 74 on the main lake and a single on the boating lake, also on the main lake the pair of Ruddy Duck are back after disappearing for a day or two, 10 Great Crested Grebes of which 4 are juveniles, back on the boating lake a single Pochard and 'Sammy' Shoveler.

Quite a few Pied Wagtails seem to be going through today and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over, a single Blackcap was calling from near the top pool with at least another 3 on the old sewage works, a couple of Willow Tits were along the nature reserve side of the main lake with a Coal Tit, 12 House Martins went over the main lake, Chiffchaff numbers have dropped off with just 8 around the park, a Kingfisher was seen on the main lake and heard around several places in the park with possibly two being present, 3 Meadow Pipits flew over the old gas works and 11 Swallows were on here and the sewage works, at least 3 Grey Wagtails were on the gas works, along the canal side of the main lake a Jay flew across, 5 Mistle Thrushes were on the housing estate with about 35+ Starlings and 2 Grey Herons flew over.

Received a call from Steve Seal late afternoon to say the Common Sandpiper was still present on the main lake, it had been seen earlier in the morning by one of the park staff and I presume it's the same one from last night.

Also Phil Jones had a Garden Warbler on the sewage works.

Late news from yesterday, Dave Kelsell had 3 Shoveler on the main lake.

Saturday 11 September 2010

11 September 2010

Didn't get down to Westport this morning as Nick, George and myself headed to Norfolk to see Arctic Warbler, Red-necked Phalarope, Wryneck, Spoonbill & Lapland Bunting.

Got home just before the last of the light faded and took the dog for a quick walk down to Westport, as we passed the old beach area a Common Sandpiper flew along the edge of the main lake, so we will see if it's still about in the morning.

Again no news was received from anyone else so don't think anyone got down there today.

Friday 10 September 2010

10 September 2010

Very wet underfoot after overnight rain, breeze was light, poor light at first with heavy cloud coverage, temp a pleasant 15c, visit form 06.10 - 08.00.

As I walked along the back of the boating lake I noticed a large group of Black-headed Gulls on the grass bank which totalled at least 350+, 3 Tufted Ducks were on the boating lake and 101 on the main lake, a couple of Grey Herons were flying around between the two lakes, the 2 first year Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake and on the main lake 2 juveniles and at least 6 adults, 3 Mute Swans on the boating lake and another 11 on the main lake, also on the main lake, 3 Pochards, 1 Shoveler and 1 Little Grebe.

The Green Woodpecker was calling from the nature reserve, by the top pool at least 5 Chiffchaffs with another 7 around the park, around the old sewage works, 1 Coal Tit and singles of Blackcap and Whitethroat, a small number of House Martins and Swallows went through, along the canal side of the main lake at least 30+ Goldfinches were feeding on the thistles, 4 Mistle Thrushes over the housing estate and a single Treecreeper going down the tree line.

Wednesday 8 September 2010

08 September 2010

A bright sunny day once the sun came up, there was a heavy dew and mist over the lakes, it was rather cool at 12c, no real wind of note, visit from 06.20 - 08.30.

Had good news today with a job offer, the downside is less visits to Westport Lake, but fingers crossed it shouldn't affect things to much and if I can get down in the morning then a afternoon visit should be ok, depending on the new shift pattern I will be on.

Anyway on the more interesting things like the birds of today, although not as many Black-headed Gulls on the playing field as yesterday there were still 40+ on this morning, among them a adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the boating lake 107 Canada Geese, a single Mute Swan was again on here with the other 13 being on the main lake, as I went around the boating lake towards Price's field I heard at least 2 Tawny Owls calling from the tree line, I contacted Nick who came down too meet me and again we heard them calling, we had a good look around the trees but were unable to locate them, back on the boating lake a single 1st year Great Crested Grebe and 8 on the main lake with 2 being juveniles, Tufted Ducks are back on the up with 104 on the main lake with the pair of Ruddy Duck and 5 Pochard.

At least 3 Willow Tits were heard around the park and 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps were on the old sewage works were at least 3 Meadow Pipits flew over, 2 Jays were along the trees between the gas works and sewage works, finally a Kestrel flew quite high south over the main lake.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

07 September 2010


After the gale force winds and heavy rain overnight it was quite calm this morning, dry with cloud and the odd sunny interval, there were small branches and leaves everywhere from the storm, temp was 14c, visit from 06.15 - 07.45.

As I came in through the bottom entrance a 135 Black-headed Gulls were on the playing field, on the boating lake 2 first year Great Crested Grebes and 6 on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, the Little Grebe was also on the boating lake as 5 Teal flew over looking like they had just come off the main lake, they gained height and headed off south, a single Mute Swan was on the boating lake with another 20 on the main lake, a single Common Sandpiper flew along the edge of the grass verge and was later seen flying along the top of the main lake, a Grey Heron also flew across the main lake, also on here 96 Tufted Duck and 5 Pochard with about 60+ House Martins and 40+ Swallows.

The wooded areas were very quiet as was the top pool, gas and sewage works, only a couple of Chiffchaffs were seen, a Great Spotted Woodpecker along the nature reserve side of the main lake and a couple of Mistle Thrushes in the trees by the visitor centre.

Late afternoon I received a call from Steve Seal telling me he had seen 3 Common Terns and a Arctic Tern at Knypersley Res and they had flown off towards Westport, I grabbed the dog and my bins and headed off in hope, although there was no sign of the Terns I noticed there seemed to be a good numbers of Tufted Ducks, this was confirmed with a count of 128, the pair of Ruddy Duck were also on the main lake and I flushed the 1st year Little Grebe from the lake edge (see above photo), a single Swift was among the Swallows and House Martins.

Monday 6 September 2010

06 September 2010

A very quiet day at Westport with Nick recording, 2 Swifts, the pair of Ruddy Ducks still present, and a single Teal and Shoveler.

Called down to Westport late afternoon, very strong south/southeast breeze with the odd heavy shower, not many small birds about due to the high winds and branches were falling off the trees all around the lake, managed to count 103 Tufted Ducks, 21 Mute Swans, the pair of Ruddy Duck still present, 10 Great Crested Grebes of which 4 are 1st years, 5 Pochard, there was a good size Gull roost with 200+ Black-headed Gulls, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a 1st year Common Gull, which is the first of the autumn.

Sunday 5 September 2010

05 September 2010

A bit cooler and windier, heavy cloud coverage with occasional sunny intervals, wind was south/southeast, temp 16c but felt cooler, visit from 06.20 - 08.30.

A Grey Heron was as usual on the boating lake and then on the post of the boating ramp on the main lake, the 2 first year Great Crested Grebes were still on the boating lake and 7 on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, also on the boating lake the eclipse male Shoveler and a single Teal, on the main lake Tufted Ducks have jumped up to 108 and Pochard to 7, a pair of Ruddy Ducks are still present, Mute Swans have dropped to 19, a couple of Pied Wagtails were on the grass verge. Swallow and House Martins have dropped off over the last week, only 30+ House Martins and about the same in Swallows were present, a single Swift was over the top of the trees on the main lake.

A single Chaffinch was by Ted Heath Rock, with a small Tit flock, back on the main lake and a 1st year Little Grebe was by the boating ramp, only 7 Chiffchaffs were seen around the park but the windy conditions probably didn't help, a couple of Grey Wagtails went over 1 on the gas works and 1 on the sewage works, a Kestrel went over the gas works and a couple of Bullfinches were on here also the Green Woodpecker was heard on here.

Later in the morning and Pete Lunt had a Avocet going over heading south, one was also seen at Belvide later in the afternoon, so possibly the same bird, he also had 5 Wigeon and 2 Swifts. The Avocet was a first for the year at Westport and puts us on 120 for the year.

Saturday 4 September 2010

04 September 2010

No news from Westport today as most of us were at Flamborough Head in East Yorks, dipping on Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, luckily the day turned out ok with, Scarlet Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Sooty Shearwater and a nice find sent us a bit further south to Grimston when a Booted Warbler was found.

So did anyone actually go to Westport, please let us know what you saw, no news came through all day, what did we miss?

Friday 3 September 2010

03 September 2010

A dull cloudy morning with a slight breeze, temp was quite qarm at 15c, visit from 06.18 - 08.00.

Very quite around Westport this morning, in total 21 Mute Swans were present on both the model boating lake and main lake, just 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe on the boating lake and 6 on the main lake of which 2 were juveniles, Tufted Ducks have increased again slightly to 89, also on the main lake, 5 Pochard and 2 Ruddy Duck, the Shoveler was on the boating lake again with a Grey Heron and another Grey Heron flew high over the main lake, a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were present with 1 on the nature reserve and 1 on the sewage works, a Kingfisher was near the top pool again as was a Reed Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs, on the sewage works, 3 Blackcaps and a couple more Chiffchaffs.

Later in the morning Dave Kelsell was at Westport and had the following, 1 Cormorant, which is the 4th one in four days this week and 3 Swifts.

A bit later still and it's Pete Lunt's turn, he saw, Grey Wagtail, 3 Swifts, 6 Pochard, Chiffchaffs, Cormorant, Swallows, House Martins, pair of Ruddy Ducks, Buzzard and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Thursday 2 September 2010

02 September 2010

Nick was down early this morning and had 3 Swifts, 7 Pochard and the pair of Ruddy Ducks, later Dave Kelsell went down and had the Ruddy Ducks still present, a Cormorant, a Spotted Flycatcher by the canal overflow opposite the old sewage works with a Whitethroat, 2 Kingfishers were on the top pool in the nature reserve and a Little Grebe and 2 Teal on the main lake.

I went down late morning for a quick visit, managed to catch up with the Cormorant and Ruddy Ducks with 4 Pochard on the main lake, a single Kingfisher on the top pool in the nature reserve were there were also good numbers of Chiffchaffs, no luck with the Spotted Flycatcher on the sewage works, there was a single Stock Dove on the gas works, the first one I've seen for a while and a single Jay was on here, as I was leaving a Buzzard was circling over the main lake and by the visitor centre 7 Mistle Thrushes again, along the canal a single House Martin went over with approx 30 Swallows.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

01 September 2010

A new month and all excited about what new birds can be added to my patch list, sadly I missed the new tick later in the morning, more about that later, weather was again sunny and bright with a slight mist over the water, no breeze of note, temp was slightly warmer at 14c, a nice long visit from 06.15 - 09.15.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over as I entered the park and later one was heard in the nature reserve and one on the old sewage works, so at least 2 possibly 3 birds present, Mute Swans have dropped slightly again with 3 on the boating lake and 16 on the main lake, the adult Great Crested Grebes have left the boating lake to the 2 older juveniles now they have lost there last chick, I'm not sure where they have gone because there was 8 on the main lake of which 2 are juveniles which is the norm, a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were with the Black-headed Gulls on the main lake, also on there, a drop to 68 Tufted Ducks, 4 Pochard and 2 Ruddy Ducks (Shhhh), back on the boating lake and the Shoveler was on the point.

Along the nature reserve side of the main lake and a large flock of Tits and Warblers included about 3 Chiffchaffs, a Chaffinch, Nuthatch and 2 Treecreepers, a Grey Heron was in the trees at the top pool and about 10+ House Martins were flying around with 2 Swifts, the Green Woodpecker was heard calling from the old gas works and later I saw it flying across the railway line towards Bradwell Woods, a Willow Tit was in the bushes by the telegraph pole on the old sewage works with 4 Willow Warblers, 15+ Chiffchaffs and 6 Blackcaps, a couple more Willow Tits were in the nature reserve with another singing Willow Warbler and a few Chiffchaffs, a Cormorant flew over the gas works heading south and a single Mistle Thrush on here with another 7 on the canal side of the main lake, by the visitor centre, 2 Grey Wagtails and Bold3 Pied Wagtails.

Total species seen 45.

Later in the morning I received a call from Colin telling me that Alan Hancock and himself had just had a Osprey fly through heading south, this is the 2nd record of the year with the first being in spring.