16 February 2011

From Nick Smith and Steve Seal today a massive count of 47 Goosanders plus 3 Goldeneye which included a full male.

13 February 2011

This post will be short an sweet as it's being done from my mobile phone due to a lack of internet connection at home at the mo.

Wet and windy morning, 9c, visit from 07.30 - 09.00.

On the boating lake first thing at least 30 Goosander and 2 Great Crested Grebes, on the main lake, only 5 Pochard and around 20 Tufted Duck plus another 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Shoveler, in the nature reserve a male Teal and a couple of Willow Tit, 3 Stock Dove and a Sparrowhawk on the gas works, back at the main lake 2 Common Gulls and Nick jammed a Dunlin flying through which I couldn't get onto and finally an Cormorant was circling high over.
Not sure when the next update will be but will try and update any unusual sightings as and when.

03 Febuary 2011

What a difference a few days can make, it was almost spring like today with a barmy 15c in the sun, still about 60% ice on the boating lake but the main lake was ice free again.

The boating lake held 4 Goosander today made up of 1 male and 3 females also the usual pair of Mute Swans and a Common Gull in a small Black-headed Gull flock on the ice, on the main lake, another 2 Common Gulls and same in Lesser Black-backed Gulls, on the duck front, 40 Tufted Duck, 22 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and a single Great Crested Grebe, the pair that were attempting to nest build last week seem to have disappeared, in the nature reserve at least 20+ Siskins were flying around, 4 Bullfinches and 3 Willow Tits, on the old gas works 2 Stock Doves on the railway gantry a couple of Buzzards were soaring over towards Goldenhill and a Sparrowhawk headed that way, on the old sewage works a single Jay near the canal and the Green Woodpecker was showing well on a large patch of grass, it's certainly changed a lot since it first appeared last August and has matured into a nice adult bird.

This afternoon Nick Smith had a Raven from the old gas works towards Goldenhill area.

The following photo's were sent to me by Martin Kessel taken at Westport last year I especially like the Great Crested Grebe with the Perch in it's mouth.

Treecreeper by Martin Kessel

Great Crested Grebe by Martin Kessel.

January 2011

Westport finished on a rather impressive 69 species seen for the month of January, I will try on put some highlights together when I've got a few day's off work, I noticed on Birdforum today that someone has reported seeing a Mink recently at Westport, they have informed British Waterways and Staffs Wildlife Trust, Mink bred at Westport last year and exact numbers are unknown but I wouldn't be surprised if there are at least half a dozen around the park.