Wednesday 16 February 2011

16 February 2011

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

Sunday 13 February 2011

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.

Thursday 3 February 2011

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.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

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.