Hello there, i have been able to get to Westport today HURRAY, it was quite a nice evening bit breezy but sunny all the same, most of the paths were rather muddy so if you haven't already found out for yourselves, wear walking boots or wellies! Visit from 5pm - 7:30 pm.
So i started off walking up along the canal, needless to say not much happening on there, i carried on towards the sewage works and other than a few Long Tailed Tits with a few Blue/Great Tits mixed in, rather dull. So around into the reserve and again it was rather quiet, although there must've been 1000 Robins singing to my thoughts, although its much more likely there were only around 20 that were moving about. Sitting by the top pool there was a Moorhen and a family of Mallards with Ducklings around 2 - 3 weeks old. To my disappointment no sign what so ever of the Reed Warblers, so there's a good chance they have left now. Continuing round there wasn't much to report, 20+ Chiffchaff and around 12 Willow Warblers were about as good as it got, other than when i bumped into Phil Jones who pointed out a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the bottom pool, not a Westport rarity but always nice to see.
So out on to the main lake, and the there were 4 Great Crested Grebes, with 2 Juveniles which are growing and doing very well, hopefully I'm not gonna put the kiss of death on them but its looking good for them at the moment. I also counted 32 Tufted Duck which is down on the mornings count of 46 and the female Pochard was still in with them.
Now I did see the Mute Swan pair however only 1 Cygnet with them, apparently one Cygnet is now in the RSPCA's care.
And thats about it to be honest, Cheers for reading
Also this morning there was a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher
Hi Dominic, that's an incredible Willow Warbler count, I don't think we had that many singing in the spring passage and noen stayed this year to breed so all are passage birds, were they singing/calling? i've check with Nick to see how many he's had in the morning and like me, just one or two normaly on thesewgae works or along the canal side of the main lake, also do you put your records on Birdtrack for the county recorder, im around Westport on Tues, Weds, Thurs or Fri if you want to meet up mate
ReplyDeleteHello Chris, I am aware of that being a good count but didn't think it was that high, i'd check with Phil Jones how many he saw, Willow Warblers aren't exactly still birds especially when feeding, so there could be a few "duplicates" so to speak, and yes they were calling, not so much singing, a few "half-songs" but no full songs, they were dotted about the main reserve all the way up the paths next to the pools, and 1 near the old gas works, although most were on the pool sides of the paths, how long do they usually stick around for when migrating? if it's that good of a count it would be good to get it again. And i am free on any of those days, i plan on going down around 7-ish tomorrow so i'll probably see you there. Also i don't use bird track but i may have to soon
DeleteHi Dominic, I'm down this afternoon,just leaving now, I'm in work on Wednesday afternoon so planning to set my alarm for an early visit tomorrow, may see you then, but as you will so learn some of the lads call me 'Sleepy', you may soon understand why!!
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