Felt cool out at first but when the sun broke through the clouds it warmed up nicely, after that very little cloud cover and no wind again, must be calm now for about 5 days, temp 15c going up to 18c as I got home, visit from 05.55 - 08.15.
Nearly all the Canada Geese were on the playing field and included the hybrid CanadaxGreylag again, on the model boating lake 7 Mute Swans and another 29 on the main lake, the Great Crested Grebe family on the boating lake continues to intrigue me, they still have 2 new chicks but the older young are still pinching the fish off the adult every time he tries to feed the new ones, it's very strange and I can't see the new chicks surviving at this rate, on the main lake there are 8 adult and 2 juvenile Great Crested Grebes, Shovelers remain steady with the same 4 as yesterday although they seem to be moving about quite a bit between the two lakes, 67 Tufted Ducks remain on the main lake with 2 Pochard and 1 Gadwall, over 60+ House Martins were over the tree line of the main lake along the canal side and although I only saw a few Swifts Nick had 30+ (I think), a Grey Heron was as usual on the boating lake and later while still there another flew over going south, 3 Willow Warblers were heard mainly from the sidings and along the nature reserve side of the main lake plus Nick had one on the canal side.
Chiffchaffs were everywhere, it was impossible to keep up with numbers, I know Nick had over 20+ with what was down the canal side of the main lake, but along the nature reserve side there was 15+ and I think there was probably many more than that, both Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were singing again, with the Chiffchaffs and the Tit flock there was also 3+ Willow Tits, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Trecreeper, Richard Sutton also had 2 Garden Warblers in the flock, by the top pool just 1 Reed Warbler was heard calling and on the old sewage works 2 Blackcaps and 2 Jays.
Total species seen 40.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
09 August 2010
Started with a couple of heavy showers early on but then cleared up and the sun came out, lake totally flat with no wind at all, temp 15c, visit from 05.55 - 08.00, having to start going down a bit later now as the morning light closes in.
A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over as I entered the park and 30+ Swifts were over the playing field with another 30+ over the top of the main lake, 5 Mute Swans were on the boating lake and 30 on the main lake, 2 Grey Herons were seen together on the old gas works one could possibly be the bird I had seen earlier on the boating lake, the usual family of 4 Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake and 8 were on the main lake which includes 2 juveniles, also 65 Tufted Ducks which have dropped slightly from last week, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was again seen around the park, there were 2 Shovelers on the boating lake and at least another 2 on the main lake.
A single Willow Tit was calling from the sidings, 2 Pochards were still together on the main lake along with a Gadwall, a couple of Coal Tits were heard, one in the nature reserve and the other from the canal side of the main lake, 4 Sand Martins flew through the main lake heading south, just 5 Chiffchaffs were heard today but I'm sure there were many more than this, a Bullfinch was by the top pool and a couple were on the old sewage works, 2 Jays were calling from the railway near the top pool, a single Stock Dove was on the old gas works and a single Mistle Thrush flew over, a couple of Blackcaps were on the sewage works and lastly a Willow Warbler was again calling from the trees on the canal side of the main lake.
A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over as I entered the park and 30+ Swifts were over the playing field with another 30+ over the top of the main lake, 5 Mute Swans were on the boating lake and 30 on the main lake, 2 Grey Herons were seen together on the old gas works one could possibly be the bird I had seen earlier on the boating lake, the usual family of 4 Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake and 8 were on the main lake which includes 2 juveniles, also 65 Tufted Ducks which have dropped slightly from last week, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was again seen around the park, there were 2 Shovelers on the boating lake and at least another 2 on the main lake.
A single Willow Tit was calling from the sidings, 2 Pochards were still together on the main lake along with a Gadwall, a couple of Coal Tits were heard, one in the nature reserve and the other from the canal side of the main lake, 4 Sand Martins flew through the main lake heading south, just 5 Chiffchaffs were heard today but I'm sure there were many more than this, a Bullfinch was by the top pool and a couple were on the old sewage works, 2 Jays were calling from the railway near the top pool, a single Stock Dove was on the old gas works and a single Mistle Thrush flew over, a couple of Blackcaps were on the sewage works and lastly a Willow Warbler was again calling from the trees on the canal side of the main lake.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
08 August 2010
Nick Smith had a good morning at Westport, the Green Woodpecker was quite vocal and was seen again on the old sewage works, but it was the main lake that was busy with a single Teal and Gadwall and a nice count of at least 7 Shoveler!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
07 August 2010
Damp start with light drizzle, wind was very light not sure from which direction, heavy cloud, temp 16c.
First proper visit for a few day's after calling in the other day during heavy rain I decided to walk back and didn't have time to call yesterday, but today seemed to make up for things with some movement and a new Westport tick for me, Canada Geese numbers have taken a huge drop now they have finished there moult, only last month we had nearly 300 birds, today it was down to just 121 with no sign of the hybrid CanadaxGreylag, Swift number were up to 70+ with good numbers of Swallows and House Martins going through, also 10+ Sand Martins all over the main lake, at the top of the main lake a new brood of 5 Coots have hatched, possibly a 2nd brood or the 1st maybe failed, Mute Swans totalled 38 with most on the main lake, the yellow ringed Swan is still present and we now think the ring number is B7Sor5V, it's hard to read to to damage to ring, 2 Shoveler are present with the usual male on the model boating lake and a female on the main lake, the family of 4 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake, but with the female due to hatch her 3rd brood soon it won't be long before the other juveniles are kicked off, 7 Great Crested Grebes were on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, 81 Tufted Ducks on the main lake shows a slow increase over the week but Pochard remain at 2, 6 Gadwall flew in from the south, they landed in the middle of the main lake and spent about 30+ minutes feeding, when we got back to the main lake from the gas and sewage works they had departed, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and heard several times around the park, and just one Lesser Black-backed Gull went through heading north.
Chiffchaff numbers were low with only 3 but this was probably due to the weather conditions, at least 2 Reed Warblers were on the top pool, a good count of 6 Bullfinches with a probable family of 5 together on the sewage works, Mistle Thrushes totalled 5 all together on the gas works, also a Sparrowhawk was seen here, a couple of Willow Warblers were calling one at the top of the main lake and one along the canal side of the main lake, lastly bird of the day was a Green Sandpiper picked up by Nick as he scanned the main lake, it flew around the lake looking to land for about 2 minutes before departing high to the south west, a new Westport tick for me.
Hope the good day continues as we now head off to Notts for the Baird's Sandpiper!
First proper visit for a few day's after calling in the other day during heavy rain I decided to walk back and didn't have time to call yesterday, but today seemed to make up for things with some movement and a new Westport tick for me, Canada Geese numbers have taken a huge drop now they have finished there moult, only last month we had nearly 300 birds, today it was down to just 121 with no sign of the hybrid CanadaxGreylag, Swift number were up to 70+ with good numbers of Swallows and House Martins going through, also 10+ Sand Martins all over the main lake, at the top of the main lake a new brood of 5 Coots have hatched, possibly a 2nd brood or the 1st maybe failed, Mute Swans totalled 38 with most on the main lake, the yellow ringed Swan is still present and we now think the ring number is B7Sor5V, it's hard to read to to damage to ring, 2 Shoveler are present with the usual male on the model boating lake and a female on the main lake, the family of 4 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake, but with the female due to hatch her 3rd brood soon it won't be long before the other juveniles are kicked off, 7 Great Crested Grebes were on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, 81 Tufted Ducks on the main lake shows a slow increase over the week but Pochard remain at 2, 6 Gadwall flew in from the south, they landed in the middle of the main lake and spent about 30+ minutes feeding, when we got back to the main lake from the gas and sewage works they had departed, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and heard several times around the park, and just one Lesser Black-backed Gull went through heading north.
Chiffchaff numbers were low with only 3 but this was probably due to the weather conditions, at least 2 Reed Warblers were on the top pool, a good count of 6 Bullfinches with a probable family of 5 together on the sewage works, Mistle Thrushes totalled 5 all together on the gas works, also a Sparrowhawk was seen here, a couple of Willow Warblers were calling one at the top of the main lake and one along the canal side of the main lake, lastly bird of the day was a Green Sandpiper picked up by Nick as he scanned the main lake, it flew around the lake looking to land for about 2 minutes before departing high to the south west, a new Westport tick for me.
Hope the good day continues as we now head off to Notts for the Baird's Sandpiper!
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
03 August 2010
Very dull with heavy cloud coverage, temp was 16c but felt cooler, breeze very light north westerly, visit from 05.45 - 08.30.
The Canada Geese numbers continue to drop now they are free flying again after there moult, just 129 are left which includes the CanadaxGreylag hybrid, a single Mute Swan on the boating lake and 34 on the main lake, was able to check a couple of rings and a new one is a yellow ringed bird but its badly marked/scratched and two numbers/letters are unreadable, the Moorhens seem to be on 2nd broods with a few new chicks about on the main lake and the top pool in the nature reserve, Great Crested Grebes include the family of 4 on the boating lake, a pair with 1 young and a pair with 2 young on the main lake, plus another 3 on the main lake, 2 Shovelers today, the usual eclipse male on the boating lake and a female on the main lake which flew off after just 20 mins or so, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling form the nature reserve and we spent alot of time today looking for the Green Woodpecker with no joy, the Tufted Duck were difficult to count today with most of them sticking close to the far bank but in the end we mananged 63 with the usual 2 Pochards, around 40+ Swifts were flying quite high over the top end of the main lake, a Grey Heron was as usual on the boating lake and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew through, a couple of Willow Warblers were calling again from the same places as the other day, 1 by the middle of the nature reserve and 1 by the old gas works.
2 Whitethroat were on the old sewage works with a single Willow Tit and only a few Chiffchaffs today, plus 2 Blackcaps, a Jay also flew across towards the top of the main lake, a couple of Sand Martins were on the main lake and a couple of Reed Warblers on the top pool.
The Canada Geese numbers continue to drop now they are free flying again after there moult, just 129 are left which includes the CanadaxGreylag hybrid, a single Mute Swan on the boating lake and 34 on the main lake, was able to check a couple of rings and a new one is a yellow ringed bird but its badly marked/scratched and two numbers/letters are unreadable, the Moorhens seem to be on 2nd broods with a few new chicks about on the main lake and the top pool in the nature reserve, Great Crested Grebes include the family of 4 on the boating lake, a pair with 1 young and a pair with 2 young on the main lake, plus another 3 on the main lake, 2 Shovelers today, the usual eclipse male on the boating lake and a female on the main lake which flew off after just 20 mins or so, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling form the nature reserve and we spent alot of time today looking for the Green Woodpecker with no joy, the Tufted Duck were difficult to count today with most of them sticking close to the far bank but in the end we mananged 63 with the usual 2 Pochards, around 40+ Swifts were flying quite high over the top end of the main lake, a Grey Heron was as usual on the boating lake and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew through, a couple of Willow Warblers were calling again from the same places as the other day, 1 by the middle of the nature reserve and 1 by the old gas works.
2 Whitethroat were on the old sewage works with a single Willow Tit and only a few Chiffchaffs today, plus 2 Blackcaps, a Jay also flew across towards the top of the main lake, a couple of Sand Martins were on the main lake and a couple of Reed Warblers on the top pool.
Monday, 2 August 2010
02 August 2010
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Felt a bit cool this morning although the temp remains steady at 16c, cloudy and dry with a few sunny intervals, I can't for the life of me remember what the wind was, but it couldn't of been up to much otherwise I would remember, visit from 05.45 - 08.20, I will soon have to start going down a bit later, it had just turned light as I left the house.
A few more Lesser Black-backed Gulls were going through this morning than have for a few weeks, although there was no pattern as to which direction they were going, the hybrid CanadaxGreylag Goose remains with the Canada Goose flock, over 40+ Swifts were flying over the visitor centre, there was just a single Mute Swan on the model boating lake with a further 34 on the main lake, as always the family of 4 Great Crested Grebes on the boating lake and 11 on the main lake, of which 3 are juveniles, also as usual the Grey Heron was fishing on the boating lake, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the nature reserve, on the main lake 70 Tufted Ducks, and again the eclipse male Shoveler was on the boating lake.
2 Pochard are again on the main lake, 10+ Sand Martins were going through with a few House Martins and Swallows for company, on the sewage works 2 Blackcaps and 1 by the top pool, Chiffchaffs were everywhere at the top end of the park with most on the sewage works on gas works in total 7 were seen/heard but I believe there were over double this around, 4 Mistle Thrushes flew over the sewage works, also on here a single Whitethroat and Willow Tit, the dog flushed the Green Woodpecker which flew up to the Telegraph pole, I manage a quick photo using my bins, not brilliant but it looks like a juvenile bird (see above photo), on the gas works 3 Linnets flew over, finally on the top pool 2 Reed Warblers.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
01 August 2010
A new month, but I'm afraid no change in the weather, the only good thing I could say was it's dry, heady cloud coverage, very little wind of note, temp 17c so at least it was quite warm, visit from 05.40 - 08.15.
Firstly Happy Birthday to my nephew Jake in sunny Auz, although it's a bit colder there now he tells me, anyway 3 Mute Swans on the model boating lake and 32 on the main lake means we have a extra Swan on this morning, now which one is it!, 3 Mistle Thrushes flew over the playing field high up with a further 1 over the boating lake and 1 over the sewage works, the family of 4 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake and 9 on the main lake of which 3 are juveniles, a Moorhen chick on the top pool looked no older than a day or two, the eclipse male Shoveler remains on the boating lake and was with a female Mallard again, over 20+ House Martins were over the main lake and 15+ Sand Martins, 72 Tufted Ducks is the highest count since winter, pity were just into August otherwise it would of been the highest ever July count.
A single Coal Tit was along the 'Avenue' and 2 Treecreepers by the sidings, 2 Pochard were at the top of the main lake, only 3 Chiffchaffs today and no Willow Warblers so a few must of gone on from yesterday, at least 3 Reed Warblers on the top pool, bird of the day has to be the Green Woodpecker, first heard near the sidings, Nick picked it up in flight over the visitor centre, we followed it along the canal side of the main lake until it disappeared over towards the sewage works, this is a first at Westport for me, a single Willow Tit was calling along the reserve side of the main lake and a single Stock Dove on the old gas works were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over high north.
Total species seen 39.
Firstly Happy Birthday to my nephew Jake in sunny Auz, although it's a bit colder there now he tells me, anyway 3 Mute Swans on the model boating lake and 32 on the main lake means we have a extra Swan on this morning, now which one is it!, 3 Mistle Thrushes flew over the playing field high up with a further 1 over the boating lake and 1 over the sewage works, the family of 4 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake and 9 on the main lake of which 3 are juveniles, a Moorhen chick on the top pool looked no older than a day or two, the eclipse male Shoveler remains on the boating lake and was with a female Mallard again, over 20+ House Martins were over the main lake and 15+ Sand Martins, 72 Tufted Ducks is the highest count since winter, pity were just into August otherwise it would of been the highest ever July count.
A single Coal Tit was along the 'Avenue' and 2 Treecreepers by the sidings, 2 Pochard were at the top of the main lake, only 3 Chiffchaffs today and no Willow Warblers so a few must of gone on from yesterday, at least 3 Reed Warblers on the top pool, bird of the day has to be the Green Woodpecker, first heard near the sidings, Nick picked it up in flight over the visitor centre, we followed it along the canal side of the main lake until it disappeared over towards the sewage works, this is a first at Westport for me, a single Willow Tit was calling along the reserve side of the main lake and a single Stock Dove on the old gas works were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over high north.
Total species seen 39.
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