Very little news from Westport today, while I was stuck at work most of the regular Westport crew were 'dipping' in London, anyway Adam from Birdforum managed to get down an had the following.
Of note, Pochard and Tufted Duck in good number (didn't bother with a count of either), 3 Shoveler, 2 female Goosander, 1 female Goldeneye and one Common Gull. Other common things on show included a singing Song Thrush and 2 Mistle Thrushes, a few Goldfinch flocks knocking about and plenty of Bullfinches.
Also going back too the Mute Swan from the other day, Nick has now confirmed that it is a different bird from last autumn, the ring number is slightly different by the last letter to be exact, making this recent one a new Mute Swan for Westport.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Friday, 14 January 2011
14 January 2011
Just some news from yesterday, Nick Smith had 2 Goosanders fly in as dusk approached, also other news from Nick comes re the returning Mute Swan yesterday, it's yellow ringed number B7SP, it was ringed at Belvide on the 1st June last year, a 5 year old female, and as I said yesterday was last seen at Westport in Sept 10.
Also news regarding the Little Owl yesterday, it's probably the 2nd or 3rd record for Westport, Bill Low had one on the 15th February 84, not far away from Jeff's record yesterday.
Also news regarding the Little Owl yesterday, it's probably the 2nd or 3rd record for Westport, Bill Low had one on the 15th February 84, not far away from Jeff's record yesterday.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
13 January 2011
A very mild 15c today with a light northwesterly breeze, a very light shower early on, but ground was very wet from overnight rain, the main lake was completely ice free for the 1st time since the end of November, the boating lake was about 60% ice free and the middle pool in the nature reserve was ice free but the other two still heavily covered, visit was just over 2 hrs.
First birds of note might seem a bit unusual to most people as 10+ House Sparrows by the bottom entrance doesn't sound very exciting, however House Sparrows at Westport are very few and far between with normally just single figures seen around the Ted Heath Rocks area, on the playing fields the first of 5 Pied Wagtails, most of which were around the grass verge area and 2 Collared Doves flew over the field, also 2 Mistle Thrushes on here, the first of 4 Bullfinches in the trees at the side of the boating lake the rest were by the first gate and top pool, on the boating lake as usual the 2 pair of Shoveler and 2 Mute Swans with another 2 Swans on the main lake, I saw a couple of colour ringed Coots today (red/orange, red/white & pink/blue), on the main lake 44 Tufted Duck, 1 female Goosander, 24 Pochard and 2 Goldeneye.
By the 1st gate to the nature reserve a single Chaffinch with another 2 by the top pool, 3 single Willow Tits were seen, by the first gate, top pool and middle pool area, a single Jay was by the top pool with a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit, bird or birds of the day came as I was leaving the nature reserve by the 2nd gate when 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over quite low in a perfect 'v' shape they were calling as they flew over the main lake and straight down the canal south, another Westport tick out the way that I should of had a long time ago! On the old gas works a small flock of 9 Siskin flew over, 2 Stock Doves were by the old buildings and a Skylark flew over calling by Jeffs pool, back on the main lake and 2 Common Gulls were with the Black-headed Gulls.
I also meet up with Colin who had just seen the female Pheasant on the old sewage works, near the canal overflow, I'd just come off here and was gutted I'd missed it but at least it's still around as it was last seen on the 1st January.
I haven't run for a bird since my Scilly days in the 80's but I got close too it this afternoon when a text message from Nick came through telling me of a Little Owl at Westport found by Jeff Jones, this we think is a first for Westport, I was at Westport fairly quickly and met up with the finder Jeff (congratulations), sadly he hadn't seen it for about 20mins, George and then Nick arrived and we search the area to no avail, additional birds seen to this morning included a Sparrowhawk over the gas works and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the boating lake, we managed to see the ring on one of the Mute Swans that arrived overnight and it was a previous Westport visitor although he hadn't been seen since around September time.
Oops I used the wrong Shoveler photo yesterday from Steve Seal, should of been this one below, sorry Steve.
First birds of note might seem a bit unusual to most people as 10+ House Sparrows by the bottom entrance doesn't sound very exciting, however House Sparrows at Westport are very few and far between with normally just single figures seen around the Ted Heath Rocks area, on the playing fields the first of 5 Pied Wagtails, most of which were around the grass verge area and 2 Collared Doves flew over the field, also 2 Mistle Thrushes on here, the first of 4 Bullfinches in the trees at the side of the boating lake the rest were by the first gate and top pool, on the boating lake as usual the 2 pair of Shoveler and 2 Mute Swans with another 2 Swans on the main lake, I saw a couple of colour ringed Coots today (red/orange, red/white & pink/blue), on the main lake 44 Tufted Duck, 1 female Goosander, 24 Pochard and 2 Goldeneye.
By the 1st gate to the nature reserve a single Chaffinch with another 2 by the top pool, 3 single Willow Tits were seen, by the first gate, top pool and middle pool area, a single Jay was by the top pool with a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit, bird or birds of the day came as I was leaving the nature reserve by the 2nd gate when 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over quite low in a perfect 'v' shape they were calling as they flew over the main lake and straight down the canal south, another Westport tick out the way that I should of had a long time ago! On the old gas works a small flock of 9 Siskin flew over, 2 Stock Doves were by the old buildings and a Skylark flew over calling by Jeffs pool, back on the main lake and 2 Common Gulls were with the Black-headed Gulls.
I also meet up with Colin who had just seen the female Pheasant on the old sewage works, near the canal overflow, I'd just come off here and was gutted I'd missed it but at least it's still around as it was last seen on the 1st January.
I haven't run for a bird since my Scilly days in the 80's but I got close too it this afternoon when a text message from Nick came through telling me of a Little Owl at Westport found by Jeff Jones, this we think is a first for Westport, I was at Westport fairly quickly and met up with the finder Jeff (congratulations), sadly he hadn't seen it for about 20mins, George and then Nick arrived and we search the area to no avail, additional birds seen to this morning included a Sparrowhawk over the gas works and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the boating lake, we managed to see the ring on one of the Mute Swans that arrived overnight and it was a previous Westport visitor although he hadn't been seen since around September time.
Oops I used the wrong Shoveler photo yesterday from Steve Seal, should of been this one below, sorry Steve.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
12 January 2011
More news on our ringed Coots with one ringed on 28/11/10 making its way to Bottom Flash, Winsford, Cheshire 36 days later and a distance of 25km. Not quite as far as another one of Kane Brides Coots which he ringed at Southport Marine Lake on 2nd Dec 2010 and then 26 days later it was 390km away in Cornwall !! (thanks to Kane for the above info).
Managed too get down to Westport this afternoon for just over an hour, rained the whole visit although it was a rather mild 12c, still a very small amount of ice on the main lake with about 50-50 on the boating lake.
On the playing field 127 Canada Geese, on the boating lake 1 first year Mute Swan with 2 adults on the main lake, the 2 pair of Shoveler are still on the boating lake, a couple of Pied Wagtails were on the grass verge, on the main lake 37 Tufted Ducks, 19 Pochard and singles of Common Gull and the female Goosander, by the 1st gate to the nature reserve the Green Woodpecker and a Willow Tit, back on the main lake and 2 female Goldeneye and lastly by the visitor centre a singing Mistle Thrush.
A couple of photo's by Steve Seal taken at the weekend of the female Pochard and one of the female Shovelers on the boating lake.
Managed too get down to Westport this afternoon for just over an hour, rained the whole visit although it was a rather mild 12c, still a very small amount of ice on the main lake with about 50-50 on the boating lake.
On the playing field 127 Canada Geese, on the boating lake 1 first year Mute Swan with 2 adults on the main lake, the 2 pair of Shoveler are still on the boating lake, a couple of Pied Wagtails were on the grass verge, on the main lake 37 Tufted Ducks, 19 Pochard and singles of Common Gull and the female Goosander, by the 1st gate to the nature reserve the Green Woodpecker and a Willow Tit, back on the main lake and 2 female Goldeneye and lastly by the visitor centre a singing Mistle Thrush.
A couple of photo's by Steve Seal taken at the weekend of the female Pochard and one of the female Shovelers on the boating lake.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
11 January 2011
Just some late news from Nick Smith of 2 Bramblings by the 1st gate too the nature reserve at 15.30 yesterday.
Monday, 10 January 2011
10 January 2011
A much warmer day today with the temperature reading 8c, the wind was light and from the south/southwest, it rained for over half the visit from light to heavy showers, complete cloud coverage, on the ice front over 50% of the main lake is now water with about 30% of water on the boating lake all the small pools are still frozen, visit was just short of 2hrs.
On the playing field was 4 Fieldfares, 2 Mistle Thrushes and singles of Redwing and Pied Wagtail, on the boating lake the female Goosander is still present with the 4 Shovelers, a couple of flocks of Siskins were flying around with at least 40+ present although Pete Lunt had 80 around the 1st gate, on the main lake 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 23 Pochard, 28 Tufted Ducks and 2 Goldeneyes, the 1st gate area of the nature reserve had a lot of birds feeding on the seeds and nuts left around the gate among the many Tits etc, 3 Coal Tits, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Tit, 3 Bullfinch and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, its was a similar story by the top pool feeding area with 6 Greenfinches also present here, by the Turtle bridge a Buzzard was flushed and flew down towards the top pool being mobbed by Carrion Crows and Magpies, lastly back on the main lake and 5 Common Gulls were sat on the ice with the Black-headed Gulls.
On the playing field was 4 Fieldfares, 2 Mistle Thrushes and singles of Redwing and Pied Wagtail, on the boating lake the female Goosander is still present with the 4 Shovelers, a couple of flocks of Siskins were flying around with at least 40+ present although Pete Lunt had 80 around the 1st gate, on the main lake 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 23 Pochard, 28 Tufted Ducks and 2 Goldeneyes, the 1st gate area of the nature reserve had a lot of birds feeding on the seeds and nuts left around the gate among the many Tits etc, 3 Coal Tits, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Tit, 3 Bullfinch and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, its was a similar story by the top pool feeding area with 6 Greenfinches also present here, by the Turtle bridge a Buzzard was flushed and flew down towards the top pool being mobbed by Carrion Crows and Magpies, lastly back on the main lake and 5 Common Gulls were sat on the ice with the Black-headed Gulls.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
09 January 2011
A nice dry crisp morning, about 50% ice coverage on the main lake and 75% coverage of ice on the boating lake, nice a sunny with very little wind of note, 3c, visit from 08.00 - 09.30.
A couple of Tufted Ducks were on the boating lake this morning with the female Goosander and 2 pair of Shovelers, another 36 Tufted Ducks were on the main lake, a single Meadow Pipit flew low over the car park calling as it headed south, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 2 Goldeneye were the only other ducks of note, in the nature reserve a flock of 20 Siskins were flying up and down feeding on the tops of Silver Birch and Alders, on the old gas works 2 Stock Doves were on the railway gantries, on the old sewage works a single Jay, back to the main lake a single Great Spotted Woodpecker flew along the canal side trees and 3 Common Gulls were sat on the ice with the Black-headed Gulls.
Lastly just before I got down Nick had a Green Woodpecker near were I'd had it calling the previous day near the sidings area.
Looking back at 2010 a total of 127 species were seen at Westport over the year, I managed to see 109 of them and feel I could of added at least 4 more to my list, top lister for the year was Nick Smith with 112 followed by my 109 (as far as we know!), the best month came in April with 78 species seen that month and June was the quietest month with 66. We believe that around 30 species bred in or around Westport.
Kane Brides who rings the Coots at Westport recently contacted us too let us know that a couple of the Coots recently ringed at Westport have been found at Watermead Country Park in Leics (85km) and at Winterley, Sandbach (38km), I for one never realised that Coots travelled so far!
Also a Black-headed Gull that was seen by Dave Kelsall with a ring back in July has come back as ringed 41 days previously at Cleveland Farm in Wiltshire.
After Man Utd had ripped Liverpool off in the FA Cup with a dubious penalty I decided too drown my sorrows with another walk around Westport, not a lot extra of note, the Goosander had moved across to the main lake which also had a couple of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls with Common Gulls and the usual Black-headed Gulls, in the nature reserve at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around the bottom pool with a couple of them drumming, the only other birds of note were 4 Bullfinches at the top pool.
I also received these pictures from Steve Seal of the Goosander on the model boating lake, he took over 700 pictures to eventually get these great pictures.
A couple of Tufted Ducks were on the boating lake this morning with the female Goosander and 2 pair of Shovelers, another 36 Tufted Ducks were on the main lake, a single Meadow Pipit flew low over the car park calling as it headed south, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 2 Goldeneye were the only other ducks of note, in the nature reserve a flock of 20 Siskins were flying up and down feeding on the tops of Silver Birch and Alders, on the old gas works 2 Stock Doves were on the railway gantries, on the old sewage works a single Jay, back to the main lake a single Great Spotted Woodpecker flew along the canal side trees and 3 Common Gulls were sat on the ice with the Black-headed Gulls.
Lastly just before I got down Nick had a Green Woodpecker near were I'd had it calling the previous day near the sidings area.
Looking back at 2010 a total of 127 species were seen at Westport over the year, I managed to see 109 of them and feel I could of added at least 4 more to my list, top lister for the year was Nick Smith with 112 followed by my 109 (as far as we know!), the best month came in April with 78 species seen that month and June was the quietest month with 66. We believe that around 30 species bred in or around Westport.
Kane Brides who rings the Coots at Westport recently contacted us too let us know that a couple of the Coots recently ringed at Westport have been found at Watermead Country Park in Leics (85km) and at Winterley, Sandbach (38km), I for one never realised that Coots travelled so far!
Also a Black-headed Gull that was seen by Dave Kelsall with a ring back in July has come back as ringed 41 days previously at Cleveland Farm in Wiltshire.
After Man Utd had ripped Liverpool off in the FA Cup with a dubious penalty I decided too drown my sorrows with another walk around Westport, not a lot extra of note, the Goosander had moved across to the main lake which also had a couple of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls with Common Gulls and the usual Black-headed Gulls, in the nature reserve at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around the bottom pool with a couple of them drumming, the only other birds of note were 4 Bullfinches at the top pool.
I also received these pictures from Steve Seal of the Goosander on the model boating lake, he took over 700 pictures to eventually get these great pictures.
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