3 March 2011

Much colder this morning with a ground frost, cloudy with sunny intervals, no wind hence the main lake was like a millpond, temp 1c, visit from 06.50 - 09.15.

Not as many Goosanders on the boating lake first thing with a count of 58, but by the end of the visit there was 75 on the main lake including just 3 on the boating lake. Also on the boating lake again like yesterday a pair of Great Crested Grebes, Mute Swans and Tufted Ducks, on the main lake another 35 Tufted Duck, singles of Shoveler and Goldeneye and 5 Pochard, a couple of Siskin were near the sidings area as I walked towards the nature reserve, a single Willow Tit was by the first gate and a pair of Teal were flushed from the small stream by the gate onto the bottom pool, at least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming in the same place as yesterday and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over, by the top pool another Willow Tit and a single Bullfinch, onto the gas works and the usual 2 Stock Doves were on the railway gantry, another Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over towards Bradwell Wood and a pair of Bullfinches were flying around, on the gas works a single Jackdaw flew over calling, as it was frosty I decided to walk along the brook to see if any Snipe were present, no luck with the Snipe but had my first Kingfisher of the year at Westport, also on the gas works a single Chaffinch, 2 more Bullfinch and 2 Mistle Thrushes, along the canal side of the main lake 2 Collared Doves, a single Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull again with the small Black-headed Gull flock and 2 Pied Wagtails by the visitor centre.

2 March 2011

Visit from 06.50 til 08.45, temp slightly up on yesterday at 5c, much cloudier with a slight breeze.

First stop was the boating lake to count the Goosanders, between Nick and myself we managed 68 and with three on the main lake this gave us a record total of 71 birds, other birds on here included the usual pair of Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Tufted Duck, a couple of Siskin flew over calling and a single Starling flew over, my first at Westport this year, on the main lake another 29 Tufted Ducks, 4 Pochard were later joined by another and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull with another 6 seen flying south over the gas works, as we walked towards the nature reserve a couple of Buzzards were seen high over towards Bradwell Wood, the nature reserve was rather quiet with Song Thrush and a couple of drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers being the highlights, on the gas works a couple of Stock Doves and Nick had a distant Sparrowhawk, onto the sewage works and nothing much here except for a single Jay and a pair of Bullfinches.

Back at the main lake and most of the Goosanders had now moved to the main lake with 68 present, 3 Mistle Thrushes were along the canal side of the main lake, a single Common Gull was in a small flock of Black-headed Gulls a couple of Chaffinches in the trees near the visitor centre and 'Sammy' was feeding around the old beach area, I met up with Pete Lunt who had also had another 5 Goosander still on the boating lake as well as the 68 on the main lake, a quick check confirmed this and hence another record count of Goosander at Westport with 73 present this morning, lastly as I left Westport a Redwing flew over and landed in the trees at the side of the canal.

Latter this morning Dave Kelsall smashed the goosander record with 80 on the main lake

Below are some of the many photo's I've been sent by Steve Seal and Pete Lunt while my computer has been off line, these will also be found on the slide show at the beginning of the blog.

Sammy Returns by Steve Seal

Pheasant by Pete Lunt

Kittiwakes by Pete Lunt

Male Goosander by Steve Seal

Pair Goldeneye by Steve Seal

Pheasant by Pete Lunt

Common Gull by Steve Seal

Avocet by Pete Lunt from last year

Goosanders by Steve Seal

1 March 2011

Nice dry morning with a bit of sunshine, temp was 4c but didn't feel that low, visit from 07.00 - 08.00.

Good count of 70 Goosander on the boating lake first thing was the highlight of the morning, also the usual 2 Great Crested Grebes and a single Tufted Duck on the main lake a single Pochard, Shoveler and Lesser Black-backed Gull and around 20 Tufted Duck and 4 Great Crested Grebes, not very much in the nature reserve but a few Siskin were flying around, on the gas works 2 Stock Doves and a Mistle Thrush flew over the old sewage works, also on here a Coal Tit and a couple of Collared Doves.

Nick Smith also had the Green Woodpecker calling from Prices field area.

To follow later catch up on previous weeks after getting the Internet back on line and photo's from Steve Seal.

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.