A much better day on the temp front with 3c first thing, again with the lack of wind it made it feel quite pleasant, it remained dry throughout with light cloud coverage, visit from 07.35 - 09.30.
Again the pair of Shoveler were on the boating lake along with a single Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck, another 63 Tufted Duck were on the main lake with a good count of 44 Pochard and another Great Crested Grebe, a group of 19 Jackdaws flew over the main lake followed by a single bird and then another group of 7, but more about that latter, just a single Pied Wagtail was along the grass verge, back too the main lake 2 Mute Swans, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Goosander and a single Teal were present, with another Teal also in the nature reserve, a couple of Siskins had turned into around 30+ by the end of the visit, the Green Woodpecker was again calling from near Price's field area, just a single Bullfinch was near the top pool with another 2 flying over the old gas works, also by the top pool singles of Willow Tit, Coal Tit and Chaffinch, another 3 Rook flew over here to go with the 4 from yesterday and a Grey Heron flew from the reed bed, on the old gas works just 2 Stock Doves and a large flock of corvids turned out to be a record count of 97 Jackdaws which probably included the Jackdaws we had seen earlier in the morning, not much on the old sewage works except for a couple of Mistle Thrushes flying over, back on the main lake and in the Black-headed Gull flock were 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Common Gulls.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Saturday, 29 January 2011
29 January 2011
A very cold, dry morning with a ground frost, temp was -1c, about 85% of the boating lake was frozen and 70% of the main lake, good amount of sunshine and very little wind, visit from 07.30 - 09.45.
On the boating lake the pair of Shoveler were sticking to the open water near the island, a single adult Mute Swan with another pair on the main lake and a single Great Crested Grebe, after the cold recent mornings there was no sign of the nest the Grebe's had been building a couple of mornings ago, there was also another 2 Great Crested Grebes on the main lake, a single Pied Wagtail flew over the grass bank and 29 Jackdaws flew over the nature reserve heading north (another Westport year tick out the way for me) latter we had another 2 on the old gas works, on the main lake at least 2 Goldeneye, in total 7 Goosander were seen although only a couple were left as we departed Westport, Pochard remain steady at 22 but Tufted Duck have jumped up to 62, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over as we entered the nature reserve, by the 1st gate a pair of Teal were flushed off the stream but all in all the nature reserve was very quiet, on the old gas works a single Stock Dove on the usual railway gantry and a couple of Mistle Thrushes flew over, highlight came here as well with 4 Rook, another Westport year tick and not a bird seen in great numbers here over the year, a couple of Siskin were flying around calling and landed in the trees near Browns , on the old sewage works a Buzzard was sat in the trees, probably the same one that has been around for most of the month, lastly back on the main lake 3 Common Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls.
On the boating lake the pair of Shoveler were sticking to the open water near the island, a single adult Mute Swan with another pair on the main lake and a single Great Crested Grebe, after the cold recent mornings there was no sign of the nest the Grebe's had been building a couple of mornings ago, there was also another 2 Great Crested Grebes on the main lake, a single Pied Wagtail flew over the grass bank and 29 Jackdaws flew over the nature reserve heading north (another Westport year tick out the way for me) latter we had another 2 on the old gas works, on the main lake at least 2 Goldeneye, in total 7 Goosander were seen although only a couple were left as we departed Westport, Pochard remain steady at 22 but Tufted Duck have jumped up to 62, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over as we entered the nature reserve, by the 1st gate a pair of Teal were flushed off the stream but all in all the nature reserve was very quiet, on the old gas works a single Stock Dove on the usual railway gantry and a couple of Mistle Thrushes flew over, highlight came here as well with 4 Rook, another Westport year tick and not a bird seen in great numbers here over the year, a couple of Siskin were flying around calling and landed in the trees near Browns , on the old sewage works a Buzzard was sat in the trees, probably the same one that has been around for most of the month, lastly back on the main lake 3 Common Gulls were among the Black-headed Gulls.
Friday, 28 January 2011
28 January 2011
Only news from Westport today comes from Nick Smith with a superb count of 11 Goosanders (2 males, 1 immature and the rest females), also at Westport a Goldcrest on the old sewage works and 33 Jackdaws flying over, the latter two I still need for my Westport list grrrr.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
27 January 2011
Received a text first thing letting me know that Pete Lunt had seen 7 Goosander on the main lake first thing this morning, I had decided to have a late start as it was my first day off of a 4 day break.
When down too Westport at 12.50, it was a rather chilly 4c with a few very light snow flurries, wind was light and from the north east, it remained dry for the visit with light cloud coverage, visit was for 1hr 45mins.
On the way in too the bottom entrance of Westport a pair of Mute Swans were heading along the canal towards Etruria, I couldn't get there ring numbers as they were facing the wrong way, on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redwing, on the boating lake the pair of Great Crested Grebes that were displaying on the main lake last week were nest building in the same place as last year, they tried for 3 broods last year, maybe starting this early they want to try and beat that, also on the boating lake a pair of Shoveler and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the main lake the 7 Goosander were still present (2 male and 5 female), another 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Goldeneye, 40 Tufted Duck and 22 Pochard.
By the 1st gate to the nature reserve a single Bullfinch and Chaffinch with several Greenfinches, by the top pool again singles each of Chaffinch and Bullfinch plus a single Willow Tit, while here I hear an unusual call overhead, at first I couldn't see anything, then 2 Ravens came over play fighting and calling as they flew over quite low and headed off towards Bradwell Wood, another Westport 1st for me, and one I was gutted at missing a few times last year. The old gas works and sewage works were both very quiet except for a couple of Siskins flying over the old sewage works, back at the main lake and the Goosander numbers had increased to 8 with an extra female coming in, lastly a Pied Wagtail flew over the visitor centre.
Also received an e-mail from our resident Coot ringer Kane Brides, he informed us that another on of our Coots has departed Westport for new climes, this time up north too sunny Blackpool!
When down too Westport at 12.50, it was a rather chilly 4c with a few very light snow flurries, wind was light and from the north east, it remained dry for the visit with light cloud coverage, visit was for 1hr 45mins.
On the way in too the bottom entrance of Westport a pair of Mute Swans were heading along the canal towards Etruria, I couldn't get there ring numbers as they were facing the wrong way, on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redwing, on the boating lake the pair of Great Crested Grebes that were displaying on the main lake last week were nest building in the same place as last year, they tried for 3 broods last year, maybe starting this early they want to try and beat that, also on the boating lake a pair of Shoveler and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the main lake the 7 Goosander were still present (2 male and 5 female), another 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Goldeneye, 40 Tufted Duck and 22 Pochard.
By the 1st gate to the nature reserve a single Bullfinch and Chaffinch with several Greenfinches, by the top pool again singles each of Chaffinch and Bullfinch plus a single Willow Tit, while here I hear an unusual call overhead, at first I couldn't see anything, then 2 Ravens came over play fighting and calling as they flew over quite low and headed off towards Bradwell Wood, another Westport 1st for me, and one I was gutted at missing a few times last year. The old gas works and sewage works were both very quiet except for a couple of Siskins flying over the old sewage works, back at the main lake and the Goosander numbers had increased to 8 with an extra female coming in, lastly a Pied Wagtail flew over the visitor centre.
Also received an e-mail from our resident Coot ringer Kane Brides, he informed us that another on of our Coots has departed Westport for new climes, this time up north too sunny Blackpool!
Sunday, 23 January 2011
23 January 2011
Although the temp was a cool 4c it didn't actually feel that bad, there was no breeze which probably helped as well as being dry, there was a little bit of frost left from the freezing fog the previous day and well over 60% of the boating lake was frozen along with the small pools, the main lake was ice free, visit from 08.00 - 09.40.
Met up with Nick first thing and between us stuffed the Coots on the boating lake with plenty of bread, managing to check a few rings along the way, also on here a female Goosander, which also came to bread!, we are back up to 2 pairs of Shoveler and a couple of Tufted Duck on here. The regular pair of Mute Swans also came across from the main lake for a feed, on the main lake another female Goosander was near the boating ramp, a Goldeneye and 3 Great Crested Grebes, the nature reserve was rather quiet although a pair of Teal on the far side of the brook where new Westport year ticks for me, a single Siskin flew over not far from the boardwalk bridge and up by the top pool a couple of Willow Tits and Bullfinches were present, on the old gas works 3 Stock Doves by the railway line were the only birds of note, as we went across to the old sewage works 3 adult Herring Gulls flew over north with a Lesser Black-backed Gull going the opposite way, near the top entrance to the lake a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the tall trees, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 53 Tufted Ducks along with a single Common Gull and finally as I left by the playing fields a couple of Pied Wagtails.
On the 19th Pete Lunt and myself had a male Wigeon which I'd stated on the blog was a first for the year at Westport but I've since been told by Nick Smith that a female was present on the 1st of the month as well.
Also I've received an e-mail from Phil Locker who had 4 Wigeon on the main lake on the 2nd January along with a Great black-backed Gull.
Met up with Nick first thing and between us stuffed the Coots on the boating lake with plenty of bread, managing to check a few rings along the way, also on here a female Goosander, which also came to bread!, we are back up to 2 pairs of Shoveler and a couple of Tufted Duck on here. The regular pair of Mute Swans also came across from the main lake for a feed, on the main lake another female Goosander was near the boating ramp, a Goldeneye and 3 Great Crested Grebes, the nature reserve was rather quiet although a pair of Teal on the far side of the brook where new Westport year ticks for me, a single Siskin flew over not far from the boardwalk bridge and up by the top pool a couple of Willow Tits and Bullfinches were present, on the old gas works 3 Stock Doves by the railway line were the only birds of note, as we went across to the old sewage works 3 adult Herring Gulls flew over north with a Lesser Black-backed Gull going the opposite way, near the top entrance to the lake a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the tall trees, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 53 Tufted Ducks along with a single Common Gull and finally as I left by the playing fields a couple of Pied Wagtails.
On the 19th Pete Lunt and myself had a male Wigeon which I'd stated on the blog was a first for the year at Westport but I've since been told by Nick Smith that a female was present on the 1st of the month as well.
Also I've received an e-mail from Phil Locker who had 4 Wigeon on the main lake on the 2nd January along with a Great black-backed Gull.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
20 January 2011
Just a quick visit to Westport, mainly around the boating lake and along the grass verge of the main lake, unable too see very far due to heavy fog, could just about see half of the main lake.
On the boating lake the 3 Shovelers continue to spend most of there time around the model boat ramp, as I said I could only see half of the main lake, 3 Great Crest Grebes, Tufted Duck and a few Pochard were all I could see, I bumped into Pete Lunt who hadn't seen much either but he had been up the top and counted 22 Pochard, near the visitor centre a single Common Gull was among the Black-headed Gulls and on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes.
On the boating lake the 3 Shovelers continue to spend most of there time around the model boat ramp, as I said I could only see half of the main lake, 3 Great Crest Grebes, Tufted Duck and a few Pochard were all I could see, I bumped into Pete Lunt who hadn't seen much either but he had been up the top and counted 22 Pochard, near the visitor centre a single Common Gull was among the Black-headed Gulls and on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
19 January 2011
Weather seemed identical to yesterday, even the temp was the same at 6c, visit slightly later from 10.00 til 11.40.
3 Shovelers on the boating lake today, 2 females and 'Sammy', on the main lake, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a female Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 61 Tufted Duck, 18 Pochard and another year tick for Westport in a male Wigeon. In the nature reserve, 12 Siskin near the boardwalk bridge, 3 Bullfinches at the top pool with a single Coal Tit and 3 Willow Tits. Back by the main lake a single Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Pied Wagtails near the car park and 2 Mistle Thrushes on the playing field, as I walked back along the canal 2 Mute Swans were heading along towards Westport both had darvic rings on but I couldn't read the numbers.
3 Shovelers on the boating lake today, 2 females and 'Sammy', on the main lake, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a female Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 61 Tufted Duck, 18 Pochard and another year tick for Westport in a male Wigeon. In the nature reserve, 12 Siskin near the boardwalk bridge, 3 Bullfinches at the top pool with a single Coal Tit and 3 Willow Tits. Back by the main lake a single Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Pied Wagtails near the car park and 2 Mistle Thrushes on the playing field, as I walked back along the canal 2 Mute Swans were heading along towards Westport both had darvic rings on but I couldn't read the numbers.
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