13 July 2010

Although dry, it was obvious that it had been raining overnight, temp was slightly cooler at 15c, wind again south/southwest, very cloudy, visit from 05.45 - 07.50.

As I entered the park almost the first bird I saw was a Starling, you may wonder why I mention this, but we don't see many here at Westport, to give you an idea this was actually the first record this month!, Black-headed Gulls have definitely dropped off with about 35+ which included around 5 juveniles, the Grey Heron was back in it's usual place on the model boating lake and was joined by another when they both flew off northwards, Moorhen chicks seemed to be showing well this morning, it's been difficult to tell how well they have done, compared to Coots they seem to sulk under the undergrowth, we had 4 chicks on the beach area and 2 on the boating lake, later there were a couple on the bottom pool, we know a few have hatched on the top pool and around 3 on the small pool on the gas works, so they seem to have done ok this year, the 4 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake 2 of which are the juveniles, on the main lake 8 were seen which also included 1 juvenile probably from Hanley Park, a Common Sandpiper was on the beach area and later followed us around the main lake as the dog kept flushing it, again 35 Mute Swans on the main lake including the 1 cygnet, Tufted Ducks have surprisingly dropped by over half from yesterday to 28 and Pochards are down to just 1 pair, the 4 Greylag Geese remain within the Canada Goose flock.
A few Sand Martins were going through this morning all heading south, in all at least 8 went through but I would expect a lot more will go through during the day, a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls went through the main lake, in the nature reserve a single Willow Tit was heard near the top pool, also here a family of Reed Warblers, a Kingfisher was spotted by Nick flying over the reedbed but I couldn't get on it or relocate it, it was busy around here with the Tit flock going through which also included a family of Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Coal Tit, on the old gas works a couple of Collared Doves and on the old sewage works a couple of Bullfinches and at least 3 Whitethroats, back on the main lake and 2 House Martins were going through with a few Swallows and Swifts, and finally 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the trees on the canal side of the main lake.

Total species seen 43.