19 August 2010

A dry morning with light cloud and good sunny intervals, temp 15c, again very little wind of note, visit from 06.00 - 07.55.

A adult and 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the main lake, and a flock of 91 Black-headed Gulls remained from the overnight roost, 31 Mute Swans were on the main lake apart from 2 which were on the boating lake, 4 Great Crested Grebes on the boating lake the 2 adults and 1 of each brood juveniles, 9 were on the main lake which included 3 juveniles 1 of which was from the older brood on the boating lake (very confusing I know), the Green Woodpecker was heard calling again firstly from the sidings then the back of the boating lake and later we both thought we heard it by the gas/sewage works, back to the main lake and 86 Tufted Ducks, it won't be long before we reach the 100's, again 4 Shovelers were present with 1 on the boating lake and 3 on the main lake, 1 Pochard again on the main lake, a Grey Heron was on the boating lake and another on the small pool by the old gas works.

The Little Grebe remains on the main lake for it's third day, House Martin numbers have dropped off to around 50+ with 8 Swifts present today, a couple of Blackcaps were near the nature reserve and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from here, 5 Willow Warblers and 13 Chiffchafffs were heard/seen mostly along the nature reserve side of the main lake and on the gas works, a couple of Sand Martins went across the main lake, a Grey Wagtail flew across the gas works, the first one since the young departed earlier in the summer, a couple of Coal Tits were heard, 1 by the top pool and 1 on the sewage works.

After a afternoon visit to Gailey with Nick's dad George to see the Black-necked Grebe, I'd just got in the house when I received a call from Nick telling me Phil Jones had just had 3 Little Egrets flying south over Westport, now as I live due south of Westport and a stones throw away I ran out the house just in time to see 3 Little Egrets flying over the top of my road following the canal south, I passed this to Nick, who also lives by the canal but down in Etruria, sure enough 5 minutes later and 3 Little Egrets flew over his along the canal heading south, who says technology doesn't work!!