21 August 2010

Although quite dull it was rather warm, the cloud cover was heavy but high, wind was moderate from the south west, temp 17c, visit from 06.00 - 08.45.

A couple of Grey Herons were present with 1 on the model boating lake and 1 on the small pool on the old gas works, at least 7+ Swifts were over the top of the main lake but nowhere near as many Swallows and House Martins of the last few days, the usual 4 Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake and another 7 on the main lake in total 4 were juveniles off both lakes, 30 Mute Swans were present, also on the main lake 5 Shoveler, 90 Tufted Ducks is the highest count of the month so far, 1 Teal and 1 Pochard were also on the main lake, both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were heard calling from the sidings area.

Along the nature reserve side of the main lake and in the sewage works/gas works a good count of 6 Willow Warblers and over 20 Chiffchaffs were present, many of the Willow Warblers were singing, 4 Bullfinches flew across the gas works and 2 Reed Warblers were on the top pool, were a Willow Tit was also heard, a Kestrel flew across the gas works and not long after a Sparrowhawk, at least 6 Blackcaps were on the old sewage works and bird of the day was a Spotted Flycatcher on the telegraph wires on the sewage works, it was actually found by John Sutton the previous day, but we managed to relocate it this morning and is a Westport year tick for me, 3 Whitethroats were also on the sewage works and finally as we came back out onto the top of the main lake 5 Cormorants flew over heading south.

A interesting record from last weeks Kittiwake, it was the 5th record of Kittiwake at Westport with the others being 1 on the 12th and 2 on the 26th 1980 and the 10th and 19th in 1999, thanks to Nick for putting the work in to finding the dates.