05 September 2010

A bit cooler and windier, heavy cloud coverage with occasional sunny intervals, wind was south/southeast, temp 16c but felt cooler, visit from 06.20 - 08.30.

A Grey Heron was as usual on the boating lake and then on the post of the boating ramp on the main lake, the 2 first year Great Crested Grebes were still on the boating lake and 7 on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, also on the boating lake the eclipse male Shoveler and a single Teal, on the main lake Tufted Ducks have jumped up to 108 and Pochard to 7, a pair of Ruddy Ducks are still present, Mute Swans have dropped to 19, a couple of Pied Wagtails were on the grass verge. Swallow and House Martins have dropped off over the last week, only 30+ House Martins and about the same in Swallows were present, a single Swift was over the top of the trees on the main lake.

A single Chaffinch was by Ted Heath Rock, with a small Tit flock, back on the main lake and a 1st year Little Grebe was by the boating ramp, only 7 Chiffchaffs were seen around the park but the windy conditions probably didn't help, a couple of Grey Wagtails went over 1 on the gas works and 1 on the sewage works, a Kestrel went over the gas works and a couple of Bullfinches were on here also the Green Woodpecker was heard on here.

Later in the morning and Pete Lunt had a Avocet going over heading south, one was also seen at Belvide later in the afternoon, so possibly the same bird, he also had 5 Wigeon and 2 Swifts. The Avocet was a first for the year at Westport and puts us on 120 for the year.