15 March 2011

First news of the day came from Nick Smith with his early visit, he managed the first migrants of the year with 2 Chiffchaffs. 1 by the 1st gate to the nature reserve and one along the top shore of the main lake, also present 6 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon and 2 Goosanders.

I made may way down to Westport at 09.00 til 11.00, it was quite misty with a light southeasterly breeze, temp was a pleasant 9c.

By the bottom entrance a couple of Bullfinches flew over, on the car park a couple of unringed Mute Swans were enjoying a good feed on the bread on offer, on the boating lake 3 female Goosanders, the pair of Great Crested Grebes and 2 male Tufted Ducks, on the main lake, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 35 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the immature male Goldeneye, I made my way to the 1st gate of the nature reserve but couldn't hear any Chiffchaffs, a male Chaffinch was calling and as I was watching it a Chiffchaff came into view flitting through the tree top, at last my first migrant of the year and of course a Westport year tick, by the boardwalk bridge and 4 Siskins flew over plus a Jackdaw could be heard but I couldn't locate it in the misty weather. By the top pool among a small Tit flock a single Willow Tit, Coal Tit and Bullfinch and just down by the 2nd bridge into the nature reserve by the main lake another Chiffchaff, this time singing away, on the gas works another group of this time 10 Siskins flew over and 3 Stock Doves were present plus 2 Bullfinches flew over, also a single Pied Wagtail flew over the sewage works were another pair of Bullfinches were present, along the canal side of the main lake the pair of Mistle Thrushes were present.

The picture below of a male Siskin was taken by one of our Westport regulars who wants to keep his name out of the bright lights of this blog!!