09 June 2011

A bit of catching up to do, although it's been rather quite really, as is the norm at this time of year with mainly just young birds to look out for an see whats been successful in the breeding stakes down at Westport.

Firstly back to May briefly, a total of 73 species were recorded around Westport for the month which is 5 up on last year, highlights included bird of the year so far two summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes found by Nick on his usual early morning rounds, 3 Pink-footed Geese stayed for a day, the 1st of 2 Hobbys were seen this month, a Snipe flew over the main lake briefly which was a first for the year as was 4 Whimbrel which flew over one morning, a Black Tern landed briefly on the main lake during a downpour and 4 Arctic Terns were seen briefy over the main lake by Jeff Jones and Alan Hancock, one possibly two Grasshopper Warbler's were a welcome find after a absence of a few years, up to at least 2/3 Spotted Flycatcher's went through in a single day, and finally 3 individual Yellow Wagtails were seen making May a pretty good month at Westport.

Ok now to up date visits over the last week.

04/06/2011
6 Blackcaps seen including young again, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swans including 2 cygnets at last hatched during the week, 2 new Mute Swans on the boating lake included a darvic ring CAN7, unfortunatly it had fishing line in it's mouth.

The photo below of the Mute Swan cygnets is from Pete Lunt.

7 Chiffchaffs were around the park, 7 Willow Tits which included at least two broods of young, just a single Reed Warbler on the top pool, 2 Stock Doves on the gas works, 3 Whitethroats on the sewage works and a single Willow Warbler.
06/06/2011
6 Blackcaps around again including young, around 40 Swifts over the main lake, just 3 Tufted Ducks present and 5 Great Crested Grebes, the pair of Mute Swans with 2 Cygnets, Greylag Geese have increased to 6, 5 Willow Tits seen, 2 Stock Doves on the gas works, 2 Willow Warblers on the sewage works, just a single Chiffchaff singing, a Grey Heron flew over, 3 Whitethroats and 3 Bullfinches.

And finally today 09/06/2011
Just 3 Blackcaps singing today although a few more were calling, a single Pied Wagtail on the playing field and another 2 on the gas works, a single Mistle Thrush was also on the playing field, the Canada Geese Goslings are all together now with the final 7 joining the creche making 39 young in total and there are now 9 Greylag Geese amongst the Canada Geese flock, also among the Canada Geese is a CanadaxGreylag which was found a few days earlier by Nick.

Small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls went through, 5 Tufted Ducks on the main lake with 7 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Herons flew over south with another following shortly after, 3 Bullfinches flew across the boating lake and another 2 were on the sewage works, around 50+ Swifts were over the main lake, the usual Mute Swan family was along the edge of the main lake, a single Little Ringed Plover flew from the boating lake and a bit further along a Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff seem to be getting there singing voices back with 6 singing, 3 Stock Doves were on the gas works, on the sewage works a single Willow Warbler, 4 Whitethroat including one carrying food, a single Garden Warbler, 4 Rook flew over which included 2 young and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Marsh Orchids are now in full bloom.