Received a text first thing letting me know that Pete Lunt had seen 7 Goosander on the main lake first thing this morning, I had decided to have a late start as it was my first day off of a 4 day break.
When down too Westport at 12.50, it was a rather chilly 4c with a few very light snow flurries, wind was light and from the north east, it remained dry for the visit with light cloud coverage, visit was for 1hr 45mins.
On the way in too the bottom entrance of Westport a pair of Mute Swans were heading along the canal towards Etruria, I couldn't get there ring numbers as they were facing the wrong way, on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redwing, on the boating lake the pair of Great Crested Grebes that were displaying on the main lake last week were nest building in the same place as last year, they tried for 3 broods last year, maybe starting this early they want to try and beat that, also on the boating lake a pair of Shoveler and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the main lake the 7 Goosander were still present (2 male and 5 female), another 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Goldeneye, 40 Tufted Duck and 22 Pochard.
By the 1st gate to the nature reserve a single Bullfinch and Chaffinch with several Greenfinches, by the top pool again singles each of Chaffinch and Bullfinch plus a single Willow Tit, while here I hear an unusual call overhead, at first I couldn't see anything, then 2 Ravens came over play fighting and calling as they flew over quite low and headed off towards Bradwell Wood, another Westport 1st for me, and one I was gutted at missing a few times last year. The old gas works and sewage works were both very quiet except for a couple of Siskins flying over the old sewage works, back at the main lake and the Goosander numbers had increased to 8 with an extra female coming in, lastly a Pied Wagtail flew over the visitor centre.
Also received an e-mail from our resident Coot ringer Kane Brides, he informed us that another on of our Coots has departed Westport for new climes, this time up north too sunny Blackpool!
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Sunday, 23 January 2011
23 January 2011
Although the temp was a cool 4c it didn't actually feel that bad, there was no breeze which probably helped as well as being dry, there was a little bit of frost left from the freezing fog the previous day and well over 60% of the boating lake was frozen along with the small pools, the main lake was ice free, visit from 08.00 - 09.40.
Met up with Nick first thing and between us stuffed the Coots on the boating lake with plenty of bread, managing to check a few rings along the way, also on here a female Goosander, which also came to bread!, we are back up to 2 pairs of Shoveler and a couple of Tufted Duck on here. The regular pair of Mute Swans also came across from the main lake for a feed, on the main lake another female Goosander was near the boating ramp, a Goldeneye and 3 Great Crested Grebes, the nature reserve was rather quiet although a pair of Teal on the far side of the brook where new Westport year ticks for me, a single Siskin flew over not far from the boardwalk bridge and up by the top pool a couple of Willow Tits and Bullfinches were present, on the old gas works 3 Stock Doves by the railway line were the only birds of note, as we went across to the old sewage works 3 adult Herring Gulls flew over north with a Lesser Black-backed Gull going the opposite way, near the top entrance to the lake a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the tall trees, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 53 Tufted Ducks along with a single Common Gull and finally as I left by the playing fields a couple of Pied Wagtails.
On the 19th Pete Lunt and myself had a male Wigeon which I'd stated on the blog was a first for the year at Westport but I've since been told by Nick Smith that a female was present on the 1st of the month as well.
Also I've received an e-mail from Phil Locker who had 4 Wigeon on the main lake on the 2nd January along with a Great black-backed Gull.
Met up with Nick first thing and between us stuffed the Coots on the boating lake with plenty of bread, managing to check a few rings along the way, also on here a female Goosander, which also came to bread!, we are back up to 2 pairs of Shoveler and a couple of Tufted Duck on here. The regular pair of Mute Swans also came across from the main lake for a feed, on the main lake another female Goosander was near the boating ramp, a Goldeneye and 3 Great Crested Grebes, the nature reserve was rather quiet although a pair of Teal on the far side of the brook where new Westport year ticks for me, a single Siskin flew over not far from the boardwalk bridge and up by the top pool a couple of Willow Tits and Bullfinches were present, on the old gas works 3 Stock Doves by the railway line were the only birds of note, as we went across to the old sewage works 3 adult Herring Gulls flew over north with a Lesser Black-backed Gull going the opposite way, near the top entrance to the lake a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the tall trees, back on the main lake 21 Pochard and 53 Tufted Ducks along with a single Common Gull and finally as I left by the playing fields a couple of Pied Wagtails.
On the 19th Pete Lunt and myself had a male Wigeon which I'd stated on the blog was a first for the year at Westport but I've since been told by Nick Smith that a female was present on the 1st of the month as well.
Also I've received an e-mail from Phil Locker who had 4 Wigeon on the main lake on the 2nd January along with a Great black-backed Gull.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
20 January 2011
Just a quick visit to Westport, mainly around the boating lake and along the grass verge of the main lake, unable too see very far due to heavy fog, could just about see half of the main lake.
On the boating lake the 3 Shovelers continue to spend most of there time around the model boat ramp, as I said I could only see half of the main lake, 3 Great Crest Grebes, Tufted Duck and a few Pochard were all I could see, I bumped into Pete Lunt who hadn't seen much either but he had been up the top and counted 22 Pochard, near the visitor centre a single Common Gull was among the Black-headed Gulls and on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes.
On the boating lake the 3 Shovelers continue to spend most of there time around the model boat ramp, as I said I could only see half of the main lake, 3 Great Crest Grebes, Tufted Duck and a few Pochard were all I could see, I bumped into Pete Lunt who hadn't seen much either but he had been up the top and counted 22 Pochard, near the visitor centre a single Common Gull was among the Black-headed Gulls and on the playing field 2 Mistle Thrushes.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
19 January 2011
Weather seemed identical to yesterday, even the temp was the same at 6c, visit slightly later from 10.00 til 11.40.
3 Shovelers on the boating lake today, 2 females and 'Sammy', on the main lake, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a female Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 61 Tufted Duck, 18 Pochard and another year tick for Westport in a male Wigeon. In the nature reserve, 12 Siskin near the boardwalk bridge, 3 Bullfinches at the top pool with a single Coal Tit and 3 Willow Tits. Back by the main lake a single Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Pied Wagtails near the car park and 2 Mistle Thrushes on the playing field, as I walked back along the canal 2 Mute Swans were heading along towards Westport both had darvic rings on but I couldn't read the numbers.
3 Shovelers on the boating lake today, 2 females and 'Sammy', on the main lake, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a female Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 61 Tufted Duck, 18 Pochard and another year tick for Westport in a male Wigeon. In the nature reserve, 12 Siskin near the boardwalk bridge, 3 Bullfinches at the top pool with a single Coal Tit and 3 Willow Tits. Back by the main lake a single Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Pied Wagtails near the car park and 2 Mistle Thrushes on the playing field, as I walked back along the canal 2 Mute Swans were heading along towards Westport both had darvic rings on but I couldn't read the numbers.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
18 Janaury 2011
Very dull and cloudy with a bit of mist in areas, remained dry and felt quite cold with a slight northwest breeze, temp 6c, visit 08.10 - 10.25.
A pair of Shoveler were on the boating lake with a couple of Mute Swans, another single Mute Swan also flew in onto the main lake, got a few Coot rings while plying them with bread, yellow rings 1st, orange/red, red/white and pink/red , white rings just one, red/purple, on the main lake 4 Great Crested Grebes were 1st for the year at Westport for me, 1 female Goosander, 1 female Goldeneye, 48 Tufted Duck and 19 Pochard.
A adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and was later on the posts by the boating ramp, a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen, 1 near the 1st gate to the nature reserve and another at the top of the old gas works, a Grey Heron was on the bottom pool and later on Jeff's pool, by the top pool 2 Siskins, 4 Bullfinches a Coal Tit and 2 Willow Tits, another 2 Willow Tits were near the 2nd gate, a Common Gull came onto the main lake, on the old gas works 2 Stock Doves and on the old sewage works a single Mistle Thrush and at last I caught up with the female Pheasant by the feeding station near the canal overflow.
Met up with Jeff Jones here who had also seen a Buzzard on the gas works and a Kestrel, also he had 4 Jackdaws flying over.
A pair of Shoveler were on the boating lake with a couple of Mute Swans, another single Mute Swan also flew in onto the main lake, got a few Coot rings while plying them with bread, yellow rings 1st, orange/red, red/white and pink/red , white rings just one, red/purple, on the main lake 4 Great Crested Grebes were 1st for the year at Westport for me, 1 female Goosander, 1 female Goldeneye, 48 Tufted Duck and 19 Pochard.
A adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and was later on the posts by the boating ramp, a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen, 1 near the 1st gate to the nature reserve and another at the top of the old gas works, a Grey Heron was on the bottom pool and later on Jeff's pool, by the top pool 2 Siskins, 4 Bullfinches a Coal Tit and 2 Willow Tits, another 2 Willow Tits were near the 2nd gate, a Common Gull came onto the main lake, on the old gas works 2 Stock Doves and on the old sewage works a single Mistle Thrush and at last I caught up with the female Pheasant by the feeding station near the canal overflow.
Met up with Jeff Jones here who had also seen a Buzzard on the gas works and a Kestrel, also he had 4 Jackdaws flying over.
Monday, 17 January 2011
17 January 2011
First news from Westport comes from Pete Lunt with, 2 Brambling by the 1st gate to the nature reserve (fingers crossed I will at last catch up with these birds tomorrow), Greenfinch 14?, 2 Goosanders, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Shoveler, 14 Pochard and 55 Tufted Duck.
Nick Smith had a amazing count of nearly 60 Jackdaws (58 on the Westport year list) over this afternoon.
Nick Smith had a amazing count of nearly 60 Jackdaws (58 on the Westport year list) over this afternoon.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
16 January 2011
All news from Westport came from Nick today, 4 Goosander, a single Great Crested Grebe (at last, this is the 1st of the year), and 4 Lapwings over, it was duck count this weekend, only 'Sammy' is left out of the Shovelers, 6 Mute Swans now on and just over 50 Tufted Ducks and 32 Pochards.
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