11 September 2010

Didn't get down to Westport this morning as Nick, George and myself headed to Norfolk to see Arctic Warbler, Red-necked Phalarope, Wryneck, Spoonbill & Lapland Bunting.

Got home just before the last of the light faded and took the dog for a quick walk down to Westport, as we passed the old beach area a Common Sandpiper flew along the edge of the main lake, so we will see if it's still about in the morning.

Again no news was received from anyone else so don't think anyone got down there today.

10 September 2010

Very wet underfoot after overnight rain, breeze was light, poor light at first with heavy cloud coverage, temp a pleasant 15c, visit form 06.10 - 08.00.

As I walked along the back of the boating lake I noticed a large group of Black-headed Gulls on the grass bank which totalled at least 350+, 3 Tufted Ducks were on the boating lake and 101 on the main lake, a couple of Grey Herons were flying around between the two lakes, the 2 first year Great Crested Grebes were on the boating lake and on the main lake 2 juveniles and at least 6 adults, 3 Mute Swans on the boating lake and another 11 on the main lake, also on the main lake, 3 Pochards, 1 Shoveler and 1 Little Grebe.

The Green Woodpecker was calling from the nature reserve, by the top pool at least 5 Chiffchaffs with another 7 around the park, around the old sewage works, 1 Coal Tit and singles of Blackcap and Whitethroat, a small number of House Martins and Swallows went through, along the canal side of the main lake at least 30+ Goldfinches were feeding on the thistles, 4 Mistle Thrushes over the housing estate and a single Treecreeper going down the tree line.

08 September 2010

A bright sunny day once the sun came up, there was a heavy dew and mist over the lakes, it was rather cool at 12c, no real wind of note, visit from 06.20 - 08.30.

Had good news today with a job offer, the downside is less visits to Westport Lake, but fingers crossed it shouldn't affect things to much and if I can get down in the morning then a afternoon visit should be ok, depending on the new shift pattern I will be on.

Anyway on the more interesting things like the birds of today, although not as many Black-headed Gulls on the playing field as yesterday there were still 40+ on this morning, among them a adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the boating lake 107 Canada Geese, a single Mute Swan was again on here with the other 13 being on the main lake, as I went around the boating lake towards Price's field I heard at least 2 Tawny Owls calling from the tree line, I contacted Nick who came down too meet me and again we heard them calling, we had a good look around the trees but were unable to locate them, back on the boating lake a single 1st year Great Crested Grebe and 8 on the main lake with 2 being juveniles, Tufted Ducks are back on the up with 104 on the main lake with the pair of Ruddy Duck and 5 Pochard.

At least 3 Willow Tits were heard around the park and 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps were on the old sewage works were at least 3 Meadow Pipits flew over, 2 Jays were along the trees between the gas works and sewage works, finally a Kestrel flew quite high south over the main lake.

07 September 2010

After the gale force winds and heavy rain overnight it was quite calm this morning, dry with cloud and the odd sunny interval, there were small branches and leaves everywhere from the storm, temp was 14c, visit from 06.15 - 07.45.

As I came in through the bottom entrance a 135 Black-headed Gulls were on the playing field, on the boating lake 2 first year Great Crested Grebes and 6 on the main lake 2 of which are juveniles, the Little Grebe was also on the boating lake as 5 Teal flew over looking like they had just come off the main lake, they gained height and headed off south, a single Mute Swan was on the boating lake with another 20 on the main lake, a single Common Sandpiper flew along the edge of the grass verge and was later seen flying along the top of the main lake, a Grey Heron also flew across the main lake, also on here 96 Tufted Duck and 5 Pochard with about 60+ House Martins and 40+ Swallows.

The wooded areas were very quiet as was the top pool, gas and sewage works, only a couple of Chiffchaffs were seen, a Great Spotted Woodpecker along the nature reserve side of the main lake and a couple of Mistle Thrushes in the trees by the visitor centre.

Late afternoon I received a call from Steve Seal telling me he had seen 3 Common Terns and a Arctic Tern at Knypersley Res and they had flown off towards Westport, I grabbed the dog and my bins and headed off in hope, although there was no sign of the Terns I noticed there seemed to be a good numbers of Tufted Ducks, this was confirmed with a count of 128, the pair of Ruddy Duck were also on the main lake and I flushed the 1st year Little Grebe from the lake edge (see above photo), a single Swift was among the Swallows and House Martins.

06 September 2010

A very quiet day at Westport with Nick recording, 2 Swifts, the pair of Ruddy Ducks still present, and a single Teal and Shoveler.

Called down to Westport late afternoon, very strong south/southeast breeze with the odd heavy shower, not many small birds about due to the high winds and branches were falling off the trees all around the lake, managed to count 103 Tufted Ducks, 21 Mute Swans, the pair of Ruddy Duck still present, 10 Great Crested Grebes of which 4 are 1st years, 5 Pochard, there was a good size Gull roost with 200+ Black-headed Gulls, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a 1st year Common Gull, which is the first of the autumn.

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.

04 September 2010

No news from Westport today as most of us were at Flamborough Head in East Yorks, dipping on Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, luckily the day turned out ok with, Scarlet Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Sooty Shearwater and a nice find sent us a bit further south to Grimston when a Booted Warbler was found.

So did anyone actually go to Westport, please let us know what you saw, no news came through all day, what did we miss?