August 2007 Bird Report

The arrival continues of birds that will spend the winter at Moor Green Lakes, mixed with the passage of birds making their way further south.

The Little Grebes that got washed out by the floods last moth now have 2 young on the pond at the north of the new workings. By the end of the month, over 300 Canada Geese, 40 feral Barnacle Geese, 2 feral Snow Geese and up to 70 Egyptian Geese were roosting on site. A handful of Pochard and up to 20 Teal seemed settled, Several Shoveler passed through and a shy Garganey spent some time with us, but was very hard to locate. Late broods of young Mallard and Moorhen were seen. The late brood of July Mandarin Ducks now contains 4 well grown young. 3 juvenile Shelduck stopped over on the 25th.

Hobby (up to 3), Kestrel and Sparrowhawk have been seen regularly; the later seemed to be feeding young in a nest near the river until the last week of the month. Up to 6 Buzzards were to be seen in the area on the few fine August days. At least 2 pairs of Little Owls have been vocal and the Barn Owls left their box around the 5th when Stock Doves took it over. At least 2 Barn Owls remained in the area and were regularly seen hunting the north of the new workings at dawn and dusk.

The excellent wader passage has continued this month with Common Sandpipers (up to 5), Green Sandpipers (up to 8) and Lapwing (up to 325) all month. Three occurrences of Ringed Plover, a juvenile Little Stint from 11th to 16th, a Ruff made a 24 hour stop-over on 16th/17th, Dunlin (up to 3) from 25th,  8 Black-tailed Godwit stayed for a few hours on the 8th, a Redshank dropped in on 20th and Greenshank (up to 5) from the 10th onward. Snipe began to appear from the 7th, with at least 11 on the 29th.  All of these birds were on the new workings, seen from the either the bridleway or riverside foot path.

The occurrence of Gulls has changed throughout the month with diminishing numbers of Black-headed Gulls and an increase in Lesser Black-backed Gulls (up to 125) that roost overnight.

Passage Wheatears and good numbers of Yellow Wagtails have been seen this month and the first Stonechat of the autumn was seen on the 30th. Warblers are on the move with Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the tit flocks, and Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat also being recorded.

The finches are beginning to gather with flocks of up to 40 Goldfinches and 15 Linnets reported at the end of the month. It is noticeable that the Skylarks and Yellowhammers have stopped singing.

Bruce Archer