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July
2008 Bird Report
 The
beginning of the autumn migration and lots of locally bred youngsters is the
theme of July.
A few juvenile Great
Crested Grebes have appeared and 3 baby Little Grebes at last.
The Geese have regained the ability to fly following moulting and are
moving about. Egyptian Geese counts of up to 60 and Canada Geese
up to 240.
Mallard
seem to have had a good breeding season with full grown young present in
good numbers. Gadwall don’t seem to have bred at Moor Green this
year, but Tufted Ducks have at last hatched 30+ young; they seem to
have faired better on the Manor Farm pits, there is always a high mortality
on the more mature waters containing pike and attracting Herons. A
few more Mandarin ducklings are also appearing on the Manor Farm
waters. Two Pochard returned mid-month and Teal have been seen
a few times. Two juvenile Shelducks were present from 19th to 27th.
I assume the juvenile
Kestrel that has appeared was produced by the resident pair using the
Barn Owl box. I am aware of only one sighting of hunting Barn Owl
this month. Hobbies are present most days.
Up to 200 Lapwing
present by the end of the month. The summering Little Ringed Plovers
were seen with 2 late juveniles from 10th. There was a notable passage of 9
additional “LRP”s on 14th. Occasional Ringed Plovers seen passing
through and occasional Redshanks; I don’t think any Redshanks
were raised on site this year. Green Sandpiper numbers up to 9 (22nd)
and Common Sandpipers up to 7 (19th). Snipe seen in the last
week.
Returning passage migrants
reported were: Black-tailed Godwit on 13th, Dunlin 18th to
20th, Whimbrel on 20th, Greenshank on 24th/25th.
The Black-headed Gulls
had a dismal breeding season, none nests at the end of June hatched any
young as far as could be seen. The 3 juvenile Common Terns did
fledge. The usual July presence of Yellow-legged Gulls (up to 3) and
a Common Gull in the daytime gatherings of Lesser Black-backed
and Herring Gulls on the workings.
Resident Swifts and
Sand Martins seem to have disappeared in the last week. Two or 3
intriguing reports a Wood Warbler during the month will give Ian
something to ponder – if you have any details I am sure he would appreciate
them.
As always, please report your own sightings on the record
sheets in Colebrook Hide or send them to Ian Brown, the
Moor Green Bird Recorder.
Bruce
Archer
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