August 2008 Bird Report

Autumn passage is in full swing and the numbers of winter ducks and geese are building up.

Up to 6 Little Grebes and an increase in Great Crested Grebes. Little Egret on 15th. Up to 300 Canada Geese and 92 Egyptian Geese. The remnant of the Barnacle Goose flock with 3 Snow Geese, (1 blue phase) have returned.

A few Pochard and Teal all month, 3 Wigeon on 18th, Shoveler arrived on 31st. 2 Pintails from the 24th onward, a very early date. A few Gadwall from mid month. Mandarin Ducks present all month and visible on the new workings with juveniles. The Tufted Ducks seem to have hatched very late, but good numbers of young have survived on the new workings, but not on the more established lakes.

Frequent sightings of Kestrel, including the local juvenile. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and an occasional Hobby seen. Little Owls calling and seen regularly, including a juvenile. No Barn Owl sightings?

Up to 200 Lapwing, Green and Common Sandpipers present all month with max counts of at least 13 Greens on 9th and 6 Commons on 25th. A juvenile Ringed Plover on 17th and 3 adults on 31st. Juv Little Ringed Plover occasionally, latest sighting on 28th, may be the local hatchling. Oystercatcher on 4th, Dunlin 16th and 20/21st,  Black-tailed Godwit on 3rd, 2 on 4th, 10 briefly on the 11th along with a Whimbrel.  Greenshank 10th to 13th and 7 briefly on the 18th. A Redshank on 1st and another from 27th to 30th.  5 Snipe seen on the 9th, probably a few around all month.

The Gulls have been roosting on the central area of the new workings recently where they also gatherer in the afternoon.  Black-headed Gulls have been the most numerous, followed by Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and occasional a Common Gull. Common Terns have become less common through the month. A Sandwich Tern spent a few hours on site on the 8th.

Yellow Wagtail on the 22nd, Wheatear on the 22nd and 2 on 30th, Spotted Flycatcher on the 22nd and 24th. Resident Warblers have begun to move south, but plenty of Chiffchaffs remain.  Sand Martins left in the first week of the month, with Swift soon after. Swallows and House Martins present, some passing through.

Finch numbers have increased, particularly Goldfinches attracted to the Thistles. Linnets seen from 24th onward. 2 local juvenile Yellowhammers on the 21st.

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