September 2008 Bird Report

Winter Duck numbers are increasing and a few passage waders summarises September.

Up to 6 Little Grebes and 14 Great Crested Grebes. Only one Little Egret, on 24^th.  Up to 525 Canada Geese, 156 Egyptian Geese (new site record), 45 Greylags, 22 feral Barnacle Geese, and the 2 remaining feral Snow Geese.

My impression is that Mallard numbers are down on last month, Mandarin down to 2 and just one Pintail remained until 8^th; all other duck species increased. Max counts I am aware off are: 41 Pochard, 35 Teal, 118 Wigeon, 63 Tufted Ducks, 5 Gadwall, and 4 Shoveler.

Continued sightings of Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and the occasional Hobby until the 23^rd at least. Little Owls regularly heard if not seen, and nocturnal Tawny Owls calling.

Up to 225 Lapwing on a good day, up to 10 Green Sandpipers throughout the month and up to 8 Common Sandpipers present until 21^st. A couple of Ringed Plover present until the 7^th. A Dunlin present on the 18^th+ and a Redshank on 25^th. Snipe elusive as usual, but up to 6 seen during the month and a Jack Snipe reported on 28^th.

Up to 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been roosting on the central area of the new workings. The afternoon gatherings are much easier to see with up to 100 Black-headed Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls joined by a few Herring Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and Common Gulls.

Kingfishers have been active along the river and on Colebrook lake – perched on the rail in front of the hide if you are lucky. A few Martins and Swallows until mid month. Reports of Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear. Up to 4 Stonechats from mid month with a Whinchat on 12^th and a Tree Pipit on 13^th with increasing numbers of Meadow Pipits.  Chiffchaffs still present at the end of the month.

During the dry spell at the end of the month, finch numbers have increased with Goldfinches attracted to the Thistles and Greenfinches on the feeders by Colebrook hide. Siskins have arrived early this year with groups in the Alders during the last two weeks.

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