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October
2008 Bird Report
 Winter
birds seem to have arrived, accompanied by 5cm of Snow on the 28th. As
expected, no Goldeneye or Goosander yet.
Up to 14 Great Crested Grebe present. A Black Swan on
Horseshoe Lake on the 18th and 19th. Little Egret reported on the
31st. Approx 300 Canadas and 106 Egyptians are typical for the
roost. A hatching of 10 Egyptian Geese on Horseshoe Lake around the
10th is not exceptional for these daft birds; 8 young remained on 31st.
Duck numbers have not
increased this month: 38 Mallard, 29 Pochard, 25 Teal,
105 Wigeon, 35 Tufted Ducks, 29 Gadwall, and 17
Shoveler recorded.
The local
Kestrels were seen regularly, and up to 5 Buzzard and
Sparrowhawk seen. A Peregrine on 2nd and 21st and a Red
Kite on 22nd. Best of all – on the 8th an Osprey was seen perched
in the trees on the new workings before flying off over Colebrook Lake. A
Barn Owl has been seen occupying the nest box from the 22nd. Little
Owls regularly reported. A Red-legged Partridge was seen on the
2nd.
Maximum of 143 Lapwing
on 8th, since then the numbers fell to a handful by the month end; these
were joined by 38 Golden Plovers on 18th with 6 remaining until the
19th. Green Sandpipers present all month, a maximum of 6 on the 8th.
A Little Stint present on the workings from 8th to 13th and again on
16th. A Dunlin present on the 31st, Snipe present all month,
but elusive as usual, a Water Rail was seen on 24th.
The Gulls gather on the workings in the afternoons when up to 50 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls, 45 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls,
and 3 Herring Gulls have been recorded. A third winter Great
Black-backed Gull was present on the 1st. Highlights of the overnight
roost on the 29th were 560 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Yellow-legged
Gulls and a second winter Caspian Gull.
House
Martins were present until the 6th and a late Swallow present
on the 19th. Up to 70 Meadow Pipits have been recorded. The
first Redwing I saw was on the 10th and Fieldfairs on the
18th. Chiffchaffs still present until mid month, when Goldcrest
numbers began to increase – typically about 30 on site.
Siskins
and Redpolls have become widespread and Goldfinches and
Linnets are attracted to the Thistles. No reported Bramblings yet?
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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