November 2008 Bird Report

The expected winter birds have arrived and seem settled for a while – with some local movements.

The Cormorant roost on Grove Island is attracting 20 to 30 each night.  Up to 2 Little Egrets regularly present on the lake margins. Canadas (up to 250) and Egyptians are roosting – 37 Greylags on the 30th. The family with 8 young Egyptian Geese that hatched last month are still present on Horseshoe Lake.

Duck numbers have not changed much this month: 51 Mallard, 33 Pochard, 23 Teal, 176 Wigeon, 103 Tufted Ducks, 52 Gadwall, 29 Shoveler and 208 Coot recorded. Goosanders arrived on the 1st of the month with up to 18 by the month end and Goldeneye returned on the 23rd, with 2 males and a female on the 25th.

The local Kestrels were seen regularly, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk present; a Peregrine flew through on 2nd. The Barn Owl is still present and seen hunting in the area. At least 3 pairs of Little Owls regularly heard if not seen. A Red-legged Partridge is still present and seen on the workings during the month. Pheasant numbers seem higher than usual with some double figure sightings. 

Lapwings loaf on the workings during the day with a peak count of 296 on the 18th. Golden Plovers have been present for several days during the month with a maximum of 63 on the 20th. Green Sandpipers present all month, a maximum of 3 at the end of the month. Last month’s Dunlin remained until the 2nd. Snipe present all month, but elusive as usual; no Water Rail reported this month?    

Up to 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 50 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Common Gulls, and 3 Herring Gulls have been recorded in the afternoon gathering on the workings. Highlights of the overnight roost were 270 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 150 Black-headed Gulls, 35 Herring Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull.

Kingfishers tend to disperse from the river to the lakes in the winter, but the occasional sightings have been recorded. The workings held up to 50 Pied Wagtails with the occasional Gary Wagtail, particularly at the west end of the workings.  A few Stonechats recorded early in the month. Redwings, Fieldfairs and other Thrushes are appearing on the paddocks. Chiffchaff reported on the 26th.

Flocks of up to 50 Siskins and 12 Redpolls have become frequent sightings. The improved feeding station is attracting lots of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches and Greenfinches.  The first Bramblings appeared on the 25th.

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