October 2009 Bird Report

October has been mild and summer migrants have lingered while winter birds arrive.

Several resident Grey Herons present, but only two reports of Little Egrets this month. The Cormorant roost on Grove Island can have 15+ birds there throughout the day. Colebrook Lake seems to be attracting most of the 35+ Mute Swans present. By mid month Goose numbers had dropped to around 250 Canadas, 125+ Egyptian Geese, 34 Greylags and the usual 18 Barnacles and 1½ Snow Geese.   

A site Duck count on the 21st yielded: 66 Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, 15 Teal, 87 Mallard, 9 Shoveler, 12 Pochard, 68 Tufted Ducks, 23 Moorhen and 220 Coot. An evening gathering of at least 16+ Mandarin Ducks on Grove Lake on the 31st was exceptional. A female Goosander was seen on the 19th, which is the earliest ever return date by ten days, and a male seen on the 30th.

The resident Kestrels and local Sparrowhawks and Buzzards seen regularly, A juvenile Hobby remained until at least the 10th, feeding on the late dragonflies. Noisy Little Owls calling during the day and Barn Owls present on Manor Farm.

Water Rail seen on Grove scrape from 26th. Common Snipe numbers increased throughout the month with up to 6 seen, and probably many more present.  Lapwing numbers got up to 200+ by month end. A Curlew was present briefly on the 17th and a Redshank on the 8th.  Up to 4 Green Sandpipers were resident all month.

The number of Gulls roosting on site was over 3,000 on the 1st, with 97% being Lesser Black-backed Gulls; the remainder were Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls.  Many fewer numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls present during the day.

Six late House Martins seen on the 4th, and some late Chiffchaffs reported at the beginning of the month.

A report of a possible Water Pipit on the 17th was identified as a Rock Pipit on the following day – the 4th record for the site. Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Stonechats present, with a late Whinchat on the 21st. Thrush numbers increased through the month with Redwings regularly seen on the berries in the pony paddock hedges.

Siskin and Lesser Redpoll numbers increased from the 17th, when the first Brambling was recorded.  Bullfinch numbers increased at the end of the month and 21 Reed Buntings were seen on the 24th, and a Yellowhammer on the 27th.

My unofficial count of species recorded so far in 2009 is 135, including the escaped Snow and Barnacle Geese.

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