July 2010 Bird Report

Last months influx of Great Crested Grebes are still present with plenty of displaying, including the occasional "weed dance". One family of Mute Swans. Good numbers (200+) of Canada Geese present. Egyptian Geese have not done so well, but a few young are about. A single Shoveler on the 1st, a pair of Teal during the first week and a juvenile Shelduck on the 24th. Resident Mallard and Tufted Ducks have done well this year, and the family of 9 young Gadwall were well grown when last seen. A handful of juvenile Mandarins are still about. My feeling is that Coot and Moorhen have had an average breeding year so far.

Adult Peregrine on the 22nd and the regular Buzzards, Kestrel from mid-month.  Sparrowhawk, Hobbys and the occasional Red Kite seen during the month.

Black-tailed Godwit on the 5th and a Curlew on the 13th were the migrant highlights.   A few occurrences of migrant Redshank, the summering birds having departed. Dunlin on 22/23rd and 28/29th. At least 6, possibly 8 Little Ringed Plovers successfully raised this year. Green Sandpipers present all month with a peak of 6 on 31st. Common Sandpipers arrived on the 14th, with 5 on the 26th; strangely one was seen displaying on the 25th. Lapwing numbers reached 120 by the end of the month. A relatively early Snipe returned on the 16th, at least 2 by the end of the month.

15 Common Tern and 5 Black-headed Gull chicks were ringed on Tern Island on the 3rd. The annual drama of a probable Mink attack on the nesting birds occurred on the 12th. Fortunately many of the young birds were able to escape to the Islands on Manor Lake where the parents continued to feed them until they fully fledged. Two of the Gulls were colour-ringed, so watch out for them. Details on the notice boards.

115 Lesser Black-backed, 6 Herring and 5 Yellow-legged Gulls at roost on the evening of the 25th. A Common Gull recorded on the 20th.

No sign of Barn Owls this month, which is ominous; but at least two families of Little Owls fledged. Plenty of Swifts and Swallows, some Sand Martins and a few House Martins feeding on site this month. The family of Stonechats are still present. The first autumn Wheatear on 31st. Kingfishers have been very busy on the river and lakes, indication a successful year. Warblers also seem to have had a good breeding season with lots of juveniles, especially Common Whitethroats.

Lots of Blue Tits and Great Tits this year, but not so many Long-tailed Tits as usual and hardly any Goldcrests - a result of the cold winter I expect. The Yellowhammer has been singing regularly at the west end of the site.

My unofficial count of species recorded for 2010 is about 122, 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