May 2011 Bird Report

May is a month of change as the remaining winter birds depart and summer birds arrive or pass through. All birds but a few ducks have started nesting.

3 pairs of Shelducks arrived on the 16th and remained, raising the hope that they may breed. Mandarin Ducks have had a typical season with 72 eggs in 6 boxes remaining while the Drakes loaf around. Canada, Egyptian and Greylag Geese continue to hatch young, as do Mallard. Wigeon, Teal and Pochard passed through.

Hobby arrived on the 5th to join the usual Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Kestrels. Highlight was a 30 minute visit from an immature female Marsh Harrier on the 12th. A few sightings of the resident Red-legged Partridges this month.

Oystercatcher on the 26th. Ringed Plovers present at times with 9 on the 14th. Little-ringed Plovers all month and a clutch of 3 young seen from 19th. Several Lapwings on eggs, one young seen on the 29th. Dunlin on 15th, 28th, 30th, 31st. The last wintering Snipe was seen on the 4th. Whimbrel on the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th. 6+ Redshank all month and 3 Greenshank on 1st and 1 on the 13th. The last Green Sandpiper was seen on the 2nd. Common Sandpiper all month, a passing Wood Sandpiper on the 18th (Hants) and Sanderling on the 30th.

A few passing Lesser Black-backed Gulls recorded, and about 6 pairs of Black-headed Gulls nesting on Tern Island along with about 12 pairs of Common Terns. 2 migrating Black Terns lingered for a few hours on 3rd.

A male Cuckoo was very present from the 4th to the 18th. The resident Barn Owls could be seen hunting mornings and evenings, but Little Owls have been scarce. Swifts arrived on the 1st to join the established House Martins, Swallows and sporadic Sand Martins.

A Yellow Wagtail on the 3rd. Plenty of Pied Wagtails and the usual Grey Wagtail or two. Skylarks resident on the open grassland, Resident Kingfishers active along the river and sometimes on the lakes.

I think there are fewer Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs than usual, good numbers of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Garden Warblers, and more than ever of Whitethroats but no Lesser Whitethroat (usually at least one). A few Goldcrests  about.

Two nest boxes used by Nuthatches this year, one more than last year. Jackdaws raised young in the Colebrook Barn Owl Box. Yellowhammer resident on the workings and seen at least 5 times this month.

My unofficial count of species recorded for 2011 is 125, 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 the Moor Green Bird Recorder.

Bruce Archer