June 2011 Bird Report

June is a month of continued breeding for most birds. Migrants are still moving through and even returning by the end of the month.

Up to 3 Little Egrets seen occasionally. A few Herons and Cormorants flying about. One of the pairs of Swans on Colebrook Lake had 3 cygnets from the 8th. 50+ Canada Geese have settled on Colebrook Lake during their moult. Up to 2 pairs Shelduck present until at least the 9th. Mandarin mum with one little one on 17th. Gadwall parents of 7 young on NW diggings. Tufted Duck with 3 buoyant young learning to dive on 17th.

Kestrels and Hobbys present occasionally, as were Red Kites and Buzzards. A pair of Red-legged Partridges have been seen at the west end of the diggings a few times. The numbers of Little Ringed Plovers dropped from 9 on the 2nd, to 2 at the end of the month; and last month's young don't seem to have survived. Lapwing numbers build up to 44 by the end of the month. A Dunlin on the 1st, 5 Redshank on the 1st reduced to none by the 10th, but one passage bird on the 23rd/24th. Greenshank on 6th/7th. Green Sandpiper returned on 27th - the average date. A Common Sandpiper on the 13th, and a Woodcock in daylight on 10th.

Up to 22 Common Terns and about 15 Black-headed Gulls were nesting on Tern Island until the 3rd when all disappeared; presumable the result of predation by feral American Mink. This is earlier than previous years and all the eggs and any young were destroyed. Tern Island became baron of birds.

A male Cuckoo was seen feeding on the ground north of CLN on 10th. Little Owls are breeding in at least one traditional site. Kingfishers are active on the river. Swifts are active along with House Martins, Sand Martins (50+ on the 25th) and Swallows.

Yellow Wagtail on 12th and Grey Wagtails seen feeding young at the Sewerage Treatment Works. A juvenile Stonechat on the 20th/21st, probably arrived from the heath land south of the site.

Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, and masses of Whitethroats present all month.

Nuthatches seem to be more numerous than ever. Plenty of Reed Buntings. The Yellowhammers have gone quiet, which I hope is a sign of breeding in process.

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