I managed to have a look around the patch this morning, concentrating on the woodland. I failed to find the Willow Tit or the Chiffchaff, but I did manage to add a few other bits to the year list. A Red Kite was drifting around over to the west of the reservoir, a Meadow Pipit flew over south, a Reed Bunting flew over near the river and a female Sparrowhawk was hanging around the car park when I left.
Steve also had two Collared Doves. So the year list is ticking along nicely now.
Friday, 5 January 2018
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
3rd Jan 2018: Wigeon
John spotted two Wigeon on the reservoir at lunchtime today. Not a lot else around though.
Monday, 1 January 2018
1st Jan 2018: New year, new birds
John and I made our first visit to the patch this afternoon. Mostly it was just the usual birds you can expect day to day but there were a few minor highlights.
As soon as I got out of the car a few Siskin flew over, which was pleasing as there hasn't been many around for a couple of weeks. The Coot was still on the reservoir and a couple of Herring Gulls were loafing on the pontoon. I searched through the roving passerine flock in the wood but failed to find the Willow Tit or Chiffchaff.
John joined me for the gull roost and even by Grimsbury standards it was pretty small. So we were surprised when a 2CY Great Black-backed dropped in, possibly the same bird as last week. On top of that a 3CY Yellow-legged Gull came in, another (adult) Great Black-back flew through and three more Herring Gulls flew through. This was all only amongst c.40 Black-headed and a handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
As soon as I got out of the car a few Siskin flew over, which was pleasing as there hasn't been many around for a couple of weeks. The Coot was still on the reservoir and a couple of Herring Gulls were loafing on the pontoon. I searched through the roving passerine flock in the wood but failed to find the Willow Tit or Chiffchaff.
John joined me for the gull roost and even by Grimsbury standards it was pretty small. So we were surprised when a 2CY Great Black-backed dropped in, possibly the same bird as last week. On top of that a 3CY Yellow-legged Gull came in, another (adult) Great Black-back flew through and three more Herring Gulls flew through. This was all only amongst c.40 Black-headed and a handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Sunday, 31 December 2017
31st Dec 2017: Last Knockings
It's the end of the year and, unfortunately, there hasn't been any big late surprises this year. The last couple of weeks has been fairly standard really. The odd Yellow-legged Gull sighting, a Willow Tit in the wood on and off and a Chiffchaff in the wood a couple of times were the more normal highlights. The Coot has stayed around to the end of the year too, which is really unusually long stay for a bird here.
John saw two Wigeon on the 14th and I had a Lapwing fly over on the 24th. Mike, Colin and Steve did the roost on the 27th and had a 1CY Great Black-backed Gull. Peregrine has been seen in town a few times recently, so could possibly be seen from the reservoir, and Red Kites continue to be a regular sighting over town and the reservoir.
I will be doing a full year round up some time soon, but for now here are John's photo highlights of the year.
John saw two Wigeon on the 14th and I had a Lapwing fly over on the 24th. Mike, Colin and Steve did the roost on the 27th and had a 1CY Great Black-backed Gull. Peregrine has been seen in town a few times recently, so could possibly be seen from the reservoir, and Red Kites continue to be a regular sighting over town and the reservoir.
I will be doing a full year round up some time soon, but for now here are John's photo highlights of the year.
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| Courtesy and copyright of JFT |
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
12th Dec 2017
John: I managed to dodge the remnants of the snow today for a short walk around the reservoir, during my lunch break. It was nice to see some different wildfowl for a change with 4 Wigeon sat sleeping on the ice with a group of Mallards.
A vocal Mistle Thrush (a scarce bird here) was along the river, together with a couple of Fieldfare, while a calling Yellowhammer went over heading east.
It was pleasing to see the female Kestrel still in situ near the sailing club. I've watched it catching worms in the last week or so, however today, that was out of the question with the ground covered in frozen snow!
A vocal Mistle Thrush (a scarce bird here) was along the river, together with a couple of Fieldfare, while a calling Yellowhammer went over heading east.
It was pleasing to see the female Kestrel still in situ near the sailing club. I've watched it catching worms in the last week or so, however today, that was out of the question with the ground covered in frozen snow!
Sunday, 10 December 2017
10th Dec 2017
On Monday John had two Red Kites over the reservoir . I have also been seeing at least one bird regularly over town. On Monday there was also a Peregrine and a second Winter Yellow-legged Gull. Yesterday morning, two Wigeon dropped in mid-morning. However, it was very quiet otherwise.
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| Courtesy and copyright of JFT |
Sunday, 3 December 2017
3rd Dec 2017
John had a pair of Raven over the reservoir on Monday and a single Yellow-legged Gull on Tuesday. Another single Yellow-legged Gull on Thursday (the regular 4CY) and four Teal on Friday.
Yesterday morning I heard the Willow Tit in the wood, but couldn't see it, had a Snipe fly over the reservoir and saw one Yellow-legged Gull up at the Borrow Pit pool.
Yesterday morning I heard the Willow Tit in the wood, but couldn't see it, had a Snipe fly over the reservoir and saw one Yellow-legged Gull up at the Borrow Pit pool.
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| Courtesy and copyright of JFT |
Colin was out today, 1300-1540, and saw:
Reservoir:
2 kingfishers on river adjacent to reservoir
1 snipe over (heard not seen)
8 cormorants
5 GC grebes
1 adult YL gull in roost – very smart bird
1 male goosander circled reservoir twice towards sunset, then disappeared off south.
Upper Cherwell:
Male stonechat in meadow near M&S
Many large gulls inc at least 8 Herring type
3 Little grebe
Sunday, 26 November 2017
26th Nov 2017
After the Kittiwake on Tuesday, things were pretty much back to normal. On Wednesday morning John had two Yellow-legged Gulls at the reservoir. Thursday lunchtime, John had a male Stonechat along the fence in the cattle field. It is likely to be the same bird that has been sporadically over the last few weeks, but it has stayed mostly out of sight at a safe distance from the reservoir edge.
Today I had a good walk around in search of something of interest. There was a Willow Tit in the wood, it was very vocal and I did have brief but good views. Otherwise, there were only Yellow-legged Gulls of any interest.
To start I saw a 2CY at the reservoir, terrorising all of the other gulls chasing them around or completely away. That was until the sailing boats chased all of the gulls away. Up the valley on the Borrow Pit pool there was around 100 large gulls, including what was likely the same bird I had just seen and a near adult bird. I got onto a bird that could have been a juv Caspian Gull, but all the birds flushed. Over the valley I could see hundreds of gulls, loafing in the field with the mound (just into Northants) and flocks of birds over the fields in Chacombe. There must have close to, if not over, a thousand birds in the area. Waiting around at the Borrow Pit I had good views of at least another adult Yellow-legged Gull but not a lot else. Of note, there have been Caspian Gulls seen recently at Boddington Reservoir and John saw 5-6 Yellow-legged Gulls there in today's roost. So there is a god chance we will get Caspian Gulls in this area again this winter.
Today I had a good walk around in search of something of interest. There was a Willow Tit in the wood, it was very vocal and I did have brief but good views. Otherwise, there were only Yellow-legged Gulls of any interest.
To start I saw a 2CY at the reservoir, terrorising all of the other gulls chasing them around or completely away. That was until the sailing boats chased all of the gulls away. Up the valley on the Borrow Pit pool there was around 100 large gulls, including what was likely the same bird I had just seen and a near adult bird. I got onto a bird that could have been a juv Caspian Gull, but all the birds flushed. Over the valley I could see hundreds of gulls, loafing in the field with the mound (just into Northants) and flocks of birds over the fields in Chacombe. There must have close to, if not over, a thousand birds in the area. Waiting around at the Borrow Pit I had good views of at least another adult Yellow-legged Gull but not a lot else. Of note, there have been Caspian Gulls seen recently at Boddington Reservoir and John saw 5-6 Yellow-legged Gulls there in today's roost. So there is a god chance we will get Caspian Gulls in this area again this winter.
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
21st Nov 2017: Kittiwake
A day full of gulls. It started really well when John found a 1st winter Kittiwake before work. Unfortunately, it didn't hang around and left with a group of Lesser Black-backs when they were disturbed. After that it wasn't seen for the rest of the day.
Steve was out at around 09:30 and said there was around 140 Black-headed Gulls and there was also four Common Gulls, two Yellow-legged (ad, 2cy) and nine Herring Gulls amongst 159 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At lunch time John and I was hugely surprised by the numbers of gulls around. The farmer had been spreading muck on the adjacent field and apparently this had drawn them in. There were at least three Yellow-legged Gulls at that time and possibly up to five. There was also several Common Gulls and Herring Gulls. It was hard to view all of them well, so I decided to go back later with the scope to have a really good look. However, when I did most of the gulls were gone and there was only one Yellow-legged Gull left.
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| Both pictures courtesy and copyright of JFT |
Monday, 20 November 2017
20th Nov 2017
John was out this lunch time and although not much at the reservoir, two Yellow-legged and two Herring Gulls were present.
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| Both photos courtesy and copyright of JFT |
Saturday, 18 November 2017
18th Nov 2017
A quick look at the roost this evening didn't produce much. The 'usual' Yellow-legged Gull was present amongst c.95 Lesser Black-backs, which seems to be the same near adult bird as most days. The bulk of the birds were Black-headed Gulls (c.650-700), some of which were already moulted through with full hoods. there was also three Herring Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls.
Thursday, 16 November 2017
16th Nov 2017
John: I have been visiting the reservoir fairly frequently on most weekdays, however it has unfortunately been extremely quiet and so far the site has failed to join the big Hawfinch bonanza of this autumn / winter so far. However we will persevere!
Yesterday I did finally come across something a little bit different when visiting before work, stumbling across a male Stonechat along the western side of the reservoir.
The Great Crested Grebe count was down to 4, while I came across the resident female Kestrel which has proved very approachable in recent days, often found sitting on the fence along the eastern side of the reservoir.
Yesterday I did finally come across something a little bit different when visiting before work, stumbling across a male Stonechat along the western side of the reservoir.
The Great Crested Grebe count was down to 4, while I came across the resident female Kestrel which has proved very approachable in recent days, often found sitting on the fence along the eastern side of the reservoir.
Sunday, 12 November 2017
12th Nov 2017
A fairly quiet week. There has been low single figures of Yellow-legged Gulls coming in pre-roost. John had two Red Kites over on on Friday lunchtime. Sunday midday there was eight Great Crested Grebes on the reservoir but not a lot else!
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| Photo above and below courtesy and copyright of JFT |
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| Yellow-legged Gull from Friday |
Monday, 6 November 2017
6th Nov 2017
John and I were out this morning. There wasn't a lot around but there were seven Great Crested Grebes and several Skylarks over. Up the valley there was a Stonechat by the Borrow Pit pool again and a good gathering of gulls, including a couple of Herring Gulls.
Sunday, 5 November 2017
5th Nov 2017: Catch up
Playing catch up with the blog again. I apologise if I have missed anything of note.
24th John and I: A morning visit for us got our first Fieldfare of the autumn fly over with some Redwings and a a Yellowhammer. John had another ringed Black-headed Gull this evening, this one had a yellow ring on the leg tarsus with 2SKL in black.
25th John and Dan: The gull roost in the evening had a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls and there was a redhead Goosander too.
26th John: A good passage of Wood Pigeons, a Redpoll over and more thrushes including a group of four Blackbirds.
27th John and I: Seven Greylags in with the Canada Geese and four Siskins along the river in the morning. At least two Yellow-legged Gulls in the evening, possibly three.
29th: I had a couple of Redpolls over but not a lot else.
1st John: A Redpoll, a couple of Skylark and several Meadow Pipits, as well as thrushes and Starlings migrating over.
3rd Mike: A Stonechat along the hedgerow to the west of the reservoir.
4th Steve: A redhead Goosander at the reservoir.
Today there was a flock of Siskins in the wood possibly into double figures but hard to tell as they were very mobile. Several Skylarks over. A pair of Ravens flew over and Clive had a Stonechat up by the Borrow Pit pool.
24th John and I: A morning visit for us got our first Fieldfare of the autumn fly over with some Redwings and a a Yellowhammer. John had another ringed Black-headed Gull this evening, this one had a yellow ring on the leg tarsus with 2SKL in black.
25th John and Dan: The gull roost in the evening had a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls and there was a redhead Goosander too.
26th John: A good passage of Wood Pigeons, a Redpoll over and more thrushes including a group of four Blackbirds.
27th John and I: Seven Greylags in with the Canada Geese and four Siskins along the river in the morning. At least two Yellow-legged Gulls in the evening, possibly three.
29th: I had a couple of Redpolls over but not a lot else.
1st John: A Redpoll, a couple of Skylark and several Meadow Pipits, as well as thrushes and Starlings migrating over.
3rd Mike: A Stonechat along the hedgerow to the west of the reservoir.
4th Steve: A redhead Goosander at the reservoir.
Today there was a flock of Siskins in the wood possibly into double figures but hard to tell as they were very mobile. Several Skylarks over. A pair of Ravens flew over and Clive had a Stonechat up by the Borrow Pit pool.
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