Spring is here, at last, keep an eye out for Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing from the trees, Whitethroat calling from the hedgerows and Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin darting across the surface of the lakes.
Watch closely for the courting rituals of the Great-crested Grebe.
Latest sightings as follows
20th May
2 Turnstone
Turnstone copyright R Greasley
14th May
Red-rumped Swallow last sighting.
Red-rumped Swallow copyright R Greasley
7th May
Red-rumped Swallow copyright Kev Gould
2 Arctic Terns north between 06:40 and 06.50 (MN Reeder)
6th May
Red-rumped Swallow confirmed still present this evening (MN Reeder).
4th May
Red-rumped Swallow over the reserve.
3rd April
Red-rumped Swallow present all day, first on main lake then over reserve.
27th April
Grasshopper Warbler ‘reeling’ from the scrub half way up the Ski Slope Track. Blackcap singing in Playdales car park
25th April
10+ Swift Nature Reserve
20th April
Swift 3+
Lesser whitethroat 2
Sedge Warbler
Mon 19th April
300+ Hirundines (50% swallows, 30% sand martins, 20% house martins). Many resting on sailing club hut roof.
Swift
8 Yellow wagtail
Common sandpiper
2 whitethroat
13 mute swans North
Sat 17th April
3 Shelduck
31st March to 3rd April Little Egret
28th March Osprey--n--8:00am
25th March Swallow, White Wagtail (lawns)
24th March Osprey moving north 10:15 am
22nd March 2 Oystercatcher (lawns), 15+ sand martin (Reserve), 2 Redshank (lawns)
21st March 2 Redshank (lawns), 2 Oystercatcher (lawns), House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff singing, Sand martin (Reserve)
18th March Bullfinch (3 male + 1 female - bungalow garden)
16th March Grey Wagtail (courtyard) Sand Martin
3rd March 13 Whoopers n/w
27th Feb Great White Egret s/s/e-08:30 am
6th Feb 10 Pintails
Fri&Sat 1/2nd Jan
Following the arrival of the cold winter weather some of our regular visitors have appeared, these being Goosander, Goldeneye, and Widgeon. Another occasional sighting is the Bittern on the reed beds on Pithouse West.
Around the feeding stations in the park woodland birds include Siskin, Redpoll and Redwing now abundant together with Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Robin, and the occasional Firecrest.
Sat&Sun 12/13th Dec
Great Northern Diver Main Lake
Great Northern Diver copyright M N Reeder
Great Crested Grebe 38 Main lake
Common Scoter (Saturday). Female Main Lake from 11am.
Goosander. Total of 40
Goldeneye. 22 Throughout Park.
Shoveler. 18 Reserve.
Pochard. 310 Throughout Park.
Wigeon. c.250
Teal. 125
Stonechat. 1 Reserve
PHW
Bittern roosting Saturday .
Firecrest (Sunday) around Chinese Bridge, found by Pete Wragg.
Firecrest copyright M N Reeder
Sun 6th Dec
Good numbers of duck this winter with at least 240 Pochard on the Reserve and around 30 Goosanders among the more notable counts. Also among the Goosanders was this fem/imm Red-breasted Merganser decent bird these days at the valley being almost as scarce as Smew.
Red-breasted Merganser copyright M N Reeder
Sat 5th Dec
Great Northern Diver present on the main lake
Thu 3rd Dec
Great Northern Diver present on the main lake
Wed 2nd Dec
Great Northern Diver still showing well on the main lake, with the lack of watersports activity on the main lake there is an abundance of waterfowl, Shoveler, 30+ goosander near cable ski, 5 Goldeneye, 30+ wigeon, and a large number of coots. On the reserve large numbers of pochard and Cormorant can be observed. Redshank and Lapwing also showing well on the lawns by watersports..
Great Northern Diver copyright M N Reeder
Mon 1st Dec
Older Bird News can now be found here.
Records provided by Ray Greasley (RG), Kevin Gould (KRG), Andy Hawkins (AH), John Colclough (JC), Mark Reeder (MNR).