Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Cleveland. UK - 2009

[IanF]

Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park previous years -
2006 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=48573)
2007 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=74765)
2008 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=104641)

See 2006 thread for directions and access details.

Bird List 2009

1. Whooper Swan
2. Goldeneye
3. Tree Sparrow
4. Grey Wagtail
5. Redwing
6. Robin
7. Blackbird
8. Goldfinch
9. Greenfinch
10. Mute Swan
11. Pochard
12. Little Grebe
13. Tufted Duck
14. Coot
15. Moorhen
16. Reed Bunting
17. Mallard
18. Gadwall
19. Mallard
20. Black-headed Gull
21. Common Gull
22. Herring Gull
23. Wood Pigeon
24. Sparrowhawk
25. Dunnock
26. Treecreeper
27. Wren
28. Blue Tit
29. Great Tit
30. Long-tailed Tit
31. Coal Tit
32. Chaffinch
33. Crow
34. Collared Dove
35. Feral Pigeon
36. Song Thrush
37. Shoveler
38. Goldcrest
39. Cormorant
40. Pheasant
41. Yellowhammer
42. Linnet
43. Grey Partridge
44. Fieldfare
45. Little Owl
46. Curlew
47. Grey Partridge
48. Kestrel
49. Bullfinch
50. Great Spotted Woodpecker
51. Green Woodpecker
52. Blackcap
53. Scaup
54. Lesser Black-backed Gull
55. Greylag Goose
56. Canada Goose
57. Siskin
58. Jay
59. Lesser Whitethroat
60. Common Whitethroat
61. Chiffchaff
62. Willow Warbler
63. Reed Warbler
64. Kingfisher
65. Hobby
66. Common Tern
67. Mistle Thrush
68. Meadow Pipit
69. Skylark
70. Grasshopper Warbler
71. Pied Wagtail
72. White Wagtail
73. Yellow Wagtail
74. Swift
75. Swallow
76. House Martin
77. Sand Martin
78. Redshank
79. Oystercatcher
80. Garden Warbler
81. Cuckoo
82. Shelduck
83. Yellow Wagtail
84. Barn Owl
85. Northern Wheatear
86. Black-tailed Godwit
87. Common Sandpiper
88. Redshank
89. Common Buzzard
90. Spotted Flycatcher

[IanF]

A miserable dull day to start off the new year with heavy cloud cover until late afternoon when blue skies moved in from the north.

We didn't get out until early afternoon just for a bit of fresh air and to start off the birding year.

We'd just arrived at the main pond when a single Whooper Swan low flew across the pond from east to west but made no attempt to land. The pond itself was pretty quiet again with nothng new - Goldeneye x2, Pochard x2, Mute Swan x2, Little Grebe x2, Shoveler x6, Gadwall x2, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen. In the bushes Robin x2, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Tree Sparrow x3 and Reed Bunting x3 in the NE corner. The odd Redwing still about. A pair of Grey Wagtail flew over heading towards the south end of the pond. Loads of gulls on the pond again - Black-headed, Common and Herring. A Caspian Gull was reported on the ploughed fields east of the main pond though east of the access road so not viewable other than from the top of the hill and too distant to pick out.

Feeding station - loads of food out but very quiet - Treecreeper, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock. Goldfinch in the bushes in the car park.

[Ray_S]

OK, I posted this in the 2008 thread (Doh!) so I copied it here for completeness! Going to try to delete the other one if it will let me!

First outing of the year, no camera (decided it was too dark and overcast for good photos), so just a notepad, pen and bird guide - I thought it was about time I stopped calling everything on the lake a 'duck'! :) .

Arriving at the car park I was met with almost nowhere to park, at first I thought it was dog-emptiers but it soon became obvious that it was mainly families with their 2.4 children trying to walk off the previous nights excesses. Car park feeders empty as there were too many people about!

Feeding station was 'people' busy, also I think one of the wardens was filling the feeders so skipped this and decided to go anticlockwise around the lake.

Small ponds approaching visitor centre had 6 * Mallard (5*M, 1*F) and 2 * Coots and 2 * Mute Swan.

Went into the woods behind visitor centre and put some food out on the empty tables (I presume these are rarely stocked) and retired to safe distance..... Soon attracted: Blue Tit * 2, Great Tit * 3, Coal Tit * 2 and a GSW which literally grabbed and ran, only saw it the once.

At the start of the railway line and across the farmer had recently ploughed the field, this had: c.200 Gulls, several Crows and 19 * Yellowhammer.

Further along the line: 4 * Chaffinch, 1 * Robin, 2 * Yellowhammer & 2 * Blue Tit.

At the lake (first bench) my arrival attracted 22 * Mallard (20 * M, 2 * F) so I brought out the best Hovis!. 2 * Robins sat in the bush by the bench watching but as soon as I put out some seed just about all the Mallard lifted from the lake and sat at my feet so the Robins stayed put!. The lake must have had easily several hundred Gulls.

At the double bench the 'ducks' had followed me but with them came: 2 * Goldeneye, 3 * Tufted Ducks, 7 * Shovelers, c.12 * Coots and 2 * Pochard (Glad I had my book with me or they would have all been 'Ducks'! :)

In the reeds at the end of the lake were 2 * Moorhens. As I cornered the lake a pheasant lit out from the bushes and cut across the path heading towards the trees by the railway line. Spotted a Wren at the northern tip of lake, near the old hide. Hide bushes had another Wren (convinced it was a different one), a Robin and 6 * Blackbirds.

Lots of families walking about now so it was pretty 'bird' quiet walking back to the car, though the car park feeders had Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, GreenFinch, GoldFinch, Robin, Dunnock and 3 * Reed Bunting.

It had been well overcast and dark right up to me driving out of the car park, and as I did IanF drove in (~ 1:15pm) and hey what do you know, within minutes the skies cleared to blue and it turned into a beautiful afternoon. Perhaps if in future Ian you told the BBC of your plans they may get the forecasts better :)

[IanF]

Lol! Almost blue! Blue to the north anyway but the sun never hit the ground in the park whilst we were there!

The feeding station behind the visitor centre is the one used for bird ringing. It can be very good or sometimes not so good. It's the only place where I've seen Bullfinch here come to the tables not to mention pheasant!

[Ray_S]

Oddly enough, as I entered the VC woods I thought I heard a pheasant but never saw it, I perhaps spooked it to further along the line. It did look like a fox or something got a Swan or larger Gull because not only were there feathers everywhere but an entire right wing!

Q. would it be worth it to stock up the feeders and set up a portable hide to see what comes in?

[IanF]

I've thought about doing that a few times but it's a bit dull and gloomy with all the trees around. Maybe not so bad at present though. It may need feeding up a few days first to attract everything back. That's a problem Derek has in that food needs to be put out regularly to get the birds in regularly.

LTT and Treecreeper are often there as well. Sometimes Blackcap as well.

[IanF]

Just a quick visit today. About an hour around lunchtime.

Nothing at all in hedge or wood by the visitor centre which was a shame as ringing was ongoing today. Just a Robin and LTT's trapped before I'd got there. Very strange as prior to winter this used to be a very good area for birds.

Walking around towards the main pond we came across a dead fox. Looked like it had tried to leap the fence by the railway line and go it's foot caught between the two top wires - though I wouldn't be surprised if it was caught by a train. We only noticed it as we were looking at all the cars parked along the A1185 with birders come to view the Galucous-winged Gull. Just around 50 cars today - compared to 200+ yesterday!

The main pond was pretty quiet. Around a dozen Shoveler, a couple of Cormorant plus the rest of the usual birds. Turning around and walking back along the path a Sparrowhawk flew in over the top of the ringing station heading towards the pond.

The feeding station was pretty quiet when I arrived but once again within seconds of putting out some sunflower hearts the Treecreeper came in to grab one. It was the first bird in. I'd barely got behind the screen and lifted the camera when it arrived.

After that 40-50 birds arrived albeit around 20+ were Tree Sparrow and a dozen Long-tailed Tit. Others included Yellowhammer x4, Chaffinch c.12, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit. A GSW flew in a couple of times but didn't linger.

Along the cycleway - Pheasant, Goldfinch and Linnet flock still.

[deansmith]

a look in today as i had organised a lift to hopefully see the glacious winged gull but with talking to a few people around who all seemed disapointed i went along to the park as i knew they'd be a few birds around katy hadnt seen before

feeding station was pretty empty food wise but blue and great tits flitting about and a treecreeper came in twice. with chaffinches in every tree and bush

a look on the main pond gave a pair of mute swans usual numbers of coot and mallard along with tufted duck, goldeneye around 6 shoveler and 3 pochard

feeding tables and bushes in car park gave blue, great and long tailed tits, a few reed bunting and 2 yellowhammer, more chaffinches and double figures of tree sparrow

[IanF]

Pretty chilly this morning at -4°C mid-morning! Birght and sunny though with no wind.

I walked over today entering from the western corner from the A1185. Virutally nothing at all seen in the first 200m - just a few Goldfinch and a Blue Tit.

The cycleway bushes near Cloff Bridge though held the usual finch flock of 200+ birds mostly Linnet and Goldfinch with a few Greenfinch and Chaffinch. Several Yellowhammer in the bushes as well but not part of the flck also a few Redwing and Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk that flew through.

Every now and again the finch flock was feeding in the remains of the oilseed rape. Also present were a few Dunnock. A Curlew and Grey Partridge x9 took flight as I stepped onto the frozen furrows of the ploughed area.

As I returned to the cycleway I met Paul and Daz. We then had a wnader along to see if the Little Owl were around but no joy. More Linnet and Goldfinch and a Wren or two were in the trees and further along a flock of Fieldfare.

Retracing our steps to Cloff Bridge we walked alongside Claxton Beck encountering a flock of LTT and a Treecreeper in the stream side trees.

Nothing much else seen until reaching the main pond which was almost totally frozen - just one 10m circular area was ice free which held Shoveler, Mallard, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan and a Little Grebe. Black-headed Gull c.50 and Common Gull were stood around on the ice but not interested in the bread I threw out. A Robin was more intersted in the sunflower hearts I put down.

A few Redwing flew over followed by Fieldfare c.20. A Kestrel and Cormorant x2 passed over as we were leaving.

We then headed back to the car park and popped into the feeding station. Within in minutes of putting out some food the Treecreeper was there. Otherwise pretty quiet with 20-30 birds comprising Tree Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Dunnock, Reed Bunting.

[IanF]

A bit mixed this morning. Overcast but bright starting off but deteriorating to heavy rain by lunchtime.

Nothing at all of note between the A1185 and car park - a Goldfinch and a couple of Magpie were the only birds seen.

Loads of birds in the car park bushes, mostly Tree Saparrow and Yellowhammer. A few Reed Bunting in the bushes by the ponds opposite.

The main pond looked pretty quiet on first inspection but it soon became apparent that quite a few birds were in the reeds around the edges. Infact the Shoveler never moved from there at all. Goldeneye pair, Little Grebe x2, Gadwall x2, Cormorant x2 and Pochard x6 were the only noteworthy ones on the water. The male Goldeneye was feeding freely on the sunflower hearts in amongst the Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Mute Swan right in front of me. The female remained distant though.

At least four Bullfinch were in the bushes on the south side and another pair in the ones by the railway. Two Robin were by the benches. Whilst feeding the ducks a young Sparrowhawk flew from right to left no more than 3m away towards where the Bullfinch were.

A cheeky Moorhen must have been hungry as it was feeding almost at my feet.

Heading back along the track and following the path by the railway a flock of LTT c.12 were feeding in the alders but very flighty. Nothing else apart from Great Tit seen before reaching the car park.

No food at all in the feeding station but Blue Tit and Great Tit were coming in to grab a mouthful whilst I was still putting some out. It wasn't long before the Treecreeper arrived followed by loads of Tree Sparrow, a few Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Robin, Greenfinch, Blackbird and Chaffinch.

The Tree Sparrows seem to be getting bolder as they were a lot closer than usual and a couple were making use of the feeder posts rather than just the ground and tables.

Just before I left a male GSW arrived to feast itself by which time the rain was hammering down.

[Scuzz]

Called in to Cowpen Bewley feeding station on my way back from Hartlepool.

Station was very busy with lots of the regular Tits, chaffinch, greenfinch, robin, yellow hammer, tree sparrows, blackbirds, GS woodpecker etc and a couple of visits from the tree creeper.
Seemed a lot more chaffinch and LT Tits, compared with my last visit.

[Dave.Farrant]

Very chilly this morning at 9:00 but bright and sunny. The road was a skating rink.

But I had bought my first pair of decent binos the previous afternoon and was raring to go. What a revelation!

I saw the usual suspects at the feeding area with the treecreeper giving a fine performance on the closest of the tree stumps after I had put food on the top of it.

One bird I was watching was in the bushes by the car park caused much head scratching as a beginner, but was later resolved as a reed bunting.

A trip round the lake gave the normal ducks but the highlight was watching one of the two cormorants trying to eat a fish that was too large to swallow. It put it back in the water to rearrange it a few times before giving up in disgust and going off to preen.

I also met RayS but the elusive IanF was still nowhere to be seen tho' I understand he is a common sighting.

Dave

[Ray_S]

Good to meet you too Dave, oddly enough I was just leaving when Ian turned up! ;)
Was a really nice morning though, Linnets (c.50) in the trees on the cycleway made it really noisy, only got distant photos as a man with a thousand dogs passed them as I approached and spooked them. Nothing in the fields - I think the ground was just too hard for them!

2 Cormorants on the island, Pochard, Goldeneye, Shoveler, et al. on the pond

Ian: I think I know which Moorhen you mentioned, it too was almost feeding at my feet.

And I agree about the 'damned geriatric orienteers' as you put it, in all I passed them 5 times! (its a bad sign when they pass twice on the same path! ;) ) I think they kept getting lost!

[IanF]

Sorry I missed you Dave. Lately it's been around 10:00 am that I've arrived for a wander around but I was a good deal later this morning. A lovely morning for it though - much brighter and fresher with a frosty crunch to the muddy bits!

Far fewer birds on the main pond than yesterday but as Ray says the Moorhen was there again plus one of the Robins by the benches. Two drake Goldeneye and female plus the same Pochards and the 'tuftard' which I've not noticed for a while. Two Little Grebe, one at each end. A Kestrel was hovering by the hill but no Sparrowhawk or Bullfinch today.

In 40 minutes in the feeding station the Treecreeper came five times mostly just to grab a bite though the last two times could be rolled into one as over ten minutes it was either at the feeder post in front of the screen where you'd put some food and Ray saw it else in the brush beside the screen. It was nice to see the Wren poking around again as well.

Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and tits came in and Goldfinch were in the trees above but no GSW today and no Reed Bunting though they were in the bushes by the car park feeders. One of two Robin spent quite a while singing in the feeding station often defending the centre peanut feeders from all other birds.

Most striking sighting was a female Sparrowhawk in the feeding station that flew in from right to left plucking a Blue Tit from the peanut feeder on the tree on the car park side and then landing on the top of the feeding station fence. It was getting on for ten minutes before any birds returned - a single LTT from the right followed by a very nervy Blackbird!

[Marmot]

I also met RayS but the elusive IanF was still nowhere to be seen tho' I understand he is a common sighting.

Dave


I let him out as often as I can ;) perhaps I should get a GPS put on him to monitor his movements for all.

I am still recovering from going over on New Years Day, whilst walking up the hill I managed to go over on my ankle [wearing sensible boots as well] and still have pain in my ankle tendons when I walk.

[deansmith]

ive seen a few public footpaths on the map that lead into the park. im looking for a non driver route to the park from hartlepool using the local buse's to get close as i can then walk the rest which is best path or is this even possible to access by foot

DS

[Ray_S]

Dean,

Look at the routes of the number 1 and number 36 buses, I'm pretty sure that one of these goes down Marsh House Avenue in Billingham, this is only a short 5-10 minute walk from the western edge of the park. I work in Hartlepool and am sure I have seen these 2 buses there too. I will see what else I can find out.

Ray

[Ray_S]

Dean,

Ok, its the number 36, goes via Greatham and you would get off at Owington Farm at the top end of Marsh House Avenue, then walk back up the the Seal Sands road, turn right, walk along the seal sands road crossing over when you get to the western tip of the park, there is a proper waymarked entrance there. The bus journey takes about half an hour.

Another thought, but I dont know as I've never done it, you could get off in Greatham and walk down the cycleway and enter the park from the north.

Ray

[Ray_S]

Dean,

I have had a look on Google Earth, and it only looks about 1.5 miles from Greatham to the top of the park along the cycleway. This would normally take me 30 minutes to cover and is not much different from the walk from the Billingham bus stop. Also, there may be more bird opportunities along the cycleway.

Ray

[IanF]

I think the Greatham option is a good choice as there's a couple of footpath choices - the cycleway, one through the wood and one by the east side of the wood. Also one footpath that takes you down the side of the railway. I often walk from the car pak area up the cycleway to Greatham Wood and then turn right to come back down the side of the railway.

Both areas on the north side of the park are very good for birds.

I'm pretty sure that one of the buses from Hartlepool comes down marsh House Avenue and then Low Grange Avenue as it heads towards the town centre. It would be even closer to get off by Low Grange Social Club or even by Wolviston Back Lane and walk 200m to enter that Park - that's the way I use.

[deansmith]

thanks ray and ian il have to go for a wander next week sometime

DS

[Ray_S]

By 11am most of the cloud had gone and produced a clear blue sky. On arrival the feeding station was full of other birders, so decided on a walk up the cycleway.... largest flock was c. 50 Goldfinch over the ploughed field on the left, rest of the cycleway had 4 * Blue, 2 * Great and 1 * Coal Tit, 16 * Greenfinch in the gutter, 7 * Tree Sparrow, c. 16 Chaffinch, a few Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting, all more or less 100 yds north of the feeding station. Cutting across Faith Wood towards the Lake (very muddy from last nights rain) we saw some sort of raptor, too far away to ID, but it alternated between hovering and landing in one of the distant pylons. The lake had the usual, 3 * Pochard, lots * Mallard (fighting a lot more than normal) 2 * Swan, 6 * Tufted Duck, 2 * Goldeneye, 3 * Shoveler, and er.. some gulls! In the opposite corner was possibly a Scaup or 2 but again too far away for sure but they looked like the one in the book!
Back at the feeding station the birders had gone for lunch... usual suspects, too many to count a lot of the time, included plent of Yellowhammer, Robins * 4 all scrapping, the treecreeper made a brief appearance as did the Woodpecker.

PS. Was the moss with the twig sticking out on the tree stump your doing Ian? (I only ask because when we first looked at the feeding station, there was a 400mm lens poking out!

[IanF]

Guilty as charged 8-P

I arrived about 10:45 and headed over to the main pond - pretty quiet I thought. Goldeneye pair, Little Grebe x2 and a few Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Moorhen. No Shoveler in sight. Mind you I didn't wander around to the far side - the ducks could be Scaup though there's what looks to be a Pochard x Tufted hybrid that looks very Scaup like. It was pretty close to the benches on my last visit but I forgot to take a photo.

I left the feeding station at 1:00pm. I put the moss on the log top and stuck in the stick to stop the great Tits tossing it off again. The Treecreeper was present for most of the time I was there - hardly leaving before coming back for another sunflower heart. Just the usual birds present.

As you say there were quite a few birders around this morning. A shame there wasn't more to see away from the car park area.

[IanF]

Not too bad a morning. Some sun, some cloud and some rain and hail.

A female GSW landed on one of the telegraph poles when I got dropped off at the car park. It headed off along the cycleway and was probably the same one seen in a tree 40m along the track. It was chased off by a male GSW and they headed over towards the main pond.

Little else seen walking along the cycleway until the finch field 50m from Cloff Bridge. As Ray mentioned mostly just Goldfinch in the flock now - 73 was my max count from photos with Linnet x6. I've no idea where the rest of the Linnet (100+) have moved to. A nice surprise though were Grey Partridge x21 disturbed from the stubble by a fox. By far the most I've seen in one group here. Also Heron x1 flew over from the sewage works.

Nothing else seen walking down the beck to the main pond. A lack of birds on the main pond as well. Goldeneye x3 (1m 2f), Little Grebe x3 feeding together, Pochard x6, Shoveler x3, Mallard 20+, Tufted Duck c.15, Coot c.8, Moorhen x4, Mute Swan x2. Black-headed Gull x8, Common Gull x1. Cormorant x2 flew over but made no attmept to land.

Whilst sat on the twin benches I had numerous Sparrowhawk sightings as at least one male and female hunted the bushes around each side. Also Kestrel x2. Robin, Magpie, Greenfinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit were in the bushes.

Following the path alongside the railway by the hedge leading to the Acitivity Centre held Bullfinch x6, Wren and several tits.

The car park bushes were full of birds with Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and even a flock of ringed LTT. A male Sparrowhawk flew along the bottom of the hedge between where I was stood behind the newspaper recycling bin and the hedge - landing on the fence at the end to my right. It didn't catch anything.

The feeding station was very quiet with not a scrap of food in sight. Even after putting some out only a few birds came in the 30 minutes I was there. The Treecreeper was present virtually the whole time. Actually two were present every now and again. Both visiting the feeders at the same time - one on the central tree and one on the stump in front of the screen.

[IanF]

A few more photos from this morning.

[Ray_S]

Dropped in to feeding station on way home from Saltholme, very busy, lots of families it being the weekend...

Even though some of the feeders were empty there was still lots of activity.

Chaffinch *14, Blue Tit *5, Great Tit *8, Coal Tit *2, Reed Bunting *4, Robin *1, Treecreeper *2, Long Tailed Tit *9, Wren *1, Tree Sparrow * 7, Blackbird *2, Oddly only 1 Yellowhammer. And I think a Siskin in the car park bushes.

The Treecreepers were there for a good 20 minutes, eating constantly from everywhere in the feeding station.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny morning with a distinct bite to the air following a heavy frost over night.

Having been dropped at the car park I headed along the cycleway towards Cloff Bridge. The Goldfinch flock was still present with a few Linnet, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Dunnock mixed in. Only two Grey Partridge today. A revisit an hour later though I found Linnet had risen to around 80 as a flock arrived from the north. They mixed with the 80+ Goldfinch making quite a sight.

Following Claxton Beck there was little to see until reaching the new pipeline. Little Grebe x2 were in the beck below. Another birder later saw Water Pipit here after seeing four of them last week. No sign when I was there nor on my later revisit.

The odd Redwing and Fieldfare and a few LTT were along the beck.

As I reached the old hide a Sparrowhawk cirlced several times over head before drifting over to the hill and back again, eventually puting up a Heron that was roosting on the dead tree in the corner.

The main pond looked quiet again though a few more Tufted Duck back again with around a dozen of them. Shoveler x8, Little Grebe x3, Cormorant x1, Goldeneye x3 (1m 2f), Pochard x6. Also Coot, Moorhen, Mallard.

Nothing else seen before reaching the car park again. The feeding station was quiet-busy-quiet with the usual range of birds. Treecreeper x2 again. Tree Sparrow were around 40 again, Yellowhammer x8, Reed Bunting x8. Also nice to see the Wren again.

Having met a birder who'd seen Water Pipit I decided to have a wander around that way again. I didn't find them but I did come across another flock of Goldfinch c.80 along the upper reaches of Cow Bridge Beck and a also a Little Egret flying SW along the beck from the sewage works towards Seal Sands Road passing within 4m of where I was stood.

Ending up back at the car park I sat chatting with a friend. We were in his car facing the tables where a weasel kept us entertained for a good ten minutes as it checked along the hedge line and every table. In the bushes were Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit.

All in all a pretty good day.

I think Ray was just arriving as my wife picked me up and we were leaving.

[IanF]

Dropped in to feeding station on way home from Saltholme, very busy, lots of families it being the weekend...

Even though some of the feeders were empty there was still lots of activity.

Chaffinch *14, Blue Tit *5, Great Tit *8, Coal Tit *2, Reed Bunting *4, Robin *1, Treecreeper *2, Long Tailed Tit *9, Wren *1, Tree Sparrow * 7, Blackbird *2, Oddly only 1 Yellowhammer. And I think a Siskin in the car park bushes.

The Treecreepers were there for a good 20 minutes, eating constantly from everywhere in the feeding station.

I think they must move between the car park tables and the feeding station. Also as I left a weasel was in the bottom of the hedge. It kept climbing through the bushes trying to sneak up on the birds. A few Linnet (your first photo) were in the bushes though I didn't see Siskin - much as I'd have liked to have done! Still very few of them around here.

[IanF]

Bright starting off today but turning pretty dull by mid-morning. Quite chilly too in the wind.

Not a great deal to see around anywhere. Best find of the day was a juvenile Scaup on the main pond. It was staying by itself, mostly well out from the banks but occasionally associating with a group of seven Pochard.

Only two Shoveler today and only one Goldeneye - a drake that was a little more friendly coming right in close to the lower bench where I was sat. A single Cormorant and a single Little Grebe were the only other noteworthy birds.

Very little else seen away from the pond and feeding station - mostly just Blue Tit and Great Tit.

Even the feeding station was very quiet with just a few Tree Sparrow and just one Yellowhammer. 12-15 Blue Tit though - a bit of a mini-invasion! Also Coal Tit x2, Treecreeper x1, Greenfinch x6, Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch x8, Blackbird x2.

[IanF]

A pleasant morning for a wander around the Park. Fine and bright with a little bit of sunshine even if the paths were the muddiest I've seen in quite a while.

A few more birds on the main pond. No sign of the Scaup today and still just one Goldeneye - the drake. Tufted Duck were back up to around 20 as were the Mallard. Shoveler numbered 13 with six boys and seven girls! Pochard x9, Little Grebe x2, Moorhen x3, Coot x1, Mute Swan x2, Cormorant x1. Robin x2 and a Dunnock by the twin benches.

It was nice to see a few more birds spread around the Park though still not that many. Several Robin and Dunnock were atop bushes singing with several Wren singing from lower perches. Reed Bunting pair and several Blue and Great Tits along the cycleway.

Feeding station was fits and starts with the usual birds coming in - though no Reed Bunting whilst I was there and GSW were in the trees above but didn't come to the feeders.

[IanF]

Still a bit of snow around this afternoon. Nice and sunny if a little chilly.

The car park feeders were very quiet when I arrived despite loads of food out. Just a couple of Reed Bunting.

The feeding station itself had stacks and stacks of food - by far the most I've seen there. The birds were making the most of it - nothing out of the ordinary though Tree Sparrow numbers were up with 53+ and 12-15 Yellowhammer. Loads of Chaffinch again but no Brambling though we did have one in the garden this morning. Treecreeper x2 came in with at least one present most of the time I was there. The weasel came in a couple of times as well approaching from the right of the screen and disappearing to the left before returning 20 minutes later.

Heading along the cycleway it was nice to see good numbers of birds in the hedges on either side with Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Just prior to Cloff Birdge the finch flock was back. Around 80 birds mostly Goldfinch but with a handful of Linnet and a few Chaffinch and Greenfinch. A Sparrowhawk flew over spooking them. A few Redwing and Fieldfare present as well.

Nothing much seen between there and the main pond following Claxton Beck. Just a Moorhen on the very swollen beck.

Pheasant were calling from the grassy sde of the hill facing the pond but none seen. A GSW flew over heading across the railway lines.

The pond was mostly frozen over and with a white snowy cover. Only a small area was ice free in front of the lower bench. Mute Swan x2, Mallard c.12, Shoveler x1, Little Grebe x1, Moorhen x1, Coot x2.

Robin x2 and Dunnock x1 were in the bushes there.

It was almost 4:00pm by the time I got back to the car park not having seen anything else.

[IanF]

A fairly short visit this morning. A little dull again today with light rain showers but pretty mild.

Yellowhammer, Dunnock, and Reed Bunting were on the feeding tables in the car park when I arrived plus a Robin and a few tits hanging around.

Following the track to the pond a male Kestrel was perched in one of the alders.

Not great numbers of birds on the pond but a few new ones and a fair bit of activity. A pair of Canada Geese are new arrivals. As usual they were being chased by the Swans at least until I got the bread out which caught their attention ;)

The geese made good use of the peace and quiet to display and then mate - unfortunately they were right across the far side from where I was sat. Two drakes were the only Goldeneye around. Little Grebe x2, Pochard x9, Shoveler x5 though possibly more as they slept by the reeds the whole time I was there. Apart from the Geese an infrequent bird seen was a Water Rail in the NE corner flitting amongst the reeds but making quite a racket for a while.

The usual Coot, Moorhen and Mallard were around as well. A Cormorant was fishing and then roosting on the stone island. Magpie, Robin and Blackbird were in the bushes.

I headed straight back to the car park and paid a quick visit to the visiting station. Usual suspects were about with around 30 Tree Sparrow at times plus the Treecreeper. One Tree Sparrow is no more as Sparrowhawk dashed in picking it up from a perch where it was waiting to get onto one of the tables.

GSW was overhead a couple of times but never came in. Several LTT made fleeting visits. A weasel passed through but didn't investigate the feeders.

[Ray_S]

Bright sunny and warm day, produced a lot of activity in general around the park.

Apart from the tables, the feeding station was devoid of food so emptied my monthly ration into the hanging feeders.

Feeding station had the usual mix of Blue Tit *8, Great Tit * 3, Chaffinch c.16, Reed Bunting * 3, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock *3, Wren, LTTs *18, Yellowhammer *4 and Treecreeper *2. No sign of GSW. The feeding tables were at one point covered in Tree Sparrow c.20

Many Greenfinch and Goldfinch on Cycleway

Pond was mainly Mallards, Swan *2, Tufted duck *6, Shoveler *3, Pochard *4, Coot and Moorhen. No sign of Cormorant, with Robin *2 and Dunnock *2 near the benches.

[IanF]

Very grey skies this morning but quite mild and no wind and no rain.

Starting off I headed along the cycleway from the car park. Loads of birds in the hedges again. Bullfinch x4 and Goldfinch c.20 opposite sewage works gates. Several Dunnock, Robin and Wren singing all the way along the path. Just before Cloff Bridge a Yellowhammer was singing - first one I've heard this year.

Only around 30 Goldfinches in the flock by the pylon. A Song Thrush was giving a pretty good rendition of all the song birds songs it's heard.

Beyond Cloff Bridge the Yellowhammer seem to have paired up and back at the nest areas. It was nice to see a Little Owl back in it's tree. It flew across to the beck side trees. A few Goldfinch, Dunnock and Wren along the hedges there as well.

Nothing new between Cloff Bridge and the main pond. The pond was pretty quiet again. No Goldeneye at all and no Cormorant. Half a dozen Pochard and Shoveller and a Water Rail was calling but not seen. The usual Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Little Grebe and a pair of Gadwall. A flock of around 9 LTT moved through the bushes along the railway line. Robin and Magpie also in the bushes and Reed Bunting x4.

Feeding station was very quiet this morning. No food at all when I arrived. Even after putting some out it was mostly Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch. A Treecreeper made a brief appearance as did Reed Bunting x2, Yellowhammer x2, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock and Tree Sparrow c.20. A GSW came into the tees above but didn't come to the feeders.

[IanF]

We had a wander over to the pond this morning and then back to the feeding station.

Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Reed Bunting on the car park tables when we arrived. Little else seen between there and the main pond.

The pond was pretty quiet again though it was nice to see the Goldeneye back (2m, 1f). Also present Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall pair, Mute Swan pair, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe x2 and numerous Tufted Duck. Around 20 BH Gull and Common Gull x2 on the water.

In the bushes by the benches were Robin, Dunnock, Wren and Reed Bunting x3. The alders behind the benches held Siskin x20 which was nice to see as they've been lacking here this winter. A pair of Goldfinch were feeding with them. As we left the benches the pair of Magpie flew in to see what they could find. A Skylark was up displaying and singing to the east of the railway.

Also a male Kestrel literally stooped at great speed in from about 100m to catch some prey on the hillside below the viewpoint - maybe a vole. It carried it off north along the railway lines before returning to hunt 10 min later.

Plenty of food out today in the feeding station but very few birds. Treecreeper, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Blackbird. A later revisit also added a single male Siskin and a single Long-tailed Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Grey Wagtail x1 on Claxton Beck. Goldfinch c.80 in bushes on approach to Cloff Bridge.

The reason for the later visit was that I planned on checking out the Little Owls again. Unfortunately Cloff Bridge is out of action whilst it's repaired/replaced so there's no access from the south - a shame they haven't posted any notices as you don't find out until you reach the bridge! Loads of cyclists and two horse riders were finding out the hard way today.

Nice to meet AndyMc today as well :t:

[deansmith]

decided to get up early after a night shift and have a look around here today as the weather forcast said a fine day with sunny spells so of course it was raining cold and windy

beacause of the lack of sleep and bad weather we just stayed in the feeding station, lots of great and blue tits, treecreeper x1 and a few chaffinches and a male tree sparrow

bushes in car park where jumping with birds

taking some food for the birds certainly helped the treecreeper came quite close at times lured with sunflower hearts

[IanF]

A little dull and dreary starting off this morning but the skies did brighten towards lunchtime.

Little seen between the car park and the pond. The pond itself held a few more birds today mainly due to an increase in Tufted Duck with 27 present. Also present Shoveler x9, Pochard x11, Little Grebe x2, Gadwall x2, Mute Swan x2, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. No sign of any Goldeneye today.

Just Robin, Reed Bunting and Magpie in the surrounding bushes.

Very quiet heading back to the car park where even the feeders there were pretty quiet despite food being out. A single Redwing was sat in the trees above the car aprk with a few Greenfinch.

The feeding station was almost devoid of birds when I arrived though plenty of food again. The Treecreeper was present when I arrived but soon departed. For the next 30 mins just a handful of birds came in - the odd Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and a Robin. If I hadn't been waiting for a lift I'd have not stayed but I'm gald a did as suddenly 100+ birds arrived en-masse. 50+ were Tree Sparrow with around 25 Chaffinch the rest comprising Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, a single LTT, Treecreeper, Robin and Blackbird. Most were still there when I left.

[IanF]

Bright but overcast this morning and a little chilly.

A little spooky starting off today. From the car park I walked along the cycleway towards Cloff Bridge. Passing the sewage works I was just thinking to myself I'd not seen any Jays yet this year when what should fly over but three of them! They flew from the sewage works west into the hedge line by Cowbridge Beck by the pylon. A great sight to see. I retraced my steps but couldn't locate them again.

The patch of stubble by Cloff Bridge held around 60 Goldfinch with a few Linnet and Greenfinch. Also one Grey Partridge.

The work on Cloff Bridge looks to be just about finished. A new bridge is in place and 90% complete. Looks quite plush. It's still closed off but you can get around.

A pair of LTT were busy nest building in a thicket of hedge with a Yellowhammer singing its head off above them. A pair of Little Owl were sat in a tree by the side of the beck.

Nothing much else seen between there and the main pond though quite a few birds singing today - Wren, Robin, Dunnock and Yellowhammer.

About the same number as last visit of Tufted Duck, Pochard and Shoveler present. Also Little Grebe pair and pair of Gadwall. It was good to see the Goldeneye back again with 2m and 1f. One male came over to feed on sunflower hearts and peanuts.

Robin, Dunnock and Reed Bunting were in the bushes by the benches. Sparrowhawk, pigeons, Magpie and one Redwing in the trees on the west side.

Back at the feeding station things were petty quiet again but with a steady trickle of birds - Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LTT x1, Reed Bunting x1, Yellowhammer x3, Treecreeper, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow c.20, Chaffinch c.20, Greenfinch c.12. GSW heard but not seen.

[AndyMc]

After a dissapointing (to say the least) Firday morning (Durham thread (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33013)), went for a chill out :smoke:. Not a lot at the feeders (empty, so were my pockets). I think I may have seen Ian dissappearing into the bushes west, from a distance. Tufties & Golden eye at the lake. Last one is for the farmer in Durham thread:-O

:t:Andy

P.S.
Definately saw Ian again, didn't stop for a chat as he was on the Avocet mission:t:, understandable.

[IanF]

After a dissapointing (to say the least) Firday morning (Durham thread (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33013)), went for a chill out :smoke:. Not a lot at the feeders (empty, so were my pockets). I think I may have seen Ian dissappearing into the bushes west, from a distance. Tufties & Golden eye at the lake. Last one is for the farmer in Durham thread:-O

:t:Andy

P.S.
Definately saw Ian again, didn't stop for a chat as he was on the Avocet mission:t:, understandable.

Sorry I missed you Andy. Looks like you did better than me with the weather - it was just brigthening a bit as I was leaving.

[IanF]

A pretty good morning. A little overcast starting off but quite sunny by lunchtime and quite warm with no wind.

Starting of from the car park I headed along the cycleway. Wren, Dunnock, Robin and Yellowhammer singing along the way. A few Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch by Cloff Bridge but not many.

The bridge is still under construction - another week maybe. The workmen haven't seen many birds. They mentioned the Little Owl are a daily sighting when they arrive.

Very little along Claxton Beck towards the hill though a lady mentioned the Kestrel have been displaying around the pylon where they nested last year.

On reaching the old hide I heard a 'yaffling' Green Woodpecker call from Faith Wood direction and calling again as I headed over that way. It must have been coming towards me as calling a third tiime it flew by along the ridge by the dragonfly pools heading south along Cowbridge Beck. I followed the beck but didn't relocate it. Best sighting of the year so far for me as it's a few years - 2005 - since I last saw one here.

I then back tracked to the pond to the benches by the railway line. Fewer ducks than my last visit though and extra Goldeneye with 3m and 1f. Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe x2, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen plus the Mute Swan pair.

The Sparrowhawk was sat in it's usual tree. Magpie, Reed Bunting, Dunnock and Robin were in the bushes by the benches and a Skylark singing across the railway.

Back to the car park and feeding station which was very busy compared to my last few visits. Even the GSW dropped in as did Goldfinch x3 to one of the tables. Barely 10 mins went by without a Treecreeper being present. Strangely just one LTT on it's own.

Just I was leaving a Sprrowhawk was soaring over the car park gradually heading south when a Crow repeatedly mobbed it - more accurately they mobbed each other as the Sparrowhawk gave as good as it got.

[IanF]

First visit since we returned from spending a week in the Lake District. Bright and sunny this morning but still with some strong cold winds though quie warm in sheltered areas.

All in all a pretty average visit today.

Last week we saw a couple of Chiffchaff and Sand Martin and the odd one has been reported in this area as well but no sign today.

Starting of from the car park I headed north along the boardwalk and through Faith Wood and over to the cycleway. Very few birds seen or heard. most notable were the Goldfinch with around 20 in Faith Wood and 50+ along the cycleway. Other than them just a few Chaffinch, Wren and the odd Yellowhammer.

Work ongoing stillat Cloff Bridge with fencing being installed on either side though access over the bridge itself is open now.

No sign of any owls today.

Little else seen heading back and down Claxton Beck to the main pond.

Quite a few birds around on the pond though nothing new. Looks like two lots of Little Grebe paired up on opposite ends of the pond. A single male Goldeneye and just one Sparrowhawk seen today. Others present - Mute Swan x2, Shoveler c.8, Pochard c.10, Tufted Duck c.10, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot and Gadwall x2. LBB Gull x2 on the water. Magpie x5 and Robin, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Goldfinch and Wren in the surrounding bushes.

The feeding station looks closed down now. The hanging feeders have been removed but the tables are still there with a little food on them. Numbers of birds were low but a steady stream still - Yellowhammer x5, Tree Sparrow c.5, Dunnock, Robin, Greenfinch x2, Chaffinch c.10, Great Tit, Blue Tit. Goldfinch and a GSW were in the trees above but didn't visit the feeders likewise a Magpie. Several Crows sat in the trees by the car park.

Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Dunnock and tits on the car park tables.

[Quacker]

Hiya Ian - good to see you're still flying the flag for the "Local Patch" :t:

Was down Saltholme area yeterday - farcical gale-force conditions. THe birds had more sense than me. Indeed took me a while to locate Avocet as they were well hidden (Greenabella Marsh pool).

Never actually made Cowpen Bewley - will do next time as it is good to stretch the legs and check out the pond.

Hope you're well.
Steve

[IanF]

Hiya Ian - good to see you're still flying the flag for the "Local Patch" :t:

Was down Saltholme area yeterday - farcical gale-force conditions. THe birds had more sense than me. Indeed took me a while to locate Avocet as they were well hidden (Greenabella Marsh pool).

Never actually made Cowpen Bewley - will do next time as it is good to stretch the legs and check out the pond.

Hope you're well.
Steve

'Ships in the night' Steve! I was at RSPB Saltholme for most of the afternoon and had a look along to the Creek and Seaton Common but didn't go for a wander. The winds were a little 'brisk' but much better today. Let me know when you're coming down again and maybe we can meet up again :t:

[IanF]

A late morning visit today - 10.30-12.30am - hoping for a Chiffchaff after hearing a couple at Tilery Wood an hour earlier.

Bright and sunny and thank goodness next no wind at all. Quite a heavy frost overnight with the puddles frozen over but the ponds were ice free still.

Still pretty quiet everywhere. Car park feeders held Yellowhammer, Dunnock and Reed Bunting when I arrived. Peanuts and seed were in the feeding station but I put out some more and some fat balls. Nothing new there at that time.

The only birds between the car park and main pond following the hedge by the visitor centre were a single Song Thrush and half a dozen LBB Gull overhead. On reaching the pond though the first alder tree held Goldfinch x7 and two Magpies were a little further along.

There seemed to be a few more Tufted Duck around and the rest were pretty much the same as my last visit though both male and female Goldeneye today. A Sparrowhawk flew from the dead tree along the west and north side of the pond.

Very quiet walking along the beck to the cycleway. Nothing seen other than a few Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting.

It was nice to see a Little Owl sat sunning in it's usual roost tree by the beck.

Heading back along the cycleway Goldfinch c.30 sat in the hedge by the stubble patch plus a few tits and Chaffinch.

Calling back at the feeding station it was still quite busy with at least a few birds always present. Best sighting though was a Chiffchaff that flew in and sat preening itself in the sun before flying into the bushes behind. No singing as such - I think it's forgot the words as they were more peeps and chirps than 'chiff-chaff' ;) Other birds present - LTTx1, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow c.12, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch.

[AndyMc]

I like the 'bad' behavioral shot ;).
I always wondered whether the tuft actually serves a purpose. How thoughtful of evolution to provide something for your felloes to grab hold of when your sinking :-O
__________________________
:t:Andy

[IanF]

A lovely warm sunny morning to be out.

Highlights were -

Mistle Thrush x2 in trees above car park entrance starting off.

Little Owl x1 along cycleway.

Canada Goose x2 and Goldeneye male x1 on main pond.

Kingfisher heading up Claxton Beck.

A bow wave in one of the pools caught my eye and I got all excited thinking it was an otter but it turned to be 10" brown trout swimming up Claxton Beck. It was about low tide and plenty of shallows where it had to wriggle over the stones. Still a great sight to see considering this was once a very polluted beck.

Kestrel x4.

Sparrowhawk x3

Meadow Pipit c.20 by railway line plus a few singing Skylark.

Pied Wagtail flock c.40 on field being tilled/seeded by Cloff Bridge with c.8 White Wagail. Also Goldfinch c.30, Linnet c.30 and a Kestrel stooping from pylon to catch mice immediately below and taking to fence post to eat - four times whilst I was there.

Chiffchaff x2 - one by Cloff Bridge and one by the old hide.

Still activity at the car park feeders and in the feeding station with Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

Also a few butterflies around - Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Small White.

[Ray_S]

Had a quick visit this afternoon, I noticed the geese on the island of the main pond too, one of them was definately nest building! Much the same today as you saw Ian, with the exception of the SPHawk, Kestrel, oh, and the trout!
Lots of hoverflies, midge, and 2 pair of small tortoiseshell.

[IanF]

First visit in over a week. Too wet and in particular windy through the week. Bright but overcast starting off today but clearing to sunshine later.

Main feature of the day were Willow Warbler. Loads of them around the old hide on the main pond. Within 50m of the hide I counted 27 of them but including the rest of the site probably up to around 40. There must have been a big influx overnight. Whenever one started singing it was chased away by 3-4 others.

A few other battles going on today as well. Looks like Ray is right and the pair of Canada Geese are sticking around and attempting to breed again. Main drawback thoguh are the Mute Swan - also nesting now but won't leave the geese alone. It's a wonder the male doesn't drop dead from exhaustion - they must be a right old age now. 20 years old was suggested by one local birder.

By the old hide two pairs of Little Grebe were repeatedly battling as well.

Other birds on the pond included Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. No sign of any Goldeneye.

The reeds and bushes around the pond held severl Wren, Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Robin, Chafifnch and the Willow Warbler. Just one Chiffchaff heard here. A male Blackcap was singing merrily in it's usual nesting area by the old hide.

Still quite a few Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch by the pylon near the cycleway feeding in the recently tilled field. Plus another singing Blackcap near by.

The feeding station was pretty quiet but still a few Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Robin coming in.

The car park tabls held Tree Sparrow c.20, Yellowhammer, tits but it was great to see a female Blackcap on the tables as well.

All in all 5-6 Chiffchaff heard though I didn't get along to Faith Wood today which can be good for Warblers and Blackcap as well.

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. Pretty overcast and quite chilly but it remained fine.

First Swallow here over the car park ponds when I arrived. Another over the main pond. Neither hung around for very long.

Several Song Thrush around today including one in the trees above the car park. One mimicing a mobile phone and the other a Curlew.

Pair of Bullfinch along the cycleway by the sewage works gates.

Only 12 Willow Warbler counted today well spread out around the park and all of them singing. Chiffchaff x5 heard.

Much the same as yesterday on the main pond but with the addition of a pair of Shoveler, Pochard and overflights of several Shelduck. Lots of birds moving around this morning with Gadwall, Mallard and 30-40 Canada Goose.

Just three Yellowhammer seen/heard.

Two additional Blackcap singing. One by the west foot entrance to the park off the A1185 and another by Faith Wood/sewage works fence.

Meadow Pipit and Skylark displaying by the hill.

[IanF]

Pretty overcast and dull this morning but with light winds it felt pretty mild. A shame it wasn't until I got back home that the sun came out!:C

Song Thrush in the car park trees again when arrived. Also four Canada Goose flying east plus a Heron and a Curlew. Reed Bunting, Wren and Tree Sparrows around the car park.

The hedge up to the railway by the activity center held Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler and a few Blue Tit and Great Tit. The alders held several Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and several Goldfinch. Alongside the railway a single Yellowhammer plus Skylark singing and Meadow Pipit.

The main pond was pretty much the same as my last couple of visits. Nothing new and nothing missing.

Blackcap and Wren were by the old hide still.

Little along Claxton Beck apart from several Willow Warbler at the start by the bridge and at the end by the cycleway other than a few Goldfinch, Pheasant x2 and a Kestrel. Another Blackcap was singing by the cycleway.

The Little Owl was sat in it's tree by the gate.

Heading back along the cycleway I turned right at Cowbridge Beck where another Blackcap and a Wren were singing. Several Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing.

Quite a commotion in the field-side trees with four GSW in two pairs chasing each other about. Two kept returning to the trees where I was stood where eventually they mated. Another Blackcap calling here and another one 100m further on.

Whilst stood on one of the footbridges waiting for a Blackcap to appear a Chiffchaff landed on the parapet a few inches from my hand before hopping into the bush alongside the bridge. Another pair of Bullfinch feeding by the same bridge.

Another Blackcap singing by the A1185 - six in total heard/seen this visit.

[MalR]

Hi, Ian.

I visited Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park for an hour on Monday. Not really a birding visit as such. I'd been out with my daughter and we just called in to give the dog a walk before we went home. There were a couple of lesser black-backed gulls on the pond. Just thought I'd mention it in case you keep a year list of sightings.

Regards,

Malcolm

[deansmith]

pair of bullfinch, reed bunting, yellowhammer, blue and great tit along with a few chaffinch in the feeding station, greenfinch in carpark feeding tables. 3 willow warbler in faith wood. pond devoid of anything but tufties and gulls on my visit last sunday. was hoping to see little owl but no luck (although knowing where to look would be of benefit just check most trees and cross fingers lol) a fair quiet visit bird wise but not people and children wise !

[Ray_S]

A late posting from my visit on Monday... (PC issues > DOS v5 still playing up :) )

Arrived about 9am with the car park empty, a fair cacophony of noise from the car park bushes and what sounded like all across the park.

Only a single swan on the pond, later while talking to a couple they said that they had heard from one of the wardens that one of the swans had been killed a few days earlier allegedly by youths with sticks and dogs, didnt see any of the wardens to allow me to confirm that or not.

In the reeds to the right of the small bridge leading up to the centre was a single reed bunting singing its heart out. Blue tit and great tit in the bushes a bit further up the path.
Approaching the railway was a song thrush at the top of the tallest tree. The railway bushes had 2 * yellowhammer, 1 * chaffinch, 2 * blue and 1 * great tit, 4 * goldfinch. At least 2 skylark competing for attention.

On the lake: 2 * canada geese, 9 * mallard, 14 * tufted duck, coot and moorhen and a few pochard and shovelers on the far side.

North end of lake: willow warbler, chaffinch, robin, wren, and my first blackcap on this site [this year] (had one in our garden the week before!)

Scrapes: several mallard asleep, 3 * rabbits, another wren, 3 * willow warbler, song thrush.

back at the feeding station it was pretty quiet, with what could have been either a young robin (or a lazy one!) being fed by another while stood in the middle of the seeds!
more yellowhammer, chaffinch, blue, great tit, dunnock

getting more insects across the park now, what seemed like millions of midge (need to dig out the repellent) a few painted ladies, small white, a single peacock, and a few more tortoiseshell.

[IanF]

Looks like you fell lucky with the weather Ray :t:

A shame though to hear about the Swan - especially as the car park ponds pair were the only ones to produce offspring the last few years.


Hi, Ian.

I visited Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park for an hour on Monday. Not really a birding visit as such. I'd been out with my daughter and we just called in to give the dog a walk before we went home. There were a couple of lesser black-backed gulls on the pond. Just thought I'd mention it in case you keep a year list of sightings.

Regards,

Malcolm

Thanks for that Malcolm. There been a good selection of gulls around. Must admit I usualy miss them off the sightings unless something unusual turns up. Last winter we had Little Gull and Med. Gull but none this year - though Glaucous and Iceland were seen very close by.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny afternoon for a wander around. Spoilt a little with it being a Sunday afternoon and the car park overflowing so loads of people around.

Nothing of particular note around really. Willow Warbler have spread everywhere and were singing as were Blackcap x4. A few Chiffchaff calling. A pair of Bullfinch in Faith Wood. A Cormorant on the main pond.

Most notable were the butterflies with several Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Small White and a single Speckled Wood which looked very pale/worn.

[IanF]

Another sunny morning with just light though still cold winds.

Warblers were the highlight of the day. Willow Warbler everywhere now with Blackcap well spread out as well with nearly 20 counted today. Still just a few Chiffchaff.

Best bird of the day was Lesser Whitethroat with two in the bushes alongside the railway line behind the main pond about 200m apart. Almost as good was Common Whitethroat with three singing males one of which was nest building as well.

Worthy of mention were the Bullfinch with nine well scattered around.

Two Swallow seen, several Goldfinch and just one Yellowhammer seen and heard likewise Skylark.

Loads of butterflies out today with several each of Speckled Wood, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White.

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. Bright and sunny on an off but a fiar bit of high cloud and the cold breeze still.

Bird of the day was Sedge Warbler with several spread along Cow Bridge Beck and Claxton Beck. The odd one in display flight as well.

Birds singing everywhere around the park. Highlights were -

Sedge Warbler x7, Common Whitethroat x7, Lesser Whitethroat x1, Blackcap 15+, Shelduck x8, Heron x1, Cormorant x2, Willow Warbler c.12, Chiffchaff x1.

A few birds still using the feeding station - Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Blackbird.

Quite a few butterflies around - Speckled Wood c.20, Orange Tip x3, Peacock x4, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White 12+.

[IanF]

I did the first BTO Breeding Birds survey this morning. Not ideal weather with patchy high blanket cloud first thing but at least it was fine and quite mild.

The main highlight was Grasshopper Warbler. Two of them singing on the side of the hill 50m NW of the brick viewpoint. The second one was 40m further down the slope towards the beck. A pair of Common Whitethroat nest building there as well.

Other birds seen were pretty much the same as the last few visits. Loads of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler singing and several Song Thrush and Sedge Warbler.

[IanF]

A revisit around lunchtime today. Pretty dull and cloudy but occasionally a little brighter.

Song Thrush belting out it's song in the trees above the car park. Reed Bunting singing and nest building still by the pond just north of the car park. Several Swallow overhead around the car park and several Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler along Cowbridge Beck. On crossing the bridge by Claxton Beck a Sedge Warbler was still singing and in display flight. It was calling in competition with two Whitethroat and a Blackcap.

100m downstream and another Whitethroat and singing Blackcap posing for photos. Whilst watching them a Grasshopper Warbler was calling from bushes further up the hillside. On walking up the hill both were rpesent in the same places as yesterday still.

On to the main pond which held much the same birds though a few more Coot and Tufted Duck. Highlight was a Kingfisher seen twice carrying food across the pond rather than eating it. Whislt waiting it to reappear a pair of House Martin and a pair of Swallow were feeding over the pond.

I had intended heading back to the car park from there but after seeing the Kingfisher I wondered if there was any activity by the nest they used/abandoned last year. There wasn't any sign of use at all so hopefully they've found another location less prone to disturbance.

Along the beck three Kestrel were present with one taking food up to a pylon.

Quite a spectacle along the cycleway heading back to the car park with around dozen male Orange Tip butterflies over a 20m stretch and several females plus Small Tortoiseshell and a few Speckled Wood.

By the sewage works two male Blackcap singing. There seems to be lots of the about this year.

[IanF]

A mostly sunny morning though a few sowers towards lunchtime. My first proper visit since returning home from a holiday in Scotland though I've called in a couple of times during the week for a quick look around.

Swallows and Swifts over the car park on arriving plus a pair of Shelduck and a Grey Heron. Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and Blackcap all heard from the car park. Following the hedge by the Activity Centre I added a singing Garden Warbler though no views and Yellowhammer. Several Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap also singing there.

The pond itself was pretty quiet. Even quieter since the Swans have chased away the Canada Geese. They were still present mid-week sitting on the nest but no sign today. On the water were Tufted Duck c.7, Mallard c.12, Mute Swan x2, Little Grebe x2 pair, Gadwall pair, Pochard x2, Shelduck c2, Coot, Moorhen, LBB Gull pair and a few BH Gull. A Cormorant took off from the pond as I arrived and circled a couple of times before leaving. Swallow, Swift and Sand Martin were feeding over the water.

I stayed around the pond for about an hour hoping to see a Kingfisher which are believed to be nesting in the park but no sign. On the hill by the railway were three singing Whitethroat all very close together often in flight displaying.

At least three Blackcap in the bushes by the scrapes plus Whitethroat and Wren. Loads of tadpole in the pools.

Looks like the Sparrowhawks are nesting again though in a different location. The female was sat on the nest and the male was seen carrying in some sort of prey to her.

A Kestrel was hunting by the pylons and a Little Owl was sat in a beck side tree. Only three Yellowhammer seen.

No Grasshopper Warbler around today.

Butterflies - Wall, Large White, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Small Copper, Peacock.

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. Pretty much the same seen again though a lot sunnier.

Additions were Kingfisher along Claxton Beck and Lesser Whitethroat x3 along the sewage works fence. Two were fiercely defending territory against any other bird coming too close. Two Herons on the main pond.

Lots of rabbits and butterflies around - Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacock, Wall, Small Copper, Large White.

[IanF]

Not too bad a morning. Fine and mostly bright with light winds and pretty mild.

A little quieter than my last couple of visits as regards birds singing but still quite a few singing and displaying including Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Robin and Dunnock. LTT flock c.30+ moving through bushes on the west side of the hill.

Lesser Whitethroat were by the sewage works fence though difficult to view having probably settled down to nest now. Blackcap, Whitethroat, Bullfinch and Willow Warbler also along the fence bushes.

Grey Wagtail were on the lower half of Cow Bridge Beck gathering food as far down as Claxton Beck. The first I've seen them in several visits.

Several House Martin, Swallow and Swift feeding over the whole of the park area.

Best find of the day was one of the Kingfishers sat perched at various places around the main pond. It seemed to be checking out perches and sunning itself rather than feeding.

Butterflies: Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Wall, Speckled Wood, Small White.

Insects: Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

[IanF]

Another lovely sunny morning for a wander around.

Starting off I headed along the cycleway to go check out the Little Owls as I hadn't bene that way for a while. At Cloff Bridge I met another birder who'd just been for a look but hadn't seen any. I figured I might as well still wander along if nothing else to check on the Tree Sparrows. I fell lucky as a Little Owl flew down the cyeleway towards me and in to the tree by the gate. It then played 'hide and seek' with me ducking behind branches as soon as I got it in view. After taking a few photos I left it in peace and checked out the other trees.

Great Tit and Tree Sparrow are nseting in the same tree with Yellowhammer and Whitethroat in the hedges below. A pair of Leeser Whitethroat appeared as well giving thier scolding call but didn't reappear.

Several Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Willow Warbler and Blackcap heard as I headed down Claxton Beck towards the main pond.

A pair of Mute Swan and a Grey Wagtail were back by the junction with Cow Bridge Beck with Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat flitting about.

Two Kingfisher were on main pond in the corner of nature reserve with a female Sparrowhawk sat in dead tree above them! Pretty quiet otherwise with just a few Tufted Duck and Mallard about and the usual Pochard, Gadwall pair, Little Grebe, Moorhen and Cormorant.

A niec find was a Cuckoo calling as it flew along the side of the railway before heading over towards the tip accompanied by a Meadow Pipit.

Grey Partridge and Pheasant in the same field.

A single Reed Warbler and a single Sedge Warbler on the main pond.

Another Lesser Whitethroat along the sewage works fence.

Lots of Crested Newts in the ponds by the hide and still lots of tadpoles about.

Butterflies: Orange Tip, Wall, Small White, Painted Lady, Small Copper, Speckled Wood.

Damselflies: Azure, Blue-tailed, Large Red, Common Blue.

[IanF]

A few more photos from today.

[IanF]

A quick look in this evening. Cuckoo calling by the gas compound on the south side of the A1185.

Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap calling and Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler still in display flight. Kingfishers seen taking food to the nest hole which hopefully means the eggs have hatched. First seen in display on 30th April with male presenting food to female. Male Sparrowhawk seen taking food to the female still incubating.

[IanF]

A revisit early afternoon. Bright and sunny and very warm with it!

Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap all heard singing from the car park.

Today I just headed over to the main pond and back. Birds about were much the same as the last couple of visits. No Sparrowhawks seen today but the Kingfishers were seen three times on the pond.

Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, several Linnet, Wren, Song Thrush and Sedge Warbler were by the bench on the north side of the pond. Little Grebe were in front of the bench plus a pair of Shelduck.

Highlight of today were the dragonflies with 3-4 Four-spot Chaser between the hide and the hill along the path.

Even better were the first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year in the scrapes by the hide with at least two males and two females which were ovipositing.

Two Yellowhammer were calling in the bushes by the railway and a distant Cuckoo was calling.

[IanF]

Bright and sunny on todays visit late morning though with a cold light wind from the east as well. I think the bright sunshine or perhaps the wind kept the birds down as there wasn't that much to see, just the usual Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and Linnet on the way over to the pond.

Just the odd Swallow and Swift over the water plus the usual Woodpigeon, Magpie, LBB Gull pair and BH Gull. Shelduck are a regular sight the last few visits.

Very few ducks in evidence either but five minutes after sitting down a Kingfsher flew by. Over the next 40 minutes it was in view several times before heading off over the side of the hill.

Insects seen included Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Greeen-veined White, Small Copper, Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies. Several damselfies around the scrapes and at least two Four-spot Chaser. No Broad-bodied today.

[IanF]

Pretty murky this morning starting off with some light rain but by 10:00am the sun was poking through the cloud cover and it remained brightish until around lunchtime. It was good to meet up with BF member Jaff and his mam who were visiting with relatives over this side of the country. We had a wander around the park seeing what we could find.

As per the last few visits most of the birds have stopped singing and there was nothing like as many around as a couple of weeks ago.

By the car park Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Bunting are still calling. A Dunnock family with young were in the trees over the beck by the filter bed entrance. A male Sparrowhawk flew over the car park as I arrived heading west into the trees.

Lots of rabbits running around behind the pond on the path by the railway line with the odd Yellowhammer, Linnet, Whitethroat and a pair of Bullfinch in the bushes plus the ever present Magpie which now have young.

Prior to Jaff's arrival I spent about an hour by the pond. Several fly-overs by the Kingfishers. A few more Tufted Duck present than usual with Mallard and a couple of Pochard. A Cormorant was spending it's time drying out on the stone island in between fishing. Little Grebe pair with chick in the NE corner and another pair on the west side of the pond. One caught what looked to be a young pike.

Once Jaff arrived we had a wander around the Park. Just as we met a flock of Canada Goose x8 flew low over heading west. The Kingfishers were still on the pond but giving only distant views. The odd Swallow, House MArtin and Swift passed over. We saw very little else as we headed up to the cycleway where at least a Little Owl was on show giving tantalising glimpses in the trees by the beck as the wind blew the branches around. Linnet, Whitethroat and a pair of Yellowhammer were in the hedges.

After that we just made our way back towards the car park where we parted company. The visit was well timed as 20 minutes later the rain returned!

As I was chatting with some friends whilst awaiting my lift a Kingfisher flew along the ponds by the car park and over the A1185 heading south. First time I've seen that happen.

Now dragonflies seen today and for butterflies only one Painted Lady, one fresh looking Speckled Wood, one Large Skipper and one Small Copper seen.

[IanF]

Several short visits the last few days. Bright and sunny this afternoon.

It's been pretty quiet bird wise. The Kingfishers are still taking food to the nest - five visits in ten minutes this afternoon! A Shelduck was on the main pond sat on the stone island. A few Swift, Swallow and House Martin over the pond plus Kestrel and Sparrowhawk pair. Two Oystercatcher flew over heading east towards Greatham Creek.

Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap singing in the pond side bushes.

Best find of the day was a Hobby flying in from the east over the railway lines and along the north edge of the pond to the hide where it turned north alongside the hill before circling back west towards the pylons where it was lost from view.

Two Four-spot Chaser were in the scrapes and a few damselflies. A toad crossing the grassy path.

[Andrew]

Just stumbled across this thread. I dearly wish my local patch was as half as good as this.

There is a Little Owl (possibly a pair) on the Grand Western Canal in Devon and the two of us (I only know of one other 'regular') think this is 'brilliant' to use a youthful term! I sat under a scrim net for an hour and half yesterday trying to photograph it, no luck!

I have seen one young Yellowhammer only ever and put a lot of footwork in hoping to bump into another!

Coots as in your delightful flight shot are a worrying cause for concern enough for us to keep tabs on their numbers.

Last year we prayed a Little Grebe in March would stay to breed.

Shelducks, forget it, too inland. I still dream of a cosmicmindflyover though.

Kingfishers, yes we get loads of them and are the envy of Devon (so I like to delude myself) but never a chance of even a 'scene inclusive' flight shot like your's!

I could go on...

All I am doing is demonstrating the wonderful vagaries of patch watching. Other patch riches make us appreciate our own riches (whatever they are) and dream of what we COULD see. The maxim of "If they can see so and so then so can we!" is inspiring enough and it pays us to look much higher than our own patches!

Keep it up. :clap:

[geordie graham]

Hi Andrew.Ian spends just about every day at iether here which is his local patch or various other local areas and gets some wonderful shots for his patience and troubles.What a lot of non local people dont know is that this area is a huge industrial area but is also a very important area for bird and wildlife,and we have just had the opening of RSPB Salthome which when established is also going to be a magnet for birders.

Graham

[Ray_S]

Saturday Morning

Bright and warm, a nice change!

Walking from the car park to the railway line showed Reed Warbler(1), Willow Warbler(5), Whitethroat(1), Chaffinch(2), Goldfinch(4), Wren(1), Yellowhammer(1). A cacophony of other sound but rarely seen.

The small pond (weed covered one) on the way up to the visitor centre had plenty of blue damsels, and a pair of 4 spot chasers mating and ovipositing.

The main lake had the kingfisher in and out of the nest several times in the 30 minutes or so we were there.

The scrapes had dozens of mating pair blue damsels, and 10 or more 4 spot chasers, still a fair number of tadpoles but not as many as a few weeks ago, banded snail everywhere, and an insect I have no idea about (posted)

Good to see Ian again and hope you managed to find the terrapin

[IanF]

Saturday Morning

Bright and warm, a nice change!

Walking from the car park to the railway line showed Reed Warbler(1), Willow Warbler(5), Whitethroat(1), Chaffinch(2), Goldfinch(4), Wren(1), Yellowhammer(1). A cacophony of other sound but rarely seen.

The small pond (weed covered one) on the way up to the visitor centre had plenty of blue damsels, and a pair of 4 spot chasers mating and ovipositing.

The main lake had the kingfisher in and out of the nest several times in the 30 minutes or so we were there.

The scrapes had dozens of mating pair blue damsels, and 10 or more 4 spot chasers, still a fair number of tadpoles but not as many as a few weeks ago, banded snail everywhere, and an insect I have no idea about (posted)

Good to see Ian again and hope you managed to find the terrapin

Hi Ray,

Yep! Saw the terrapin - thanks for that. It was busy feeding popping it's head up in between the weed every now and again. It's quite a large size! At least a dozen Four-spot Chaser over that pond and lots of damselflies as well. Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Blackcap and Reed Bunting all heard singing frm there as well. Coot and Moorhen were in the reeds.

As you say a lot more birds singing today. The sun seems to bring out the best of them.

In addition to your sightings the Little Owl was sat in it's usual tree and the Hobby was around at 9.00am heading north along Claxton Beck by the hill. Whilst waiting to see if it came back I sat a while. Three Reed Warbler singing/fighting over territory where the becks meet and two Sedge Warbler collecting grubs for nestlings plus Wren. Mallard family with eight chicks Moorhen and Whitethroat in the same small area. Lots of blue and red damselflies around plus a few Four-spot Chaser and the odd Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies. Two Crows were harassing a Kestrel where it's nesting in the pylon.

Several toads well spread around as well.

A lovely sunny day to be over there :t:

[geordie graham]

Hi Ian how far along the cycleway is the tree with the little owls in.

Graham

[IanF]

Hi Ian how far along the cycleway is the tree with the little owls in.

Graham

They're about 1/4 mile north of Cloff Bridge which is just under a mile north from the car park. At present they're mostly in the beck side trees which is what this one is flying into.

[geordie graham]

Thanks Ian.

Graham

[IanF]

A revisit this morning bright and early - 7.30am!

Lots of birds singing singing again. Ray's terrapin was sat out in the weeded pond again. I've informed the wardens so it should be removed shortly - if they can catch it. Apparently they've had them before and caught them for relocation.

Little Owl in the beckside trees again. Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Wren, Reed Bunting in the hedges along the cycleway.

Claxton Beck/Cow Bridge Beck - Reed warebler x3 again plus two Sedge Warbler collecting food. Redshank flew up the beck towards me but turned back again. Two Oystercatcher overhead. Wren, Whitethroat and Bullfinch pair in bushes alongside where I was sat.

Lots of draonflies around the scrapes again. Around adozen Four-spot Chaser, several blue damselflies and Large Red Damselflies.

Kingfishers still active taking food to nest.

Main pond itself pretty quiet. A brief view of a male Sparrowhawk passing over and several Swift, Swallow and House Martin.

[IanF]

An overcast but fairly bright morning and quite mild.

On arriving in the car park a Common Tern flew over heading west - first I've seen here this year, though another two were on the lake when I got there.

A leg-ringed Sedge Warbler was feeding two fledglings in the reeds by the car park with Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and a juvie Great Tit close by. Moorhen and Coot with chicks on the ponds and the terrapin half sub-merged.

Following the hedge to the railway the usual singing Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap. In addition a Yellowhammer was by the railway.

A male Sparrowhawk was sat in the dead tree on the west side and the Common Tern were on the rubble island. Two Shelduck and a Cormorant were present along with the usual ducks. Two Kingfishers still making food runs.

Whilst sat by the hide a flock of 30 Canada Goose flew over heading west but nothing else remarkable seen.

Heading along Claxton Beck towards the cycleway a Wren was sat in a willow tree in the open for a change! Two Mistle Thrush flew across the path in front of me followed by another three - presumably a family group. They landed in a tree by the sewage works.

Several Linnet, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat and Blackcap were in the hedges as I made my way back towards the car park. Some giving very close views.

Back at the car park A flock of Long-tailed Tit x7 moved through the bushes feeding.

Insects seen incuded Four-spot Chaser c.12, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies.

[John Fleet]

Hi Ian

Called in at Cowpen Bewley as our last stop of a good day's birding on Saturday that took in the Leas, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon Dene, Saltholme and Seals Sands. It's a few months since we last visited the feeding station and I must admit we were shocked to see how overgrown and neglected it appeared to be with the paths to the feeding station disappearing into the undergrowth and the the grasses and vegetation almost up to the height of the feeders, none of which had any food on them. This was at about 4pm on the Saturday afternoon. Needless to say there was no activity at the feeding station and we wondered what the reason for this sad state of affairs was. Not being from this area we didn't know who was responsible for maintaining the feeding station but it seemed a real shame that it was in such a neglected state.

- slightly off topic - but Saltholme's facilities are coming on a treat and the birder's breakfast can't be beaten for value - so long as you don't care too much about the carbs!

[IanF]

Hi Ian

Called in at Cowpen Bewley as our last stop of a good day's birding on Saturday that took in the Leas, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon Dene, Saltholme and Seals Sands. It's a few months since we last visited the feeding station and I must admit we were shocked to see how overgrown and neglected it appeared to be with the paths to the feeding station disappearing into the undergrowth and the the grasses and vegetation almost up to the height of the feeders, none of which had any food on them. This was at about 4pm on the Saturday afternoon. Needless to say there was no activity at the feeding station and we wondered what the reason for this sad state of affairs was. Not being from this area we didn't know who was responsible for maintaining the feeding station but it seemed a real shame that it was in such a neglected state.

- slightly off topic - but Saltholme's facilities are coming on a treat and the birder's breakfast can't be beaten for value - so long as you don't care too much about the carbs!

Hi John,

It's just a winter feeding station here run on behalf of the council by the park staff. It's only in use between November and the end of April. During the summer it's left to it's own devices before being cleared again in November.

Food is still provided on the tables in the car park, mostly by visitors.

I've mixed feelings about whether it should be on the go all through the year round. It would be a magnet to see more birds in the summer but few normally nest in that area leaving them to disperse around the Park to breed. It also avoids the problem of unsuitable food being available to feed nestlings.

Like most areas though it means in summer locating birds to see becomes much more difficult away from the ponds.

I agree about Saltholme. It's coming along nicely though I think it will be a few years yet before it fully reaches it's potential. A few others have said the best bit at the moment is the cafe! ;)

[Shaggy2070]

I had a bit of a bug hunt, as well as birds on monday.
Someone had just been in the feeding area flattening the undergrowth, so only one Blue Tit seen there. Have the feeding tables in the Car park gone? I never noticed them:h?:.
Other birds seen, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Sedge Warbler, fly by of the Kingfisher over the big stream and fly over the hill from a Cuckoo:t:.

On the bug front, quite few ladybirds in different development stages ie Lava, Pupa and adult, Blue and Red Damsells, no dragons:-C and Quite a few Scorpion flies.

I don't know if these are regular at the site but I found a couple of Cardinal Beetles and what looks like a Harlequin Ladybird:eek!:. Could be bad news if it is:C

[IanF]

The tables are still there - unless they've been vandalised again! I'll check on Sat. morning.

I've seen the Cardinal Beetles, there's quite a few beetles and ladybirds around. I'd not looked too closely at them but I'll have a closer look next time I visit.

A very brief visit today just to check on the Kingfishers - still not fledged!

[Clive A]

Not an area I know, but I have just found your thread and there are some stunning photos and a really interesting read.

[Auntystatic]

Looks like the dreaded harlequin ladybird to me, the triangular mark on its head is a dead give away. :C

[IanF]

The car park tables have been removed now. Looks like food is being put out again in the feeding station by visitors but only a Great Tit present when I looked in.

A pretty dull morning weatherwise. Overcast and the occasional light shower.

By the car park when I arrived Whitethroat were once again singing and in display flight likewise with a Sedge Warbler. Several Reed Bunting were sat about singing. The terrapin is still there.

Very quiet heading over to the lake with just a Willow Warbler, Blackcap and a Yellowhammer heard/seen.

The lake was quiet as well. Only bird of note on the water was a Cormorant. A Little Grebe was in front of the hide tucking into a very large Smooth Newt. Young Great Tit and LTT were in the bushes either side.

The Sparrowhawk chicks have hatched and the male was seen several times carrying prey. Whilst sat on a bench a Cuckoo flew stright towards me and then veered left towards the railway. Kingfishers were conspicuous by their absence. Only seen once in over an hour. Mind you as I headed up Claxton Beck two of them were sat on the sides of the weir - an adult on this side and a juvenile on the other so it looks like some at least have fledged.

Wren x10 were quite a sight all together in a willow bush chattering away and flitting about but never moving very far.

The Little Owl did it's usual trick of flying off as soon as it saw me approaching along the track. First glimpse of the young today though as one was sat in the nest opening. A singing Yellowhammer and a Whitethroat were sat in the top of the tree.

Nothing else seen heading back towards the lake where I bumped into Francis. As we headed back to where I'd seen the Kingfishers one flew by down the beck and then another was by the weir again.

[IanF]

Birght but overcast again this morning. A short walk around the Park with Marmot.

Still plenty of birds singing today. Most notable were several Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat singing and in display flight. Lots of Reed Bunting still. Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin and Blackcap plus two Yellowhammer heard.

Kingfishers still taking food into the nest - despite the juvenile seen last visit.

Most notable sightings today were of butterflies with far more variety around with the first Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Ringlet. Also about Large Skipper, Small White, Common Blue, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood.

Only a few dragonflies today - Four-spot Chaser and several damselflies.

The terrapin was sat out on the weeded pond as we left.

[Auntystatic]

If the kingfishers are still taking food to the nest, the juvenile will most likely be from their first brood. Its very likely the chicks are still in the nest.

When they leave the nest they stay close to the parent for about a week being taught how to fish, after which ready or not they are chased off so a second brood can be started, (which is what they will be sitting on now) sometimes even a third brood can be started.

Its a sad fact that almost 50% of young kingfishers die, because they haven't mastered the art of feeding themselves, makes you wonder if they spent 2 weeks teaching them, they may not need a second or third brood.


:cool:

[IanF]

If the kingfishers are still taking food to the nest, the juvenile will most likely be from their first brood. Its very likely the chicks are still in the nest.

When they leave the nest they stay close to the parent for about a week being taught how to fish, after which ready or not they are chased off so a second brood can be started, (which is what they will be sitting on now) sometimes even a third brood can be started.

Its a sad fact that almost 50% of young kingfishers die, because they haven't mastered the art of feeding themselves, makes you wonder if they spent 2 weeks teaching them, they may not need a second or third brood.


:cool:

This is the first time they've bred at this particular spot and this will be the first brood. They've been monitored since they first began displaying here. They tried last year at a different location in the Park but no fledglings were ever seen. Everyone is hoping that if they succeed this time they'll try for another brood this year. It's a little puzzling with the other juvenile as to where it came from. One of the voluntary wardens saw/heard a juvenile last night on the west side of the Pond as well, but other than those two sightings none have been seen.

At least there's loads of small fish in the pond so starvation shouldn't be a problem once they fledge. Of course the Sparrowhawks nearby and now with nestlings maybe another problem they will have to face!

[IanF]

A brief visit this morning just to the lake and along Claxton Beck.

Kingfisher taking fish into nest still though just once in over an hour. A juvenile Kingfisher on the weir again on Claxton Beck. The Sparrowhawks were feeding the chicks - five nestlings I'm told though not yet big enough to see.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in larches by the hide and a Kestrel low overhead. Little Grebe x2 in front of the hide catching another newt (apparently it was a smooth newt the other day not a great crested!), also catching a dragonfly nymph and several small fish.

Most notable sightings of the vist were dragonflies with Common Darter on the scrapes plus a male Broad-bodied Chaser and several Four-spot Chaser. On the lake in front of the hide was a very active Emperor Dragonfly.

[IanF]

A couple of hours spent around the Park this afternoon once the skies brightened a little. Mostly just around the lake.

New picnic benches were being installed by the car park and pools. The terrapin was sitting out on the weed again.

Very few birds singing today with just the odd Willow Warbler and Blackcap. Lots of birds around the hide on the lake with young Great Tit c.6, young Blue Tit c.5, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, young Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit x15 most of which were juveniles.

A Cormorant and the usual ducks were on the lake and a Heron flew over.

Best find of the day though were dragonflies on the scrapes beside the hide with my first Southern Hawker and Common Hawker plus a Broad-bodied Chaser and several Four-spot Chaser.

No sign of any Kingfishers when I was there.

[geordie graham]

Had a ride up the cycleway last night with the wife and was talking to a bloke who had seen one of the parent Kingfishers with one of the young ones whilst stood on Cloff bridge.Did`nt see it when we got there but there was a flock of young Long Tail Tits .On the way back stopped at Cloff bridge still no Kingfisher but caught a glimpse of a Barn Owl flying into the Park.

Graham

[IanF]

Had a ride up the cycleway last night with the wife and was talking to a bloke who had seen one of the parent Kingfishers with one of the young ones whilst stood on Cloff bridge.Did`nt see it when we got there but there was a flock of young Long Tail Tits .On the way back stopped at Cloff bridge still no Kingfisher but caught a glimpse of a Barn Owl flying into the Park.

Graham

A great find with the Barn Owl. I've not seen one here for around two years now. Must admit though I don't get over there often enough on an evening. I'll have to have a look one night.

[IanF]

Overcast again this morning but pretty bright still and very humid.

Heading up the cycleway starting off, things were very quiet with very few birds singing. Just a few Whitethroat, Linnet and Yellowhammer. No sign of the Little Owls today but a weasel made up for it. I was stood on the path when it came wandering along towards me stopping every now and again to look left and right but never straight ahead. It got with within about 2m before realised I was there and ducked into the grass. Around a dozen Tree Sparrow by the manure heap with several Swallow overhead and sat along the wire fence plus a few Swift and a Mistle Thrush.

Cloff Bridge to the lake - nothing seen only a Kingfisher heard flying along the beck. Lots of Kingfisher activity around the lake though with at least a dozen sightings in the hour I was there with an adult and a juvenile and one if not two moving between the lake and Cow Bridge Beck.

Several sightings of Sparrowhawk as well with the male making several food deliveries.

Emperor Dragonfly on the lake in front of the hide with a few Four-spot Chaser as well and a few on the scrapes.

Back at the car park pools and a brief visit to the south side of the road brought several Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Wren, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

[IanF]

A few more photos from today. Just record shots of the Emperor Dragonfly.

[IanF]

Much better views of Emperor Dragonfly today. As well as the one on the lake there was another on the large weed free pond by the car park - at least until a coach loads of school kids arrived to start pond dipping!

Very few birds calling today with just Yellowhammer, Whitethroat and the odd Blackcap heard. Kingfishers were quite active again on the lake and becks.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny morning to be out. A shame the birds don't seem to appreciate it as much as the seem to hide more - other than the Yellowhammer and Whitethroats.

Pretty quiet again for birds and no sign of the Little Owl. Just Whitethroat and Yellowhammer along the cycleway and nothing much else seen between there and the lake.

Some Kingfisher activity on the lake with several sightings of a juvenile mostly in and around the corner in front of the hide.

Once again the dragonflies stole the show with three Emperor over the lake and another over the pond by the car park. Best sighting though was a Common Hawker in the scrapes peched on a hawthorn for a while.

Lots of damselflies in the same area including Common Blue, Large Red. Also several Four-spot Chaser and a Common Darter.

The Sparrowhawks were ringed this morning - all five - comprising three females and two males! A very good year for them - last year there were just four. Mind you one male was a bit of a runt, much smaller than the others.

Butterflies seen included Speckled Wood (loads), Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue, Ringlet, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady and a Comma.

[IanF]

A few more from today.

[IanF]

Pretty quiet for birds this morning. A shame really as it was such a lovely sunny morning.

No sign of the Little Owls today and not much else along the cycleway other than the odd Whitethroat, Wren and Chaffinch.

Very few ducks on the lake, the only bird of note being a Heron sat in the dead tree on the west side. A check on the Sparrowhawks showed all five are still doing well and grown enormously over the last week. Both parents were in attendance with the male twice bringing in food whilst I was there.

I bumped in to Francis, one of the wardens. He been taking photos of the young Kingfishers from his hide, including the male. I sat there an hour but no joy for me other than one fleeting glimpse as it flew past. No sign of any breeding activity at all at the nest so they must have given up on trying for a second brood.

Dragonflies were in better numbers towards lunchtime with two Common Hawker over the scrapes plus several Common Darter and Four-spot Chaser and lots of damselflies. An Emperor Dragonfly was over the lake. Earlier Id spotted what looked to be a Ruddy Darter but lost sight of it and could relocate it. I'm sure it won't be long before they're in good numbers.

Whilst at the scrapes a female Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the larch trees to peer around a while before flying off again.

Butterflies - Meadow Brown, Speckeld Wood, Red Admiral, Comma, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Small Heath, Small White, Ringlet, Gatekeeper.

The terrapin was sat out in the sun again.

[IanF]

A revisit this morning. I figured I'd sit at the screen Francis the warden had set up. I'd planned on staying only an hour but after 40 minutes a juvenile Kingfisher arrived and I ended up staying to watch it. 53 minutes later it left when a Wood Pigeon disturbed it as it flew onto a neighbouring perch.

Other highlights were seeing the female Sparrowhawk bathing in the dragonfly scrapes by the hide. Unfortunately it saw me before I saw it! Quite off that three rabbits were munching grass right beside where it was bathing - no threat to them guess. Mind you a stoat was sneaking through the grass but ran off on seeing me.

On the pond itself there was some action as the pair of LBB Gulls made a kill each. One took a tiny Mallard chick and the other looked like it grabbed a young Coot.

Two Little Grebe, an adult and a juvenile were in front of the screen as well.

[IanF]

A few more Kingfisher photos from today.

[AndyMc]

I figured I'd sit at the screen Francis the warden had set up.

Some nice shots there Ian.:t:
One of my bogey birds photo-wise. I do hope he isn't as jealous as me & bars you.;).
___________
:t:Andy

[Auntystatic]

Nice images Ian, but for goodness sake stop using "save for web" as its stripping the exif out of your pictures, and some of use like to see it |:d| use "save as" instead its much better. It also makes it easier to see if someone has used your picture else where.


:cool:

[IanF]

Nice images Ian, but for goodness sake stop using "save for web" as its stripping the exif out of your pictures, and some of use like to see it |:d| use "save as" instead its much better. It also makes it easier to see if someone has used your picture else where.


:cool:

Actually it's the noise filtration software that I use that strips the exif. Using it gets the file size down better than by increasing jpeg compression. There's no option to retain exif unfortunately. I only ever use 'save as' when saving copies of processed files.

The Grebes and Kingfisher were all taken with a Canon 40D + Canon 400mm f5,6 + 20mm extension tube attached from about 4 m. Settings were mostly 1/200 f8 with -1.0 EV at ISO400. Camera was mounted on a tripod.

[geordie graham]

Cracking photo`s Ian.I saw Francis last night and he said he had got some decent photo`s too.Lets hope they breed here next year as well.

Graham

[IanF]

A brief revisit this afternoon. Mostly to see what dragonflies were around.

Common Hawker and Common Darter by the small ponds by the car park. Emperor Dragonfly over the weed free pond with the odd Four-spot Chaser. All were a little too active for photos.

Terrapin on the weed covered pond very close to the patform but also very nervy.

On reaching the lake the female Sparrowhawk passed low by overhead circling a couple of times before heading over towards the landfill site.

Emperor Dragonfly on the lake by the hide with Common Hawker x2 and several Four-spot Chasers on the scrapes. Alos several Common Darter around.

Lots of butterflies including a few Comma.

[Auntystatic]

Thanks for the exif info Ian, the 40d is a great camera and still out sells the 50d. That's some strange noise reducing software you got there, I just use neat image for mine.

Must call in soon, it'll be good exercise for my foot, spending most of my time at foxglove covert now a days.


:cool:

[IanF]

My usual Tuesday morning visit. Bright and sunny though with a good deal of broken cloud around and a little windy on and off.

Not a great day bird wise. Blackcap calling from the fence line by the A1185 when I arrived and Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler with a few Goldfinch in and around the reeds.

An Emperor Dragonfly was over the large pond again by the car park and the terrapin was close to the wooden stage on the weeded pond.

The bushes by the railway near the lake held a Yellowhammer, Linnet and Goldfinch with a Wren flitting around and scolding. There seemed more Mallard on the lake though it could just be that they'd been disturbed from the edges. No sign of the Kingfisher. Several Swift, pigeon and a Kestrel overhead.

Dragonflies were the main feature of the day again. Best find was a Brown Hawker on the scrapes by the hide. It kept reappearing every 15-20 mins for about 5 mins before disappearing north before returning over the bank from Cow Bridge Beck giving excellent close views. Very active though always on the go and never landing or pausing - only managed one half decent photo of it.

Also on the scrapes were Common Hawker x3 (2m 1f), Emperor Dragonfly on and off, Common Darter x4, Four-spot Chasers and numerous damselflies.

Another Emperor Dragonfly on the lake.

[IanF]

My usual Saturday morning wander around despite the grotty weather. Fine starting off but continuous light drizzle after the first 200m! Everything pretty sodden which wasn't surprising considering the torrential rain of yesterday. The becks were in flood with muddy water though not quite bursting their banks which I half expected to find.

I headed off along the cycleway not seeing or hearing a great deal. no sign of the Little Owls again. In fact the only birds seen before reaching the lake were two Yellowhammer, a Whitethroat, Wren and a Chaffinch!

The lake was quiet as well with Mallard c.15, Tufted Duck c.8, Coot c.8, Moorhen x3, Little Grebe x3. A Cormorant flew over inpsecting the lake but carried on west. Two LBB Gull were about as well occasionally diving on the young Mallard and Moorhen chcicks but I didn't see them catch anything today.

The Sparrowhawks are still doing well though I'm pretty sure there's just four now. Three females and a male. They're so crammed into the nest that it's hard to tell. When I checked back later one in a tree behind the nest tree and flew back to the nest and was scrambling about the branches. So one at least is fledging.

Around 9.30am a Kingfisher arrived landing first by the hide then on a perch near the nest and then moving into the Sparrowhawk corner. It seemd more interested in keeping out of the rain than in catching fish. It did eventually move into Francis's corner but I didn't see it catch anything. It was still there as I left. Whilst sat on the bench under the tree there were also fly-overs by Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

A few butterflies seen including Painted Lady, Comma, Red Admiral. The only dragonflies were a Common Darter and an Emerald Damselfly.

[barnstormer]

Ian would it be ok for me to pm you,i have the same basic setup as you and need to ask a few questions about it.

[IanF]

Ian would it be ok for me to pm you,i have the same basic setup as you and need to ask a few questions about it.

No problem at all :t:

[IanF]

My visit this morning was somewhat cut short due to a change in weather. Starting off we had cloudy sunshine but after an hour the rain started so I headed on home.

Very little seen in the time I was there. Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were around the scrapes by the car park. A few damselflies about but maybe a little too dull for the larger dragonflies. A single Common Darter was seen between the ponds and the lake.

The lake held the usual Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Little Grebe and Tufted Duck. A Heron and a Cormorant passed overhead but didn't land. It was good to see a couple of Pochard back as well.

LBB Gull x3 were circling the pond but it looks like all of the young Mallard and Moorhen have either been eaten or grown too large for them. A few Swifts were over the water as well.

I'd just completed a circuit of the lake to the dragonfly scrapes when the rain started so after quick check on the Sparrowhawks I headed back home. Only two chicks left in the nest tree stood on various branches. The others were dotted around the trees calling every now and again. Quite possibly the last day any will be by the nest - which I have to say looks a right mess with all the splash marks, downy feathers and bits of discarded flesh and bones.

[IanF]

A pleasant morning for a visit. Bright and sunny starting off if a little bit on the cool side in the cold winds. It warmed up mid-morning but the cloud cover built up as well.

A lot more birds in evidence today than on my last few visits.

Starting off I headed along the cycleway towawrds Cloff Bridge. By Faith Wood the hedges were full of birds with Bullfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Whitethroat and Blackcap plus a Yellowhammer.

No sign of the Little Owl but several Yellowhammer, Linnet, Tree Sparrow and Whitethroat. The horse feilds held around a dozen Swallow feeding low down to the grass plus the odd Swift, Sand Martin and House Martin.

As I started back towards Cloff Bridge the male Sparrowhawk took off from the top of the first tree and circled a couple of times overhead before heading off north-west. Looked like it may be the one from the pair that bred from the ring on it's leg.

Very quiet from Cloff Bridge to Cow Bridge Beck where a flock of Long-tailed Tit was near the confluence of the becks. Also a family if Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat in amongst the reeds.

Francis was working on the hide bringing it up to spec for the council Health and Safety regs. A kingfisher had been present just before I arrived.

The scrapes were pretty quiet starting off but soon a Common Hawker appeared then another and then two Brown Hawker. Several Common Darter and numerous damselflies about. Another Brown Hawker, Common Hawker and an Emperor Dragonfly were over the corner of the lake in front of the hide.

The lake held more birds than of late with Mallard x29, Tufted Duck x11, Coot .c9, Moorhen, Little Grebe x3. A Heron and Cormorant flew over but didn't land, likewise a flock of Oystercatcher.

Nothing else new seen heading back to the car park. No large dragonflies at all on those ponds.

[IanF]

A brief look around yesterday. A little too overcast and windy to hang around anywhere for long. Another day of not many birds seen and even fewer heard.

Setting off I headed over to the lake. No birds at all seen in the hedge/wood by the activity centre. In fact the first birds I saw were as I approached the lake with Mallard and Crow calling and then flying up heading eastwards.

The lake was pretty much as my last visit with lots of Mallard and Tufted Duck along with the usual selection.

Sedge Warbler and Bullfinch were in the bushes by the bridge over Cow Bridge Beck where it meets Claxton Beck.

Following Claxton Beck I came across a few butterflies despite the dull weather with Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Red Admitral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Green-veined White and Small Copper.

No sign of any Little Owl again.

The best spot for birds was along the cycleway with Barn Swallow c.30, House Martin c.40, Linnet c.30 and a few Sand Martin feeding over the horse fields. A few Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Starling and four Yellow Wagtail were landing on the field to feed. Seeing the Yellow Wagtail reminded me that they've been present the last few visits as well but very flighty.

Whitethroat and Wren were in the hedges as well.

Mid-morning the skies darkened further so I cut short my visit and headed home - making it back just as the rain arrived!

[rokermartin]

Popped in looking for dragonflies early this afternoon seeing it was sunny but still on the breezy side.At the ponds next to the car park 1 Brown Hawker a few Common Darters.Most of the dragonfly activity was at the scrapes saw at least 4 Common Hawkers and 2 more Brown Hawkers and several Common Darters also the usual damselflies.Did'nt see many butterflies but there seems to be more Peacocks around.As for birds saw at least 3 Sparrowhawks.

[IanF]

A much better day for eveything yesterday - birds, butterflies and dragonflies.

Bright and sunny first thing though still with the pretty stiff cold winds.

Starting off I headed along the cycleway not seeing much until reaching Cloff Bridge where a Greenfinch was wandering around on the path. Looked liked a bad case of tric. Whitethroat, Wren, Chaffinch and Goldfinch were in the bushes either side of the path.

No sign of the Little Owls again. Two Yellowhammer were singing away in the hedge as well as Chaffinch feeding young and several Whitethroat.

Along towards the farm a dozen or so Tree Sparrow were flitting about the trees and hedges. There was frentic activity over the horse fields with feeding Swallow 30+ close by the path. A little more distant were Linnet c.40, Goldfinch c.30, House Martin c.30, Sand Martin c.10, Yellow Wagtail x4, Pied Wagtail x2.

Heading back down the path to Cloff Bridge a Kingfisher flew up the beck giving a brief view. By the bridge the butterflies had come out with Comma, Green-veined White, Large White, Peacock, a Red Admiral, Small Skipper and a Painted Lady. Also a few Common Darter around.

Following Claxton Beck down to Cow Bridge Beck few birds but plenty of butterflies with much the same species seen again but with the addition of Small Heath, Wall Brown and lots of Meadow Brown. The bushes/trees held Bullfinch again.

Crossing the bridge a Brown Hawker was over the raspberry canes.

A fair bit of activity by the dragonfly scrapes with at least two Common Hawker, a Brown hawker on and off which seemed to be the same one moving between there and the lake in front of the hide. At least 5-6 Ruddy Darter plus numerous damselflies.

The lake itself was pretty quiet though it was nice to see two tiny Little Grebe chicks being fed. Hopefully they'll escape the attentions of the two resident LBB Gulls. The bushes on the railway side held Whitethroat and Wren.

Back by the car park the ponds were almost devoid of dragonflies other than a few Common Darter and damselflies. The terrapin was basking in the sun on the weed filled pond. On the small circular pond a family of Sedge Warbler were feasting on blue damselflies but playing hard to see in amongs the reeds. The adult was ringed so it's probably the ones that bred by the weed filled pond.

All in all a pretty good visit.

[IanF]

A few insects from this visit.

[rokermartin]

Had a look for dragonflies this afternoon most of the dragonfly activity was at the ponds next to the car park 1 Brown Hawker,4 Common Hawkers,3 males and 1 female flying round and a few Common Darters.At the scrapes 2 more Brown Hawkers, 1 Common Hawker and a few more Common Darters. There were a group of people at the scrapes looking for dragonflies and doing some pond dipping they had'nt seen anything different.

[IanF]

I called in as well though around lunchtime.

Nothing at all on the first two ponds by the car park when I arrived. The Sedge Warbler family was present again with three young and the ringed adult.

The weed covered one held two Common Hawker and a Brown Hawker plus several Common Darter and a Ruddy Darter. The terrapin seems to have a acquired a resting place of dried reeds to the left of the platform. A few times I've seen it sat there now.

The scrapes by the main lake held three Common Hawker and a Brown Hawker but that soon disappeared. 20 minutes later I moved on when the dragonfly group arrived. It was a dragonfly identification class. They were pond dipping for nymphs and newts. Some of the nymphs were being taken back to the visitor centre for a closer look under the microscope.

Meanwhile the Sparrowhawks were making quite a racket as they practiced flying out over the scrapes and back into the trees. All the youngsters seemed to be scattered amongst various trees. Just a shame the only way to view them was looking straight into the sun.

On the lake in front of the bench along from the hide an Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling back and forth.

Back at the car park ponds a few more hawkers were about with three Common Hawker over the weed covered pond. The Brown Hawker made a brief appeareance before heading off north. The large weed free pond also heald a Brown Hawker which was present a good 30 minutes and still there when I left. Still frustrating to photograph as it never stays still.

[IanF]

Dull starting of today but son clearing to quite a bit of sunshine in between the high broken cloud. Towards lunchtime though the cloud came in a little thicker again.

Very quite starting off today - 'deathly quiet' in fact. Not one bird seen along the cycleway bushes between the carp park and 200m after Cloff Birdge. In fact the only birds seen were a very distant Crow and likewise four distant pigeons.

The usual Yellowhammer x2 were the first birds seen followed shortly by a group of Tree Saprrow c.15 by the rubbish heap. The field has been cut for hay and there were lots of birds feeding on the ground - Tree Sparrow and Linnet seen. Only a few Swallow around today.

Heading back down the cycleway a few more birds were in evidence mainly through the Tree Sparrow constantly moving ahead of me though several Whitethroat were in and out of the hedges.

On reaching Cloff Bridge I hit the jackpot with 30-40 birds moving out of Faith Wood to the bushes by the bridge and then into the beck side trees. Largest single group were Long-tailed Tit 20+ but also a families of Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler and Chaffinch. Mistle Thrush x3 flew past heading north towards the farm.

As usual the path down Claxton Beck was quite apart from butterflies with quite a few fresh looking Speckled Wood. Also Painted Lady, Comma, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Wall, Large Skipper, Small Copper and Small Heath.

No sign of any dragonflies at all on reaching the scrapes so I sat for a while on the bench nearby. Nice to meet Ray again as well as Tim and his wife.

The Sparrowhawks were making a racket again with the youngsters often perched in the tops of the larch trees or flying along the lake side bushes and disappearing into them. A few times they dived down over the Willow Warblers feeding on the tops of the hawtorns but never came close to catching anything.

The lake was pretty quiet as well though the number of birds had a sudden increase as Mallard x26 flew in en-masse. It was nice to see the Little Grebe pair with two chicks still and being fed regularly by one of the adults before returning to the nest to doze.

Soon an Emperor Dragonfly appeared over the lake followed shortly by a Brown Hawker and I returned to the scrapes. Common Hawker x3 came and went as did Brown Hawker x2. Plenty of Common Darter around though no Ruddy Darter seen this visit.

On the ponds by the car park the terrapin was sat on the old Moorhen nest to the left of the platform on the weed covered pond. Talking the wardens yesterday they were saying it may be removed soon. Plans are also being made to remove the crassula weed, probably using chemicals though no date is set. A Common Hawker was over the weed.

Martin and then Jamie arrived for a look around as well.

The small circular pond held a Brown Hawker which perched on the reeds as soon as the sun went in. At least it was visible this time though very distant.

All in all a pretty good visit.

[IanF]

A few more photos from today.

[Ray_S]

Bright start to the morning, Good to see Ian yesterday so I thought I would get a head start on him today..... Ian arrived just as I was getting out of the car (typical), Am I visiting the park too often perhaps?

Headed past the now unused feeding station to pick up Cow bridge beck, first sighting of Brown Hawker along the beck, what must have been hundreds of butterflies here, mainly Large White & Small White, with a few each of Painted Lady, Peacock, Wall, Common Blue, Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown.
Followed cycleway up to Cloff bridge but was really quiet, same for Claxton Beck, though there were a few Migrant Hawkers about, and another Brown Hawker patrolling the pathway.
The scrapes had a dozen or so mixed common and ruddy darters, constantly being chased off by a pair of Migrant Hawkers and a Common Hawker. Got my first in flight Hawker too, not up to Ian's standard but at least it is still in the frame!
The main pond had a large number of darter pairs all ovipositing across the pond, otherwise mainly Mallard and Tufted Duck on the pond and the Little Grebe with the 2 Bobs as I call them - whenever I moved they would dive to safety and within seconds 'Bob' back to the surface in the same place - they perhaps need to practice their disaster recovery plan a bit more!!
The Terrapin was still on the nest!
What seemed like an infinite number of hoverflies too!
Heading back to the car a Dunnock a) scared the life out of me, and b) gave me a right telling off for walking past it!
One last 'unusual' was a very small fly which looked like it was bursting at the seams, no idea what this was!

[Ray_S]

A few more from this weekend, including the 'bursting' fly! - suggestions on a postcard please!

[IanF]

It was certainly another day for dragonflies. Pretty much the same ones around as yesterday in the same places but today two Southern Hawker over the scrapes by the hide and at least half a dozen Migrant Hawker - first time I've seen them this summer. Well done in getting a photo of one Ray - I struck out with the ones in flight - too fuzzy.

Whilst at the scrapes the male Sparrowhawk flew over with a pretty large prey item - it's not too often they need both feet to hold on!

A Pochard back on the lake today as well.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny morning for a wander around the park. A bit of a strong gusting wind at times though.

No dragonflies on the first two car park ponds when I arrived but a Common Hawker and several Common Darter over the weed covered one. Another Common Hawker and several darters as I passed through the gate in the hedge.

Only one Chaffinch and one Yellowhammer seen between the car park and the lake via the hedge alongside the activity centre.

The lake was quiet again though it was nice to see five Little Grebe chicks in three separate groups. Two with two adults a larger one on it's own and two more feeding on the other side of the lake.

On the scrapes the re-appearance of a Broad-bodied Chaser which I've not seen here since the beginning of July. A female resting. Common Hawker x3, Southern Hawker x2, Brown Hawker x3 mainly over the scrapes but venturing onto the lake. An Emperor Dragonfly was in it's usual spot in front of the bench under the tree.

A juvenile Robin was in the crab apple tree above the scrapes with an adult singing by the hide.

Lots of butterflies along the path by Claxton Beck. On reaching Cloff Birdge no sign of the large flock of last week but six Blue Tit came out the tree by the bridge one after another. Turning right along the cycleway several Whitethroat in the hedges and Yellowhammer x4. A Kestrel and a Mistle thrush passed over head. Only three Swallow over the horse fields and no martins at all. A flock c.30 comprising Linnet, Chaffinch and Greenfinch were flitting about by the farm. The Tree Sparrows were in their usual tree.

Nothing especial seen heading back towards the car park. A Brown Hawker was over the circular pond ovipositing with a Common Hawker butting in every now and again. Both disappeared once the sky clouded over.

[IanF]

So much for the promise of a warm sunny day from the forecast! :C

It was overcast starting off this moring but some blue sky between the broken cloud. By the time I reached the lake though the sun was gone for the day. After that the cloud thickened and we had light showers on and off the rest of the day.

Not a great deal to see between the car park and lake. Just a Whitethroat by the car park ponds and a few Common Darter around the reeds and fence line.

The lake was much the same as my last visit though with a couple of new additions. A Mallard with five recently hatched chicks was by the lower bench. Whilst sat feeding/watching them a Brown Hawker flew in front of me and hung around quite a while feeding. I was a little surpised it was still on the wing as it was quite dull by them

In the middle of the lake was a female Tufted Duck with two young chicks. I can't recall them breeding here before but they could have done so. Plenty of Mallard and Tufted Duck scattered around and Coots. Little Grebe with four chicks still as well.

Heading along the lake and turning left along the path between the hill and lake I came across a group of butterflies comprising Wall Brown, Meadow Brown, Common Blue and at least three Brown Argus! I think they've bene reported here in previous years but it's the first time I've seen any myself. Quite a few Common Darter in that area as well.

The scrapes were very quiet with nothing in view at all. Another chap was kind enough to point out a pair of Common Hawker he'd been waiting 20 minutes to land. They were still there when I left an hour later!

I followed Claxton Beck up to the cycleway and then walked back down through Faith Wood before heading back to the car park. Nothing new seen other than several Speckled Wood along side the beck. No sign of the Sparrowhawks today - not even a squawk from them!

Being so dull the insect photos were all taken with the camera built in flash.

[JBee]

A few more from this weekend, including the 'bursting' fly! - suggestions on a postcard please!
The hoverfly is infected with Entomophthora muscae.
Quite a clever little fungus that takes control of the flies brain.
Suggest you Google it and read about it - fascinating.

[Ray_S]

you are right, it is fascinating, we must have caught it in its final death throes because the fly was performing exactly to plan, it was walking up the stem to the top, we wondered why it didnt fly away when I poked the macro lens at it, but its brain wasn't it own by then I guess!
Thanks for the info John, hope you are well.

regards

Ray

[IanF]

A pretty decent morning. Mostly sunshine though the cloud built up towards lunchtime. A little on the chilly side as well in a very fresh wind that also strengthened as time went on.

I set off along the cycleway from the car park. Very little to see or hear right the way along to 100m after Cloff Bridge where Whitethoat c.8 were flitting about in the hedges. No Little Owls and just one Yellowhammer. A few Swallow were over the recently bailed hay fields on which several Magpie and Crow were dotted around. A Kestrel was hovering over the bailed area.

A flock of around 30 Linnet, Greenfinch and Goldfinch flew along the beck.

Heading back down the cycleway I struck the jackpot again at Cloff Bridge where a flock 80+ strong was moving out of Faith Wood and into the Willow trees along the beck - same place as last time but far more birds. At least 40 were Long-tailed Tit with lots of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff plus Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Whitethroat. The Chiffchaff were quite vociferous calling constantly. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was pecking away above them eventually flying off towards the car park.

Most of the birds continued through the trees along Claxton Beck as they fed though quite a few LTT headed back into Faith Wood.

Crossing Cloff Bridge a family of Whitethroat were feeding by the path - almost totally ignoring me apart from the occasional scolding.

Very few birds along the path by Claxton Beck - quite a few butterflies though - Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Wall and whites.

Just as I reached the scrapes a Brown Hawker flew in from the north, looped one pool and then promptly disappeared. A few minutes later two Common Hawker appeared.

I walked along the path to check the lake for Brown Hawker by the sign board when I heard a Kingfisher behind me. Just as I turned to look it flew over from Cow Bridge Beck by the larch tree and within a foot or so of my face! I'm sure I felt the breeze as it screamed by! It then veered right around the corner and along the lake edge.

I walked to the benches by the railway but I couldn't spot it anywhere. The lake itself was much the same as my last visit - just the usual selection.

Heading back along the path towards the hill I turned left following the path. The Brown Argus was in the exact same place as plast week with several Common Blue and Wall butterflies.

By then there were lots of Common Darter along the cinder track and grass path back towards the hide. A Migrant Hawker was by the start of the path up the hill and I saw it land on a bush but I couldn't locate it again.

The scrapes were busy on and off for the next hour with Brown Hawker x2, Common Hawker x3, lots of Common Darter and a few Emerald and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

The farmer was collecting the hay bails from the meadows as I headed back to the car park. Still some areas to be bailed up yet as well. The terrapin was on it's usual pool though no dragonflies at all on any of the pools.

I took lots of photos today but I'll likely to add them tomorrow.

[IanF]

A few more photos from yesterday.

[scaly_piscine]

Sounds a pretty busy area, hadn't even heard of the place til recently which is interesting given I live about 4 miles away.

Will have to check it out sometime next week. Billingham Beck Ecology Park is my local patch but there doesn't seem to be anywhere near as much there as there is at Cowpen Bewley and I fancy a long walk out (too brain-dead to be studying).

[IanF]

Sounds a pretty busy area, hadn't even heard of the place til recently which is interesting given I live about 4 miles away.

Will have to check it out sometime next week. Billingham Beck Ecology Park is my local patch but there doesn't seem to be anywhere near as much there as there is at Cowpen Bewley and I fancy a long walk out (too brain-dead to be studying).

Well worth a look around. The birding is a little slow at present but there's always something on the lake at least and if it's a decent day the dragonflies and butterflies usually perform.

[IanF]

Only chance for a very brief visit today. I figured I'd wait until thie afternoon when things may have warmed up a bit - it did but the cloud and rain also came :C

After lunch I went over to the scrapes by the lake. At firest they looked quiet but soon a Southern Hawker appeared and began ovipositing in amongst the reeds. A few metres away a Brown Hawker was ovipositing as well.

A few Common Darter and a few Ruddy Darter then appeared but seemed very lethargic spending more time resting than in flight.

The pond nearst the hide then attracted two Brown Hawker which were joined by a Common Hawker. After battling a while they all left.

Just as I was leaving as the clouds thickened I spotted a resting Brown Hawker. A little too dull for photos really though not too bad using the built-in-flash.

[scaly_piscine]

Yea I was there today, I probably walked past you in my rush to get back home before it poured down - I was wearing all green.

Everything is quite spaced out, could spend ages walking around there. It's a lot different to Billingham Beck Ecology Park which is far more condensed. Lake is nice. Had the same luck wandering about - just seeing the usual dragonflies, butterflies etc. Will pop by another time no doubt, is a nice break from what I'm usually doing.

[IanF]

Fame at last for the Park - it's made the 'Go Birding' section of the September issue of Birdwatching Magazine.

Mind you I wouldn't bother rushing out to buy it as it's not very good and quite misleading on some of the bird species to be seen.

[IanF]

A revisit around lunchtime today. After a fairly sunny morning the cloud was building up when I arrived. Still some sun every now and again but mostly heavy cloud.

The only dragonfly on the car park ponds was a Common Hawker and that didn't hang around for long. The only birds seen between there and the lake via the grassy path were a couple of pigeons and Magpies plus lots of gulls flying over.

On reaching the scrapes my eyes nearly bugged out at the number of hawkers flying around - 18-20! I was going dizzy trying to see what they were. When the sun went in they settled down somewhat with four landing on a bush by the wooden walkway. They proved to be Migrant Hawker. More were on the bushes by the scrapes themselves. Meanwhile three male Common Hawker were in the air battling amongst themselves and with four Brown Hawker. A female Common Hawker and another Brown Hawker were ovipositing on the largest pond. Lots of Common Darter and a good few Ruddy Darter around again plus quite a few Emerald, Common Blue and Blue Tailed Damselfly. Looked like a Brown Hawker had been caught in a spider web and was in the process of being wrapped up and eaten!

All of a sudden they all disappeared and only a few ever returned.

The lake held some new arrivals notably Gadwall x8. Also a few odd coloured Mallard that I haven't seen before.

Only four Mallard chicks today and only two Little Grebe chicks seen.

A Kingfisher was feeding in the SW corner around lunchtime.

Whilst sat on the benches by the railway a Kestrel flew over and then a Heron.

Heading back towards the car park a Little Egret flew over the pylon cables and continued heading west.

Also reported today - Black Darter on the scrapes though not seen by me.

[IanF]

A brief visit this evening on the sunniest part of the day.

According to the warden a Barn Owl was sighted around lunchtime by Seal Sands Road sat on a fence post and then flying into some trees. No sign of it tonight though.

Mirgant Hawker x1, Common Hawker x2 on the scrapes by the lake plus a few Common Darter and Ruddy Darter along the brick path by the hide sat in the sun.

Nothing new on the lake birdwise.

The stubble fields on the east side of the railway lines were just harvested today and held around 100 geese about fifty-fifty Greylag and Canada. Plus several flights of geese passing overhead east to west c.250.

[IanF]

My usual Saturday visit this morning. Nothing like as sunny as forecast but still pretty good though the strong cold winds were a little disappointing as they kept most of the dragonflies down.

I headed along the cycleway starting off not seeing very much at all until just after Cloff Bridge though plenty of twittering from the denser bushes and glimpses of Whitethroat and Dunnock every now and again.

The trees around Cloff Bridge held more Whitethroat plus Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. LTT were calling but not seen. The stubble fields still had circular bales of hay/straw which held five Wheatear perched on the tops plus Linnet, Goldfinch, Trre Sparrow, Crow and Magpie feeding on the ground.

For a change and against my better judgement I followed the path to Greatham today not knowing what to expect though hoping for a repeat of last year with hundreds of geese on the stubble fields. No sign of any geese but then the fields over that way are still full of unharvested wheat as it turned out! Lots of Swallows flying very low over the fields plus a few Swift still and lots of Linnet and Goldfimnch and flocks of Crow.

The first of four Sparrowhawk seen this visit took off from one of the trees in the hedge, a juvenile with a ring on it's leg. A little more to the west a Kestrel the first of five seen was hovering as it hunted.

Little else seen until reaching the wood at Greatham where another Kestrel came speeding over the tops of of the trees.

I turned right then following the beck towards the railway not seeing much other than Swallows and no end of pigeons burst out of the trees along the beck.

Towards the railway another Wheatear was on the ground and nearby a Snipe flew up before landing in some scrub. By the tunnel under the railway a Common Sandpiper and a Redshank were on the muddy beck. It must have been low tide.

Whilst watching them a Kestrel flew over the railway and seemed to find me of interest as it circled five times from around 12m away. I think it would have continued doing so if a flock of Crows hadn't arrived and chased it off.

Plenty of chirping from the trees and bushes as I followed the path alongside the embankemnt but nothing at all seen clearly other than another young Saprrowhawk taking flight as I approached it's tree.

On reaching Claxton Beck I could hear more Redshank calling. One was in view on the mud but there must have been several more out of sight around the bend from the calls.

Quite a few birds in the blackthorn bushes perched on the leeward side facing the beck - Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a dozen or so Greenfinch which was unusal to see so many together.

An odd sight was a Black-tailed Godwit passing overhead to the west following the beck as I crossed above it - an new species for me here. It may even have landed as once over the railway it dropped down following the line of the beck.

Crossing back into the park over the stile and into the wood behind the hill it was warm and sunny being sheltered from the wind. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies around including Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshaell, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Wall and Meadow Brown. Lots of Common Darter and a few Migrant Hawker. I was kicking myself afterwards as I didn't hang around for long expecting there to be lots on the scrapes by the lake as well - only there weren't!

Nothing seen heading up the hill and down again. A check of the lake revealed nothing new and the only changes being we seem to have lost one of the Mallard chicks as there were only four today and only one Little Grebe chick seen which was being fed copiously with fish by two adults. It must have been well stuffed the amount it was eating! Two more Kestrels came over the hill and from the railway and a Sparrowhawk took off from the trees by the lake.

Common Blue and the Brown Argus were still present in the same spot and lots of Common Darter along the cinder and grassy paths by the lake.

The scrapes themseleves were very quiet. Just a few Common Darter and just one Migrant Hawker. A Brown Hawker was on the lake in rfont of the hide in it's usual spot.

Heading back to the car park a Common Hawker was on the small circular pond.

[IanF]

An unplanned visit. Popped in on my way home after spending a couple of hours around the Estuary. Proved quite fortuitous as two Brown Hawker were perched side by side near the scrapes. As one flew off I looked up to see a Buzzard directly overhead and very low down skimming the top of the hill coming towards me. It circled back and disappeared from view before I could remove the extension tube to take a photo :-C

I walked up the hill to see if it was still in view to find it sat in the trees on the west side. Harassed by Crows it flew off west along Claxton Beck landing once again in the trees by Cloff Bridge. Half an hour later I made my way over that drection to find it still sat in the last willow tree after the bridge being berrated by Crows and Magpies. As a cyclist came past it flew off west carrying on towards Wolviston Roundabout. A new species for the year.

Better was yet to come as scanning through the willows I saw a Spotted Flycatcher flying in and out to feed every few minutes. It looked well settled mostly in the right side of the second Willow after Cloff Bridge. Another new species for the year.

Heading back down the cycleway to the car park several Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch and Whitethroat were in the hedges. Just before the water treatment gates a flock of LTT c.20 were making their way through the hedge bushes. Two Kestrel and Sparrowhawk flew by as well.

[IanF]

A couple of hours spent wandering around this morning. Mostly bright and sunny though a fait bit of cloud around and still pretty windy.

Straight along the cycleway starting off with plenty of LTT, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Robin flitting about. Goldfinch and Linnet flying over the fields plus around a dozen Swallow.

Not a lot to see at Cloff Bridge when I arrived other than a Spotted Flycatcher in the same tree as my last visit. The hedges further on contained more Whitethroat and quite a few Tree Sparrow but nothing else.

Heading back down to Cloff Bridge two Mistle Thrush flew over as well as quite a few pigeons and Swallows plus a Kestrel.

The Willows by the bridge this time contianed a good few mroe birds - now four Spotted Flycatcher, the one on it's own and another three together which were moving back and forth between those trees and Faith Wood. also present were Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Blue Tit x2 and a Great Tit. Speckled Wood, Wall, Small Copper, Large White and Painted Lady plus Common Darter and two or three hawkers were below the trees. A Robin and a juvenile were by the bridge.

A few Willow Warbler and Whitethroat were in the bushes alongside Claxton Beck as I headed down the path. Just as I reached Cow Bridge Beck I came across several Migrant Hawker and Common Hawker and another lot of butterflies adding Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Common Blue.

Very little activity by the scrapes though eventually Common Hawker x3, Emerald Damselfly and several Common Darter. A Brown Hawker was over the lake in front of the hide. Common Blue, Small Copper, Painted Lady and Red Admiral were there as well.

Quite a sight on the lake were Canada Goose x35 and Mallard c.150 - I stopped counting at 100 ;) Also present were Shoveler c.8. The Gadwall were still present along the other other usuals.

Nothing much at all seen between the lake heading back to the car park.

[Ray_S]

including the mushroom!!!!

obviously didn't get invited to the party cos he wasn't a fungi to be with 8-P

sorry!

[Ray_S]

Amazing bright start to the morning, not a cloud when I got there (didn't last), took path past visitor centre, into wood and along railway line, 6* willow warbler, 2* Great Tit, 1* Blue Tit, 7* Long Tailed Tit, 8* Chaffinch and a whitethroat, as I turned the corner at the end of the 'L' just before the railway line a Grey Squirrel appeared, as I stood motionless it approached me all the way down the path until at about 6ft away it went into the bushes and circled around me coming out 6ft behind me.
Lots of Common Darter, Speckled Wood and a Hawker and a Peacock on the same path along with a lot of spider & webs and lots of ladybirds. In the mown meadow just before the lake were 3 rabbits feeding.

The lake was awash with Canada Geese, well over 100, the noise was er... loud... 20 odd tufted duck, 20+ Mallard with 4* ducklings and a few Shovelers visible across the far side. Cormorant island had a Cormorant on it
Heard the Sparrowhawk a few times and finally saw it make a sweep of the lake as I got to the old hide end.

The scrapes were disappointingly empty and as the clouds had now blotted out the sun and the temperature had dropped by 10 degrees I headed back with little to see. I did spot something across the meadow, so spent some time creeping up on it to avoid scaring it only to find it was a 8 inch Mushroom and unlike everything else it didnt fly off just as I got it in focus :)

As I was driving back along the A1185 towards Billingham another Sparrowhawk flew parallel with me for about 100yds before heading north across the fields

[JBee]

Ray the fungi is a Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus).
Driving from Seaton Carew towards Newburn Bridge the roadside verge (on the seaward side) normally has hundreds of these. The best spot is beside the toilet block.
At Cowpen there are some great fungi in amongst the trees just past the old hide at the scrapes (where the path goes left to the lake and right downhill towards the bridge.
You need to get in amongst the undergrowth though and a pair of protective glasses is worth wearing as there is quite a lot of blackthorn in there.

[IanF]

I somehow missed you Ray. I was there this morning as well. A great pose to catch the squirrel in. I've been seeing the odd one or two lately around the hide on the lake and sometimes on the roof.

Bright and sunny for the first hour or so but it really clouded in after that and never showed any sign of brightening again.

Starting off I headed up the cycleway from the car park. Quite a few birds in the hedges and trees alongside the sewage works - Whitethroat, Dunnock, LTT, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Wren plus two Yellowhammer. A few Goldfinch and 4-5 Bullfinch in the willow overhaning the path just before Cloff Bridge. A Kestrel flew onto the pylon opposite the tree.

In the trees after Cloff Bridge I could only find Great Tit, Blue Tit, Crow, Magpie and pigeons. Goldfinch and Linnet were flying overhead.

Swallow c.40 were in the horse paddocks though mostly staying pretty distant. A flock of Linnet c.20 were on the grass by where they were resting on the fence.

Wheatear x4 were sat around on the hay bales in the field opposite using them as perches to catch flies from. Meadow Pipit x2 doing the same thing.

Nothing new seen heading back to Cloff Bridge and down Claxton Beck to the lake. I could hear the geese on the lake from Cloff Bridge area and there seemed to be more arriving every few minutes. By the time I got to the lake there were 250+ - all Canada Geese.

Also on the lake were Cormorant x1, Pochard x2, Shoveler c.12, Gadwall c.12, Mallard c.100, Little Grebe x5, LBB Gull x2 plus the usual Moorhen and Coot.

Overhead were several Swallow, Sand Martin. A male Kestrel and a female Sparrowhawk were having a right ding-dong from one end of the lake to the other before disappearing from view over the hill.

Not many insects seen today. A few dragonflies seen along the grassy path and around the lake including Common Hawker x2 (m&f), Migrant Hawker c.6 and lots of Common Darter. Just a few Speckled Wood butterflies.

[IanF]

A few more from today.

[IanF]

A brief visit today at lunchtime on my way home for lunch.

Only having an hour I headed straight over to the lake. Much the same as yesterday though only around 150 Canada Geese. One had a white neck which the Swans really didn't like - they never stopped chasing it around the whole time I was there. Must have thought it was another Swan!

Swallow x6 over the lake plus Sand Martin x6 and Swift x3.

More numerous today were the dragonflies with Migrant Hawker just about everywhere with six by the hide scrapes alone. Common Hawker x5 and Brown Hawker x2 and a single very active Black Darter - first I've seen this summer but couldn't get a photo. Lots of Common Darter and damselflies everywhere.

Bullfinch c.6 flew into the trees by the hide but were difficult to spot.

[IanF]

A bit of a grey day for a wander around the park. Overcast skies untill almost lunchtime with gusty winds. On the plus side it was quite mild.

Starting off from the car park I followed the hardcore track to the lake. Nothing of note seen on the way though I met some people on the way who'd seen a Kingfisher perched on the beck by the wooden hump-backed bridge at the end of the boardwalk.

The lake was very quiet compared to my last few visits. It seemed odd that all of the birds were well out from the banks the whole way around and even the Mallard were reluctant to approach me at first for a free feed. Something or someone must have upset them.

No sign of any Gadwall and no Shoveler. Even Mallard and Coot numbers were well down. Still some Canada Geese. There just a looked a few at first inspection but I was surprised to count 71 in total. Cormorant x4 were stood on the rocky island which is unusually high for here. One looked to be on it's own but the other three appeared an adult and two juveniles which all kept together whilst feeding. All of the Little Grebe were out feeding today with two groups of four. A young Sparrowhawk came flying along the bank veering away and over the lake when it saw me. Several Swallow and House Martin were overhead.

Plenty of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter along the paths but nothing at all on the scrapes by the hide when I arrived. A few Speckled Wood and Red Admiral around as well.

I followed Claxton Beck up to Cloff Bridge and then checked along the cycleway to the right seeing very little other than a few Sand Martin and Swallow. Only Crow and Magpie on the bales. Pied Wagtail and Linnet and Goldfinch were on the horse paddocks.

I back tracked to Cloff Bridge and from there to the gate into Fath Wood was very active with birds in the hedges on both sides of the path. Probably around 40 birds - mostly they were Long-tailed Tit but also present were Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Linnet, Magpie and Blackbird. A Kestrel landed on the pylon opposite. Quite a few Migrant Hawker both in flight and perched on the bushes.

Around 11.00am the sun came out and I headed back over to the hide scrapes. Several Migrant Hawker over the scrapes plus two Brown Hawker one of which was ovipositing. At least one Common Hawker several Common Darter and a fleeting glimpse of a mature Black Darter. One they move they're difficult to follow. Linnet, Robin, Chaffinch and Bullfinch were in the trees above the hide.

Nothing else new seen heading back to the car park.

[scaly_piscine]

Had a visit today, didn't see a great deal except for a really tiny newt/lizard thing and a kingfisher a few times. It was the usual kingfisher sounds and flybys, but I did hear it slapping away (presuming giving a fish some stick) on the way out just past the pylon. Peered over the edge whilst trying not to make much noise. Saw the perch move and then it flew out into a bush/tree a few yards, where it again flew off just as I was about to take a photo. Have had that effect on them lately, pretty sure there's a new kingfisher sprog at my local park (Billingham Beck Ecology Park) - is incredibly dull, small and there's a lot more kingfisher chatter than usual.

Anyways looks like the weather is looking set for the rest of the week, just as I'm going away Friday-Sunday for Scrabble. Figures.

[IanF]

I called in this afternoon again as well.

On the whole things were pretty quiet especially away from the lake area unless you fell lucky with where the birds were. I certainly did with Spotted Flycatcher x10!

Two were in a willow tree where Claxton Beck meets Cow Bridge Beck. Two in the trees on the side of the hill facing the lake and a group of six in Faith Wood in trees on west side of Cow Bridge Beck from the lake. Also in the same area Mistle Thrush, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat with the Blackcap, Whitethroat and Mistle Thrush feeding on brambles and elderberries. There were more Spotted Flycatcher deeper into Faith Wood which you could see flying up to take flies every now and again.

A mixed flock c.40 was in the lake side bushes comprising LTT, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch.

Dragonflies were good off and on around the scrapes and on the lake in front of the hide. One minute loads of them and the next even Common Darter hard to find - Common Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Black Darter and Emerald Damselflies. It the third visit I've seen Black Darter but the first time I've seen male and female and first time this year I've managed a photo of them.

A large flock of hirundines c.50 comprising Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin - over the lake on an off. Cormorant x4 again but only one Canada Goose today.

Also several sightings of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Kingfisher.

[Ray_S]

We were there this morning Ian, it really was a dragonfly fest, the path through the wood leading to the railway line had plenty of mixed darters and hawkers, too many to count at one point.
The scraped had 8+ hawkers and a number of darters ovipositing, we didnt get to see the black darter but others we met there had.
We did manage to get a mating pair of hawkers this time though, eventually they landed on a rush for about 15 minutes for pictures.

[JBee]

It the third visit I've seen Black Darter but the first time I've seen male and female and first time this year I've managed a photo of them.
If that photo is the one in your post Ian then I'm more than certain that the female is a common darter.
Easiest pointer is that the female black darter (or the male) doesn't have the yellow stripe down the leg, nor the individual black dot/stripe on each segment.

[IanF]

If that photo is the one in your post Ian then I'm more than certain that the female is a common darter.
Easiest pointer is that the female black darter (or the male) doesn't have the yellow stripe down the leg, nor the individual black dot/stripe on each segment.

You're right John. I didn't look that closely at the female as it was in tandem with the male Black Darter being dragged around! Maybe he's a little short sighted or couldn't find a mate and was getting desperate!

The females yellow stripes on the legs are clear on the full sized image as is the small yellow area at the wing base.

[JBee]

Maybe he's a little short sighted or couldn't find a mate and was getting desperate!
Or just wanted to share his love.

[IanF]

No sign of any Spotted Flycatcher today or much of anything else apart from dragonflies. Several Migrant Hawker, Common Hawker and Brown Hawker on the scrapes.

I hesitate to mention a 'possible' Spotted Crake. First heard calling 'huitt' several times from the side of the grassy bank by the large reedy scrape particularly when a Magpie flew into the nearby crab apple tree. I didn't recognise the call at all, though I've never seen/heard one before.

A few minutes later I walked down Cow Bridge Beck across the ridge from the scrapes when what I initially thought was a Water Rail scooted out from the long grass just in front of me taking flight for 15m before landing in the long grass again. Clearly seen in good light with the sun behind me from the back. Back and wings brown with black markings the back darker than the wings and both appeared pale fringed feathers, green dangling legs, short pale greenish tinge with reddish base to bill. Pale buffy rear with cocked tail. When I reached that point and looked in the grass it flew out again veering back over the ridge towards the scrapes. Can't say I noticed any prominent grey on side of head so maybe a young bird.

After later hearing the call online and from what I saw it's hard to imagine it being anything else.

[deansmith]

had a brief look around this morning around 6.30 am only birds of note where 2 spotted flycatchers feeding near the lake which were chased off by a male sparrowhawk.

[IanF]

had a brief look around this morning around 6.30 am only birds of note where 2 spotted flycatchers feeding near the lake which were chased off by a male sparrowhawk.

No sign of them when I called in at lunchtime for about an hour. Very little about at all really - no sign of the Spotted Crake today.

Only LTT, Bullfinch and Blue Tit seen away from the lake.

Wigeon x8 new arrivals and reappearance of Gadwall x10 and Shoveler x8.

Even dragonflies were pretty lacking. Brown Hawker in front of the hide, Common Hawker and Migrant Hawker over the scrapes plus Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.

A Barn Owl was seen again two nights ago by one of the wardens flying over the car park towards the lake.

[deansmith]

No sign of them when I called in at lunchtime for about an hour. Very little about at all really - no sign of the Spotted Crake today.

Only LTT, Bullfinch and Blue Tit seen away from the lake.

Wigeon x8 new arrivals and reappearance of Gadwall x10 and Shoveler x8.

Even dragonflies were pretty lacking. Brown Hawker in front of the hide, Common Hawker and Migrant Hawker over the scrapes plus Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.

A Barn Owl was seen again two nights ago by one of the wardens flying over the car park towards the lake.


it was unbelievably quiet (bird wise) when i spent about an hour or so there this morning ian, didnt see a single bird until the lake. i didn't know 100% until i was home that they were spotted flycatchers but after reading how they feed and often return to the same perch it was exactly what these 2 were doing until the sparrowhawk came along that is. they were in the bushes on the side of the lake where there always seem to be alot of wood pidgeons. first time id seen a spotted flycatcher.

hope the spotted crake turns up again !

dean

[IanF]

A beautiful sunny morning for a wander around, not too hot either thanks to the light cool breeze.

Pretty quiet really just about everywhere for both birds and insects but a few highlights still.

A fair bit of twittering from the hedges walking up the cycleway from the car park. Blue Tit mainly but also Wren, Robin and Blackbird at least.

On reaching the top end of Faith Wood there were a few more birds around with a dozen or so Linnet and Goldfinch. Mistle Thrush x4 flew from the wood onto the pylon opposite the overhanging willow and paused several minutes before heading over to the trees along Claxton Beck.

On reaching Cloff Bridge the LTT flock was around again. 8.30am seems a good time to see them here. Only around 20 today but I think I caught them mid-movement as they were heading into Faith Wood from the trees on the north side of the bridge. Several Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch x4 and at least two Chiffchaff. Whilst watching them a Kingfisher flew by heading up the beck.

Also four Swallow overhead and a few House Martin.

As usual there was little to see heading down Claxton Beck. Robin x2, Greenfinch x4, Linnet and Goldfinch were all calling/singing in the trees above the hide. Bullfinch 3-4 in the same trees and moving between the berry bushes on the other side of the scrapes.

No insects at all on the scrapes when I arrived but it was a little early still so I headed around the lake to the benches and sat feeding the ducks a while. The lake was pretty quiet again. Most notable were Cormorant x4, Wigeon x6 and Canada Goose x5. Whilst sat a Sparrowhawk lazily circled overhead moving south to norh over the bankside bushes giving excellent views.

Around 11.00am I headed back towards the scrapes coming across a Southern Hawker by the NE corner of the lake. Obligingly it landed on some thistles on the edge of the path posing nicely in the sun.

Continuing towards the hide several Migrant Hawker were over the path and Common Blue x2, Large White, Comma, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.

A GSW flew into the larch tree tops to feed before eventually moving into the trees on the side of the hill. At least two of them present.

The scrapes were still very quiet. Eventually though a few made brief appearances on and off - Migrant Hawker x3 one an ovipositing female, Common Hawker x1, Brown Hawker x1 which was mostly over the lake in front of the hide. Only two Common Darter seen there.

Heading back over to the car park the ponds there held Brown Hawker x2, Common Hawker and several Migrant Hawker and Common Darters.

It sounds like just after I left an adult Hobby passed through as reported on TBC web site.

[IanF]

Last visit for a few days.

A pretty dismal morning starting off with heavy cloud and light drizzle on and off. Typically just as I was heading home the sun came out all of a sudden! I lingered a while longer as it brought out the dragonflies but bird wise things were very quiet indeed.

I won't bother with details of where I went as to be honest the only place I saw any birds other than the lake was the cycleway bridge over Cow Bridge Beck and in the feeding station!

At Cow Bridge Beck a flock of around a dozen LTT came out of the west side wood following the beck into the sewage works. Several Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch with them.

When I arrived at the park I put some peanuts and sunflower hearts in the feeding station before going for a wander around. By the time I returned all the peanuts had been taken. 20 minutes after putting out some more a pair of Robins appeared which took sunflower hearts followed by several Great Tit and Blue Tit. LTT x2 took food from the tree feeder and a GSW briefly stopped off in that teee but didn't feed. On the ground were two Wren and a Dunnock flitting about. Everything scattered though when a weasel came sauntering through.

Even the lake was quiet. Very few Mallard or Coot. Cormorant x4 again and Little Grebe x5. Several Swallow and House Martin passed through and a GSW flew along the path between the lake and the railway whilst I was sat at the twin benches.

Prior to the sun coming out I'd seen a Southern Hawker in the SE corner and one or two Migrant Hawker. Even a Brown Hawker in front of the lower bench on the east side. Once the sun appeared though there were dozens of Migrant Hawker about, two Southern Hawker, two Common Hawker and three Brown Hawker. Only Common Darter and Ruddy Darter seen.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny day for a change and a very pleasant wander around this morning for a couple of hours.

As usual not a lot to see between the car park and the lake. The lake was pretty quiet as well. The most notable bird was a Kingfisher in the SW corner vying for it's fishing perch with a Woodpigeon. They chased each other off a couple of times but the Kingfisher lost out when a second Woodpigeon landed on the perch! The Kingfisher had to make do with sitting in a hawthorn bush.

As I reached the NE corner another Kingfisher landed on a perch just above water level - so there's definitely at least two around though there could be more as when I reached the hide a Kingfisher flew over from Cow Bridge Beck and over the top of the reeds along the north side of the lake towards the railway. Yet another sighting on Claxton Beck a few minutes later of one carrying a fish downstream. Four sightings within 15 minutes!

Just one Canada Goose on the lake that was very freindly coming close to feed with the Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. Several Little Grebe, Shoveler and Coot rpesent and a single Cormorant though another passed overhead as I reached the lake. A Sparrowhawk was in the corner by the hide. A few Swallow and Houise Martin over the lake as well.

Lots of Robin around singing today - I stopped counting at 37!

A few dragonflies around as well with several Migrant Hawker and at least two Common Hawker. Common Darter and Ruddy Darter on the scrapes.

Not a lot else seen in Faith Wood or along the cycleway heading back to the car park.

[IanF]

A quick look around this afternoon. Nice and sunny but a little on the chilly side.

Very little bird wise seen or heard anywhere. Nothing at all between the car park and the lake following the cinder track. A few Blue Tits, a Reed Bunting and a Robin in the bushes by the lake plus a pair of Magpie.

Again the lake was quiet, even the Mallard were lacking in numbers. Most notable were Canada Goose x3 and Little Grebe x4 and around a dozen Black-headed Gulls.

Despite the cool temperatures there were still a few insects about with Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and even a Comma seen for butterflies. Dragonflies still quite alot of Common Darter around and several Migrant Hawker along the paths and over the scrape by the hide. Nice to meet Ray there as well :t:

Whilst chatting a Kingfisher flew from the lake to the beck right across in front of us. Shortly afterwards Francis appeared and remarked that a trap had been put out to catch the terrapin by the car park ealier in the week, only they caught a mink instead!

[IanF]

I didn't call in this weekend though passing today a Jay flew over the A1185 near the car park entrance heading south. I've not seen one here for quite a while.

[IanF]

A nice sunny start starting off this morning. By lunchtime though the skies had clouded over again making it a little on the dull side. At least it seems to have warmed up a little.

Starting off from the car park 50m along the cycleway by the first set of gates there was quite a lot of activity with Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Blackbird flitting about the bushes and across the track.

Very little else seen until reaching almost the end of the sewage works fence when a Jay flew south to north towards Cloff Bridge. In the stubble field on the west side of the track was a flock of Geese x26 all Canada bar one Greylag.

The trees on the north side of Cloff Bridge held a flock of Redwing x27, easily counted when a Sparrowhawk flew over scattering them all. They flew off southwards.

Pied Wagtail x4 on the horse paddock.

As I headed down Claxton Beck another flock of around 70 birds flew in from the north, mostly Fieldfare but a few Redwing mixed in with them.

Little else seen until reaching the lake other than a few Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, a Comma and a Migrant Hawker still flitting about.

A single Canada Goose was on the lake but a few more Teal and Wigeon that my last visit. Plenty of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Shoveler and Gadwall around today plus three Little Grebe.

Whilst sat on a bench another flock of Fieldfare/Redwing flew over from the hill heading south. Shortly afterwards a flcok of around 50 Linnet/Goldfinch flew over the lake from east to west.

I located a few Redwing and a Fieldfare feeding in the south side hawthorn bushes with a few Blackbirds and a Song Thrush.

Nothing else of note seen apart from a Curlew and a fly over by a Heron heading back to the car park. The feeding station was very quiet in the 30 mins I was there - Dunnock x2, Wren x2, LTT x2, Robin x1, Great Tit x2, Blue Tit x2.

[IanF]

A somewhat brief visit yesterday morning - 9.00 am - 10.30 am. Lightly overcast starting off followed by some sun and then back to overcast mid-morning.

First birds of note were a pair of Mistle Thrush on the top of the pylons heading over to the lake. Curlew x2 and Pheasant x7 were in the field the other side of the railway.

A few Redwing and a Fieldfare were feeding in the hawthorns beside the lake but another 70+ flew over heading southwards. Just as I reached the lake itself I turned back towards to visitor centre and was astounded to see the sky to the south a mass of birds flying east-west and then veering south. 10,000-12,000 I'd guess. My first thought was a mass Redwing invasion but closer inspection showed them to be Starlings. We've had a few hundred around our estate for a week or so but nothing on this scale. Quite a lot headed back east eventually towards the tip but the bulk I never saw again.

The lake was pretty quiet as usual though a few more Gadwall 20+ were present plus a Grey Heron and the single Canada Goose. Several flights of geese 60-70 passed over heading SE, most were Canadas and Greylag but some Pink-footed as well. A Kingfisher was in SE corner. Both male and female Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were seen in flight around the lake.

I forgot to mention on my last visit the willow hedge that's been planted where the lower bench used to be. An attempt at halting erosion of the bank - that's the official line anyway. No doubt in 12 months time the lake will be blocked from view in that area. A shame as there's so few spots you can actually see the lake. By the sounds of it plans are afoot to do a similar thing by the twin benches as well.

Nothing much else seen walking up Claxton Beck though a close view of a Jay flying north-south was a nice sight. By the cycleway a few Bullfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were in the trees.

I spent 20 mins in the feeding station. After putting out a bit of food all that came in were a few Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Wren and a Dunnock. A GSW flew into the top of the tree in the middle but was just heard calling and not seen. Likwewise Bullfinch were close but again not seen.

A few Red Admiral and a few Common Darter seen today but no hawkers.

[IanF]

Pretty dull this morning though it did stay fine.

Not a great deal seen today though two GSW flew over the car park area as I arrived.

A Water Rail was a nice find on the lake. Initially it flew along the north edge from somewhere near the hide and landed in the NE corner where it called a few times disturbing a Snipe which headed off east. A few minutes later the Water Rail flew over the lake diagonally to the SW corner.

Nothing else much seen heading over to the cycleway via Claxton Beck. The stubble field west of Cloff Bridge held around 250 geese. Mostly Greylag but with a few Canada as well. Lots of pigeons flying around.

At the end of the track by the sewage works gates was a flock of around 40 birds. Around 20 were LTT but also a few GT and BT and at least three Bullfinch. Lower in the bushes were Blackbird c.12-15 and a Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries.

Almost as soon as I put out some food in the feeding station a GSW flew onto the post in front of the screen inspecting the the peanuts. As soon as it glanced over it saw me and was off again. It remained a while in the tree tops but didn't come down again. A Magpie, GT and BT came to the feeders today though Wren, Dunnock and Bullfinch were very close by.

[Jaff]

Just letting you know Ian, we had the best of the days birding actually on Redcar beach. Got super close to Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin as well as a single Knot and Ringed Plover. And as it got to high tide and they were forced onto the sea wall so gave some great roosting shots too. Something I've not had a chance at getting since I got into photography. Unfortunately the light was pretty dim.

Can't post the shots yet as my monitor is being repaired, doing this from the laptop.

But cheers for looking after us again, rest assured I'll be back up that way some time after I've got my 300mm to play around with. :t:

[IanF]

Just letting you know Ian, we had the best of the days birding actually on Redcar beach. Got super close to Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin as well as a single Knot and Ringed Plover. And as it got to high tide and they were forced onto the sea wall so gave some great roosting shots too. Something I've not had a chance at getting since I got into photography. Unfortunately the light was pretty dim.

Can't post the shots yet as my monitor is being repaired, doing this from the laptop.

But cheers for looking after us again, rest assured I'll be back up that way some time after I've got my 300mm to play around with. :t:

Sounds like you still managed a pretty good day. With so much dull weather lately I've found the coast a better place to be for light if not for birds as well.

[IanF]

Just realised I've not posted details of my last visit on Sunday, not that there was a lot to see.

Much the same as usual on the lake and along the cycleway. Even quieter than it has been if anything.

The feeding station had a lot more birds that of late with around 20 birds coming in after putting out some food. Mostly Great Tit and Blue Tit but also a small flock of LTT and several Chaffinch. A pair of Robin, two Dunnock, a Magpie and a GSW. Goldfinch and Bullfinch were in the trees above. Still very gloomy with the trees being so dense and so many leaves left on.

[IanF]

A dull and gloomy day from start to finish. I nearly didn't bother taking the camera with me this morning but I figured I'd be bound to come across something decent if I didn't.

Robin, Wren and Dunnock were singing in the bushes around the car park when I arrived. Plus a flock of Redwing c.40 flew south overhead, the first of several flocks seen this morning. The trees by the gate along from the car park towards the lake held a GSW and several Blue Tits.

I headed straight over towards the lake seeing more flights of Redwing and Fieldfare, probably around 250 in total seen this morning. A few Redwing and Fieldfare were feeding in the hawthorns by the lake plus several groups landed often in the tree tops on the west side.

Nothing especial on the lake though a Water Rail was calling from the reeds on the north side. Also it was nice to see Shoveler and Gadwall giving closer views than usual. Robin, Wren, Blue Tits, Magpie and a Redwing were in the bushes by the twin benches.

Just as I was leaving the lake I met a fellow birdwatcher and we wander around the rest of the park seeing what we could find. Not a great deal along Claxton Beck. No sign of the Little WOl but the hedges there contained Yellowhammer, Wren, Treesparrow, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

Very little seen heading back along the cycleway towards the car park until passing the sewage works where a couple of Bullfinch and several LTT were feeding.

After parting company I paid a quick visit to the feeding station but all that came in was one Great Tit and one Chaffinch. Around 30 Canada Geese flew over as I was leaving.

[Peewit]

Hi Ian

I can see that still had an still an enjoyable trip out. Another fabulous report from yourself. :-O

The thing is it is the enjoyment of what you see ... no matter what time you spend in your specialised patch.

Your pictures are fab, and the one of the LTT goes without saying, Bullie pictures are super too! :-O:-O

Regard
Kathy
x

[IanF]

Hi Ian

I can see that still had an still an enjoyable trip out. Another fabulous report from yourself. :-O

The thing is it is the enjoyment of what you see ... no matter what time you spend in your specialised patch.

Your pictures are fab, and the one of the LTT goes without saying, Bullie pictures are super too! :-O:-O

Regard
Kathy
x

Thanks Kathy. As you say it's just as enjoyable getting out and wandering around looking for stuff even if there's no rarities to see. It's good to just be able to see what there is around and where it's at and how that compares to previous visits. Of course it's always nice to come across something different as well. I count myself lucky to live so close to such a nice area.

[IanF]

A visit this morning. Overcast but bright starting off plus a little misty but improving through the morning. Pretty mild still as well.

The table feeders have been put back in the car park. Great Tit, Blue Tit and a Robin were coming to them as I got dropped off. A flock of around a dozen Goldfinch were in the trees in the car park.

Following the gravel track to the lake several Redwing and Fieldfare passed over heading southwards. Not that many really probably Redwing x4 and Fieldfare x8.

On reaching the lake a large flock of finches was feeding in the alders alongside the railway line. Mostly comprising Goldfinch c.40 but at least the Siskin with them and a few Greenfinch and Linnet.

In front of where the lower bench used to be several ducks were feeding close into the bank including Gadwall x8, Shoveler x2, Pochard x1 and a Little Grebe. Of course on seeing me watching they all moved away from the edge. The hawtorn bushes held around 20 Blackbirds and two Robin.

Nothing especial on the lake, just the usual range of birds. Nothing much seen heading along Claxton Beck to the cycleway. A few more Goldfinch were in the trees by Cloff Bridge. Nothing at all in the hedges north of the bridge and very little seen ehading back down the cycleway to the car park until almost past the sewage works. Even then there were jsut a few Redwing and Fieldfare and several more Blackbirds.

The feeding station has been cleared out and a feeder filled with peanuts and a couple of fatballs strung up. Still not a great deal of activity. Birds visiting in 30 mins included Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Chaffinch and a Wren!

[IanF]

A somewhat shorter visit than intended this morning due to the weather. It was fine with some sunshine when I arrived but deteriorated to being hevily overcast with rainy showers by 10.30am.

Lots of activity on the car park feeders when I arrived with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Robin, Dunnock, Reed Bunting and Goldfinch visiting the tables.

Following the hedge by the Activity Centre to the railway yielded a small flock of LTT and several Robin, Wren and Blue Tit. Nearing the railway there was a commotion in the wood as at aleast half a dozen Pheasant broke cover flying into the field. Almost at once a large flock of aruond 60 Goldfinch flew in from the north and circled several times before continuing south.

The lake was pretty quiet again with Gawall c.20 being the most numerous species other than 60+ Black-headed Gulls. Blackbirds were in the berry bushes and several Redwing flew over. Mallard, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck came for food with Pochard, Shoveler and Little Grebe as usual keeping their distance. Roundabout then the rain began so I made my way around to the hide area. More Blackbirds and Redwing in the trees there plus at least two Bullfinch.

Nothing of note seen after that.

[IanF]

A lovely sunny morning for a visit if a little on the chilly side.

On arrival the car park feeders were very busy with mostly Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch and a Robin.

Not a lot seen heading over to the lake. Goldfinch x9 and a Greenfinch were in the alders between the lake and the railway.

Just the usual selection of ducks on the lake. Most notable again were the Black-headed Gulls with around 70 present. Plus Mute Swan x3 though the interloper didn't hang around for long once the others spotted it!

In the hawthorns above the hide were a couple of Redwing feeding on berries along with several Blackbirds and a Blue Tit.

Cow Bridge Beck/Claxton Beck junction - several Great Tit, Dunnock, Wren and a Robin feeding in the bushes. Coot, Moorhen and a Little Grebe on the beck.

Very little seen heading over to the cycleway and back along to the car park. A few LTT were by the sewage works but not showing themselves.

The feeding station was very quiet despite well stocked with food. A Tree Sparrow and a Yellowhammer did briefly pop in but even the tit numbers were down. Most birds seemed to be sticking with the car park tables with Tree Sparrow x8, Yellowhammer x3 plus the usual selection.

[IanF]

Blue skies and lots of sunshine starting off this morning. A shame it didn't last for long as the cloud cover moved in leaving heavy dull skies from around 9.30am onwards.

A bit of a thrushy start with Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbird c.10 in the berry bushes in the car park. Bullfinch x2 in the hedge by the feeders. Plus Mistle Thrush x2 in the trees nearby as I headed towards the lake. Lots more Blackbirds around in the hedges.

Chaffinch and a few Goldfinch were in the alders by the railway with Robin, Wren, Blackbird and at least three Redwing in the bushes opposite.

Quite a few birds on the lake. Gadwall x16 were the most numerous species. Tufted Duck and Mallard around a dozen each. I didn't count the Coot and Moorhen though numbers weren't high. Little Grebe x4 with a pair feeding in front of the viewing screen. As I walked down the steps a Water Rail shot out from the reeds below the screen landing in the water in front of the island opposite. It seemed in no hurry as it investigated the reeds and end of the island eventually disappearing from view around the right hand end.

The Gadwall and Little Grebe kept me entertained as they fed in front of the screen with the cheeky Little Grebe's pecking the rear end of the Gadwall every now and again. They were diving for fish and the Gadwall taking advantage of the weed they often brought to the surface.

Not a great deal seen heading around to the hide other than Blackbirds and a few Blue Tit though on reaching the hide Siskin x6 flew from the alders on the west side of the beck heading towards the railway. Also as I crossed the bridge Bullfinch 10-12 flew from the trees by Cow Bridge Back heading SE - the most I've seen in one group here. The alders across the grassy strip held lots of birds - Goldfinch c.30, Blue Tit, Great Tit and at least six Redpoll. Some were pretty red but the light was terrible by then. I think they were just Lesser Redpoll.

With rain threatening I then just headed back to the car park. Tree Sparrow c.12 were on the tables. Keith and Len were in the feeding station where a GSW had visited earlier. As we came away a flock of LTT c.12 moved though the trees as they fed.

As I walked back home along the A1185 a GSW flew over from the west heading towards the feeding station. Yet more Bullfinch were in the bushes by the SW corner of the park. Today was by far the highest count I've had of Bullfinch here - probably around 20-24.

[IanF]

A look back this morning. I was hoping the Redpoll and Bullfinch would be still around but no sign of them when I was there. Several 'Northern Bullfinch' with the heavier bill were reported locally yesterday and I suspect these may have been as well.

Bright again starting off but soon clouded over and a lot more windy today.

After checking for the Redpoll first I wandered around the lake but it was pretty much the same as yesterday. Lots of Gadwall about and up to the same antics with the dabchicks but nothing else of note.

Heading back to the car park via the hedge by the Activity Centre I came across some Goldfinch and Bullfinch but they didn't hang around long enough for a decent look.

The car park tables were very quiet but the feeding station was very active. Same birds as yesterday but most noteworthy was a female GSW that came in a couple of times for peanuts and one one occasion stayed for 15 minutes. A male was in the bushes behind the feeding station a couple of times but didn't come down for any food.

Also of note were the Tree Sparrow with 25 present at one point but always at least a few the whole time I was there.

[IanF]

Another brief visit today just to the feeding station around lunchtime.

Much the same birds as yesterday with c.40 coming to the feeders. LTT and GSW were in the trees above but didn't come down to feed.

Mammals stole the show with a Bank Vole popping out every now and again to feed on peanuts. Very difficult to spot though.

Also really close encounter with two deer. I was leaning against the screen when a lady with a dog came through the gate and two deer came galloping along the back of the screen suddenly veering away when they saw me and headed off west. A strange place to see them as that area is pretty much enclosed by fences. Certainly gave me a shock let alone them.