RSPB Middleton Lakes (4 Viewers)

[Julie50]

Gosanders or merganser?

I think they were probably female goosanders, but they had a white mark between the eye and upper bill and rather fluffy backs of their heads!?

Could not get a good picture unfortunately. There were 6 females by the footbridge over the river Tame.

Had a quick visit on coming back from my holidays at about 5pm.

Julie

 

[Julie50]

Second photo!

....not sure if it adds much!

 

[Phil Andrews]

Goosander Julie

 

[Julie50]

Thank you - I thought merganser was unlikely

 

[paulthomas]

Thank you - I thought merganser was unlikely

Unlikely but not totally impossible around here. But if you look at the transition area between the ginger/brown of the head and grey/white of the lower neck it's a more gradual transition in the Merganser than the Goosander.

 

[Piccalilli]

Something strange happened tonight at Middleton. The Starlings roosted in the west corner of Reed bed Pool just behind West screen. I was standing about 20 yards from them as I find this is the best location to count the Egrets. Suddenly there was what I can only describe as 3 hand claps in very close succession and a group of 100 or so Starlings would fly out and go and roost over the far side of Fishers Mill. This happened 15 - 20 times in the space of 10 minutes until all the Starlings had moved. Has anyone ever come across this before. Is it the noise of a predator trying to catch them - Heron or even Bittern perhaps. At one point I was convinced it was someone clapping but there was no one else there and it was always identical and just 3 claps.

Short-Eared Owl was the highlight tonight dropping vertically into JW and then drifting South. This bird may be new in tonight or just passing through. 3 Great White Egret roosted riverside with 29 LE's.

 

[geoffw1946]

October finished on 100 species and the Short-eared Owl brought the year list to 161.

 

[Piccalilli]

October finished on 100 species and the Short-eared Owl brought the year list to 161.

Geoff - Was Firecrest not new for the year or have I missed more than one in 2017.

 

[geoffw1946]

Geoff - Was Firecrest not new for the year or have I missed more than one in 2017.

2 were reported on facebook 25/3/17.

 

[Piccalilli]

2 were reported on facebook 25/3/17.

Geoff

I'm starting to realise just how much goes unreported. The car park was full yesterday but very few reports came out. I also note that the RSPB website has a sightings list which I think is taken directly from BirdTrack. There has been some interesting stuff on there previously including Glossy Ibis this year. This Wednesday a Tree Sparrow was recorded - see right hand side of extract below, 4th bird down.

 

[geoffw1946]

Geoff

I'm starting to realise just how much goes unreported. The car park was full yesterday but very few reports came out. I also note that the RSPB website has a sightings list which I think is taken directly from BirdTrack. There has been some interesting stuff on there previously including Glossy Ibis this year. This Wednesday a Tree Sparrow was recorded - see right hand side of extract below, 4th bird down.

It's difficult to know what to count sometimes.

 

[geoffw1946]

A calm and sunny day, 2 Red Admirals were flying. 55 species of birds were seen highlights being 2 Great White Egret, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Goosander, 66+ Golden Plover, 3 Snipe and 3 Stonechat.

 

[Dick-E-Dipper]

Geoff

This Wednesday a Tree Sparrow was recorded - see right hand side of extract below, 4th bird down.

Must be the same person who visited RSPB Sandwell, see their recent sightings of the 2 Nov.8-P

They have never been seen there for years!

Richard

 

[SteveAtkinson]

A calm and sunny day, 2 Red Admirals were flying. 55 species of birds were seen highlights being 2 Great White Egret, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Goosander, 66+ Golden Plover, 3 Snipe and 3 Stonechat.

Thought we'd lost you to the joys of tarmac paths Geoff

 

[geoffw1946]

Thought we'd lost you to the joys of tarmac paths Geoff

I checked out Ladywalk today, no tarmac paths there but plenty of hides to rest up. Did see a Great White Egret fly over, there getting everywhere now.

 

[geoffw1946]

4 Little Egret were seen today but 62 have been seen going to roost at the heronry on the 23rd per Mercian Birding so they must roam a fair distance, 4 Shelduck were on the Hall Lake, the Black Swan was on FMP, there appear to be several in the West Midlands so maybe some young birds will be seen eventually. Also seen were 2 Goldeneye, 1 Peregrine, 1 Lapwing (the only wader noted!), 2 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodies, 3 Stonechat, 12 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jay and 2 Raven.
On my last visit on the 20/11 a large dragonfly was hunting near FMP (too cold now), 60 Golden Plover flew over.
The year list is now on 162 with a Hen Harrier reported on the 17/11 and with one seen at KWP on the 23/11 (MB) it could be worth keeping an eye out for it.

 

[Piccalilli]

4 Little Egret were seen today but 62 have been seen going to roost at the heronry on the 23rd per Mercian Birding so they must roam a fair distance...................

The majority appear to go directly to Hemlingford Water, Kingsbury Water Park in the morning and gather there again in the evening before coming across to roost. This is a distance of just over 2 miles as the Egret flies. 45 were on Hemlingford today (T Hyde) - must be good feeding there. I've seen them leave and arrive at both ends but hardly see any commuting in the middle (Broomey Croft car park) so they either go over very high or take a strange route.

 

[geoffw1946]

It's hard going finding anything unusual at this time of the year and only 71 species of birds have been seen this month so far, highlights being 2/12, 3 Pochard, 1 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 3 Stonechat. 4/12, 5 Shelduck, 2 Peregrine together, 40 Lapwing, 3 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing and 1 Treecreeper. 5/12, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great White Egret NP, 1 Snipe and 2 Goldcrest.
92 species were seen in November.

 

[Dick-E-Dipper]

Geof
To add to your list above, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (highlight!) was seen on 2 Dec as per RSPB Middleton

Richard

 

[geoffw1946]

Geof
To add to your list above, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (highlight!) was seen on 2 Dec as per RSPB Middleton

Richard

Thanks Richard.