Monday at Moors 3pm - 8pm
With my wife having an operation at Kidderminster hospital I was given the opportunity of sitting in a waiting room for 6 hours or sitting in the East hide
.. No brainer really
The East path has now been completed and looks brilliant.
Considering that the Flashes are dry and consequently very few people visiting them, I was surprised that there were only two other people on site...and yes this is now peak migration time.:eek!:
A few more people appeared over the period of my stay mostly grandparents and children and a new member Russell good to meet you:t:
The large gulls were regularly arriving in good numbers and settling on the water for good periods. Unfortunately the moderate NW wind meant that they were all facing into it making it difficult to check them thoroughly enough for Yellow legged gulls. When the wind dropped the sun became an obstacle but I did manage to find a juvenile YLG. The birds fly off to the NW and land probably half a mile away ..I'm not sure exactly where and what they are feeding on but occasionally some fields are cut for 'turf' so maybe this is the case. Might be worth closer inspection.
Amongst the large gulls were also plenty of BHG but no Meds as yet.
There is a definite influx of coot and duck and geese numbers are also on the rise. At one point all the waterfowl scurried into the southern section of the Pool indicative of otter presence but now sign of it.
As the day progressed more waders appeared, mostly feeding in the shallows of the scrape and promontory. Nothing unexpected but with ideal conditions in the Lagoon, SW marsh and the scrape I would expect something unusual to appear in the next few weeks.
It is apparent that little grebes are having a good breeding season with a new brood of 3 off shore in the NE corner. Other large chicks/juvs were spead around the pool and 2 in the Broadmeadow pool.
It was good to see the GCG chick doing well and along with the little grebes catching plenty of small fish.
It was great to see the common tern juvs flying around but it is disappointing that only one pair has bred this year. Not sure why but other sites have seen a decline but others an increase|>|
Unusually but not unknown for the time of year a new pair of common tern seem to be setting up territory on the juvs raft and attacked both juvs quite violently prior to 'scraping'.
With so many flying insects over the Pool it wasn't surprising to see good numbers of hirundines and a few swift which have now mostly moved on.
Passerines were less than conspicuous but could be detected if you listen out for their contact calls. There are still a lot of 'acros' (reed and sedge warblers) foraging along the waters edge of the reeds.
All in all there were a lot of birds on site but strangely no little egrets :-C . But I do think we will get something decent soon but we need a bit more coverage... still another chance of a spotted crake with so much good habitat available. Although the Flashes probably won't be available for waders don't give up and check the Lagoon from the west hide where it can be seen to the right of the sand Martin box.
Species count MOORS:
GCG 3 (1 JUV). Little grebe 22 (7 juvs 3 new chicks).
Cormorant 2. Mute swan 3. Greylag 12. Canada geese 120. Mallard 120. Gadwall 4(1 juv). Teal 12+. Shoveler 8. Wigeon . Tufted its hard to quantify as chicks are scattered and some are independent but at least 10 broods. Coot min of 150. Water rail North Moors.
Snipe 5. Green sand 4. Common sand 2. Lapwing 45-50.
Common Tern 6(2 juvs).
BHG 600+. Large gulls 400+ ( 320 LBBG 80+ Herring). Yellow Legged Gull juv
Grey heron 7.
Buzzard, sparrowhawk male.
Stock dove 6. Green woodp.
Swift 4. House Martin 60. Sand Martin 10. Swallow 12.
Pied wag.
Reed warbler 10. Sedge warbler. Chiffchaff 3. Blackcap.
Reed Bunting.
North Moors: GCG. Teal 4. Water rail.
Reed warbler several.
