JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
I was having similar fortune in this endeavour not far away that morning, between boating lake, rifle range & Burton Point. Can't be far off.
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Flint Point, Shotton & Chester (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Peugeot
- Start date
I was having similar fortune in this endeavour not far away that morning, between boating lake, rifle range & Burton Point. Can't be far off.
Shotton Steelworks
03/05/16
2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 7 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 53 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, and 2 Moorhen were on the pools, with 6 Avocet, and 2 Common Sandpiper around the margins.
20 Swift, 20 Sand Martin, and 10 House Martin were hawking over the water.
2 Whimbrel passed through.
2 Pairs of Oystercatcher are breeding on the islands.
60+ Common Tern, were around the pools, with approximately 100 breeding pairs of Black Headed Gull, which are breeding on both, the 'tern rafts', and also on the newly created 'gull breeding islands'........these islands are a fabulous idea.........which have been carefully created, so as to encourage the Black Headed Gull colony to thrive, which in turn, will then hopefully attract breeding Mediterranean Gull, as well as other species also.
Other birds of note from the visit,......1 Garden Warbler, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 17 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, and 1 Short Eared Owl, which gave great views at 05.30am, whilst hunting around the rough grassland areas.
03/05/16
2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 7 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 53 Tufted Duck, 4 Coot, and 2 Moorhen were on the pools, with 6 Avocet, and 2 Common Sandpiper around the margins.
20 Swift, 20 Sand Martin, and 10 House Martin were hawking over the water.
2 Whimbrel passed through.
2 Pairs of Oystercatcher are breeding on the islands.
60+ Common Tern, were around the pools, with approximately 100 breeding pairs of Black Headed Gull, which are breeding on both, the 'tern rafts', and also on the newly created 'gull breeding islands'........these islands are a fabulous idea.........which have been carefully created, so as to encourage the Black Headed Gull colony to thrive, which in turn, will then hopefully attract breeding Mediterranean Gull, as well as other species also.
Other birds of note from the visit,......1 Garden Warbler, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 17 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, and 1 Short Eared Owl, which gave great views at 05.30am, whilst hunting around the rough grassland areas.
Shotton Steelworks
No problem......and thanks for the kind comment.
Thanks for the updates, and nice one on the G W Egret!
No problem......and thanks for the kind comment.
Shotton Steelworks
08/05/16
100+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'.
39 Tufted Duck, 16 Mallard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 11 Gadwall, 30+ Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, 5 Coot, and 3 Shoveler, were on the pools.
2 Cetti's Warbler were heard.
The newly created breeding islands.......100+ breeding pair of Black Headed Gull, 2 breeding pair of Oystercatcher, and 5 breeding pair of Canada Goose.....not bad for the first year of their existence.
Other notable birds from the visit.....8 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, and 1 Whinchat.
08/05/16
100+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'.
39 Tufted Duck, 16 Mallard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 11 Gadwall, 30+ Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, 5 Coot, and 3 Shoveler, were on the pools.
2 Cetti's Warbler were heard.
The newly created breeding islands.......100+ breeding pair of Black Headed Gull, 2 breeding pair of Oystercatcher, and 5 breeding pair of Canada Goose.....not bad for the first year of their existence.
Other notable birds from the visit.....8 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear, and 1 Whinchat.
Shotton Steelworks
09/05/16
At 'first light' again this morning.......
3 Shoveler, 11 Mallard, 10 Canada Goose, 4 Gadwall, 2 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 40 Tufted Duck, and 200+ Black Headed Gull, were on the pools, with 1 Wood Sandpiper ( no birds were recorded passing through the site during 2015 ), also present around the margins.
1 Cetti's Warbler was heard, and 1 Whimbrel passed through.
150+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts', along with 1 Black Tern ( birds were also recorded roosting with the Common Tern colony, during both 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons ).
Other notable birds.......6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, and 4 Wheatear.
09/05/16
At 'first light' again this morning.......
3 Shoveler, 11 Mallard, 10 Canada Goose, 4 Gadwall, 2 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 40 Tufted Duck, and 200+ Black Headed Gull, were on the pools, with 1 Wood Sandpiper ( no birds were recorded passing through the site during 2015 ), also present around the margins.
1 Cetti's Warbler was heard, and 1 Whimbrel passed through.
150+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts', along with 1 Black Tern ( birds were also recorded roosting with the Common Tern colony, during both 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons ).
Other notable birds.......6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, and 4 Wheatear.
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Shotton Steelworks
10/05/16
At 'first light'......
200+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'
200+ Black Headed Gull, occupied both the 'islands and rafts'
36 Tufted Duck, 5 Coot, 3 Mute Swan, 14 Mallard, 29 Canada Goose, 3 Moorhen, 7 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools.
3 Cetti's Warbler were heard.
Other notable birds....3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, and 1 Garden Warbler.
10/05/16
At 'first light'......
200+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'
200+ Black Headed Gull, occupied both the 'islands and rafts'
36 Tufted Duck, 5 Coot, 3 Mute Swan, 14 Mallard, 29 Canada Goose, 3 Moorhen, 7 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools.
3 Cetti's Warbler were heard.
Other notable birds....3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, and 1 Garden Warbler.
Shotton Steelworks
14/05/16
05.30am this morning......
250+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'.
28 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Mallard, 14 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen ( with 4 fledglings ), 8 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Coot, and 20+ Swift, were on and around the pools.
1 Little Owl, was perched along the riverside footpath.
Other notable birds.....4 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, and 2 Cetti's Warbler.
14/05/16
05.30am this morning......
250+ Common Tern were on the 'rafts'.
28 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Mallard, 14 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen ( with 4 fledglings ), 8 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Coot, and 20+ Swift, were on and around the pools.
1 Little Owl, was perched along the riverside footpath.
Other notable birds.....4 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, and 2 Cetti's Warbler.
Shotton Steelworks
15/05/16
26 Tufted Duck, 32 Canada Goose, 4 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen, 12 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, and 2 Mute Swan, were on the pools.
Common Tern colony, remains stable at 250+ birds.
Other notable birds.......1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, and 1 Spotted Flycatcher ( 2015 arrival date 12/05 ).
15/05/16
26 Tufted Duck, 32 Canada Goose, 4 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen, 12 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, and 2 Mute Swan, were on the pools.
Common Tern colony, remains stable at 250+ birds.
Other notable birds.......1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, and 1 Spotted Flycatcher ( 2015 arrival date 12/05 ).
Shotton Steelworks
20/05/16
At 05.00am this morning......
12 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 10 Mallard, 29 Tufted Duck, 18 Canada Goose, and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools, with 20+ Swift hawking over.
2 Tree Pipit, remain around the rough grassland areas.
The Common Tern colony, is still stable at around 250+ birds.
Other notable birds......5 Cetti's Warbler, were heard singing.
20/05/16
At 05.00am this morning......
12 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 10 Mallard, 29 Tufted Duck, 18 Canada Goose, and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools, with 20+ Swift hawking over.
2 Tree Pipit, remain around the rough grassland areas.
The Common Tern colony, is still stable at around 250+ birds.
Other notable birds......5 Cetti's Warbler, were heard singing.
Shotton Steelworks
20/05/16
I've just found out a few minutes ago........
That the Bee-eater, that I recorded, seen flying high over the steelworks on 20/08/15 last year, which I then subsequently submitted a description of to the Welsh Records Rarities Panel,.... has been ACCEPTED...........I'm thrilled, and I'm looking forward to telling the lads from the Merseyside Ringing Group on Sunday morning, who'll be thrilled also,....it's a 'first' for the site, and another great record for the steelworks.
20/05/16
I've just found out a few minutes ago........
That the Bee-eater, that I recorded, seen flying high over the steelworks on 20/08/15 last year, which I then subsequently submitted a description of to the Welsh Records Rarities Panel,.... has been ACCEPTED...........I'm thrilled, and I'm looking forward to telling the lads from the Merseyside Ringing Group on Sunday morning, who'll be thrilled also,....it's a 'first' for the site, and another great record for the steelworks.
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Shotton Steelworks
22/05/16
2 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 35 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 16 Canada Goose, 3 Little Grebe ( + 2 fledglings ), and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools, with 60+ Swift, 4 House Martin, and 5 Swallow, hawking over the water.
Common Tern number's on the 'rafts', are now very difficult to monitor, due to so many birds now incubating eggs, so I'll have to wait until next weekend, when the Ringing Group visit the 'rafts' to carry out the first official count, to determine a reliable number........but there's possibly 500+ on today's evidence.
It will be good to see how this year's breeding season pans out, after the creation of the new 'breeding islands', which have encouraged many of the Black Headed Gull's to re-locate, and thus, hopefully free up more space for additional tern's to breed on the 'rafts', after it was discovered last year, that if 13 pairs of Black Headed Gull bred within a particular compartment, then 0 terns would breed, within that compartment........interesting !
Other notable birds from today's visit......2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, and a noticeable return of high number's of Jackdaw to the site.
22/05/16
2 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 35 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 16 Canada Goose, 3 Little Grebe ( + 2 fledglings ), and 2 Great Crested Grebe, were on the pools, with 60+ Swift, 4 House Martin, and 5 Swallow, hawking over the water.
Common Tern number's on the 'rafts', are now very difficult to monitor, due to so many birds now incubating eggs, so I'll have to wait until next weekend, when the Ringing Group visit the 'rafts' to carry out the first official count, to determine a reliable number........but there's possibly 500+ on today's evidence.
It will be good to see how this year's breeding season pans out, after the creation of the new 'breeding islands', which have encouraged many of the Black Headed Gull's to re-locate, and thus, hopefully free up more space for additional tern's to breed on the 'rafts', after it was discovered last year, that if 13 pairs of Black Headed Gull bred within a particular compartment, then 0 terns would breed, within that compartment........interesting !
Other notable birds from today's visit......2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, and a noticeable return of high number's of Jackdaw to the site.
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Shotton Steelworks
26/05/16
05.45am..........
Very good number's of Common Tern were present on the 'rafts', and I'm hopeful, that when the ringing lads go out on the boat at the weekend, that we're going to achieve a similar count of breeding terns, as was noted at this stage last year.
I'm also hopeful, that along with the recently accepted Bee-eater, I can also submit 1 or 2 other birds that have been found jointly by both myself, and also, the Merseyside Ringing Group lads, here on the steelworks,......with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit 'probable' ( bird was seen in quite poor light, and no definitive call was heard ), Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Temminck's Stint, Dotterel x9, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Browed Warbler x2, Firecrest, and Bearded Tit, all still needing to be officially submitted, with the lads having taken some good photos along the way, in particular, the Dotterel, and Bearded Tit's.
21 Tufted Duck, 1 Moorhen, 6 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swan, 14 Canada Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, and 1 Little Grebe, were on the pools.
Other notable birds from the visit......1 Little Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, and 1 Whinchat.
26/05/16
05.45am..........
Very good number's of Common Tern were present on the 'rafts', and I'm hopeful, that when the ringing lads go out on the boat at the weekend, that we're going to achieve a similar count of breeding terns, as was noted at this stage last year.
I'm also hopeful, that along with the recently accepted Bee-eater, I can also submit 1 or 2 other birds that have been found jointly by both myself, and also, the Merseyside Ringing Group lads, here on the steelworks,......with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit 'probable' ( bird was seen in quite poor light, and no definitive call was heard ), Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Temminck's Stint, Dotterel x9, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Browed Warbler x2, Firecrest, and Bearded Tit, all still needing to be officially submitted, with the lads having taken some good photos along the way, in particular, the Dotterel, and Bearded Tit's.
21 Tufted Duck, 1 Moorhen, 6 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swan, 14 Canada Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Coot, and 1 Little Grebe, were on the pools.
Other notable birds from the visit......1 Little Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, and 1 Whinchat.
Shotton Steelworks
31/05/16
The guy's have completed the first Common Tern breeding count for 2016.....
346 individual nests were counted, which collectively contained just under 1000 eggs.......we're delighted !
4 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe ( displaying ), 1 Little Grebe, 23 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, and 1 Barnacle Goose, were on the pools.
Other notable birds......2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Little Owl, and 1 Tawny Owl.
31/05/16
The guy's have completed the first Common Tern breeding count for 2016.....
346 individual nests were counted, which collectively contained just under 1000 eggs.......we're delighted !
4 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe ( displaying ), 1 Little Grebe, 23 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, and 1 Barnacle Goose, were on the pools.
Other notable birds......2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Little Owl, and 1 Tawny Owl.
Shotton Steelworks
01/06/16
2 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebe ( 1 juv ), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard, 13 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, and 3 Coot, were on the pools.
Other notable birds......5 Mistle Thrush passed through, 1 Great White Egret ( flyover ), 1 Marsh Harrier ( flyover ), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Cetti's Warbler.
01/06/16
2 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebe ( 1 juv ), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Tufted Duck, 2 Mallard, 13 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, and 3 Coot, were on the pools.
Other notable birds......5 Mistle Thrush passed through, 1 Great White Egret ( flyover ), 1 Marsh Harrier ( flyover ), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Cetti's Warbler.
