RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

[Piccalilli]

Not sure if you've got Common Gull on the Middleton year list Geoff but there was one on Jubilee this evening. Also the Silt Pool Starling murmuration and roost has started with 1000-1500 birds tonight. If the last two years is anything to go by then they should rapidly increase to 10,000+ by mid March.

 

[geoffw1946]

Not sure if you've got Common Gull on the Middleton year list Geoff but there was one on Jubilee this evening. Also the Silt Pool Starling murmuration and roost has started with 1000-1500 birds tonight. If the last two years is anything to go by then they should rapidly increase to 10,000+ by mid March.

Thanks Steve, Common Gull is a month tick.
A Great White Egret was on JWs and DNR, 2 Goosander on NP, 7 Stonechat were around JWs (5 males and 2 females).
A fly through Curlew and a Lesser Spotted Woodie were reported.

 

[geoffw1946]

The Bittern reported yesterday takes the year list to 100.
Today 2 Great White Egret were seen, 1 NP and 1 flew from DNR to JWs. A Ringed Plover was on JWs with 2 Stonechat also there.
94 species were seen in February.

 

[geoffw1946]

59 species of birds were noted today including 1 Great White Egret on JWs, 2 Snipe, 3 Stonechat, Redwing, 1 Raven and 1+ Bearded Tit FMP (101). A Dunlin fly through was reported.

 

[geoffw1946]

Water levels were high today and not many birds about but the best were a Great White Egret on DNR, 8 Pochard, 19 Goldeneye, 11 Oystercatcher, 2 Skylark, 4 Stonechat and a Chiffchaff singing.
The year list is now on 103 with a Red-legged Partridge on JWs picked up on a trail cam on 14/2 and a Redshank on NP yesterday, both per RSPB.

 

[IvanS]

Egyptian goose was still strutting its stuff this afternoon

 

[geoffw1946]

Been away for a week now that the caravan site in Lincs has reopened and not a bad week there with Cattle Egret, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Shore Lark, Twite, Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull, Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier, could do with some of them at Midd Lakes.
Todays highlights at Midd Lakes were 10 Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail DNR, 1 Dunlin and 2 Redshank on NP and a sum plum Med Gull on JWs.
A Bearded Tit and an Egyptian Goose were reported.
The year list is now 104 with recent Avocets which appear to have left.

 

[geoffw1946]

A warm and pleasant Spring day and the first LRP appeared on JWs (105). not much else though, best being 2 Redshank, 7 noisy Oystercatchers and 3 Pochard on DNR.

 

[geoffw1946]

Today the LRP was still on JWs and now 4 Redshank. The Egyptian Goose was on NP, a Snipe flew out of the bird feeders pool into the Play Meadow. A male Stonechat northwest JWs and 2 Brimstone noted.

 

[SteveAtkinson]

The pair of Garganey were showing well from the west screen by late morning although elusive earlier on. Initially there were 3 Avocets by the east screen but another one had joined them by lunchtime. 3 Little Ringed Plover were out in the middle of JWs and 4 Redshank were also on there. Chiffchaff numbers seem to be increasing. Great White Egret reported flying south.

Pic of drake Gargeney follow this link https://twitter.com/atkinson_steve/status/843128955917996035

Cheers
Steve

 

[geoffw1946]

The year list is now on 109 with the addition of Garganey, Ruff, Jack Snipe and Yellow-legged Gull all reported over the last few days.
Today I missed some good birds and the best I could find were 10 Oystercatcher, 3 Avocet and 2 Redshank.

 

[Piccalilli]

The year list is now on 109 .........

Have we had Sand Martin yet Geoff. 13 on New Reedbed Pool tonight.

 

[geoffw1946]

Have we had Sand Martin yet Geoff. 13 on New Reedbed Pool tonight.

Nice one Steve, 110 it is then.

 

[geoffw1946]

The year list has gone up to 113 with Knot, Black-tailed Godwit and Blackcap reported.
Today I only got as far as JWs and the best I could find were 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 LRP, 1 or 2 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 5 Sand Martin, 1 White Wagtail and 2 Blackcap. The 2 Garganey were reported again on FMP per Bob D.

 

[Rob Williams]

Wonderful walk around the reserve this morning in glorious spring weather.

Had 6 Black-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage; Sedge Warblers, lots of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, heard the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, lots of Cetti's Warblers, a Wheatear and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew in, 3 Redshanks, 2 Avocet.

 

[geoffw1946]

The March count was 97 species and the year list is up to 121 with the addition of Firecrest, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Common Sandpiper.
Today was my first visit of the month and I saw 53 species the best being 2 Avocet, 4 LRP, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, a few Sand Martins and a Swallow.

 

[geoffw1946]

Highlights today were 3 Garganey still FMP, 1 Hobby through (122), Water Rail heard Silt Pool, 4 Avocet, 7 Black-tailed Godwit JWs, 1 Common Sandpiper, Lesser spotted Woodie calling Heronry Wood, Reed Warbler (123) and Sedge Warbler singing,
A Med Gull was reported on NP and a Whitethroat (124) on the southern meadow.

 

[geoffw1946]

Two more for the year list,
11/4/17, Osprey (Arthur Warden per TVB). 125.
12/4/17, Grasshopper Warbler singing FMP, ( per RSPB twitter) 126.

 

[SteveAtkinson]

The Sandwich Tern from Sunday. It spent 40mins fishing on the Silt Pool from 6:00 - 6:40pm. One of a number that came through the Midlands during that afternoon and evening.

Cheers

Steve

 

[geoffw1946]

Yellow Wagtail reported today on NP per RSPB twitter (127).