sheepwash urban park (1 Viewer)

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwahers, just a quick update before I go for a drink or two. Yesterday produced 1 adult LRP and 2 juv considering Dave or myself failed to connect with this species last year we must be on a roll3, 2 peregrines on johns lane pylon tonight one having a late lunch was also good to see, Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, not a lot of birding done this weekend:-C but I did see 3 common tern vacating the wash sunday evening. Dave managed 3 common sand lunchtime and 1 was still present this evening. A female peregrine perched on johns lane pylon but other than the usual fayre the wash remained quiet. Cheers and happy birdingB

 

[Baggieshep]

Eyes To The Skies

Hiya sheepwashers, gulls are now the commonest species at the wash with numbers about 300 tonight BHG LBBG about equal all various ages and a few herring gull. Dave heard a OYC but didn't see it so obviously a fly over bird and 2 peregrines alighted from the pylon soaring high after making quite a noise. Im sure loads of species fly over the wash never to get their feet wet or to land so a valuble tick is missed:-C. So old and new birders don't forget to scan the skies now and again:t:. PS theres a name of a bird hidden above:t:, if anybody can find the answer Laurie as promised to get the bunting out and buy you a pint in the Tame Bridge3. Cheers and happy birdingB

 

[Baggieshep]

Heard But Not Seen

Hiya sheepwashers, its children that should be seen and not heard so the old saying goes but is often the case with birds, heard but not seen. Following on from Daves OYC the other day a kingfisher was heard going along the river but due to high vegetation a blue and orange flash was not seen. A single cormorant has now taken a like to the wash or its just showing the poles how to fish. Dave took the trouble to count the gulls ca150 BHG 70 LBBG and 10 herring gull. Yesterday Dave had 2 lapwing midland birder and myself could only conjure up 1 this was later to change as Craig aka midland birder got it up to 4 and they duly stayed so I could ogle them early evening. Craig also ventured over the tip to record stock dove and marbled white butterfly which was also recorded today. Cheers and happy birdngB ..

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, 1 common sand and a kingfisher this afternoon were the only birds of note. The larger gulls were frequenting the A/W pool due to no work being done but its looking good for autumn wader passage:t:. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, Im not a particular lover of the wash weekends during good weather as it tends to attract the local riffraff and us selfish birders want our LNRs to ourselves to enjoy the wildlife:C. Nowadays I call ten oclock early on sunday morning a single common sand was on the wader island but the rubbish left and all night fishermen put me off so I found refuge in a local café for a bellybuster:t:. A visit at four oclock was no different as two fishermen decided to drink beer and cast their lines from the wader scrape:C. I then decided a trip through the tunnel and on to the tip was my best bet ca 100 big gulls 2 gbbg a few herring gull the rest being lbbg but no waders seen:-C. On the tip scramblers and quads:eek!: time to go for aB . Eight olcock tonight only produced a sprawk. I will persistently watch the wash as the place has to many good memories besides someone as to do it lol. On a good note at least 5 pair of little grebe have bred but sadly no crested:-C. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[rollingthunder]

I popped in for half an hour or so ystda ca1200 and all the litter is depressing. So-called 'fishermen' that can be bothered to walk from their cars with all the clutter and not bother to bag the shite and take it back with them.

I am afraid that the visual aspect of all this crap and detritus just puts me off visiting - who's going to clear it all up? I saw nappies and condoms - why not have a graveyard so that the scumbags can end their days there? I mean there must be conception, picnics and every other aspect of some of their scrutty existance:C

Birdwise quite a few larger Gulls including a juv Herring and a reasonable number of juv BHG's. Still Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing...........

NethertonRez had freshly fly-tipped binbags and loads of socks and teashirts discarded whilst FensPools hit back with a large picnicking herd of pikeys bathing like a group of hippo's from a wildlife documentary - are they filming Little Britain?

Laurie:t:

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, a single common sand was noted for the 4th day running and green woody was noted after a fair few weeks absent. Grey wag and 2 sprawk were seen and 9 heron was also note worthy. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Common Sand Watch

Hiya sheepwashers. as big bro would say day five on common sand watch its just still feeding on the waters edge, 2 well developed green woody juveniles were good and a buzzard were the only birds of note. A meander over to the A/W pool produced ca70 lbbg and about 6 herring gull. The pools edge looks odds on to attract a wader of some sort may even have to take Geoffs old telescope and a tripod I acquired from a friend over the tip this w/e to see if it brings me any luck:t:.Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, Ive not managed much time around the wash since Wednesday but common sand as been recorded today that makes it 9 consecutive days both green and GS woody have also been seen the last few days. The large gulls have now returned to their favoured A/W pool I hope to check this out tomorrow. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[rollingthunder]

Hiya Mark - I remember when Sheepwash was in its 'dynamic' stage when all the edge was exposed and the grading/filling in work was being carried out and having in excess of 25 Common Sands:eek!: on several days during the Spring movement - how times change!

Laurie :t:

 

[Baggieshep]

Two Weeks All Inclusive

Hiya sheepwashers, the regular com sand was recorded again today my theory is that its booked a two week all inclusive at the wash with the promise of all you can eat and drink easy when your the only wader in town:eek!:. Hiya Laurie if there was 26 on the wash nowadays it would take me all lunch hour to count em:t:.:t:. Other birds of note were 1 kingfisher green and spotted woodies single buzzard 2 or 3 jays or a very mobile 1:t:. Reed warblers seem to be feedin 2nd broods a family party of bullfinches have been recorded and the usual warblers and tits have all seemed to do well. The A/W pool only produced the usual water birds and large gulls but im still optimistic for a wader or two:t:. Cheers and happy birdinB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, nothing out of the ordinary to report the last few days:-C. GS and green woody a long with jays and kingfishers can now be seen most days. The com sand managed to be recorded for eleven days consecutive but a peregrine perched on the pylon Wednesday may have spooked it a sprawk with prey was also noted last night and 2 cormorant flew across. A mixture of swifts, house marts and a few swallows easily number 100 plus around the wash and tip area most nights at dusk. Coots are now grouping together making them easier to estimate ca70. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Hiya sheepwashers, I could only manage a quick visit on Saturday as sunday I had a busy dayB .. Peregrine enjoyed lunch on pylon at johns lane pool and a heron was only inches away from snatching a very large water vole. Dave had only commented this week how scarce the voles are so lucky enough this one lived another day. Tonight produced 2 juvenile green woodys 1 kingfisher and a gc grebe was present sadly this species as .not bred this year:-C.. swift swallow house mart and reed warbler were noted. A noise and commotion caused by the blackbirds tits and wrens behind the school had me bushwacking but I couldn't see what they were aiming there aggression at:smoke:. Cheers and happy birdingB

 

[zomerset]

Hi Baggieshep, I made my first visit to sheepwash early Saturday morning and was amazed by the size and number of birds. All those coots and herons. Funny seeing all those coots bobbing about on the water. Where do you usually see the kingfisher? Thanks!!

 

[Baggieshep]

Groundhog Day

Hiya sheepwashers and a warm welcome to Zomerset, kingfisher was seen a couple of times today it can usually be viewed along the river usually by the bridge where the river passes under the railway and canal but have been seen all over the park. Both GS and green woody were noted along with a fly thru peregrine. Blackbird and wren were still going nuts behind the school but I still couldn't fathom out why:smoke:. Good numbers of swift house mart and a few swallows were present at dusk. The one side of the river as been chopped and cut much to the delight of the magpie mob lets hope something more excitable also finds it attractive. Large numbers of bh gulls and crows came to roost as the light faded also of note were a few bats. Cheers and happy birdingB .

 

[Baggieshep]

Greedy Or Good

Hiya sheepwashers, nothing much to report on my lunch time stroll, in years gone by 2 peregrines would have been incredible but now we seem so blasé about them and moan that they scare the waders off. Only joking I watch em for ages:t:. On their favoured pylon next to johns lane pool the female tucked into a fanciers pigeon and she replied yes I do fancy a pigeon while the male seemed to have a much smaller dish before flying off with it. It amazes me how well these two hunt so successfully or are they just greedy:eek!: as it is more often than not they have prey. Cheers and happy birdinB .

 

[rollingthunder]

It would be nice if they were able to nest on the pylon - i do'nt think they indulge in much 'nest' construction? Perhaps you out to climb up and attach some sort of platform Mind you IIRC the last person to climb a pylon down there was full of grog and did'nt fare too well when he hit the deck.....

Laurie:t:

 

[yamyam]

Hi Baggieshep
I had a Avocet fly over this AM. Not sure if this is a first for Sheepwash? Also Common Sand, Kingfisher & Peregrine.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[midlands birder]

What time Yam?
Was on site this morning and didn't see anything
MB