Peewit
Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover
Great selection of bird there Dave. o
Your area sounds a great area for a good bit of bird watching.
Regards
Kathy
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Wyver Lane Nature Reserve (DWT) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DaveN
- Start date
Great selection of bird there Dave. o
Your area sounds a great area for a good bit of bird watching.
Regards
Kathy
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DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
As expected the good breeding year has continued with the emergence of a single Black-headed Gull chick on the Tern raft. This is the first breeding record for Wyver and joins Gadwall and Oystercatchers in also being firsts. I was beginning to think that they had failed. The only problem I can envisage is how it will get off the raft. There doesn't seem to be any holes for the young to go through and the sides are fairly high. They can't fly until just over a month old so It could be a long month stuck on there.
Other birds of note was 6 Oystercatchers which flew noisily over the main pool and a female Peregrine over the woods. The female Gadwall still has 5 young and the female Tufties still has 3 young.
A shot of the young BH Gull and the female Gadwall with one of its young.
Other birds of note was 6 Oystercatchers which flew noisily over the main pool and a female Peregrine over the woods. The female Gadwall still has 5 young and the female Tufties still has 3 young.
A shot of the young BH Gull and the female Gadwall with one of its young.
Attachments
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Wyver like a lot of places fell victim to the awful weather on Thursday morning. I was sitting in the hide when the storm hit and within no time the lane was full of water. Only seen the lane like that once before back in August 2007.
The BH Gull chick despite being only 2 days old managed to get inside the pipes on the raft to see out the worst of it. The Gadwall still has 5 young and the Tuftie still has its 3 young. On Wednesday there was a ringed Common Tern around the main pool. It had a blue ring on its left leg and a metal ring on its right leg. A bit of digging revealed it could have been ringed in Berkshire, UK. Also on Wednesday was the family of 5 Oystercatchers, and c70 Bh Gulls flew through.
On Thursday there was a flighted juvenile Little Grebe on the main pool.
The BH Gull chick despite being only 2 days old managed to get inside the pipes on the raft to see out the worst of it. The Gadwall still has 5 young and the Tuftie still has its 3 young. On Wednesday there was a ringed Common Tern around the main pool. It had a blue ring on its left leg and a metal ring on its right leg. A bit of digging revealed it could have been ringed in Berkshire, UK. Also on Wednesday was the family of 5 Oystercatchers, and c70 Bh Gulls flew through.
On Thursday there was a flighted juvenile Little Grebe on the main pool.
Attachments
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Hi Dave we have BHG breeding on floating rafts that are enclosed by 15 inch high mesh. They are OK to stay on there until they can nearly fly, when they flap their way over. The one thing about the mesh is, it keeps unwanted 'predators' out of the raft. Our rafts were created with common terns in mind. But in their own way BHG add to the ambience at Upton warren. Although their incessant raucous calls can grate at times. We started with a couple of pairs 7 years ago, there are now nearly 100..so beware you can have too much of a good thing. Although saying that the 12 Med gulls that appeared yesterday were probably attracted by the BHG's
B
John
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Hi Dave we have BHG breeding on floating rafts that are enclosed by 15 inch high mesh. They are OK to stay on there until they can nearly fly, when they flap their way over. The one thing about the mesh is, it keeps unwanted 'predators' out of the raft. Our rafts were created with common terns in mind. But in their own way BHG add to the ambience at Upton warren. Although their incessant raucous calls can grate at times. We started with a couple of pairs 7 years ago, there are now nearly 100..so beware you can have too much of a good thing. Although saying that the 12 Med gulls that appeared yesterday were probably attracted by the BHG's
B
Hi John
The sides of the raft that we have at Wyver are made of perspex and are of a similar height to yours, about 15 inches. A lot of rafts I see on other reserves have some way of the young of whatever they may be getting off the rafts via a small hole or ramp. I know Bh Gull young like to leave the nest after about 10 days, although they can't fly until around a month. But like you say, at least it makes it harder for predators to get on.
Have you ever had a problem with young getting caught in the mesh? This happened at Carsington when one of the young got caught and perished.
I'd rather see Common Terns on there but don't mind the Gulls. Med Gulls are quite rare at Wyver and haven't been recorded for years now.
By the way, can you not change your profile pic. I'm from the other side. Moved here from Brum in 2001
James_Owen
Well-known member
Just to pipe in there, the rangers also had to free an adult BH gull that got a wing tangled in the mesh a couple of months ago. Good job it did so on a Tuesday really.
That said, nice to see the chicks use the hole and the ramp to have their swimming lessons.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Hi Dave
If they get out of the raft it depends on where they can go afterwards. If they end up on the mainland they will be vulnerable to avian and land predators. But in our colony (and I am sure elsewhere) other BHG's attack any chick that leaves its nesting island or raft, the very small chicks are usually killed, larger chicks manage to escape with a few missing feathers. So the longer the chicks stay close to the nest the more chance they have of surviving. Thus being cooped up for 4 weeks or so on an enclosed raft, greatly lengthens their chance of survival. Never had a problem with birds getting stuck in the mesh, although the mesh is a narrow gauge. I wonder if the perspex would cause the chicks to over heat, maybe it would be better drilling holes in it to allow an 'air flow'.
KRO, SOTV 8-P I am sure you know what these stand for
BJohn
If they get out of the raft it depends on where they can go afterwards. If they end up on the mainland they will be vulnerable to avian and land predators. But in our colony (and I am sure elsewhere) other BHG's attack any chick that leaves its nesting island or raft, the very small chicks are usually killed, larger chicks manage to escape with a few missing feathers. So the longer the chicks stay close to the nest the more chance they have of surviving. Thus being cooped up for 4 weeks or so on an enclosed raft, greatly lengthens their chance of survival. Never had a problem with birds getting stuck in the mesh, although the mesh is a narrow gauge. I wonder if the perspex would cause the chicks to over heat, maybe it would be better drilling holes in it to allow an 'air flow'.
We'll say less about that at the moment (suffice to say agent McLeish nearly completed his mission :smokeHi John
By the way, can you not change your profile pic. I'm from the other side. Moved here from Brum in 2001
KRO, SOTV 8-P I am sure you know what these stand for
B
John
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DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Didn't the rangers have to free a Mallard last year or the year before too?
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Hi Dave
If they get out of the raft it depends on where they can go afterwards. If they end up on the mainland they will be vulnerable to avian and land predators. But in our colony (and I am sure elsewhere) other BHG's attack any chick that leaves its nesting island or raft, the very small chicks are usually killed, larger chicks manage to escape with a few missing feathers. So the longer the chicks stay close to the nest the more chance they have of surviving. Thus being cooped up for 4 weeks or so on an enclosed raft, greatly lengthens their chance of survival. Never had a problem with birds getting stuck in the mesh, although the mesh is a narrow gauge. I wonder if the perspex would cause the chicks to over heat, maybe it would be better drilling holes in it to allow an 'air flow'.
We'll say less about that at the moment (suffice to say agent McLeish nearly completed his mission :smoke
KRO, SOTV 8-P I am sure you know what these stand for
B
Well I guess it will be safe on the raft, still there today. The good thing is that there isn't many more BH Gulls to worry about...yet. The raft isn't very big and could maybe house another couple of pairs but that's about it. I've never really thought about them over heating because of the perspex. I presume that the DWT have done a bit of homework prior to building it. Although they haven't had to worry about over heating this year have they.
McLeish was a nightmare. He should never have set foot anywhere near VP. At least the £2m compensation you got from us should keep you afloat for another couple of seasons at least
SOTC. All the best.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
The BH Gull chick was still ok on the raft today. There was also 2 flighted juveniles. The female Gadwall still has her 5 young, and the female Tufted Duck still has 3 young. The juv Little Grebe was still on the main pool. An adult and juvenile Buzzard was over the woods, also a Hobby.
A Common Tern was a brief visitor. A Collared Dove flew over the main pool...only the 2nd record this year. There was a family of Treecreepers on the lane consisting of at least 2 juvs.
A Common Tern was a brief visitor. A Collared Dove flew over the main pool...only the 2nd record this year. There was a family of Treecreepers on the lane consisting of at least 2 juvs.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Wyver Lane Bird Notes
June 2012
Highlights include: Osprey, Crossbills, Tufted Ducks breed,
and Gadwall and Black headed Gull breed for the first time.
This month's maximum counts are: 2 adult Little Grebes on 18th
a fully flighted juvenile from elsewhere on 28th, 4 Cormorants on
15th, 3 Grey Herons on 7th, 3 Mute Swans on several dates, 38
Greylag Geese on 5th-also 35 on 8th including 27 young, 96
Canada Geese on 8th, a Barnacle Goose on 13th and 15th, 2
Shelduck on 1st, female Mandarin on 7th, 3 Teal on 25th, 26th
and 28th, 34 Mallard on 28th, 2 Shoveler on 13th. 3 drake Gadwall
were on the main pool on 1st. It was suspected that the mate of one
of the drakes was sitting on the top marsh since early May. Then on
June 9th the female appeared on the main pool with 9 young. This
is the first confirmed breeding at Wyver, by the end of the month
only 5 young remained. Another good breeding record was on the
18th when a female Tufted Duck was on the main pool with 5 very
small young, although by the end of the month only 3 remained.
Tufteds have bred before, but this is the first record since 1998.
3 female Goosander on 8th, 21 Coots on 15th including broods of
1/1/3 & 4, 3 Moorhen broods of 1/2 & 3 on 19th.
An Osprey flew over South on the morning of the 5th, 2 Sparrowhawks
on 20th, 5 Buzzards on 20th, 2 Kestrels on 5th, 20th and 25th, 2 Hobbies
on several dates and 2 Peregrines on 25th.
The 3 juvenile Oystercatchers from last month successfully fledged and
was still around at the end of the month with the adults. On the 7th
there was a total of 7 birds present. 2 Curlew flew NW on 6th, 20
Lapwing on 20th.
Yet another new breeding record for Wyver was on the 26th when a
Black-headed Gull chick emerged on the new raft. 70 Black-headed
Gulls flew through South on 27th. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over on
26th. The 2 Common Terns that were ousted from the Tern raft were
present for most of the month and maybe nesting nearby.
3 Stock Doves on 5th, a Collared Dove on 5th, 20 Swifts on 8th and
22nd, a Kingfisher on 7th, 60 House Martins on 9th, 2 Pied Wagtails on
26th, 8 Wrens on 19th, a male Redstart on 18th, 2 Reed Warblers on
11th, 19th and 20th, Lesser Whitethroat on 5th, 6 Whitethroats on 11th,
a Garden Warbler on 19th, 5 Chiff Chaffs on 22nd, a Willow Tit on 22nd,
2 Nuthatch on 18th, 2 Jays on 6th, 11 Starlings over West on 19th, 11
Crossbills over South on 15th, and 11 Reed Buntings on 19th.
June 2012
Highlights include: Osprey, Crossbills, Tufted Ducks breed,
and Gadwall and Black headed Gull breed for the first time.
This month's maximum counts are: 2 adult Little Grebes on 18th
a fully flighted juvenile from elsewhere on 28th, 4 Cormorants on
15th, 3 Grey Herons on 7th, 3 Mute Swans on several dates, 38
Greylag Geese on 5th-also 35 on 8th including 27 young, 96
Canada Geese on 8th, a Barnacle Goose on 13th and 15th, 2
Shelduck on 1st, female Mandarin on 7th, 3 Teal on 25th, 26th
and 28th, 34 Mallard on 28th, 2 Shoveler on 13th. 3 drake Gadwall
were on the main pool on 1st. It was suspected that the mate of one
of the drakes was sitting on the top marsh since early May. Then on
June 9th the female appeared on the main pool with 9 young. This
is the first confirmed breeding at Wyver, by the end of the month
only 5 young remained. Another good breeding record was on the
18th when a female Tufted Duck was on the main pool with 5 very
small young, although by the end of the month only 3 remained.
Tufteds have bred before, but this is the first record since 1998.
3 female Goosander on 8th, 21 Coots on 15th including broods of
1/1/3 & 4, 3 Moorhen broods of 1/2 & 3 on 19th.
An Osprey flew over South on the morning of the 5th, 2 Sparrowhawks
on 20th, 5 Buzzards on 20th, 2 Kestrels on 5th, 20th and 25th, 2 Hobbies
on several dates and 2 Peregrines on 25th.
The 3 juvenile Oystercatchers from last month successfully fledged and
was still around at the end of the month with the adults. On the 7th
there was a total of 7 birds present. 2 Curlew flew NW on 6th, 20
Lapwing on 20th.
Yet another new breeding record for Wyver was on the 26th when a
Black-headed Gull chick emerged on the new raft. 70 Black-headed
Gulls flew through South on 27th. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over on
26th. The 2 Common Terns that were ousted from the Tern raft were
present for most of the month and maybe nesting nearby.
3 Stock Doves on 5th, a Collared Dove on 5th, 20 Swifts on 8th and
22nd, a Kingfisher on 7th, 60 House Martins on 9th, 2 Pied Wagtails on
26th, 8 Wrens on 19th, a male Redstart on 18th, 2 Reed Warblers on
11th, 19th and 20th, Lesser Whitethroat on 5th, 6 Whitethroats on 11th,
a Garden Warbler on 19th, 5 Chiff Chaffs on 22nd, a Willow Tit on 22nd,
2 Nuthatch on 18th, 2 Jays on 6th, 11 Starlings over West on 19th, 11
Crossbills over South on 15th, and 11 Reed Buntings on 19th.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
There was a bit of Bh Gull movement down Wyver today. I had 88 go through south in 4 flocks of 19, 10, 29 and 30. The family of 5 Oystercatchers are still about and was joined by a 6th bird.
Normally at this time of year Lapwings start to arrive from their breeding grounds. In fact, a year ago today there was 140 on the main pool. However, this year because it is so wet there isn't any mud for them and the few small flocks that are being seen quickly leave.
A Willow Warbler has been heard singing the past couple of days....never a common bird for Wyver. There's been no sign of the female Gadwall or her young for a couple of days now. Although the female Tuftie is still present with her 3 young. Teal are very slowly creeping back with 4 today. And Mallard has increased to 35.
There was 2 Sparrowhawks today. A female flew over the pool this morning and a little later a male was being mobbed by the pair of BH Gulls.
Normally at this time of year Lapwings start to arrive from their breeding grounds. In fact, a year ago today there was 140 on the main pool. However, this year because it is so wet there isn't any mud for them and the few small flocks that are being seen quickly leave.
A Willow Warbler has been heard singing the past couple of days....never a common bird for Wyver. There's been no sign of the female Gadwall or her young for a couple of days now. Although the female Tuftie is still present with her 3 young. Teal are very slowly creeping back with 4 today. And Mallard has increased to 35.
There was 2 Sparrowhawks today. A female flew over the pool this morning and a little later a male was being mobbed by the pair of BH Gulls.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
The female Gadwall with 5 young hadn't been seen for a few days but was back on the main pool today with all 5 young intact. The female Tufted Duck still with 3 young. Teal has increased to at least 6. A Common Sandpiper was a nice surprise. A Peregrine was sat in one of the dead trees for almost 2 hours. When it eventually took off the pair of Bh Gulls mobbed it and saw it off.
As expected the lane is again flooded so if anybody is thinking of going down then make sure you wear wellingtons.
As expected the lane is again flooded so if anybody is thinking of going down then make sure you wear wellingtons.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Plenty of young birds down Wyver today. The first ones I noticed was a family of 5 Kestrels. The family of 5 Oystercatchers were also knocking about. An adult and 2 juvenile Whitethroats were near the hide. Both the female Gadwall and female Tufted Duck still have their 5 and 3 young respectively. 2 juvenile Buzzards were over the woods being mobbed by 8 Magpies. And a juvenile G.S.Woodpecker was in a dead tree opposite the hide.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
Popped in Sunday evening having had an hour with a local Peregrine family. I was surprised to see 3 drake Pochard asleep in the middle, but happily the BH Gull was still defending its lone chick.
The young Gadwall and Tufties were in the middle and I could hear the Oycs for some time before I eventually picked them up flying down river - 7 in total which makes for an unusual sight in our land locked County.
Goosander dropped in at dusk (4 male and 5 female) and just I was poised to leave I thought I could hear a Gropper reeling down the lane. I couldnt get far due to the flooding so went back for the car and bounced down to the bottom (car absolutely ditched!)........I couldnt locate it when I got there but would not be surprised if there is one about again.
Tawny Owls and Little Owls on the lane as I got home.
The young Gadwall and Tufties were in the middle and I could hear the Oycs for some time before I eventually picked them up flying down river - 7 in total which makes for an unusual sight in our land locked County.
Goosander dropped in at dusk (4 male and 5 female) and just I was poised to leave I thought I could hear a Gropper reeling down the lane. I couldnt get far due to the flooding so went back for the car and bounced down to the bottom (car absolutely ditched!)........I couldnt locate it when I got there but would not be surprised if there is one about again.
Tawny Owls and Little Owls on the lane as I got home.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Pity you couldn't nail that Gropper, Dan. Not been many anywhere this year so one at Wyver would have been most welcome. That's a good count of Goosander too. Not seen any down there for a while but then again I'm rarely there at dusk. I got talking to another regular who had 9 Oycs on Monday and Tuesday which is a site record. I reckon the 'other' pair that was down there might have bred nearby and brought their young.
A new bird for the year today when at the bottom of the lane there was a Spotted Flycatcher in the large Oak Tree. I watched it on a couple of occasions fly off into Coppice Wood. I wanted to go and check for a possible nest but as most will no the archery people don't allow anybody else in there.
I had a walk up to Wyver Woods to check on the Redstarts. I stood there for about half hour and only saw the male. I had a probable Crossbill over whilst I was up there.
The pools are pretty much as you were. Gadwall with young, and Tuftie with young. Also 39 Mallard and 6 Teal.
The lane was quite active with Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds etc.
The BH Gulls were most put out when a single LBB Gull dropped in, but they soon seen it off. It was refreshing seeing a bit of warm sunshine and a few Butterflies took advantage. There was quite a few Ringlets and Meadow Browns and a probable Small Skipper. Also a probable Brown Hawker.
A new bird for the year today when at the bottom of the lane there was a Spotted Flycatcher in the large Oak Tree. I watched it on a couple of occasions fly off into Coppice Wood. I wanted to go and check for a possible nest but as most will no the archery people don't allow anybody else in there.
I had a walk up to Wyver Woods to check on the Redstarts. I stood there for about half hour and only saw the male. I had a probable Crossbill over whilst I was up there.
The pools are pretty much as you were. Gadwall with young, and Tuftie with young. Also 39 Mallard and 6 Teal.
The lane was quite active with Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds etc.
The BH Gulls were most put out when a single LBB Gull dropped in, but they soon seen it off. It was refreshing seeing a bit of warm sunshine and a few Butterflies took advantage. There was quite a few Ringlets and Meadow Browns and a probable Small Skipper. Also a probable Brown Hawker.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
There was a decent sized tit flock working up the lane yesterday morning. It was difficult to see what and how many to be exact, but there was at least 10 Chiff Chaffs, a Willow Warbler (prob more), 15 LT Tits, many Blue Tits, Coal Tit, Great Tits and a juv Goldcrest. I do like it at this time of year when post breeding birds disperse and form these flocks.
The pools are as you were. Juv Little Grebe, Several Teal, female Gadwall with 5 young, and the female Tufted with 3 young.
The pools are as you were. Juv Little Grebe, Several Teal, female Gadwall with 5 young, and the female Tufted with 3 young.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Update for Wyver. Much more like Summer down there today. After several days of warm sunshine the water levels are already starting to drop. Although not enough for the Lapwings which are currently around the upper pool.
The young BH Gull off the raft has fledged today and was seen briefly flying around. I make it 27 days old so not bad going.
Hobbies are still being seen regulary and both the adult and 1st summer were about today. I managed to get a photo of the 1st summer although distant.
The ringed Common Tern was also around today. 10 Teal, the female Gadwall with her 5 young, and the female Tuftie with her 3. A couple of new Mallard broods have emerged over the past few days, as has a new brood of Coots.
The juv Little Grebe has been joined by a 2nd juvenile. Probably off Cromford Canal.
Greylag Geese have increased to 63. 4 redhead Goosanders were brief visitors last friday. The Spotted Flycatcher was seen again last week.
Loads of birds on the lane. Good numbers of Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Wrens, Robins, LT Tits, Blue Tits etc.
The young BH Gull off the raft has fledged today and was seen briefly flying around. I make it 27 days old so not bad going.
Hobbies are still being seen regulary and both the adult and 1st summer were about today. I managed to get a photo of the 1st summer although distant.
The ringed Common Tern was also around today. 10 Teal, the female Gadwall with her 5 young, and the female Tuftie with her 3. A couple of new Mallard broods have emerged over the past few days, as has a new brood of Coots.
The juv Little Grebe has been joined by a 2nd juvenile. Probably off Cromford Canal.
Greylag Geese have increased to 63. 4 redhead Goosanders were brief visitors last friday. The Spotted Flycatcher was seen again last week.
Loads of birds on the lane. Good numbers of Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Wrens, Robins, LT Tits, Blue Tits etc.
Attachments
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Both Hobbies were performing again today. A pity nothing materialised with them but maybe they will come back next year. A couple of Warblers of note. A Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler...never common down Wyver.
Not long before I left a flock of around 20 Gulls dropped in consisting mostly of Bh Gulls but 2 1st summer Common Gulls were a nice surprise. Common Gulls are never that numerous in Winter so 2 at this time of year was most welcome.
I've saved the best for last. I was taking a walk around the back of the main pool when I almost stood on a Grass Snake which was basking in the warm sunshine. I managed to get a few decent shots before it slithered off. This is only my second record of Grass Snake at Wyver. A few shots of the Snake and one of a Common Gull.
Not long before I left a flock of around 20 Gulls dropped in consisting mostly of Bh Gulls but 2 1st summer Common Gulls were a nice surprise. Common Gulls are never that numerous in Winter so 2 at this time of year was most welcome.
I've saved the best for last. I was taking a walk around the back of the main pool when I almost stood on a Grass Snake which was basking in the warm sunshine. I managed to get a few decent shots before it slithered off. This is only my second record of Grass Snake at Wyver. A few shots of the Snake and one of a Common Gull.
