Wyver Lane Nature Reserve (DWT) (1 Viewer)

[DaveN]

Very little to report from Wyver today although there was a few more Gulls knocking about. 146 Bh Gulls, 3 Common Gulls all of different ages. c150 LBB Gulls flew west....19 of which dropped in for a brush up. Wigeon have slowly crept into double figures with 11. 48 Teal, 3 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler. The lane was very quiet and hardly surprising given the high winds.

 

[DaveN]

I had a Rock Pipit over at Wyver today during visible migration. My first one there and only the 2nd ever for Wyver. The first was back in November 1974.
Other stuff going through was 12 Meadow Pipits, 19 Skylarks, 51 Wood Pigeons, 24 Redwings, 6 Chaffinches, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Siskin, 11 Lesser Redpoll and a Pied Wagtail.

Birds present were 52 Greylag Geese, 13 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 21 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, Peregrine, 2 Buzzards, Little Owl, Grey Wagtail, 6 Mistle Thrush, 2 Stockies, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Reed Buntings, 82 Bh Gulls and 15 LBB Gulls.

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi John
We started doing the all dayers last winter and we said that we would do all the 4 seasons for comparison, although the summer one was obviously fairly quiet. So all we've done so far is 4...Winter, Spring, Summer and the recent Autumn one. Between September and April I would like to do more but it's getting others involved that can be the problem. I remember reading about your all dayers recently. The trouble is with my patch Wyver is that it can't compare with places like UW and Belvide. As you can see we only managed 56 species in our Autumn all dayer which was 2 more than our Spring all dayer.
Wyver is only a small reserve consisting of a couple of pools with a bit of marsh. You will have to let me know when you do the all dayers next and I'll try and get a couple of mates down Wyver and see what we can get.

Hi Dave.
when we first started many years ago , there was only two of us. Its all relative, so doing it annually can bring surprises, persevere mate B John

 

[DaveN]

Visible Migration at Wyver Lane today: 22 Skylarks, 12 Meadow Pipits, 10 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 25 Redwings, 15 'alba' Wagtails, 2 Siskins, 6 Starlings, 781 Wood Pigeons.

Other birds of note were 2 Mute Swans, 5 Cormorants, Grey Heron, 28 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 159 BH Gulls, 5 LBB Gulls, 2 Little Owls, 7 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, 4 Blackbirds, Green Woodpecker, G.S.Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Jays, 10 Long-tailed Tits, Reed Bunting.

 

[DaveN]

On the main pool today 41 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, female Tufted Duck, a drake Pochard, 400 Bh Gulls, 25 Lapwings and a Snipe.

Vis migging produced 1 Skylark, 6 'alba' Wagtails, 12 Meadow Pipits, 185 Starlings, 101 Redwings, 15 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 110 Wood Pigeons.

Other birds of note include c50 Goldfinches, 2 Goldcrests, 17 LTT and a Raven.

 

[DaveN]

I had a couple of hours down Wyver first thing today. I was down whilst it was still dark so everything that roosted was still there. Best was 149 Canada Geese, 93 Greylag Geese and 7 redhead Goosander. Also a Peregrine shot through at great speed. A few Goldcrests were on the lane and 130 Jackdaws over.

I had to leave to go to the dentist and when I returned there was a male Sparrowhawk causing havoc but that's about it.

 

[DaveN]

Done the roost last night with Mr Brown. Wigeon have doubled in 24hrs from 13 to 26. Also 10 Gadwall, 47 Teal, 28 Coots, 8 Moorhens, Pochard, 9 Goosander, 3 Shoveler, 38 Mallards (prob more), 105 Greylags and 67 Canadas.

 

[DaveN]

Vis migging today was quite exceptional. I arrived on site at 07.55 and immediately there was Wood Pigeons going through. Over the next couple of hours I had 3'760 ranging from small flocks of a dozen or so to some of several 100. Also going through was 350+ Fieldfare, 175 Starlings and 22 Redwings.

And there isn't many better sights than a large skein of 125 Pink-footed Geese flying in formation across a blue sky, which I had flying SE at 09.18.

 

[DaveN]

Exceptional numbers of Woodies moving through Wyver again this morning. I was on site for 07.30 and from the word go there was an almost constant stream going through. Within the hour I had amassed well over 4'000 and by the time I had done the figure stood at 4'590. There was also 1'070 Starlings, 221 Fieldfare, 36 Redwing, 16 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 'alba' Wags, Song Thrush, Linnet, Brambling, 8 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, 4 Greenfinch, 9 Chaffinch and 2 Yellowhammers.

Wigeon have increased to at least 35 and Shoveler to 8. Also 40 Teal, 34 Coots, 2 Gadwall, c100 Greylag Geese, Little Owl, 142 Bh Gull and 58 Lessers.

The second most remarkable thing about today apart from the vis migging was seeing a female Mallard with 5 tiny young on the main pool.

 

[DaveN]

I had a single Swallow through Wyver this morning. That's the latest ever by 2 days and beats the one on 1/11/1991. Wyver does seem a good place for late hirundines after the House Martin last year on 17/11/2011.

Highlights on the pools were a Little Grebe, 37 Coots, 28 Teal, 20+ Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Ducks, 239 BH Gulls and a Common Gull.

Not much moving first thing but when the mist lifted a few bits started going through. 645 Woodies, 24 Redwing, 158 Fieldfare, 55 Starlings, 2 Chaffinch and a Lesser Redpoll.

Other birds of note include 85 Greylags, Little Owl and 3 Bullfinch.

 

[DaveN]

Wyver Lane Bird Notes
October 2012

Highlights include Pink-footed Geese, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail,
Rock Pipit, Mallard young and visible migration.

Quite a good month with some quality birds and visible migration
produced some exceptional counts.

Maximum counts for the month include a Little Grebe on 16th, 2
Grey Herons on 2nd, 5 Cormorants on 6th, 7th, 20th and 24th, 3
Mute Swans on 6th, 7th and 9th, a skein of 125 Pink-footed Geese
flew South East on the morning of 27th, 137 Greylag Geese on 6th,
149 Canada Geese on 24th, 6 Mandarin on 4th, Wigeon numbers
slowly increased to 35 by 30th, a site record 11 Gadwall on 4th, 7th
and 9th, 54 Teal on 2nd, 47 Mallards on 2nd, but the real surprise
was a female with 5 tiny young on 30th, 8 Shoveler on 30th, a drake
Pochard from 23rd to 26th, 4 Tufted Ducks on 31st, 9 Goosander on
25th, a Water Rail on 13th, 34 Coots on 30th, 18 Moorhen on 4th and
8 Pheasants on 11th and 13th.

A cream crown Marsh Harrier was seen early evening on 21st mainly
at the Northern end of the reserve, this is the first record since Sep
2011. 2 Sparrowhawks on 2nd and 27th, 6 Buzzards on 7th, 2 Kestrels
on 2nd, 4th and 30th and a Peregrine on 12th, 18th, 21st and 24th.

Waders include c75 Lapwing on 13th and 3 Snipe on 18th. Black-headed
Gulls peaked at 400 on 23rd, 150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over on
16th, also 58 on 30th, 3 Common Gulls on 16th.

Visible migration has been very productive throughout the month. Wood
Pigeons were moving in small numbers in the early part of the month but
huge numbers were moving by the end including 3'760 on 27th and 4'590
on 30th. Other notable counts include: Meadow Pipit: 43 on 2nd, 61 on
4th, 90 on 13th, a Rock Pipit through on 18th, this is only the 2nd record
for Wyver with the first being back in 1974, 9 Skylark on 6th, also 19 on
18th, 22 on 20th and 16 on 30th, 64 Pied Wagtails on 4th which is another
site record, 1'070 Starlings on 30th.

Other notable sightings include 4 Stock Doves on 23rd, a Grey Wagtail on
11th and 18th, 110 Swallows on 4th, 130 House Martins on 4th, 2 Little
Owls on 4th and 20th, 2 Tawny owls on 4th and 6th, 8 Wrens on 4th, 11
Robins on 4th, 6 Blackbirds on 30th, 350 Fieldfare on 27th, 2 Song Thrush
on 7th, 172 Redwing on 13th, 12 Mistle Thrush on 26th, 2 Chiff Chaffs on
2nd, 3 Goldcrests on 4th and 23rd, 25 Long-tailed Tits on 4th, 7 Great Tits
on 4th,10 Blue Tits on 11th, 2 Nuthatch on 4th, 6 Jays on 13th, 15 Magpies
on 21st, 130 Jackdaw on 24th, 4+ Raven on 6th, 24 Chaffinch on 7th, a
Brambling on 13th, 30th and 31st, 9 Greenfinch on 9th and 11th, c50
Goldfinch on 20th, 27 Siskin on 4th, 11 Lesser Redpoll on 31st, 3 Bullfinch
on 27th, 3 Reed Buntings on 18th and 2 Yellowhammers on 30th.

 

[DaveN]

I had planned on doing Carsington today but the car is being an arse so I went down Wyver instead. Nothing really new to report although Tufted Ducks have increased to 9. Also 2 Little Grebes, 20 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 7 Shoveler and a good count of 41 Coots.

109 Bh Gulls and a Common Gull on the main pool. 2 Buzzards up, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. A Little Owl calling in the back field and a single Skylark over.

 

[DaveN]

Done some vis migging down Wyver this morning. 1'164 Wood Pigeons, 95 Fieldfare, 135 Redwing, 23 Starlings, 4 Skylark, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Siskin, Greenfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Meadow Pipit.
On the pools: Little Grebe, 25 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 9 Tufties and 154 BH Gulls. Also a Little Owl and a Grey wagtail.

 

[andyr]

Great White Egret - Willington GPs

Hi All

The GWE had just flown off over the track when I reached Platform 1 just after 11am today. By 11.50 however, it was back showing well in front of that platform ... and then again an hour later at 12.50 (must be on a timetable !).

Several birders present and, as we all agreed, the two key words are 'mobile' and 'patience' !


Cheers

Andy R.

 

[andyr]

Hi All

The GWE had just flown off over the track when I reached Platform 1 just after 11am today. By 11.50 however, it was back showing well in front of that platform ... and then again an hour later at 12.50 (must be on a timetable !).

Several birders present and, as we all agreed, the two key words are 'mobile' and 'patience' !


Cheers

Andy R.

Sorry folks !

Senior moment putting this on the wrong thread.

Apologies.


Andy R.

 

[DaveN]

Down Wyver today...21 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck and a massive 560 BH Gulls.

Blackbirds and Robins have certainly increased in numbers over the past couple of weeks, and there are also numerous Goldcrests. 35 Siskins feeding along the lane and a Raven through North.

 

[DaveN]

I said yesterday that the 560 Bh Gulls down Wyver was massive. It was, but way off the site record of 800. Well that was nothing compared to today and the site record was well and truly smashed.

I got down there at just after 9 and was greeted with the main pool being swamped with Gulls. I started counting them singularly but quickly realised it was a near impossible task. So I counted them in 10's, then 20's, then 50's to compare the counts. In 10's I got 1'250 and managed roughly the same in 20's and 50's so I was happy with the count.

Those that know Wyver will know that the main pool isn't the biggest pool in the world so will know what it must have looked like with that many Gulls on. A short while later I counted again and again got 1'250. There was also 38 Lessers and a single Common Gull. Annoyingly though, despite that many BH Gulls there wasn't a Med amongst them.

Shoveler have increased to 10, also 49 Teal, 19 Wigeon, 8 Mandarin, 5 Tufted Ducks and a female Gadwall. I stayed for the roost but surprisingly there wasn't a single Goosander which is very unusual and quite worrying.

In fact, only 28 Mallards came in. Although there was plenty of splashes as I was leaving so presume the count would have been higher. Also in the roost was 114 Greylag Geese and c100 Canada Geese.

 

[DaveN]

A few less BH Gulls down Wyver yesterday but there was still 700. They seem to be going backwards and forwards to the North West so I guess there must be some good feeding areas up that way.

41 Teal, 26 Wigeon, Little Grebe, 3 Shoveler, female Gadwall and 5 Tufties on the main pool.

5 Buzzards up and cracking views of an immature male Sparrowhawk sitting on a post preening in the autumn sunshine.

A single Meadow Pipit over and a single Skylark too.

 

[DaveN]

I witnessed the sheer speed and power of one of the local Peregrines down Wyver this morning. I was in the hide watching a flock of c30 Redwings flying towards the hide when the male Peregrine belted through out of nowhere and took one out as the rest scattered. It all happened in a blink of the eye. It had a bit of a grapple with it mid air before flying back towards the mill with its quarry.

Wildfowl numbers were down on previous days although there was 11 Mandarin flying around near the river. Bh Gulls were also down on previous days with just 450 today.

 

[DaveN]

A few decent bits down Wyver today, the best probably a Woodcock. I was walking along the northern boundary hedge towards the top marsh when I flushed it from the old tip field. There was a bit of cover there but still quite an odd spot for one. There was a Water Rail squealing from the marsh but that was it.

On the pools were 51 Teal, 23 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 500 BH Gulls. The roost produced 130 Canada Geese, c100 Greylags, 4 Goosander, 8 Tufted Ducks and 13 Mandarin over. Also 5 Snipe over the hide at dusk. There was also 2 small Bats flying around at dusk, presume Pippistrelles.

Also of note was a Little Owl, 60 Starlings and a Chiff Chaff.