What a gorgeous morning and the birding was not bad either. Nothing special but just a great day to be out. Birds noted.
32+ Fieldfare, 6+ Redwing, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Starling, Black Headed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, Moorhen, Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, Wren, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, 1000+ mix of Golden Plover and Lapwing (majority being Lapwing), Canada Geese, 68 Mute Swan, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Magpie, 3 Tree Sparrow, 12 Teal, 77 Wigeon, 6 Mallard, Robin, 1 Kingfisher, 56+ Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, Linnets, Blue Tit, 3 Stock Dove, 24 House Sparrow, 1 Shelduck and a few Yellowhammers.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
28-11-12
Well its been a while since I have been able to get to the patch for a bit of birding due to work and fishing matches etc. I have finally got a few days off and something else nearly put pay to a visit, water. Bloody loads of it too. WH was almost cut off due to floods that were too deep to drive through at the arboretum entrance and most of the other lanes under water but fortunately the rains stopped and the water levels started to fall by today. I managed to reach the lakes and had a good look before driving around the lanes and checking out various places. Birds noted were Carrion Crow, Magpie, 2 Kestrel, lots of Black Headed Gulls, 62 Mute Swan, Wren, 7 Mallard, 8 Linnet, a few Tree Sparrows, 1 Grey Heron, circa 100 Starling, 1 Fieldfare heard, several Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Dunnock, 39+ Lapwing, 3 Redwing, Robin, Cormorant, Greenfinch, Pheasant, Chaffinch, several Meadow Pipits, Woodpigeon, a few Skylarks, Blue Tit, 1 Grey Partridge calling, Yellowhammer and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
10-11-12
Its a case of slow postings lately due to excess work and no play. In fact this will be the last post until at least the 28th November, thats my next day off with nowt planned. On to today and after working till mid afternoon I enjoyed a cracking walk around Whitemoor Haye. I stoped off at the pool to begin with, checked the lake and then the smalland behind. Birds noted were 2 Mallard (as I parked up around 15 birds flew, I assume these were Mallard), 1 Mute Swan (another 10 were found around the lanes), Wren, Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, 2 Fieldfare (about 170 birds in total around the whole site), 14 Siskin were feeding in the alders, a cracking male Bullfinch was showing brilliantly in the afternoon sun, 22 Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, about 300 Lapwing flew over the lake and they came from Croxall area and as I watched these a flock of about 200 Golden Plover was flying over quite high but kept changing direction as if looking for somewhere to land*, the Lapwing count increased to around 800+ with more groups seen*, a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the pool but there was 1000+ chilling out on the fields or flying around, Blue Tit, Blackbird, 1 Treecreeper, Greenfinch and Linnet.
On to a walk around the lanes and I added loads of Magpies, 2 Kestrels, 1 Moorhen, 15 Tree Sparrows, 9 Yellowhammer, 1000+ Black Headed Gulls following a tractor seeding, Dunnock, 14 Grey Partridge, 1 Buzzard, 4 Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, 2+ Great Black-backed Gulls in with the LBBG's, and Chaffinch.
A really enjoyable afternoon around Whitemoor Haye.
* After I had done at WH I popped to Croxall GP and had a look over the road into a field where there were several hundred Lapwing and Golden Plover. This was the direction I saw several groups of Lapwing fly to WH. Worth a check again.
On to a walk around the lanes and I added loads of Magpies, 2 Kestrels, 1 Moorhen, 15 Tree Sparrows, 9 Yellowhammer, 1000+ Black Headed Gulls following a tractor seeding, Dunnock, 14 Grey Partridge, 1 Buzzard, 4 Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, 2+ Great Black-backed Gulls in with the LBBG's, and Chaffinch.
A really enjoyable afternoon around Whitemoor Haye.
* After I had done at WH I popped to Croxall GP and had a look over the road into a field where there were several hundred Lapwing and Golden Plover. This was the direction I saw several groups of Lapwing fly to WH. Worth a check again.
Stuff
Whilst many of you are filling your boots with a county mega in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper and some great views of Waxwings I am still very busy work. Will the WRS hang on till then? Will there be any berries for theWaxwings to eat? I am seriously doubting it.
Is there anybody out there that can assist with my WeBS counting as I have struggled to do them of late? I cover Croxall to Barton, some superb ground, and most pretty accessable etc. I will be able to help some of the time but I am just not able to commit to it anymore. If this could be you then contact me.
Is there anybody out there that can assist with my WeBS counting as I have struggled to do them of late? I cover Croxall to Barton, some superb ground, and most pretty accessable etc. I will be able to help some of the time but I am just not able to commit to it anymore. If this could be you then contact me.
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
28-10-12
With autumn coming and the clocks going back I was up at 05.00, a tad early and eager for a bit of sunlight to get out. Todays plan, Whitemoor Haye and then a few more sites which I would like to put in the away day tab but unable. If anyone can help then feel free.
Birds noted at Whitemoor haye.
Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Woodpigeon, 226 Lapwing, 8 Mallard, Grey Heron, Wren, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, 18 Wigeon on the main lake plus another 30 flying over, Chaffinch, 21 Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 60+ Linnet around the site, 51+ Redwing, Jackdaw, several Meadow Pipits around, 17 Fieldfare, Great Tit, Starling, 50+ Goldfinch, 25 Stock Dove, a few Tree Sparrow, 37+ Skylarks, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, 57 Mute Swan, 8 Yellowhammer and a few Long-tailed Tits.
Birds noted at Whitemoor haye.
Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Woodpigeon, 226 Lapwing, 8 Mallard, Grey Heron, Wren, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, 18 Wigeon on the main lake plus another 30 flying over, Chaffinch, 21 Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 60+ Linnet around the site, 51+ Redwing, Jackdaw, several Meadow Pipits around, 17 Fieldfare, Great Tit, Starling, 50+ Goldfinch, 25 Stock Dove, a few Tree Sparrow, 37+ Skylarks, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, 57 Mute Swan, 8 Yellowhammer and a few Long-tailed Tits.
Saturday, 27 October 2012
27-10-12
16th of October was my 100th visit to Whitemoor Haye this calendar year so during the long autumn nights I have already counted up my sightings as no calculator needed to work out the percentage. Results are:-
1st - Wren, 94%
2nd - Carrion Crow, 93%
3rd - Woodpigeon, 92%
4th - Robin, 89%
5th - Mute Swan, 86%
6th - Black Headed Gull, 85%
7th - Mallard, 83%
8th - Tree Sparrow, 81%
9th= - Pheasant
9th= - Magpie
9th= - Linnet
9th = Yellowhammer.
13th - Lapwing, 76%
On to todays birding and my plan was to bird between dawn and 11.00 before my flu jab at 11.05 then I was popping off to work for a couple of hours but on the way to Whitemoor Haye I decided to pop to Croxall GP to take a look. Once I had finished there I had about 30 minutes to kill so i checked out the pool, couldnt look in the small wood on the opposite side of the road as a local shooter was preping the wood to feed up the Pheasants so he can shoot them, then had a quick drive along the rough track, checked out the mound behind Sittles farm then i went home to be jabbed. Birds noted were about 400 Fieldfare flew over on driving to the pool, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Magpie, Pheasant, Blackbird, circa 300 Lapwing, Goldfinch, 20+ Skylark, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, a single Little Owl, about 100 Mute Swans, 3 Golden Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 9 House Sparrows having a bath by the entrance to Sittles farm, a few Mallard on the old pig field, Long-tailed Tit and a single Stock Dove over.
1st - Wren, 94%
2nd - Carrion Crow, 93%
3rd - Woodpigeon, 92%
4th - Robin, 89%
5th - Mute Swan, 86%
6th - Black Headed Gull, 85%
7th - Mallard, 83%
8th - Tree Sparrow, 81%
9th= - Pheasant
9th= - Magpie
9th= - Linnet
9th = Yellowhammer.
13th - Lapwing, 76%
On to todays birding and my plan was to bird between dawn and 11.00 before my flu jab at 11.05 then I was popping off to work for a couple of hours but on the way to Whitemoor Haye I decided to pop to Croxall GP to take a look. Once I had finished there I had about 30 minutes to kill so i checked out the pool, couldnt look in the small wood on the opposite side of the road as a local shooter was preping the wood to feed up the Pheasants so he can shoot them, then had a quick drive along the rough track, checked out the mound behind Sittles farm then i went home to be jabbed. Birds noted were about 400 Fieldfare flew over on driving to the pool, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Magpie, Pheasant, Blackbird, circa 300 Lapwing, Goldfinch, 20+ Skylark, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, a single Little Owl, about 100 Mute Swans, 3 Golden Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 9 House Sparrows having a bath by the entrance to Sittles farm, a few Mallard on the old pig field, Long-tailed Tit and a single Stock Dove over.
Friday, 26 October 2012
28-9-12 to 26-10-12
I have been slacking on blog postings recently so I will catch up with a brief write up from each day to present (26-10-12).
28-9-12.
Carrion Crow, Blackbird, 2 Mute Swan, Linnet, 29 Coot, Black Headed Gull, Swallow, 27 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Shoveler, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wren, Pied Wagtail, 12 Tree Sparrow, 90 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Goldfinch, 4 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Starling, Cormorant, 5 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover flying over and calling, Pheasant, 1 Jay, small group of Herring Gulls and Greylag Geese.
29-9-12.
Robin, Starling, Carrion Crow, 4 Grey Heron, Blue Tit, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swan, 6 Shoveler (as I was setting up a large flock of ducks departed the main lake and headed for the far pit which I guess were more Shoveler and Mallard), Wren, Swallow, 60+ Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, 2 Sparrowhawk, 31 Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Greylag Geese, Kestrel, 5 Tree Sparrow, 80+ Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Moorhen.
12-10-12.
Linnet, Robin, 48 Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, 78 Mallard, 27 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Peregrine, Black Headed Gull, 2 Tufted Duck, Meadow Pipit, 355+ Lapwing, 6 Redwing, Wren, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Starling, Blackbird, Skylark, Dunnock, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Chaffinch, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Buzzard, Yellowhammer, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Magpie, 2 Jay, 2 Collared Dove, 4 Grey Partridge and Carrion Crow.
14-10-12.
Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, 50 Lapwing, Skylark, Yellowhammer, 100+ Linnet, Carrion Crow, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, 2 Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 31 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard, Canada Geese, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 2 Jay, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, 3 Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Moorhen and Cormorant.
16-10-12.
96 Mute Swan, 1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, 13 Lapwing, 36 Mallard, Woodpigeon, Canada Geese, Kestrel, Dunnock, Pheasant, Skylark, Cormorant, Wren, Grey Partridge, Robin, Grey Heron, a single Wigeon heard only, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Moorhen.
26-10-12.
Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, 1500+ of Lesser Black-backed and Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Canada Geese, 89 Mute Swan, Starling, Robin, 17 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, at least 652 Fieldfare in several areas around the site, 1 Little Owl, 9 Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, 13 Grey Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, Wren, 6 Mallard, Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark and a single Moorhen.
Thats me up to date now and as you can see thnere is not much there due to a very busy work and social schedule and this weekend is my last weekend off as I am working solid up to Christmas!!!!
Recently plans have been on show which are going to have a massive impact on birding in the Trent and Tame valley between Burton Upon trent and Tamworth. Five new villages plus lots of new leisure facilities are planned to be constructed in the coming years. I couldnt make it to the national arboretum to see the plans but I have heard there is going to be an olympic rowing centre built at Whitemoor Haye on the second pit. This along with the Whitemoor Lakes will surely see the end of breeding wader birds along the shorelines and I am currently enjoying the vast numbers of gulls roosting on the second pit, these will no doubt be going elsewhere. If it was not fot he Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting and other regionally rare birds then this site would be wiped off the list, there is chance yet especially with new villages planned very close and increase in traffic. Frightening times ahead for this marvellous site. Dawn is heer so I am off birding before going to work. Oh yeah, flu jab as well today!!!!!!!!!!!!
28-9-12.
Carrion Crow, Blackbird, 2 Mute Swan, Linnet, 29 Coot, Black Headed Gull, Swallow, 27 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Shoveler, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wren, Pied Wagtail, 12 Tree Sparrow, 90 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Goldfinch, 4 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Starling, Cormorant, 5 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover flying over and calling, Pheasant, 1 Jay, small group of Herring Gulls and Greylag Geese.
29-9-12.
Robin, Starling, Carrion Crow, 4 Grey Heron, Blue Tit, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swan, 6 Shoveler (as I was setting up a large flock of ducks departed the main lake and headed for the far pit which I guess were more Shoveler and Mallard), Wren, Swallow, 60+ Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, 2 Sparrowhawk, 31 Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Greylag Geese, Kestrel, 5 Tree Sparrow, 80+ Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Moorhen.
12-10-12.
Linnet, Robin, 48 Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, 78 Mallard, 27 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Peregrine, Black Headed Gull, 2 Tufted Duck, Meadow Pipit, 355+ Lapwing, 6 Redwing, Wren, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Starling, Blackbird, Skylark, Dunnock, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Chaffinch, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Buzzard, Yellowhammer, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Magpie, 2 Jay, 2 Collared Dove, 4 Grey Partridge and Carrion Crow.
14-10-12.
Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, 50 Lapwing, Skylark, Yellowhammer, 100+ Linnet, Carrion Crow, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, 2 Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 31 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard, Canada Geese, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 2 Jay, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, 3 Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Moorhen and Cormorant.
16-10-12.
96 Mute Swan, 1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, 13 Lapwing, 36 Mallard, Woodpigeon, Canada Geese, Kestrel, Dunnock, Pheasant, Skylark, Cormorant, Wren, Grey Partridge, Robin, Grey Heron, a single Wigeon heard only, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Moorhen.
26-10-12.
Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, 1500+ of Lesser Black-backed and Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Canada Geese, 89 Mute Swan, Starling, Robin, 17 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, at least 652 Fieldfare in several areas around the site, 1 Little Owl, 9 Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, 13 Grey Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, Wren, 6 Mallard, Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark and a single Moorhen.
Thats me up to date now and as you can see thnere is not much there due to a very busy work and social schedule and this weekend is my last weekend off as I am working solid up to Christmas!!!!
Recently plans have been on show which are going to have a massive impact on birding in the Trent and Tame valley between Burton Upon trent and Tamworth. Five new villages plus lots of new leisure facilities are planned to be constructed in the coming years. I couldnt make it to the national arboretum to see the plans but I have heard there is going to be an olympic rowing centre built at Whitemoor Haye on the second pit. This along with the Whitemoor Lakes will surely see the end of breeding wader birds along the shorelines and I am currently enjoying the vast numbers of gulls roosting on the second pit, these will no doubt be going elsewhere. If it was not fot he Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting and other regionally rare birds then this site would be wiped off the list, there is chance yet especially with new villages planned very close and increase in traffic. Frightening times ahead for this marvellous site. Dawn is heer so I am off birding before going to work. Oh yeah, flu jab as well today!!!!!!!!!!!!
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