blithfield annual bird report 2016 · two counts of 2 birds on the 10th and the 20th. p f betts. 05...

Blithfield Annual Bird Report 2016

Blithfield Bird Report – January 2016

January 2016. Was milder and wetter than average with very little frost. Consequently the water levels remained

very high as there was barely a day in the month without any rainfall.

The following birds were present throughout the month:-

Mute Swan, Hybrid Goose, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant,

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black

Headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl,

Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch,

Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch,

Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with highest counts of 600 on the 24th and 151 on the 18th.

Oystercatcher. A single bird still around and recorded on the 6th.

Common Snipe. Just one bird on the 18th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month in good numbers with a very high count of 4000 birds on the 6th.

Common Gull. 2 birds on a number of days with a maximum of 7 on the 6th.

Little Gull. A single bird seen on the 3rd.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with high numbers in the roost on a number of occasions.

Around 1500 counted on the 6th.

Mediterranean Gull. 2 birds on the 1st and singles on the 2nd and the 4th.

Herring Gull. Recorded in small numbers on a number of occasions with a maximum of 10 on the 23rd and the 24th.

Caspian Gull. Recorded on 7 days in the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 1st and the 19th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Recorded on 7 occasions in the month with maximum counts of 8 birds on the 2nd and 7 birds

on the 1st and the 18th of the month.

Great Black-backed Gull. Small counts on a number of occasions with maximums of 2 birds on the 6th and the 24th.

Ducks, Geese, Swans, Grebes, Herons, etc.

Mute Swan. Two records of a 2 birds on the 6th and the 20th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 600 birds on the 28th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 292 birds on the 28th.

Farmyard Goose. 7 birds present throughout the month.

Teal. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum of 264 birds on the 28th.

Gadwall. Counts on 3 occasions throughout the month with a maximum of 7 birds on the 15th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 315 birds on the 18th.

Mandarin Duck. A count of 4 birds on the 1st.

Pintail. A count of 3 birds on the 28th.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum of 3 birds on the 28th.

Shelduck. Just 3 birds the 24th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum of 667 birds on the 18th.

Tufted Duck. Lower than normal numbers for the time of the year with a maximum of 29 birds on the 28th.

Pochard. Small counts on five occasions throughout the month with a maximum of 24 birds on the 18th.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 14 birds on the 4th. A pair were seen mating on the 29th.

Goosander. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 46 birds on the 4th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month in very low numbers with just one record of 3 birds on the 1st.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with maximum count of 6 on the 20th.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 18th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 29 birds on the 18th.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 143 birds on the 18th.

Moorhen. Just two counts of 2 birds bird on the 13th and the 14th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 14th.

Sparrowhawk. Just one record of a single bird on the 18th.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on a number days during the month.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with up to 1 bird recorded on a number of days.

Barn Owl. One seen at approximately 11.0 am on the 21st.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a count of 2 birds on the 14th.

Jay. 2 birds seen on the 28th.

Green Woodpecker. 1 bird seen on the 3rd.

Kingfisher. A bird was seen on the 6th.

Mistle Thrush 2 birds seen on the 11th.

Fieldfare. 50 birds counted on the 3rd.

Redwing. 6 birds counted on the 28th.

Nuthatch. A singing bird on the 28th.

Treecreeper. A singing bird on the 28th.

Chiffchaff. A single bird seen on the 20th.

Grey Wagtail. A single bird seen on the 6th the 22nd and the 24th.

Pied Wagtail. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on the 27th.

Goldfinch. Present throughout the month with a flock of 12 birds on the 29th.

Linnet. A maximum count of 10 on the 6th.

Lesser Redpoll. 3 birds on the 24th.

Black Redstart. A single bird was seen from the 20th to the 23rd.

P F Betts. 02 February 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - February 2016

February 2016. The milder weather continued and the latter half of the month became drier and temperatures

became more seasonal with some nice clear frosty mornings.









Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with highest counts of 175 on the 10th and 334 on the 24th.

Golden Plover. A single bird on the 10th and 6 on the 24th.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with 6 on the 10th and the 24th and 9 on the 20th.

Common Snipe. There were two very good counts of 22 on the 20th and 39 on the 24th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with just one count of 50 on the 14th.

Common Gull. A good count of 12 birds on the 5th, 1 also on the 10th and 8 birds on the 20th.

Little Gull. A single bird seen on the 3rd.


Around 850 counted on the 5th.

Mediterranean Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 16th.

Herring Gull. Just three records of 2 birds on the 5th and the 15th and a single bird on the 14th.

Caspian Gull. Recorded on 4 days in the month with maximums of 4 birds on the 1st and 3 on the 14th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Recorded on 4 occasions in the month with maximum of 2 birds on the 14th of the month.

Great Black-backed Gull. Singles on a number of occasions with maximums of 4 birds on the 20th.


Mute Swan. Two records of 2 birds on the 2nd and the 19th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 390 birds on the 2nd.



Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 80 birds on the 20th.


Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 110 birds on the 2nd.

Pintail. A single bird on the 1st and 3 birds on the 20th.

Shoveler. Present on most days during the month in small numbers with a maximum of 12 birds on the 13th.

Shelduck. Seen on a number of days in the month with a maximum of 3 birds the 20th.


Tufted Duck. Lower than normal numbers for the time of the year with a maximum of 45 birds on the 20th.

Pochard. Present in small numbers on most days throughout the month with a maximum of 17 birds on the 20th.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 11 birds on the 20th.

Goosander. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 24 birds on the 3rd.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 44 birds on the 20th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 11 on the 11th.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with just one count of a single bird on the 2nd.


Coot. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 170 birds on the 1st.

Moorhen. Just one count of a single bird on the 10th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds seen on a number of days.

Sparrowhawk. Just one record of a single bird on the 2nd.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on the 1st.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with 1 bird recorded on a number of days.

Barn Owl. A single bird seen on 3 days during the month.

Passerines


Magpie. 5 birds seen on the 14th.

Kingfisher. A bird was seen on the 2nd.

Fieldfare. 210 birds counted on the 10th.


Nuthatch. 2 birds seen on the 27th.

Treecreeper. A single bird on the 27th.

Chiffchaff. A single bird seen on the 19th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with just two counts of 2 birds on the 2nd and the

20th.

Meadow Pipit. Just two counts of 4 birds on the 10th and 4 birds on the 29th.

Reed Bunting. Two counts of 2 birds on the 10th and the 20th.

P F Betts. 05 March 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - March 2016

March 2016. The mild weather continued but water levels remained high with some very stormy weather at the end

of the month.


Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey

Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull, Lesser

Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl,

Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,

Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch,

Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in reduced numbers with a highest count of 18 on the 19th of the month.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a highest count of 7 on the 24th.

Little Ringed Plover. The first record of the year of a single bird on the 28th.

Dunlin. Just one count of 7 birds on the 19th.

Curlew. A single bird on the 26th.

Redshank. Just one bird recorded on the 24th and also one on the 30th.

Green Sandpiper. A single bird was seen on the 22nd.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 291 on the 12th.

Common Gull. A good count of 22 birds on the 12th and also 5 on the 15th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 47 birds on the 12th.

Herring Gull. Just two records of 2 birds on the 12th and a single bird on the 22nd.

Great Black-backed Gull. Singles on a number of occasions with a maximum of 2 birds on the 12th.

Common Tern. The first record of the year on the 28th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 13 birds the 29th.

Snow Goose. A blue phase bird on the 12th.

Barnacle Goose. A count of 6 birds on the 19th and also on the 25th and the 30th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 20 birds on the 16th.


Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on the 15th.


Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on the 12th.


Garganey. 2 birds counted on the 25th and the 26th.


Mandarin. A single bird on the 19th and 2 birds from the 23rd to the 26th.

Shoveler. Present on most days during the month with a maximum of 10 birds on the 4th and the 19th.

Shelduck. Seen on a number of days in the month with numbers building up to 6 birds by the 30th.


Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 85 birds on the 12th.

Pochard. Present in small numbers on a number of days with a maximum of 10 birds on the 15th and the 19th.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 11 birds on the 12th.

Goosander. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 5 birds on the 9th and the 25th.




Coot. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 132 birds on the 16th.

Moorhen. Just one count of a single bird on the 19th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds seen on a number of days.

Red Kite. A single bird on the 19th and the 23rd.

Osprey. The first record of the year on the 7th and also one on the 25th

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on the 19th, 25th and the 26th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with 1 bird recorded on a number of days.

Little Owl. A single bird seen on 3 days during the month and 2 birds on the 19th and the 25th.

Passerines


Jay. A single bird on the 29th.

Stock dove. 2 birds seen on the 24th.

Green Woodpecker. A bird was seen on the 30th and 2 on the 29th.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. A single bird was recorded on the 20th.

Fieldfare. 200 birds counted on the 29th.


Mistle Thrush. A single bird on the 30th.

Common Starling. A flock of around 400 birds on the 7th

Skylark. A single bird recorded on 4 different days at the end of the month.

Sand Martin. A first record of 2 on the 22nd, followed by 6 on the 24th, 45 on the 27th and 50 on the 30th.

House Martin. A first record of 14 on the 28th and 10 on the 29th.

Swallow. A first record of 1 on the 24th followed by 3 on the 29th.

Stonechat. A single bird on the 24th.

Wheatear. 2 birds on the 27th with a maximum of 6 birds on the 30th.

Tree Sparrow. 2 birds on the 22nd.

Long tailed Tit. 4 seen on the 12th.

Nuthatch. 2 birds seen on the 24th.

Treecreeper. A single bird on the 24th and the 26th.

Chiffchaff. 3 birds on the 27th and 4 on the 30th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 50 on the 29th.

White Wagtail. 2 birds on the 30th.

Meadow Pipit. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 30 birds on the 30th.

Rock Pipit. A single bird on the 22nd and the 24th.

Reed Bunting. Two counts of 3 birds on the 12th and 4 birds on the 30th.

Brambling. 7 birds on the 22nd and 6 on the 23rd.

P F Betts. 05 April 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - April 2016

April 2016 was colder than usual with quite a number of frosts right until the end of the month and with water levels

remaining very high there were few records of waders.



Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Oystercatcher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed

Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion

Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling,

Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed

Bunting, Tree Sparrow.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Very few about during the month with only one count of 8 on the 9th of the month.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a highest count of 9 on the 9th.

Little Ringed Plover. Present in low numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 4 birds on the 24th.

Ringed Plover. Just one count of 3 birds on the 13th.

Dunlin. The first record of the month was 1 bird on the 24th with a maximum count of 9 birds on the 29th.

Black-tailed Godwit. A count of 15 birds on the 30th.

Common Snipe. Just one count of 8 birds on the 9th.

Whimbrel. 8 birds flew through on the 18th and also one on the 23rd.

Common Sandpiper. Present in small numbers from the 10th onwards with a maximum count of 8 birds on the

23rd.

Gulls and Terns

Black -headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 16 on the 24th.


Herring Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 14th.

Yellow -legged Gull. One on the 13th and 2 on the 23rd.

Great Black-backed Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 9th.

Arctic Tern. 2 on the 10th and 11th and one on the 16th.

Common Tern. Present from the 10th onwards with a maximum of 8 birds on the 16th.

Sandwich Tern. 2 Birds on the 2nd and 4 on the 16th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 15 birds on 25th.

Barnacle Goose. A count of 6 birds on the 4th and also on the 6th.

Brent Goose. Just one bird on the 2nd.



Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on six different days from the 13th onwards.


Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 9th.

Gadwall. Counts on 8 occasions throughout the month with a maximum of 7 birds on the 9th and the 17th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 93 birds on the 9th and a duck with 9 ducklings on the 24th.

Mandarin. 2 birds from the 9th to the 12th.

Shoveler. Present on most days during the month with a maximum of 10 birds on the 9th, 13th and the 17th.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 23rd.

Wigeon. Up to 25 birds present until the 4th of the month and none thereafter.


Pochard. A single bird seen on the 7th and the 23rd.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 6 birds on the 23rd.

Goosander. 3 birds seen on the 4th one on the 7th and 2 on the 9th.





Moorhen. A single bird on the 4th and the 9th.

Black-throated Diver. A summer plumaged bird seen on the 10th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 4 birds seen on the 9th.

Red Kite. A single bird on the 1st.

Osprey. A single bird on the 2nd and also one on the 24th

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on the 9th and the 29th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with 2 bird recorded on two days.

Marsh Harrier. A single bird reported on the 11th.

Little Owl. A single bird seen on a number of days during the month and 2 birds on the 9th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 birds on the 23rd.

Jay. A single bird on the 9th.

Stock dove. 2 birds seen on the 17th.

Green Woodpecker. A bird was recorded on the 4th and on the 13th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. 3 birds were recorded on the 13th.

Mistle Thrush. 3 birds recorded on the 14th.

Skylark. A single bird recorded on 3 different days of the month with 2 birds on the 20th.

Sand Martin. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 200 on the 25th.

House Martin. Up to 30 present throughout the month.

Swallow. Present throughout the month with up to a 100 counted on a number of occasions.

Swift. 30 recorded on the 18th and 50 on the 29th.

Whinchat. 2 birds recorded on a number of occasions from the 13th of the month.

Wheatear. Seen on a number of occasions with a maximum of 6 birds on the 9th and the 17th.

Common Redstart. A single bird on the 4th.

Tree Sparrow. A maximum of 12 birds on the 20th.

Marsh Tit. A single bird seen on the 14th.

Goldcrest. A single bird on the 4th.

Chiffchaff. A maximum count of 12 birds on the 9th.

Willow Warbler. 3 birds on the 9th and the 20th.

Blackcap. Present throughout the month with up to 3 birds on a number of occasions.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 32 on the 9th and also nesting.

White Wagtail. 2 birds on the 9th and singles on two other occasions.

Yellow Wagtail. Seen on most days from the 3rd onwards with a maximum of 8 on the 25th.

Channel Wagtail. A single bird recorded on 3 occasions between the 4th and the 16th.

Tree Pipit. A single bird on the 13th.

Linnet. Seen in small numbers a number of times with a maximum of 10 birds on the 25th.

Reed Bunting. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 8 birds on the 9th.

Brambling. Present on a number of days with 2 birds on the 13th.

P F Betts. 07 May 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - May 2016

May 2016 was drier than average with the weather becoming more settled and warmer towards the month end and

with water levels still remaining very high there were few records of waders .







Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Swallow, Swift, House Martin and

Sand Martin.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present in small numbers during the month with a highest count of 10 pairs on the 16th.

Oystercatcher. At least 2 pairs present throughout the month. A pair with 2 chicks was seen on the 20th.

Little Ringed Plover. Present in low numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 5 birds on the 8th.

Dunlin. A single bird seen between the 5th and the 11th.

Sanderling. Just two records of 3 birds on the 18th and 2 on the 15th.

Common Sandpiper. A maximum count of 7 birds on the 7th.

Gulls and Terns



Herring Gull. Just two records of a single bird on the 7th and the 16th.


Arctic Tern. 2 on the 11th and the 15th, 5 on the 14th and 4 on the 20th with a maximum of 9 on the 12th.

Little Tern. 2 birds seen on the 9th.

Common Tern. Present in good numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 34 birds on the 14th.

Black Tern. A maximum of 9 birds seen on the 5th also 2 birds on the 2nd, 4 birds on the 6th and a single bird from the 10th to the 12th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 52 birds the 16th.



Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on the 11th and the 16th and 1 on the 31st.


Gadwall. At least 2 pairs present throughout the month with a highest count of 6 birds on the 7th.


Mandarin. A single bird seen on 3 days and 5 birds on the 23rd.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 13 birds on the 7th.


Goosander. 1 bird seen on the 7th.

Common Scoter. 1 bird on the 15th.





Moorhen. Present throughout the month with a count of 3 birds on the 7th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds seen on the 25th.

Red Kite. A single bird on the 10th.

Osprey. A single bird on the 18th and also one on the 22nd.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on the 20th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a male on the kill recorded on the 16th.

Hobby. 2 birds seen on the 16th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 birds on the 25th.

Skylark. A single bird recorded on the 7th.

Sand Martin. Present throughout the month with 6 recorded on the 14th.

House Martin. Up to 20 present throughout the month.

Swallow. Present throughout the month with up to a count of 40 on the 11th.

Swift. Present throughout the month with 70 recorded on the 11th.

Whinchat. A single bird recorded on the 5th of the month.

Wheatear. A single bird recorded on the 5th of the month.

Common Redstart. A single bird on 5th.

Chiffchaff. A maximum count of 4 birds on the 7th.


Blackcap. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 16th.

Garden Warbler. 3 birds on the 7th and the 15th.

Common Whitethroat. A single bird on the 16th.

Sedge Warbler. 2 birds on the 5th.

Reed Warbler. 1 bird recorded on the 5th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 6 on the 25th.

Yellow Wagtail. 6 birds on the 7th.


P F Betts. 06 June 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - June 2016

June 2016 Rainfall was higher than average and with water levels still remaining very high there were few records of

waders.








Sand Martin.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present in small numbers during the month with a good count of 90 birds on the 13th June. At least 2 pairs bred with 3 chicks present on the 25th

Oystercatcher. At least 2 pairs present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on 4th June.

Little Ringed Plover. At least one pair present throughout the month with a record of 3 birds on the 18th.

Common Sandpiper. A maximum count of 2 birds on the 26th.

Gulls and Terns


Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 26 birds on the 4th and the 7th.

Yellow Legged Gull. A single bird recorded on the 26th.


Common Tern. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 30 birds on the 25th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 71 birds the 4th and also 61 on the 7th.

Barnacle Goose. Just one record of 6 birds on the 15th June.


Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 112 birds on the 4th. Also a number of broods.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on the 4th and the 15th and 1 on the 9th.


Gadwall. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 18 birds on the 14th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 424 birds on the 4th. There were a number of broods also.

Shoveler. A single bird seen on 2 days also 2 birds on the 18th and a maximum of 6 birds on the 4th.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 4th.

Teal. A record of a single bird on the 4th and also 5 on the 23rd.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 41 birds on the 4th and also a duck with 3 ducklings on the 25th.

Common Scoter. 27 drakes on the 26th.




Coot. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 236 birds on the 7th and a number of broods.

Moorhen. Present throughout the month with a count of 4 birds and chicks on the 18th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds seen on the 25rd.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 on the 19th.

Hobby. A single bird recorded on the 5th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 birds on the 19th.

Jay. A single bird recorded on the 25th

Kingfisher. One recorded on 28th June.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker. 2 birds recorded on the 18th.

Skylark. A single bird recorded on the 18th.

Swift. Present throughout the month with 20 recorded on the 27th.

Mistle Thrush. 7 birds recorded on the 18th June.

Common Redstart. A juvenile on the 30th.

Chiffchaff. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 4 birds on the 4th.


Blackcap. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 16th.

Goldcrest. A single bird recorded on three occasions.

Garden Warbler. Present throughout the month with 3 birds on the 4th and the 15th.

Common Whitethroat. 2 birds on the 4th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum count of 5 on the 4th.

Yellow Wagtail. 4 birds on the 4th.

Meadow Pipit. 3 birds recorded on the 6th June.


Common Crossbill. 9 flew over on the 27th.

P F Betts. 05 July 2016.

Common Kestrel – Steve Edwards Wood Sandpiper – Roger Broadbent Wood Sandpipers – Steve Edwards

Blithfield Bird Report - July 2016

July 2016 Rainfall was average and with the water level remaining at higher than normal for this time of the year

there was not a lot of wader activity.








Sand Martin.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 166 birds on the 16th.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum of 6 birds on the 6th.

Little Ringed Plover. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 5 including 2 juveniles present on the 2nd.

Dunlin. Very small numbers seen on a number of days in the month with a maximum of 5 birds on the 29th and

30th.

Sanderling. One bird seen on 2nd the 3rd and the 23rd.

Common Sandpiper. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 12 birds on the 30th.

Green Sandpiper. One seen on a number of occasions and 3 reported on the 29th and 4 on the 30th.

Redshank. A single bird reported on 3 different days in the month.

Curlew. A single bird reported on the 6th.

Whimbrel. A single bird reported on the 19th.

Black Tailed Godwit. Very few reports but 9 were seen on the 29th and 16 on the 24th.

Gulls and Terns

Black -headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 625 birds on 23rd.

Mediterranean Gull. A single bird on the 14th and the 15th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 19 birds on 23rd.

Greater Black-backed Gull. A single record of 1 bird on the 8th.

Yellow Legged Gull. 2 birds on the 16th and 3 on the on the 23rd and 1 on the 26th.

Herring Gull. 3 birds on the 23rd.

Common Tern. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 39 birds on the 23rd and 55 on the 13th.


Mute Swan. Present and numbers building up throughout the month with a WeBS count of 100 birds on the 23rd.

Barnacle Goose. 18 on the 30th and 15 on the 31st.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 340 birds on the 23rd.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 310 birds on the 23rd including a number of juveniles.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds present for most of the month and last recorded on the 27th.


Gadwall. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 7 including 6 ducklings on the 2nd and the 3rd.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 292 birds on the 23rd. There were a number of broods also.

Wigeon. A single bird seen on the 23rd.

Mandarin. A single bird seen on the 23rd.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 6 birds including 4 juveniles on the 16th and the 23rd.

Teal. A record of a single bird on the on the 23rd.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 90 birds on the 23rd including a number of juveniles. Also an adult with 10 ducklings on the 31st.

Pochard. Just one record of 3 birds on the 23rd.

Goosander. 3 birds recorded on the 10th and 3 juveniles on the 26th.

Common Scoter. A party of 12 birds was recorded on the 13th and a single bird on the 22nd and 23rd.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 60+ birds on the 9th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 11 on the 23rd.

Great White Egret. A single record of 1 bird seen on the 29th.

Little Egret. A number of records in the month with a maximum count of 4 on the 23rd.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 123 birds on the 23rd including a number of juveniles.

Little Grebe. A single bird recorded on the 23rd and the 29th.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 292 birds on the 23rd including a number of broods.

Moorhen. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 11 birds including 4 chicks on the 23rd.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds seen on the 23rd.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 on the 23rd.

Osprey. Single birds were recorded on 12th and 29th.

Peregrine Falcon. A record of a single bird on the 6th.

Little Owl. A single bird recorded on the 16th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 birds on the 31st.

Jay. A single bird recorded on the 23rd.

Kingfisher. One recorded on 31st.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Present throughout the month with2 birds recorded on the 2nd.

Mistle Thrush. 4 birds recorded on the 23rd.

Wheatear. Two records, of 1 on the 8th and 1 on the 30th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum count of 7 on the 8th.

Yellow Wagtail. Small counts on a number of occasions but a significant count of 40 juveniles passing through on the

29th.

Reed Bunting. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 3rd.

Linnet. 2 recorded on the 2nd.

Tree sparrows. 10 birds recorded on the 2nd.

Common Crossbill. One recorded flying over on the 14th.

P F Betts. 05 August 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - August 2016

August 2016. The month was mainly dry and warm and the falling water level encouraged waders to visit. The star

bird of the month was the Lesser Yellowlegs on the 20th and was only the 2nd ever sighting at the reservoir and the

4th record for the County.



Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Black

Headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared

Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted

Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock,

Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree

Sparrow.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 167 birds on the 21st.

Little Ringed Plover. Present throughout the month in small numbers with up to 6 birds recorded on a number of days and a maximum of 7 birds on the 19th.

Ringed Plover. Present in small numbers for most of the month with a maximum count of 12 birds on the 22nd.

Grey Plover. A single bird on the 25th.

Lesser Yellowlegs. A single bird on the 20th.

Little Stint. A single bird recorded on the 24th and the 26th.

Dunlin. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 14 recorded on the 22nd.

Ruff. Singles seen on a number of days but 5 present between the 16th and 24th.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 13 birds on the 19th.

Curlew. 2 birds on the 10th and 1 on the 26th.

Whimbrel. A single bird on the 5th and the 26th.

Black-tailed Godwit. A single bird seen on a few occasions with a maximum of 3 birds on the 22nd.

Curlew Sandpiper. Sightings of 3 on the 26th and 2 between the20th and 27th and 1 on the 28th.

Common Sandpiper. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a highest count of 18 on the 19th and

21st.

Green Sandpiper. Up to 3 birds seen on a number of occasions during the month with maximum counts of 3 on the 3rd, 6th, 21st, 24th and the 29th.

Wood Sandpiper. A single bird on the 17th and then 3 from the 18th until the 26th and then 2 on the 27th.

Redshank. Just three records of a single bird on the 17th and the 22nd and 3 on the 15th.

Spotted Redshank. A sighting of 4 on the 19th and 1 bird from the 17th, 19th to the 31st.

Greenshank. Up to 5 birds present throughout the month with a maximum of 8 on the 14th.

Gulls and Terns

Little Gull. A single bird on the 16th.

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month in good numbers with no specific counts.

Mediterranean Gull. A record of 1 bird on the 15th and 1 on the 31st.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a count of 17 birds on the 21st.

Herring Gull. 2 birds on the 21st.

Yellow-legged Gull. A sighting of 1 bird on the 15th and 3 on the 21st.

Great Black-backed Gull. A single bird recorded on 3 occasions.

Black Tern. A record of 5 birds on the 28th.

Arctic Tern. A record of 1 on the 7th and 7 on the 26th.

Sandwich Tern. A sighting of 2 birds on the 16th.

Common Tern. Recorded on a number of occasions throughout the month with a maximum count of 30 birds on the

1st and a last record of 3 on the 27th.


Mute Swan. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 84 birds on the 21st.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a high WeBS count of 606 on the 21st.

Egyptian goose. 2 birds present throughout the month.

Hybrid Goose. A single bird on the 21st.

Barnacle Goose. Five counts during the month with a maximum of 28 birds on the 17th of the month.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 436 birds on the 21st.


Gadwall. Present in small numbers for the most of the month with a maximum count of 31 on the 21st.

Garganey. 6 records of a single bird between the 11th and the 31st.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 142 birds on the 21st.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 864 birds on the 21st.

Pintail. 5 birds recorded on the 29th.

Shoveler. Recorded on 2 occasions during the month with a maximum of 9 on the 11th.

Shelduck. Recorded on a number occasions during the month with highest of 5 on the 4th and 5 including 3 juveniles on the 13th.

Wigeon. Recorded on five occasions during the month with a maximum of 7 birds on the 28th.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 56 birds on the 21st.

Pochard. Two records of 4 birds on the 1st and 2 on the 28th.

Goosander. Present for most of the month in small numbers with a maximum of 5 birds on the 27th.

Common Scoter. A count of 8 drakes on the 2nd and a single on the 12th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 68 on the 21st.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 12 on the 21st.

Little Egret. Seen on a number of days in the month with a maximum count of 4 birds on three occasions.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 3 birds on the 19th.

Black Necked Grebe. A single bird first seen on the 28th and then present until the end of the month.

Great Crested Grebe. A better year for successful broods with a highest count of 174 birds on the 21st.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 361 birds on the 21st

Moorhen. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 12 on the 21st.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 5 birds on the 21st.

Marsh Harrier. A single on the 12th, 18th and 22nd also 2 on the 14th and the 28th.

Osprey. Up to 2 birds seen on most days during the latter half of the month.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on a few days during the month with 2 birds on the 28th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with up to 2 birds seen on a number of days.

Hobby. Records of a single bird on 4 occasions during the month also 2 birds including a juvenile on the 13th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 4 on the 10th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. 1 bird seen on the 2nd.

Skylark. A single bird on the 20th and the 21st.

Chiffchaff. Just one record of a single bird on the 28th.

Common Whitethroat. Three records of a single bird on the 17th the 19th and the 21st.

Lesser Whitethroat. A single bird on the 17th and 19th.

Sedge Warbler. A single bird on the 21st.

Song Thrush. 2 birds on the 29th.

Pied Flycatcher. A single bird recorded on the18th.

Spotted Flycatcher. Recorded on 5 occasions with 2 birds seen on the 14th and single birds on four other days.

Redstart. A single bird on the 22nd and the 24th of the month.

Tree Pipit. A flyover of a single bird on the 18th and the 30th.

Grey Wagtail. A record of 2 birds on the 7th.

Yellow Wagtail. Small numbers recorded throughout the month with a maximum of 26 on the 12th.

Pied Wagtail. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 50 birds on the 21st.

Goldfinch. A flock of 25 birds feeding on thistles were recorded on the 29th.

Wheatear. Recorded throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum count of 7 on the 26th.

Whinchat. Sightings of 4 birds on the 19th and 3 on the 24th.

Stonechat. A single bird seen on the 17th.

Reed Bunting. Present throughout the month with single birds counted on two occasions.

Swift. One record of 8 birds on the 3rd.

P F Betts. 05 September 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - September 2016

September 2016. Was relatively dry although there were some very heavy storms and water levels remained fairly

high but there was enough exposed mud to attract a good variety of waders. The month ended with some fine warm

weather.







Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Swallow and House Martin.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with a highest counts of 479 on the 17th.

Little Ringed Plover. Up to 2 birds present until the 16th and no records thereafter.

Ringed Plover. Present throughout most of the month with highest counts of 26 on the 19th and 27 on the 25th.

Turnstone. Two records of a single bird on the 5th and 7 on the 6th.

Red Knot. Just one record of a single bird on the 6th.

Little Stint. A single bird reported on the 8th and then every day until the 14th.

Curlew Sandpiper. A single bird on the 19th and the 28th to the 30th.

Dunlin. Small numbers present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on a number of days.

Ruff. Present from the 7th to the end of the month in small numbers with a maximum of 8 birds on a number of

days.

Common Snipe. Reported on 4 days with a maximum of 6 birds on the 15th.

Curlew. A single bird recorded on the 6th.

Green Sandpiper. Up to 2 birds seen on a number of days from the 12th of the month onwards.

Wood Sandpiper. A single bird seen from the 20th to the 29th and 2 birds on the 30th of the month.

Common Sandpiper. Present in small numbers during most of the month with a maximum of 11 birds on the 7th.

Redshank. Just 2 sightings of a single bird on the 4th and the 7th.

Spotted Redshank. One bird seen on every days from the 2nd to the 7th.

Greenshank. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum of 13 birds seen on the 5th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with a very high WeBS count of 1438 birds on the 17th.

Mediterranean Gull. A record of 1 bird on the 18th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum count of 19 birds on the

17th.

Herring Gull. 1 bird on the 9th and 1 on the 17th.

Caspian Gull. A single bird recorded on the 20th.

Yellow-legged Gull. A single bird on 3 days and 2 birds on the 9th.

Great Black-backed Gull. A maximum of 6 birds on the 17th.

Common Gull. A sighting of 1 bird on the 2nd.

Black Tern. A record of 33 birds on the 8th 2 on the 13th and three other records of a single bird between the 28th and the 30th.

White-winged Black Tern. A single bird on the 8th amongst the Black Terns

Arctic Tern. A single record of 13 birds on the 12th.

Common Tern. A very high count of 75 birds on the 8th.


Mute Swan. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 73 birds on the 17th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a high WeBS count of 593 on the 17th.

Barnacle Goose.19 birds seen on the 2nd 7 on the 16th, 15 on the 17th and 9 on the 18th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 496 birds on the 17th.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on the 5th and the 17th.


Gadwall. A count of 26 birds on the 17th.

Garganey. Up to 3 birds present between the 1st and the 12th.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 517 birds on the 17th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 664 birds on the 17th.

Pintail. Up to 7 birds seen from the 16th onwards to the end of the month.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month with a very high count of 135 birds on the 17th.

Common Shelduck. Just 2 birds on the 2nd and the 3rd.

Wigeon. A maximum of 87 birds on the 17th.


Pochard. 2 birds seen on the 17th and 1 on the 22nd.

Goosander. There were only 7 records with a maximum of 7 birds the 23rd.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a high WeBS count of 72 on the 17th.


Little Egret. Recorded in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 9 on the 17th.

Great-white Egret. A single bird present between the 19th and the 30th.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with a single bird recorded on a number of days and 2 on the 17th.

Black-necked Grebe. A single bird present every day from the 1st to the 12th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 150 birds on the 17th.


Moorhen. Present throughout the month with 13 counted on the 2nd and 12 on the 17th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on a number of days.

Marsh Harrier. A single bird recorded on the 1st and the 5th.

Osprey. 1 bird seen during the first week.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on three days.


Hobby. Records of a single bird on 3 occasions up to 12th.

Little Owl. One bird recorded on a number of occasions throughout the month and 2 birds on the 28th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 on a number of days.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. 1 bird seen at the feeders on most days.

Kingfisher. A single bird recorded on three different days.

Chiffchaff. A maximum record of 3 birds on the 24th

Nuthatch. Present at the feeders throughout the month with 2 birds on the 19th.

Spotted Flycatcher. Recorded on four days up until the 13th with 5 birds seen on the 2nd.

Redstart. Two records of 1 bird on the 12th and the 19th of the month.

Yellow Wagtail. Small numbers recorded throughout the month with a maximum of 14 on the 10th.

Grey Wagtail. 1 bird seen on the 7th.

White Wagtail. 3 birds seen on the 18th.

Tree Sparrow. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 4 birds on the 23rd.

Meadow Pipit. Recorded on a number of occasions during the month with a maximum of 12 on the 18th.

Rock Pipit. A single bird recorded on the 18th of the month.

Goldfinch. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 31 on the 17th.

Linnet. A maximum count of 20 birds on the 24th.

Swallow. A large passage on the 17th.

House Martin. A count of 11 birds on the 18th.

Swift. One record of a single bird on the 30th.

Wheatear. Recorded throughout the month onwards with a maximum count of 3 on the 2nd.

Ringing Results:-

18th September. 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Great Tits, 2 Robin, 3 Blue Tits, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Wrens, 3 Goldcrest.

P F Betts. 04 October 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - October 2016

October 2016. Water levels continued to fall during the month which turned out to be one of the driest October’s on

record with very little rainfall and with higher than average temperatures.


Mute Swan, Hybrid Goose, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant,

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed

Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl,

Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Wren,

Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Tree

Sparrow.


Waders:-

Ringed Plover. Recorded each day in the first half of the month with a maximum of 9 on the 1st and the 2nd and a last record of 1 on the 15th.

Lapwing. Good numbers throughout the month with a highest count of 437 on the 15th.

Golden Plover. First recorded on the 22nd but then building up in numbers to 328 by the 30th.

Dunlin. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 30 on the 30th.

Ruff. Recorded in very small numbers on most days of the month with a maximum of 8 on the 1st and the 8th.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 20 on the 31st.

Redshank. Two singles on the 13th and 23rd.

Greenshank. A record of one bird on the record on the 6th.

Green Sandpiper. One bird seen on 4 days up until the 8th.

Wood Sandpiper. A single bird present throughout the month.

Common Sandpiper. Up to 2 birds present up until the 13th.

Gulls and Terns etc.

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 69 on the 15th.

Mediterranean Gull. A single bird on the 2nd.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 9 on the 15th.

Little Gull. A good record of 8 birds on the 5th and a single bird on the 6th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Recorded on 5 days with a maximum of 2 on the 13th and 30th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 5 on the 27th.

Caspian Gull. Single birds recorded on the 18th and the 31st.

Grey Phalarope. A single bird on the 30th which was the first since 2008.


Mute Swan. Present throughout the month with a count of 14 birds on the 2nd.

Whooper Swan. A single bird recorded on the 2nd.

Greylag Goose. . Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 398 birds on the 15th.

Farmyard Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 7 birds on the 15th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 480 birds on the 15th.

Barnacle Goose. Counts of 2 birds on the 13th, 15th and the 26th.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds on the 15th.

Common Shelduck. Up to 3 birds present for most of the month.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a very high count of 186 birds on the 30th.

Gadwall. A count of 23 birds on the 15th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 141 birds on the 15th.

Teal. Good numbers present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 520 on the 15th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 534 birds on the 15th.

Pintail. Small numbers in the first half of the month with a maximum of 11 birds on the 10th.

Pochard. Small numbers counted on 5 days only with a maximum of 6 birds on the 10th.

Tufted Duck. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a WeBS count of 56 birds on the 15th.

Goldeneye. Records on only 5 days in the latter half of the month with maximums of 4 birds on the 31st.

Goosander. Records on only 5 days in the month with maximums of 2 birds.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 13 birds on the 25th.

Little Egret. Counts of up to 2 birds on most days up until the 23rd.

Great White Egret. The bird first seen on September 19th was last seen on the 23rd.

Cattle Egret. A record count for Blithfield of 4 birds below the dam on the 16th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 15 on the 15th.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum record of 5 birds on the 12th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 133 birds on the 1st.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a very low Webs count of 94 birds on the 15th.

Moorhen. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a count of 2 on the 26th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 on the 2nd.

Osprey. A single bird recorded on the 6th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 on the 22nd.

Peregrine. A frequent visitor with a single bird recorded on 2 dates in the month.

Sparrowhawk. A single record of a bird on the 26th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a count of 2 on the 2nd.

Meadow Pipit. There were five records in the month with a maximum of 8 birds on the 14th.

Rock Pipit. Just one record of a bird seen on the 26th

Goldfinch. Present throughout the month with only one count of 30 birds on the 26th.

Pied Wagtail. Present throughout the month with a count of 12 birds on the 26th.

White Wagtail. A single bird on the 13th and 3 on the 15th.

Wheatear. Recorded up until the 6th of the month with maximums of 2 birds on the 2nd.

Chiffchaff. A single birds on the 2nd.

Redwing. A small flock of 30 to 40 seen on the on the 26th.

Fieldfare. At least 6 with the Redwings on the 26th.

Results of the Ringing on the 11th October were as follows.

Goldcrest. 22 including one retrap, Wren. 1, Blackbird. 1, Great Tit. 2, Blue Tit. 6 including one retrap from a nest

box this year, Nuthatch. 1.

P F Betts. 04 November 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - November 2016

November 2016. The dry weather continued in the first half of the month but the stormy weather in week three

caused water levels to rise to maximum. The last few days of the month were cold and dry with hard night frosts.



Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull, Lesser

Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl,

Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,

Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch,

Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow.


Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in good numbers with highest counts of 400 on the 15th and 237 on the 12th.

Golden Plover. Present in very good numbers in the first half of the month with three counts of over 800 and a maximum of 842 on the 18th and no records thereafter.

Dunlin. There were some very good counts in the first half of the month with over 50 birds on at least 4 days and a

maximum of 114 on the 9th, also another high count of 100 on the 11th and none after the 18th.

Ruff. Recorded on a number of days up until the 19th of the month with a maximum of 7 birds on the 7th.

Red Knot. There were counts of 3 on the 12th and 1 on the 13th.

Greenshank. Just one record of 2 birds on the 11th.

Green Sandpiper. One record of 2 birds on the 12th.

Wood Sandpiper. The long staying single bird which was recorded throughout October was last seen on the 23rd of the month.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 12 birds on the 7th.

Jack Snipe. A very good count of 4 birds on the 11th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 322 birds on the 12th.

Common Gull. Only one record of a single bird on the 12th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 70 birds on the 12th.

Herring Gull. A single bird recorded on the 12th and the 15th.

Caspian Gull. A single bird recorded on the 15th.

Great Black-backed Gull. There were only two records of a single bird on the 12th and 2 on the 3rd.


Mute Swan. Unusually just one records of 2 birds on the 12th.

Whooper Swan. A single bird recorded on a number of days up until the 19th of the month.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 168 on the 12th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 244 birds on the 12th.


Teal. Present throughout the month in high numbers a WeBS count of 651 birds on the 12th.

Gadwall. Just three records of 6 birds on the 3rd, 8 on the 12th and 4 on the 15th.


Mandarin Duck. A single bird recorded on the 9th.

Pintail. Just one record of a single bird on the 11th.

Shelduck. Present in very small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 5 birds on the 7th.

Shoveler. Much higher than usual counts with a WeBS count of 195 birds on the 12th and a maximum of 230 birds on the 11th.

Wigeon. Present in fewer numbers than usual for the month with a WeBS count of 122 on the 12th.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 128 birds on the 12th.

Pochard. Small counts on a number of occasions throughout the month with a maximum of 7 on the 12th.

Goldeneye. Present throughout the month in very small numbers with a maximum of 21 birds on the 12th.

Goosander. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum of 12 birds on the 29th.

Common Scoter. A single bird seen on the 11th, 12th, and the 13th.

Velvet Scoter . A single bird seen for a short while on the 2nd.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a WeBS count of 63 birds on the 12th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with maximum count of 15 on the 12th.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 5 birds on the 12th.


Slavonian Grebe. The 2 birds on the 12th was the first ever multiple record at Blithfield of this species.


Moorhen. Just one count of 2 birds on the 9th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 9th.


Passerines


Fieldfare. 7 recorded on the 12th.

Redwing. 45 recorded on the 12th.


Meadow Pipit. Present throughout the month with a record of 10 on the 12th.

Brambling. A flock of 60 birds on the 12th.

Ringing Results:-

19 new Traps

7 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chaffinches, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit.

9 Retraps. 6 Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock.

One of the Goldcrests was first trapped 5 years 1 month and 12 days previously and it may well be a longevity

record.

P F Betts. 04 December 2016.

Blithfield Bird Report - December 2016

December 2016. The month started and ended cold with some morning frost with milder wetter weather settling in

for the middle two weeks of the month.









Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum of 813 on the 18th.

Golden Plover. Present in the middle of the month in good numbers with a count of over a 1000 on the 13th and 1400 on the 14th.

Dunlin. A few present from the 16th onwards with a maximum of 7 on the 23rd.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with just one count of 3 birds on the 18th.

Jack Snipe. A count of 1 bird on the 30th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with maximum counts of 130 birds on the 23rd.


With a maximum count of 400 on the 19th.

Herring Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 18th.

Caspian Gull. Recorded on 6 days in the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 5th, 19th and 20th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Single birds recorded on 4 days in the month.

Great Black-backed Gull. Small counts on 3 days with a maximum count of 7 birds on the 16th.


Mute Swan. Just one record of 4 birds on the 23rd.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with one count of 55 birds on the 18th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a count of 220 birds on the 18th.


Teal. Present throughout the month in high numbers with a WeBS count of 637 birds on the 18th.



Shoveler. A maximum counts of 13 birds on the 18th.

Shelduck. Counts of 3 on the 18th and 7 on the 20th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 180 birds on the 18th. In the same month last year there were counts of over 400 birds.

Tufted Duck. Lower than normal numbers for the month with only one count of 3 birds on the 23rd.

Pochard. Just 2 counts of 6 on the 18th and 4 on the 20th.

Goldeneye. There were counts of 39 on the 18th and 18 on the 19th. The same month last year had a maximum count of only 5 birds.

Goosander. Just 4 counts with a maximum of 8 birds on the 20th. Last December the maximum count was 40 birds.

Common Scoter. 2 females on the 5th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a very high WeBS count of 148 birds on the 18th compared to a maximum of 29 birds last December.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 17 birds on the 18th.

Little Egret. Counts of 4 on the 20th and the 23rd.



Moorhen. Just one bird on the 18th.

Raptors and Owls

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on the 20th.


Passerines


Nuthatch. A single bird on the 14th.

Grey Wagtail. A single bird seen on the 18th.


Stonechat. A single bird on the on the 30th.

P F Betts. 04 January 2017.

blithfield annual bird report 2016 · two counts of 2 birds on the 10th and the 20th. p f betts. 05...

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