AUGUST 2011 BIRD NOTES

 August Highlights: 4 Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, 20 Species of Wader, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern, Wood Warbler and Marsh Tit.

 What a difference a year makes: Aug 2010 Highlights ‘A dull month with no highlights’ and only 94 species compared with 119 species this Aug, which is just 3 species below the best ever month at Carsington. Waterbird maximums included 19 Little Grebe on 15^th, 51 Great Crested Grebe on 5^th, 34 Cormorants on 31^st, a site record number 4 Little Egret on 14^th, 12 Heron on 15^th, 23 adult Mute Swan plus 6 cygnets on 10^th, a Pink-footed Goose on 2^nd and 14^th (escapee?), 8 Greylag on 22^nd, a year maximum 403 Canada Geese on 20^th, 5 Shelduck on 17^th, 11 Wigeon on 31^st, 38 Gadwall on 21^st, 114 Teal on 29^th, 319 Mallard on 15^th, 5 Shoveler on 18^th and 26^th, 1 Red-crested Pochard 12^th-31^st, 4 Pochard on 2^nd and 277 Tufted Duck plus 664 Coot during the WeBS count on 16^th.

A site rare female or immature Marsh Harrier flew over Stones Island heading northeast at 1745hrs on 31^st. Sparrowhawk were noted carrying prey on 1^st and 2^nd and 6 Common Buzzard were in the air on 30^th. An Osprey was around 0950-1030hrs on 19^th, attracting mobbing from 2 Buzzard and an immature Peregrine and later from 3 Herons, all with necks fully outstretched. Another Osprey cruised straight through heading south at 1215hrs on 30^th. A Hobby was seen carrying prey on 12^th and there were many records of Peregrine, with 3 together on 4^th and 8^th.

Wader passage has been superb, low water levels have helped and, apart from StonesIslandand Sheepwash being the favourite locations, BrownAleBayand Millfields have held waders on the muddy shore. Maximum counts included: 15 Oystercatcher on 28^th, 10 Little-ringed Plover on 12^th, 16 Ringed Plover on 13^th, 1 Golden Plover flying over on 8^th and 24^th, 20 Lapwing on 1^st, 17 Knot in flight on 26^th including 1 bird retaining some red summer plumage, 2 Sanderling on 9^th, a Little Stint on 12^th-13^th and 20^th, 4 Dunlin on 12^th-17^th, 3 Ruff briefly on 23^rd, 3 Snipe on 15^th, a Black-tailed Godwit on 1^st and 8^th, 3 Whimbrel flew over on 15^th, 2 Curlew flew over on 14^th, a Spotted Redshank on 18^th, 3 Redshank on 9^th and 31^st, 3 Greenshank on 26-31^st, a Green Sandpiper 14^th-31^st, 11 Common Sandpiper on 8^th and 5 Turnstone on 24^th.

Last month’s juvenile Mediterranean Gull was again on site this month on 15^th and 16^th and 2 Common Gull were noted on 14^th. The gull roost started with 4600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls being counted flying in on 26^th, most during the last minutes of any daylight. The winter resident Yellow-legged Gull was present all month and was seen eating fish on 14^th, 3 birds were noted on 31^st. Two Sandwich Terns were a welcome sight on 13^th, with 3 Common Tern on 1^st and 3^rd and an Arctic Tern on 27^th.

There were 2 Stock Doves on 12^th, 7 Collared Dove on 8^th, a Little Owl near a nest box on 16^th, 2 Swift on 13^th, a Kingfisher on 3^rd, a Green Woodpecker and a Skylark on 15^th and 3 Meadow Pipit on 31^st. Yellow Wagtail were moving through from 12^th, and 19 on 22^nd is certainly an autumn passage site record. The maximum Pied Wagtail count was 91, 5 Redstart on 8^th, 2 Wheatear on 8^th, a Wood Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatcher in Fishtail Creek on 28^th, a Marsh Tit calling behind Sheepwash Hide on 1^st, 150 Goldfinch on Stones Island on 27^th and 3 Crossbills flew over Hopton Arm on 13^th.

119 Species were recorded this August compared with 94 in 2010, 102 in 2009, 99 in 2008, 109 in 2007, 97 in 2006, 105 in 2005, 113 in 2004 and 110 in 2003.