2011-08-26 | A good afternoon. Started at Sheepwash where there were 5 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, 1 Pochard and 7 Wigeon.
Went onto Stones, in the rain, and had 3 LRP,3 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin.
The wildlife centre held a Snipe and the Red crested Pochard.
Back to Brown ale bay, where a Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3+LRP and 1 Ringed Plover were present. (Roger also had 2 Greenshank at Millfields)
Into Sheepwash again, where Roger picked a group of waders, which turned out to be 17 Knot. We watched 7 fly high to the north east, then the other 10 made another atempt to land, but eventually flew towards Stones.
Later a Yellow Wagtail on Stones and 2 Yellow legged Gulls from Stones. | Clive Ashton |
2011-08-25 | 11 Grey Heron all at Sheepwash, 6 Wigeon, c90 Teal, drake Red Crested Pochard, drake Common Pochard, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel.
5 Turnstone flew past Sheepwash and towards Stones Island. Unfortunately they couldn't be re-located. 2 Greenshank at Sheepwash. Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper in Brown Ale Bay.
Yellow-legged Gull, Yellow Wagtail, 13 Chiff Chaff including several in song, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroat and 2 Raven. | Dave Newcombe |
2011-08-25 | Dam Wall:3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sand Martin, 7 Rook, 1 Golden Plover flying low north, 1 Greenshank.
WLCentre: 1 Red Crested Pochard, 1 Yellow-legged Gull.
Stones Island: 1 Yellow Wagtail. 1 Whitethroat.
Sheepwash: 1 Greenshank, 2 Peregrine together, 4 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall.
Brown Ale Bay: 1 Green Sandpiper. | Roger Carrington |
2011-08-24 | 8+ Grey Heron, 5 Wigeon, 71 Teal, drake Red Crested Pochard, Pochard, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, 3 Ruff briefly at Sheepwash but couldn't be re-located, Green Sandpiper, 8 Common Sandpiper, 4 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Yellow-legged Gull, 91 Pied Wagtails, several Yellow Wagtails. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-22 | Short stay around midday. Only common bird species noted.
Butterflies: Peacock, Small White, Large White, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper and Small Copper.
Plants in bloom: Red Goosefoot & Brooklime (blue) not previously reported. Berries: A sign of autumn approaching. The following red berries were seen:- Guelder Rose, Woody Nightshade, Dog Rose (Hips) and Hawthorn (Haws).
| Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-08-22 | The main highlight today was seeing 19 Yellow Wagtails on Stones Island around teatime. We could hear some calling and then had a flock of 17 fly in front of us and then over our heads. We then picked out another 2 in flight. Also seen today was 11 Grey Heron, 8 Greylag Geese, 4 Wigeon, drake Red Crested Pochard, 4 Buzzards, Peregrine (twice), Hobby, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 5+ Common Sandpipers, Yellow Legged Gull, 100+ Swallow and 5 Linnets. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-21 | A couple of hours on site this evening. Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper. A total of 10 Plovers, one of these was a Ringed Plover and the other 9 all looked like Little Ringed but viewed from distance. A total of 38 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon and drake Red Crested Pochard. 2 Yellow Wagtails, Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Greylag Geese, Buzzard and Kestrel.
| Dave Newcombe/Chris Brown |
2011-08-20 | 8 LRP mainly juvs, 1 adult Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper all at Paul Stanley Hide.
403 Canada Geese total count, 6 Greylag at Millfields.
1 Juv Ruff with Lapwings around WLC. | Roger Carrington |
2011-08-20 | Only a few hours on site today. 78 Teal, 4 Wigeon, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Kestrel, 8 Common Sandpipers, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, and the Yellow Legged Gull. | Dave Newcombe/Chris Brown |
2011-08-19 | No sign of yesterdays spotted redshank.
1 Wheatear on dam wall 0700hrs. 1 Yellow Wagtail over WLC Creek and Redstart there.
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover from Paul Stanley Hide.
Osprey from Sheepwash Hide at 0950hrs mobbed by Peregrine and 2 Buzzards, later mobbed by 3 Herons with their necks outstretched, last seen at 1030hrs. | Roger Carrington |
2011-08-19 | Juvenile Spotted Redshank first found in Brown Ale Bay, the Paul Stanley side of Sheepwash Spit. This area is best viewed from the new path and is currently pulling in a few Waders. Also seen there was 6 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper. The Spot Red then flew and was re-located at the Wildlife Centre and a little later it was seen from Sheepwash Hide.
Also seen today was a Little Egret, 12 Grey Heron, 4 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, Red Crested Pochard, 2 Peregrines, 2 Buzzards, Dunlin, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, 2 Wheatear, Stock Dove, Whitethroat, 85 Pied Wagtails and a singing Reed Warbler at the Wildlife Centre. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-17 | Little Egret, 9 Grey Heron, 2 Greylag Geese, 5 juvenile Shelduck flew in just before lunch, Wigeon, c25 Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, Ruff flew in late evening, Curlew, Greenshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, Common Gull, Yellow-Legged Gull, lots of Swallows moving south, 3 Yellow Wagtails, female Wheatear, 7 Song Thrush in woods near Sheepwash Hide, Whitethroat, Raven, c100 Goldfinch on Stones Island and 2 Linnets. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-16 | Sheepwash: 2 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 3 Raven, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove.
WLC: 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Linnet.
Also, 1 Redstart near Shiningford Creek. | James Owen (STW vol) |
2011-08-16 | WeBS count for August:Mute Swan 13(adults and excluding 6 cygnets),Canada Goose 247,Gadwall 15,Teal 25,Mallard 319,Red-crested Pochard 1,Tufted Duck 277,Little Grebe 19,Great Crested Grebe 42,Cormorant 23, Little Egret 2, Grey Heron 4,Moorhen 7,Coot 664,Oystercatcher 1,Little Ringed Plover 4,Ringed Plover 1,Common Sandpiper 7,Redshank 1,Black-headed Gull 19,Yellow-legged Gull 2. | Peter Gibbon |
2011-08-15 | Comprehensive bird reports already submitted for today by others but it's worth mentioning Chiffchaff singing on Stones Island plus a Willow Warbler seen. Very few birds seem to be singing.
Also seen: 7-spot Ladybird and Common Blue Damselfly.
Many butterflies seen in the sunshine. Species identified: Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Large White, Peacock and Small Copper.
Many flowering plants are now past their best. However, the following species have not previously been reported and are around in profusion: Hedge Bindweed (white), Autumn Hawkbit (yellow) and Cat's-ear (yellow). | Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-08-15 | 54 species seen. Including: Yellow Wagtail and Yellow-Legged Gull at Sheepwash, Spotted Flycatcher between Sheepwash carpark and bombing tower, Redstarts showing well (x1 Shiningford Creek, x2 WLC Creek),x2 Grey Wagtail on far bank of Shiningford Creek, x27 Goldfinches on Stones Island, Green Woodpecker over Ranger Base at 12:45, 6x Little Grebes and Red-Crested Pochard at WLC (pm). | John Matkin |
2011-08-15 | 32 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Grey Heron, Wigeon, 25 Teal, 15+ Gadwall, eclipse drake Red Crested Pochard, 5 Buzzard, juvenile Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Redshank, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 3 Whimbrel flew in late evening, 8 Common Sandpipers, 2 adult Yellow-Legged Gulls, 800 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Doves, Skylark on Dam Wall, Yellow Wagtail and 2 Linnets. | Dave Newcombe |
2011-08-14 | 2 calling curlews over visitor centre at 12.00noon, heading south. | David Bennett |
2011-08-14 | Dam wall 0700hrs: 70 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Stones Island: 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Shiningford Creek: 1 Greensandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper. Millfields: 1 Drake Wigeon, 1 Common Sandpiper. Sheepwash: 1 Greenshank. Paul Stanley Hide: 2 Common Sandpiper, LRP family. Other sightings (by RMRJ) 2 Whimbrel over SW, 4 Little Egret at Sheepwash plus 1 Sanderling briefly 0900hrs. | Roger Carrington |
2011-08-14 | The juvenile Little Stint that was found by Clive on Friday evening was still present early on Saturday morning but then more than likely left site. Some sightings for Friday include 11 Grey Heron, 2 Greenshank, 3 Turnstone, 12 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, Curlew, 8 Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Yellow Wagtail. Some sightings for Saturday include 27 Cormorants, 29 Mute Swans, Little Egret, 10+ Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard, 14 Teal, 3 Buzzard, 8 Common Sandpiper, 7 Ringed Plover (16 recorded earlier), 4 Dunlin, Whimbrel, Ruff, 2 adult Sandwich Terns, Yellow Legged Gull, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Raven, 2 Swift, c50 Goldfinch, 2 Linnets, and 3 Crosssbil flew over Hopton End. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-10 | 25 Cormorants, 10 Grey Heron, Little Egret, 29 Mute Swans including the pair with 6 young, 261 Canada Geese, 11 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 2 Wigeon, female Tufted Duck with 2 young (was 5 on Monday), 2 Buzzards, juvenile Peregrine. Green Sandpiper at Millfields. 7 Common Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover. A juvenile Knot on Stones Island this evening. 2 adult Yellow-Legged Gulls, c50 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 3 Redstarts and 5 Swift. | Dave Newcombe |
2011-08-09 | Of note: Grey Heron (1), Tufted Ducks including a female with 5 tiny ducklings, Little Ringed Plover (3) - adult & 2 juvs, edge of Stones Island; Black-tailed Godwit (1) - in small bay between the Wildlife Centre [WLC] & Watersports Centre; Common Sandpiper (2) - just outside main window of WLC; Willow Warbler (4); Tree Sparrow (60+) - WLC feeding station. Gatekeeper butterfly. Plants in bloom not previously mentioned: Great Mullein (or Aaron's Rod) [yellow] and Rough Hawkbit [yellow]. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-08-08 | 8+ Grey Heron, Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, Teal, Pochard, Shoveler, female Tufted Duck with 5 fresh young and female Mallard with 6 fresh young. 3 Peregrines together from Sheepwash. Also 3 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. At least 6 Ringed Plover. 4 of these were with 4 Turnstone near the Sailing Club this evening. 6+ Little Ringed Plover including an adult with 3 young. 3 Dunlin, Black-Tailed Godwit present all day on Horseshoe Island, and 6+ Common Sandpipers. Adult Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Collared Dove including a juvenile, 3 Swift. 5 Redstart in field behind Wildlife Centre, 2 Wheatear and 2 Raven. Finally c70 Tree Sparrows at the Wildlife Centre. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-03 | 9 Little Grebe, Little Egret, 27 Mute Swan including the pair with 6 young, 16 Teal, 7 Gadwall, female Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, Greenshank, c5 Common Sandpipers, Oystercatcher, adult Yellow-Legged Gull, 3 Common Tern, Kingfisher, c75 Housemartin,, 7 Willow Tits, Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Raven. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-08-02 | Of note: A Great Crested Grebe on a nest at the edge of Wildlife Centre Creek (northern side). Two female Mallards with 2 young & four young respectively. Lapwing (~20) - Horseshoe Island [HI]. Common Sandpiper (2) - HI. Common Tern (1) - fishing by the Stones Island causeway. House Martin (~30) around the visitor centre. Pied Wagtail (2 juvs). Yellowhammer (1 male) just off site. Common Blue damselflies. Butterflies: Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large White, Small White and Small Copper (many). Plants in bloom but not previously reported: Redshank (pink flower & red stem), Zigzag Clover (very dark red) - a first for us; Water Mint (pale blue) and Gipsywort (white). | Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-08-01 | 7 Little Grebe, 10 Grey Heron, 11 Gadwall, 2 Teal, Sparrowhawk with prey, 3 Oystercatchers, 4+ Common Sandpipers, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, Black-Tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Common Tern (adult and 2 juveniles straight through South), 100+ Swallows, 50+ House Martin, 3 Redstart and 2 Linnets. A Marsh Tit was heard calling near to Sheepwah Hide morning only. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-31 | 1 Greenshank
1 Black tailed Godwit
3+ Common Sandpiper
2 Common Scoter
1 Teal
YL Gull | Clive Ashton |
2011-07-30 | Sheepwash hide at 18:00hr-2 Greenshank1 Little Egret4 Common ScoterA mole crawling on the dry bank was attacked and killed by 3 Magpies.A Southern Hawker dragonfly was taken by a Blackbird. | Clive Ashton |
2011-07-30 | 2 ravens soaring high over visitor centre. 2 greenshanks were feeding at sheepwash hide. | Alex Barnett |
2011-07-29 | 2 Greenshank at Sheepwash
1 Little Egret at Sheepwash
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Dunlin
c8 Little ringed Plover
24 Cormorant
8+ Heron
Wigeon,Gadwall,Yellow legged Gull.
| Clive Ashton /Dave Newcombe/Chris Brown |
2011-07-29 | 2x Red Kites over Fishtail Creek at 18:45. Observed for about half an hour then drifted northeast. | John Matkin |
2011-07-28 | Little Egret on Horseshoe Island 0800hrs.
9 linnet on Stones Island.
2 Green Sandpiper in flight then settled at Millfields.
1 Wheatear on dam wall.
Young Common Buzzards calling from Hall Wood.
11 Great Tit on Paul Stanley feeders and pair of Moorhen with 2 chicks on pond there.
Counts: 263 Canada Geese, 21 Cormorant, 19 Mute Swan plus pair with 6 cygnets, 9 Heron, 3 Common Sandpiper.
Butterflies: small tortoiseshell, gatekeepers, meadow browns and a small skipper in WLC Creek. | Roger Carrington |
2011-07-28 | We were only on site for a couple of hours yesterday. 12 Grey Heron, 21 Cormorants, 3 Common Sandpipers at Sheepwash. Dunlin, Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Common Tern. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-28 | 1 Little Egret flew N over the Hopton Reedbed at @7.45pm (seemed to be flushed by a Hot Air Ballon Launched from behing Carsington Village) 2 Common Scoters in centre of reservoir.
1 Common Sandpiper Hopton Arm. 8 'red head' Goosander
| Steph and Paul Hicking |
2011-07-25 | Short visit: Species worth a mention: Little Grebe (1), Swallow (1), House Martin (12), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (10) - mostly juveniles, Willow Warbler (2), Rook (2) and Reed Bunting (1). Dave and Clive : Re: juvenile Little Ringed Plovers comment. Good points but ours was not a juvenile bird; it was definitely an adult Ringed. Just passing through I guess. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-07-25 | 5 Little Grebe, 19 Cormorants, 25 Mute Swan including 6 juveniles, 2 Teal, 2 Pochard, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk with prey at Millfields, 2 Oystercatchers, 10+ Little Ringed Plover including an adult with 4 small young, 5 Common Sandpipers, Yellow-legged Gull, c50 Housemartins, 65 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail on Sheepwash Spit, Grasshopper Warbler reeling near to Millfields Island, 5 Linnet and a Raven. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-24 | I know nothing about this eagle report! I do not know why it has been sent to our Website as the record was so far away from Carsington. It will be removed when possible. | Roger Carrington |
2011-07-24 | White Tailed Eagle flying not at great height towards Castleton area away from Hope/Bradwell. Looked like a mature bird certainly not a juvenile bird. Having watched these birds in the North West Highlands for 12 plus years I was amazed to see this bird over this part of the country. I nearly crashed the car as it flew overhead! Once seen never mistaken for anything else. I note that a similar bird was seen in Lincolnshire at the end of June. Hope someone else sees it, was heading Westerly direction. | Ryan |
2011-07-21 | 4 Pochard, 5+ Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers, Curlew, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Yellow-legged Gull, 270 Black-headed Gulls including 55 juveniles, 180 Lesser-black Backed Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, Common Tern, 2 adult and at least 2 juvenile Reed Warblers at Hopton End, also one singing at the Wildlife Centre along with a Sedge Warbler. Spotted Flycatcher in Hall Wood, 3 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch and a Raven. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-19 | Still several Common Sandpipers on site, but nowhere near yesterdays count of 18.
6 Dunlin,1 Sanderling,3+ Little Ringed Plover,2 Oystercatcher,Several sightings of Peregrine,Adult Yellow legged Gull,Juvenille Mediterranean Gull,Common Tern. | Clive Ashton |
2011-07-19 | The water levels at Carsington are dropping fast and providing ideal conditions for Waders. Yesterday we had at least 18 Common Sandpipers. 14 together at Sheepwash including 2 juveniles and 4 at the Wildlife Centre. We believe this to be a site record after 17 were recorded in July 1993. Also yesterday was 7 Dunlin at the Wildlife Centre including a juvenile, 6+ Little Ringed Plover, c50 Lapwing, a Redshank and an Oystercatcher. Mark Pass had another 4 Redshank on Stones Island in the evening. Other sightings include adult Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, c50 Tree Sparrows at the WLC, and c20 Long-tailed Tits and c20 Goldfinch on Stones Island. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-18 | On site for a short time in the early afternoon. Of note:
Mallard including a female with 3 tiny ducklings. Moorhen (1) - on Wildlife Centre (WLC) feeding station! Where have all the Moorhens gone? Oystercatcher (1). Ringed Plover (1) - just outside WLC main window. No eye ring. A very plump bird. Lapwing (20). Dunlin (3) - Horseshoe Island (HI). Strong summer plumage. Redshank (1) - HI. Common Sandpiper (2) - outside WLC main window. Pied Wagtail - including 2 juveniles. Long-tailed Tits (3) - Stones Island (SI). Goldfinch (12) - an active flock on SI.
| Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-07-18 | WeBS count for July:Great Crested Grebe 32,Little Grebe 4,Cormorant 9,Grey Heron 5,Mute Swan 25,Canada Goose 359,Mallard 228,Tufted Duck 182,Pochard 2,Moorhen 7,Coot 408,Dunlin 7,Common Sandpiper 11,Redshank 1,Little Ringed Plover 3,Lapwing 16,Black-headed Gull 38,Common Gull 1,Common Tern 1,Peregrine 1,Sparrowhawk 1. | Peter Gibbon |
2011-07-17 | Pair of Dunlin, in bay between water sports centre and Stones Island, at midday | Neil Venables |
2011-07-15 | 1 Green Sandpiper flying and calling around Stones Island 0830hrs.
1 Black-tailed Godwit at Wildlife Centre.
110 Black-headed Gulls on Horseshoe Island, 2 Common Tern past Stones Island, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull on Sheepwash Spit, 326 Canada Geese. | Roger Carrington |
2011-07-14 | 13 Cormorants, 7 Grey Heron, drake Wigeon, 2 Teal, 2 drake Pochard, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Oystercatchers, Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Common Terns. Spotted Flycatcher family still at Millfields. | Dave Newcombe/Chris Brown |
2011-07-13 | 12 Cormorants, 8 Grey Heron, Mute Swans with 6 young, 4 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 6 Buzzards, female Sparrowhawk, 3 Oystercatcher, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1st summer Herring Gull, adult Yellow Legged Gull, juv Great Spotted Woodpecker, c50 Swift. Pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding 3 recently fledged juveniles at Millfields. At around 19.20hrs 5 Greenshank were spotted to the right of Sheepwash Hide. They were looking jittery and soon took flight towards the Wildlife Centre. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-11 | Of note: Common Pochard (1 male), Common Buzzard (1), Oystercatcher (1); Common Sandpiper (2) - immediately in front of the main Wildlife Centre window. They were very lively! Sand Martin (1), Pied Wagtail (2). Only 28 species identified around midday. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
2011-07-11 | 8 Grey Heron, 2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, drake Pochard, female Tufted Duck with 3 young, Mallard with fresh brood of 10 young, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, 5 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, Yellow Legged Gull, Green Woodpecker and 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Roger found 3 Black-Tailed Godwits late afternoon at the Wildlife Centre. I had a look and they were still present at 19.00hrs. | Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton |
2011-07-06 | 28 Mute Swans, 4 Grey Heron, 347 Canada Geese, 5 Gadwall, 4 Teal, female Tufted Duck with 4 young, 2 Peregrines, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk seen on 3 occasions including one with prey, Kestrel, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 2 juvenile Ringed Plover, 5 Oystercatcher, adult Yellow Legged Gull, Common Tern, adult and juvenile Redstart, family of 5 Dunnocks, and a Raven. | Dave Newcombe |