BIRD NOTES FROM CARR VALE NATURE RESERVE AND SURROUNDING AREA

MAY 2003

The daily visits continued as they have done for 1165 consecutive days and our efforts were rewarded with 93 species, a respectable figure, well above the monthly average of 90 but below the best ever May tally of 96 set in 1999 and 2000. The year list continued to progress slowly and although it was again a reasonable month in terms of unusual visitors the total for the year at the end of the month was only 117. This is the lowest ever end of May total and, in terms of the number of species recorded, 2003 is now our worst year ever. A few good birds were found including Little Egret (2nd record), Pink-footed Goose, Marsh Harrier (15th /17th record), Common Buzzards, Hobbies, Quail (2nd record), Turtle Dove, White Wagtail and Wheatear. It was quite wet at the beginning of the month with the water level rising to 18" in Meadow Flash by the 3rd but then became mainly dry ensuring that the level remained constant at 15" to the month end.

Little Grebes were very scarce with singles on just five dates, although one of these was a fledged juvenile from elsewhere on the 26th. The Reserve Pond's pair of Great-crested Grebes was present daily but the three young had reduced by one by the 8th. The second pairs nest was lost to flooding on 5th May but a change of ponds enabled them to start rebuilding by the 17th and the nest was still active at the end of the month. Cormorants were thin on the ground with single birds noted on the 6th, 17th and 29th. The bird of the month was an adult Little Egret, which stayed for most of the day on the 8th. Grey Herons were noted on all bar one date, peaking at six on the 23rd and 25th and the wing-tagged bird remained throughout the month. Two to four Mute Swans were seen on 23 dates with a higher count being six on the 15th. A Pink-footed Goose was present on the 11th-12th, a Grey Lag Goose was seen on 24 dates with two on the 26th and three daily between the 1st and 3rd and again on the 17th. Canada Geese, which were present daily, peaked at 30 on the 7th and broods of seven, six and five were noted by the 16th, although the crèche had reduced to 15 by the 21st. This is the first time that three pairs have bred at Carr Vale

A pair of Shelduck was seen on the 1st, followed by two pairs on the 14th, a single bird on the 18th, two on the 19th and two on the 29th. Gadwall were a daily feature with double-figures on 20 dates, the highest count being 14 on the 3rd and 6th, although up to ten males and seven females were recorded. For the first year since 1998 we failed to record a Teal during the month, six more broods of Mallard were located and the peak count of adults was 34. A male Pochard was seen on the 20th, Tufted Ducks were seen daily with double-figures on 25 dates and a high of 24 on the 1st whilst Ruddy Ducks were also seen daily with double-figures on 16 dates peaking at 17 on the 11th.

A female Marsh Harrier flew west on the 25th, Sparrowhawks were recorded on just six dates (a total of seven bird/days) and Kestrels were noted on 21 dates (a total of 28 bird/days). Common Buzzards continued to be visible from the observation mound either south or west of the area with records on ten dates. Most were south of the recording area but birds over the reserve included two on the 1st, one west on the 4th, one on the 12th, one south on the 15th and one west on the 25th. A belated record of a Hobby came from 30th April with it or another seen on the 1st, then one on the 9th and one on the 21st.

A Quail was heard calling early on the 11th along the northern edge of the recording area, becoming the 2nd earliest site record and four pairs of Grey Partridge were thought to be present during the month. A Water Rail was recorded on the 2nd, 11th and 13th and the first brood of Coot was noted on the 3rd.

An Oystercatcher was present between 5th and 7th with two on the 8th followed by single birds on the 11th, 18th, 25th and 31st. Little Ringed Plovers were a daily feature but the peak count was only five on several dates. A single Ringed Plover was present daily between the 6th and 12th with three on the 13th and one on the 15th. A Golden Plover was seen daily between the 5th and 21st thus becoming the latest ever spring bird. Although it seemed to have a damaged wing it was capable of flight and presumably stayed so long to recuperate. Two Dunlin were present on the 8th with singles on the 9th, 11th, 13th and 18th. Three Snipe were seen on the 1st with a single bird remaining until the 3rd, up to four Redshanks were present on 27 dates and single Common Sandpipers were seen on the 1st, 7th-8th and 19th. All in all May was a very disappointing month for waders.

The only gulls of note were a first summer Common Gull on the 24th and single Herring Gulls were noted on the 8th, 14th, 16th and 21st. Common Terns were very scarce with just two north on the 5th, one north on the 21st and two on the 23rd. The only Turtle Dove so far this year flew north pausing briefly on the 16th, whilst a Cuckoo seen on the 25th and heard bubbling on the 29th made a welcome return after last years blank showing. Tawny Owls fledged three young as usual, Swifts peaked at 70 on the 17th and a Kingfisher was seen on nine dates. A Green Woodpecker was noted on six dates and an early Great-spotted Woodpecker was seen on the 26th and 28th.

Sand Martins, although recorded on 13 dates, were actually quite scarce, with a peak count of just four on the 8th, Swallows reached 55 on the 16th and the highest count of House Martins was 40 on the 2nd. A pair of Meadow Pipits held territory on the Peter Fidler Reserve until at least the 28th, up to three Yellow Wagtails were noted on 18 dates, 17 Pied Wagtails were present on the 2nd with a White Wagtail noted on the 2nd-3rd.

An all area count of singing birds was made on the 28th and produced some good totals i.e. Wrens 20, Dunnocks seven and Robins 15. A female Wheatear was present on the 4th, 16 male Blackbirds were found on the 28th when four Song Thrushes were singing.

Unusually we failed to record a Grasshopper Warbler during the month but it was a good month for Sedge Warblers with ten territories located during the month, although the highest daily count was only eight on the 12th, 15th and 28th. Reed Warblers were also present in good numbers with a peak of 11 singing on the 28th and a Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing on ten dates with two noted on the 5th. Whitethroats peaked at a lowly nine on the 28th and single Garden Warblers were present between 6th-8th and again on the 21st and 26th. 12 Chiffchaffs were still singing on the 28th when 17 singing Willow Warblers were also counted.

Long-tailed Tits had fledged young by the 20th, a Jay on the 26th was most unusual, 14 Chaffinches were singing on the 28th when three Goldfinch territories were found. A Lesser Redpoll flew west on the 9th and six singing Yellowhammers were seen on the 28th.

Two Water Voles were seen on the 9th and up to six Hares were seen on 22 dates. A Brimstone was seen on 4th and 28th with three Commas on the latter date. The first Wall Brown of the year was present on the 7th-8th, a Painted Lady was seen on the 15th, three Common Blues were seen on the 28th and a Speckled Wood was seen on the 9th. The first dragonflies and damselflies appeared on the 28th when two Large Red Damsels, a Blue-tailed Damsel and two Four-spotted Chasers were logged. It has to be said that May was a disappointing month this year.

Mark Beevers