BIRD NEWS FROM CARR VALE NATURE RESERVE AND SURROUNDING AREA

JULY 2002

The daily visits continued and we added three new species for the year taking the year list to 124, not quite the lowest total for the end of July, that was 123 in 1998 but well below the highest end of July total which was 130 in 2000. The monthly species tally was 87, above the recent average, although well below the highest count for the month, which is 96, also in 2000. The month got off to a good start but well and truly fizzled out after the first two weeks. Nevertheless a few notable species were recorded including Egyptian Goose (4th record), Hobby, Buzzard, Water Rail, Ruff (15th record), Black-tailed Godwit (five, 6th record), Green Sandpiper, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Sparrow. It was a very dry month with no abnormal weather noted. That was until the last three days of the month when very heavy rain saw water levels rise, resulting in the loss of all the mud around the flashes. By the 1st August the water level in Meadow Flash had risen 9" to 18".

One or two Little Grebes were recorded on 23 dates, larger numbers being five on the 25th and four on the 15th and 17th. The Great-crested Grebe family remained intact until the 26th being joined by an additional juvenile on the 15th but towards the end of the month two birds left. For the second month running no Cormorants were seen during the month but Heron numbers remained in high single figures with daily records peaking at nine on the 31st and the wing-tagged bird was still in the area on the 31st. A single Mute Swan were present daily being joined by an additional pair on the 21st with two birds present on the 22nd-23rd. A Greylag Goose left north on the 19th representing the first July record and Canada Geese peaked at 68 on the 31st. An adult Egyptian Goose arrived on the 2nd for a four-day stay, the longest this species has remained at the site, as all the others have been one-day birds.

Gadwall continued to be a daily feature with a peak count of 37 adults and young. A further brood of six was discovered on the 9th. This took the total number of broods to five, which equalled the record set in 1999. Two Teal on the 7th increased to three on the 8th and 9th with four on the 11th. Then three were present on the 12th and a single bird was seen daily between the 14th and 19th. Two late broods of Mallard (five and two) appeared early in the month and towards the end of the month numbers of this species increased peaking at c100 on the 21st. Two male Pochard were seen on the 8th and Tufted Ducks peaked at three adults on the 17th. A female was seen with a single small duckling on the 14th and a female with four small young on the 23rd and 24th was considered to be the fourth brood of the year. Ruddy Ducks were seen daily during the month with a peak count of 35, including young, on the 17th and during the month four more broods (of four, six, six and four) were located. This is the third year on the trot that six broods have been located.

Sparrowhawks were seen on 12 dates with Kestrels on 13 dates, a Buzzard flew along the Bolsover ridge on the 27th and single Hobbies were recorded on the 16th, 17th and 27th. A Water Rail was heard on four dates between the 16th and 27th and a new brood (a 2nd brood) of Coot had appeared on the 7th with a peak count of 51 (including young) made on the 18th. Little Ringed Plovers were recorded daily throughout the month peaking at eight on the 1st and 4th with four still present on the 31st. An adult Ringed Plover was present daily between the 2nd and 20th although it was missing on the 9th. A Golden Plover on the 14th was the earliest autumn sighting by two days and only the second July record and Lapwing peaked at c300 on the 28th. Single Dunlin were present on the 5th and 14th and a female Ruff was seen on the 17th on which date the first Snipe of the autumn was noted with another on the 31st. Five summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits on the 5th were a splendid sight and it is just possible that four more flew north at 2000hours the same day, though the possibility that they didn't double back cannot be eliminated. Redshank were present daily until the 17th peaking at five on the 5th. Then a juvenile appeared on the 24th being seen on a further five dates until the 31st. Two Green Sandpipers were present on the 14th with one the following day then, after two Common Sandpipers on the 8th, a single bird was seen on four dates from the 26th, increasing to three on the 31st.

Black-headed Gulls increased to 69 on the 25th, two Herring Gulls flew south on the 27th with one on ploughed fields the following day and a single flock of 250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew south on the 20th with 150 in ploughed fields on the 28th. Common Terns were noted on 65 bird/days with up to five on 21 dates. However the highest count was eight on the 5th and a family party including two juveniles was present on several dates around the middle of the month. Swifts peaked at 150 on the 12th and 18th and Kingfishers were seen on 15 dates including an adult and two fledged young on the 14th. A Green Woodpecker was heard on the 22nd and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was present on the 18th and 30th.

Sand Martins were noted on 19 dates but the only notable counts were 15 on the 6th and 16 on the 18th. The pair of Meadow Pipits was finally proved to have bred when an adult was seen with three juveniles on the 17th. One or two Yellow Wagtails were noted on 13 dates and after two Grey Wagtails on the 6th, further singles were seen on six dates with four together on the 18th. A female Whinchat on the 18th was only the fourth July record since breeding ceased in 1984. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the 5th and 29th and a Lesser Whitethroat was still singing on the 7th, with another noted on the 24th. A flock of 33 Long-tailed Tits, the largest number since 1997, was seen on the 21st, four Willow Tits were seen on the 18th and two Coal Tits were noted on the 27th. At least one Tree Sparrow was present on the 13th, a flock of 50+ House Sparrows was scattered along the access road on the 23rd and the autumn Greenfinch flock started to build up with 60 on the 25th and 80+ on the 30th.

Non-avian species saw single Southern Hawkers on the 11th and 18th, a Brown Hawker on the 27th when two Emperors were seen with another on the 30th. A female Black-tailed Skimmer was seen on the 25th and the first Common Darters of the year were on the wing by the 27th. Single Comma's were seen on the 14th, 25th and 30th and the only Small Copper of the year was seen on the 25th. Other butterfly species included Peacock, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Small Skipper and Speckled Wood. A Water Vole was seen on the 7th and Hares continued to be seen frequently with up to five present including a leveret on the 9th. A tremendous thunderstorm on the 29th brought out a number of large Common Frogs, indicating a healthy population.

Mark Beevers.