BIRD NEWS FROM CARR VALE NATURE RESERVE AND SURROUNDING AREA

JUNE 2002

Once more the daily visits continued but we only added one new species for the year taking the year list to 121, the equal lowest total for the end of June, the highest end of June total being 128 in 1996. The monthly species tally was 82, well above the recent average although the highest previously recorded count for the month is 85. Despite the continuing daily visits very few notable species were seen but these included Hobby, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, Siskin and Redpoll. It was a very dry month with no abnormal weather noted, which meant that the water level in Meadow Flash remained constant at about 12".

One or two Little Grebes were recorded on 19 dates and the Great-crested Grebe family was present throughout the month. Most unusually no Cormorants were seen during the month but Heron numbers started to rise with daily records peaking at eight on the 23rd and 24th. The wing-tagged bird was still in the area on the 30th. Two Mute Swans were present on the 1st with six on the 4th, then a single bird was present on nine dates from the 18th until the month end. Eight Greylag Geese flew south-west on the 2nd and Canada Geese peaked at 52 plus ten unfledged young on the 4th, a count that included 36 flying north-east. Numbers then dwindled so that from the 13th just the two families remained.

Gadwall continued to be a daily feature with a peak count of 12 adults on the 8th and further broods of 11 on the 11th (subsequently reducing to ten) and five on the 22nd. Single male Teal were present on the 3rd, 9th-10th and 15th with three males and a female the following day and two further broods of Mallard appeared during the month. Numbers of this species also started to rise with 39 adults present on the 16th. A male Shoveler was present on the 2nd and 19th, with two males noted on the 24th. Tufted Ducks peaked at nine on the 10th and 15th-16th with a brood of seven noted on the 22nd followed by a brood of ten on the 30th. Ruddy Ducks were seen daily during the month with a peak count of seven adults on the 12th along with 12 growing juveniles on a number of dates.

Sparrowhawks were seen on 12 dates with Kestrels on eight dates whilst single Hobbies were recorded on the 10th, 12th and 22nd. A Water Rail was heard daily between the 25th and 28th and by the end the month 11 pairs of Coot had either nests or young, with second broods appearing from the 28th. An Oystercatcher was present on the 1st with two on the 16th and although Little Ringed Plovers were recorded daily throughout the month for the first 26 days only two or three were present apart from five on the 13th. Towards the end of the month numbers started to rise peaking at eight on the 30th. An adult Ringed Plover was seen on the 5th and then from the 22nd until the month end an adult and a juvenile were recorded daily. Lapwing peaked at 70 on the 24th and Redshank reached four on the 17th and 27th with other records on a further 19 dates, including fledged juveniles from elsewhere. The first returning Common Sandpiper was seen on the 25th and the only Green Sandpiper of the year so far was present on the 27th.
One or two Common Terns were noted on 12 dates, Swifts reached an isolated peak of 150 on the 8th whilst a single Kingfisher was seen on seven widely spaced dates. A Green Woodpecker was heard on the 8th and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was seen on the 26th.

Sand Martins were noted in single figures on 11 dates although there was only one record during the first half of the month and a count of 20 was made on the last day of the month. The pair of Meadow Pipits was seen carrying food on the Peter Fidler Reserve during the month with odd singles noted elsewhere. One to three Yellow Wagtails were noted on eight dates and following a juvenile Grey Wagtail on the 3rd, further singles were seen on the 20th and 25th with two on the 24th.

Four Song Thrushes were singing on the 18th and a flock of nine Mistle Thrushes was seen on the 20th. A Grasshopper Warbler was singing on the 3rd and 18th and a fifth Sedge Warbler territory was located on the 1st when 14 Reed Warblers were also singing. Lesser Whitethroats became more vocal from the 11th with a singing male noted on eight dates and fledged juveniles noted on the 20th. The only Garden Warbler of the month was noted on the 4th and four singing Chiffchaffs were recorded on the 1st with up to three on many other dates during the month. A Coal Tit noted daily between the 23rd and 25th was unusual as were two Jays seen on the 18th with one on the 24th. Although not unprecedented, as there have been two previous June records, two Siskins on the 7th were very unusual whilst a Redpoll the following day probably represents the first recent June record of this species.

Non-avian species saw a Brimstone on the 1st and a Red Admiral on the 14th amongst the more regular species such as Large Skipper, Small Heath, Common Blue and Speckled Wood. Two Four-spotted Chasers were seen on the 1st with three on the 4th and three male Emperors were on the wing on the 24th. The only mammals noted were Hares with a record count of 11 on the 3rd, the odd Rabbit and Grey Squirrel and a Stoat on the 22nd.

Mark Beevers.