May 2003 Bird Notes

May’s highlights were Black-throated Diver, Red-crested Pochard, Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey, Hobby, Peregrine, Water Rail, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Kittiwake, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Raven.

A juvenile Black-throated Diver was located close beside Millfields Car Park on the 9th and remained into June, giving excellent views and photo opportunities.

The maximum wildfowl counts were ten Little Grebe on 14th, 14 Great Crested Grebe on 10th, six Cormorant on 10th, 20 Mute Swan on 24th, two Pink-footed Geese on 15th with a single present all month, two Greylags on 13th and 15th with one recorded on several other dates. 204 Canada’s on 6th with the first young noted on 3rd, ten Barnacle Geese on 2nd, a pair with three young were recorded on 25th, the second consecutive year this species has successfully bred. Four Shelduck on 6th, single Gadwall on 16th. A drake Teal was present all month, 68 Mallard on 1st, single Shoveler on 12th, a male Red-crested Pochard on 15th and 25th, 75 Tufted Duck on 7th with a hybrid Tufted type noted on several dates between 8th and 14th. Two drake Red-breasted Merganser on 6th, single Goosander on 5th with two on 18th, two Ruddy Duck on several dates.

Single Buzzards were regularly seen with two recorded on 25th, Single Osprey on 7th and 30th, a Hobby on 25th single Peregrine on 10th and 25th Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were regularly recorded. Two Red-legged Partridge on 18th(a scarce bird at Carsington) The Water Rail which has been seen regularly feeding beside the Wildlife Centre during the past few months was last recorded on 6th.

Despite the high water levels, 14 species of waders were recorded, ten Oystercatcher present all month, 12 Little Ringed Plover on 15th with six to eight present most dates, two Ringed Plover on 15th with a single most dates from 11th until 14th, 26 Lapwing on 7th including several young, single Sanderling on 13th and 15th with two on 20th, single Little Stint on 13th, a single Curlew Sandpiper also on 13th. Dunlin were regularly noted, with 18 on 13th being the maximum, single Snipe on 1st and 10th, two Black-tailed Godwit on 1st, five Whimbrel on 1st with two on 8th, 11 Curlew on 1st with one to two noted on several other dates, ten Redshank on 1st with two young present from 23rd. Single Common Sandpiper were regularly noted with three on 18th.

Other species noted were a adult Kittiwake on 1st, single Common Tern on several dates, (unfortunately not breeding this year) single Arctic Tern on 1st, one to four Little Owl regularly present mostly at dusk, 600 Swift on 1st, two Kingfisher on 24th, a Green Woodpecker on 7th, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on 15th. The large movement of Swallows and Martins noted at the end of April continued into May with counts of 150 Sand Martin on 3rd, 1000 Swallows on 1st, 200 House Martin also on 1st.
One to two Yellow Wagtails were regularly seen until 15th, a White Wagtail on 3rd, three Wheatear on 1st with one on 11th, the first Spotted Flycatcher was noted on 5th with two on 20th. Raven were regularly present throughout, five pairs of House Sparrows were counted nesting around Carsington.

110 species were recorded compared with 112 in May 2002, 106 in 2001, 92 in 2000 and 88 in 1999.

For the latest updates see www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk or the notice board outside the Goldeneye shop in the courtyard at the visitor centre Carsington Water