Carsington Bird Club - November 2002 Bird Notes

November highlights were Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red-crested Pochard, Merlin, Peregrine, Purple Sandpiper, Mediterranean, Yellow-legged, Iceland and Caspian Gulls, Stonechat, Raven and Brambling.

The month was very wet and misty reducing visibility, therefore fewer wildfowl counts are available.

A juvenile Great Northern Diver was located on the reservoir on 22nd and was still present at the month’s end. A very illusive Slavonian Grebe was observed on 13th to 16th, several observers suggested that it could be the previous months individual. The wildfowl counted were 30 Little Grebe on 10th with 22 on 11th, six Great Crested Grebe on 10th, 34 Cormorant on 3rd, 30 Mute Swan on 11th, 300 Canada’s on 11th. 19 Barnacle Geese on 4th, 6th and 9th with 10 to 15 on several other dates, four Shelduck on 4th with two on 6th and three on 10th, 214 Wigeon on 11th. 14 Gadwall on 2nd with two to five regularly recorded throughout the month, 123 Teal on 11th, 157 Mallard on 11th, six Pintail on 2nd with one to three regularly noted until15th. 11 Shoveler on 2nd with 10 on 3rd, one to five were present until 20th. Red-crested Pochard remained all month with a maximum five on 2nd, 3rd, 68 Pochard on 2nd, 150 Tufted Duck on 11th. Small numbers of Goldeneye were noted throughout the month with three on 2nd being the maximum. Seven Goosander on 10th with four on 4th, singles were present on several other dates, 11 Ruddy Duck on 11th, 60 Moorhen on 11th, 650 Coot on 11th, one to three Herons were also noted. Raptors noted were a single Buzzard on 3rd, 11th, a Merlin on 3rd and 12th, a Peregrine on 26th with Sparrowhawk and Kestrel regularly recorded.

The main wader highlight was a Purple Sandpiper seen on 8th and 9th on both occasions during late afternoon, the second record this year. Golden Plover numbers were higher than in recent years with an estimated 400 present from 22nd. 400 Lapwing on 11th with smaller counts on other dates, 35 Dunlin on 3rd, 15 on 4th, one to nine were noted most other dates during the month. 14 Snipe on 20th with one to eight on several other dates, a Woodcock flew over Sheepwash Car Park at dusk on 10th, a single Curlew on 2nd (a scarce species in November) up to four Redshank were present all month.

The gull roost continued to be regularly checked with sighting of an adult winter Mediterranean Gull on 11th. A 3rd winter Caspian Gull roosted on 10th and a 1st winter on 23rd. An adult winter Iceland Gull roosted on 13th, 16th. An estimated 3500 Black-headed Gulls on 19th, 71 Common Gulls on 5th, 5000 Lesser Black-backs on 1st, 14 Herring Gulls on 5th. Two to six Yellow-legged Gulls were regularly observed with eight on 12th. Small numbers of Great Black-backs were also seen.

Other species recorded were two Little Owls on 5th, single Kingfisher on several dates, Green Woodpecker on 3rd, 26th, 60 Meadow Pipits on 9th, two Rock Pipits on 5th, female Stonechat on 3rd, 7th. Winter Thrushes were regularly recorded 520 Fieldfare and 280 Redwing on 5th being the largest number counted. One to four Ravens were regularly recorded with eight in one flock seen on 7th. Three Brambling were present on Stones Island on 9th. A single Yellowhammer seen flying over the Visitor Centre was the first record of the year.

95 species were recorded and considering the weather conditions an excellent month, compared with 84 in November 2001, 70 in 2000 and 79 in 1999.

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Eddie Walker recorder