August 2002 Bird Notes

August highlights were Black-necked Grebes, Little Egret, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Common Scoter, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Turnstone, Great Skua, Black Tern, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Whinchat, Raven and Crossbill.

A juvenile Black-necked Grebe was present on 13th and 14th, a different Black-necked Grebe was also present from 20th to 23rd seen mostly from Stones Island. A juvenile Little Egret on 9th, a Little Egret considered the same bird was seen on the 11th remained until 16th giving excellent views from Sheepwash hide and the Wildlife Centre. A Garganey on 21st, a Red-crested Pochard was noted in front of Sheepwash hide from 29th to 31st, a pair of Common Scoter on 2nd, a single male on 12th and two males on 16th.
A Great Skua was observed on the evening of the 1st, the following morning it was observed to kill a drake Mallard and proceeded to pluck and eat it, whilst remaining on the water, it drifted towards the Hopton end. It was last seen flying high to the south at 16:30hrs the same day. A second Great Skua was seen flying around the reservoir on 29th landing briefly on the water before attacking a Black-headed Gull and was last seen flying south at 20:00 hrs, the fourth and fifth Carsington records. A dark phase Skua was present briefly on 10th unfortunately it was only seen for several minutes on two occasions and was not positively identified however the observers considered it was either an Arctic or a Pomarine.

The maximum monthly counts of wildfowl were 25 Little Grebe on 19th with one pair still nesting at the months end, 49 Great Crested Grebe on 2nd, 48 Cormorant on 24th, 51 Mute Swan on 9th including ten young, single Greylag Goose on several dates, 632 Canada’s on 30th, four Barnacle Geese until the 8th with two remaining until 15th, two Shelduck on 29th with one on 31st. Wigeon were regularly present from 12th with 68 on 31st, eight Gadwall on 26th with smaller numbers noted all month, 84 Teal on 31st 261 Mallard on 20th, two Pintail all month, additionally two were observed flying north on 28th, small numbers of Pochard were also present all month with nine on 26th, 382 Tufted Duck on 2nd, 21 Ruddy Duck on 19th. Coot numbers continue to increase with 671 counted on 29th, 26 Heron were counted on 13th.

Twenty species of waders were recorded, eight Oystercatcher on 6th, with three to five regular until 5th, a single was present on 23rd, 24th, 25 Little Ringed Plover on 19th with smaller number present most days, 11 Ringed Plover on 8th with smaller numbers regularly present during the month, a single Golden Plover on 23rd, a single Grey Plover on 15th, 120 Lapwing on 4th with smaller counts on other dates, single summer plumaged Knot on 1st, single Sanderling on 10th and 15th. Dunlin were regularly present with 12 on 8th and 12th, nine were counted on 10th, single Ruff on 1st, 24th and 26th, two Snipe on 2nd with singles on several other dates, eight Black-tailed Godwit flew south on 8th,18 adults and one juvenile flew south the following evening. Single Whimbrel on 8th and 11th, seven Curlew on 27th, a Spotted Redshank on 16th, two Redshank on 1st and 13th with singles on 2nd and 22nd, five Greenshank on 6th with one to two on other dates, a single Green Sandpiper (a scarce bird at Carsington) was regularly present until 18th, with on 29th. Common Sandpiper were regularly recorded all month with a maximum12 on 3rd, single Turnstone on 1st, 8th and 26th. The majority of the waders were observed for Stones Island, Sheepwash or Paul Stanley Hides.

Other species recorded were a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew north on 20th, six Buzzard on 28th with regular sighting of one to two all month, three Kestrel on 14th, a Merlin on 29th, single Hobby on 2nd and 3rd, a juvenile Peregrine was noted on several dates. A Water Rail on 4th and 9th. A juvenile Arctic Tern on 13th a Black Tern on 19th

The Gull roost became established from the 10th when 300 Lesser Black-backs were counted, and 1500 on 13th,
several Yellow Legged Gulls, were noted a single adult on 10th , 13th with five on 26th, single Common Gull were noted on several dates with two on 12th. Two Barn Owls on 8th, three Little Owls on 19th with singles on several other dates, single Green Woodpecker on several dates, a Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker on 2nd.
Yellow Wagtails became more regular with seven on 23rd, 74 Pied Wagtails were counted on 23rd, single Redstart on 4th and 5th. The first records of Whinchat for the year with a juvenile on 22nd and 30th single Wheatear on 4th, 16th and 22nd.Up to five Spotted Flycatchers were regularly observed between Sheepwash and Paul Stanley hides and the tower. The Marsh Tit continued to visit the feeders at Paul Stanley hide with Willow Tit and Coal Tit also recorded. Several Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted. Two Raven on 2nd with one on 29th. A Crossbill flew over Sheepwash Car Park on 31st perhaps the start of an invasion?

An excellent month with 122 species recorded compared with 86 in August 2001, 97 in 2000 and 84 in 1999. Thanks to all those observers for counting and recording the commoner species.

For the latest updates and advice or information on visiting the areas mentioned see www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk or the notice board outside the Goldeneye shop in the courtyard at the Visitor Centre during opening hours of at the entrance when closed.

Eddie Walker recorder.