July 2002 Ogston Bird News – 90 Species – 31 Days Covered.

July continued unsettled with showers for the first two weeks bringing mainly southwest to westerly winds. Towards the end of this period however conditions improved. We experienced a drier, warmer period mid-month with light winds throughout. The final period returned to mainly southwesterly winds with variable conditions. A short period of hot humid weather was soon followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms at the end of the month.

Refilling the reservoir commenced from 16th with water pouring in from Carsington bringing a level increase of about three metres, to date. This benefited the Cormorants, which saw an increase to twenty by the end of the month. One Gadwall was noted in North Bay on 1st and two Shelduck were on the West Bank on 27th. Teal was regular with a max of two on several days and Tufted Duck peaked at six on 4th. Mallard numbers grew as the increase in water level brought more favourable feeding conditions

Three sightings of Buzzard on 17th, 18th and 20th was eclipsed by four records of Osprey on 4th, 5th, 15th and 26th. On each occasion the bird was seen to take a fish. Hobby was recorded on one evening on 14th chasing hirundines whilst a Peregrine was seen to pass through north on 5th. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen regularly with a family group of four Kestrel noted around the dam wall on 16th.

Twelve species of wader were recorded this month with Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper. The most notable being two Green Sandpiper on 5th, the first of the year, followed by three further sightings on 13th, 28th & 30th. Little Ringed Plover produced a fourth brood of chicks, being observed near the Sailing Club on 22nd.

There were up to three Common Tern all month with a single Arctic Tern on 11th to provide some variety. I suspect the last Cuckoo of the year was heard on 1st. Three single sightings of Little Owl was an improvement through the month and Kingfisher became more evident with eight single sightings. Green Woodpecker was heard and seen regularly and Spotted Flycatcher was observed at Brackenfield Church with a maximum of four on 14th.

Nuthatch and Treecreeper were also noted around the Church and Jay was seen most days. Long-tailed and Willow Tit became more numerous as the month progressed and a small flock of Linnet was noticeable around the west bank car park area. Finally a Lesser Redpoll was noted on 27th during a sweep of the west bank before refilling of the reservoir.

Richard Wesley