9 February 2008
The Great White Egret was seen on 4 seperate occasions during the morning in CWP 95 area. Also 7 Little Egrets plus Green Woodpecker, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, Kingfisher, 1 pair of Shelduck, 22 Curlew a superb Brimstone butterfly and 4 Roe Deer. Shirley and Tony Hawkins; Felicity Cobb; Steve Davies; Paul Castle / Linda Cady.
Great White Egret courtesy of Steve Davies
2 Barn Owls at CWP 95. one of which appeared to be a true dark-breasted (guttata) form - deep buff underparts up to the facial disc, slightly paler on the lower belly and vent, and greyer on top, with darker flight feathers too compared to the 'normal' bird visible at about the same time. Julian Thomas (Dark-Breasted Barn Owl is the Central European race of our Barn Owl. If looking for this bird please keep to the footpaths.)
CWP68 - Greylag (30); Golden Plover (400); Lapwing (500); Dunlin (1); Chiffchaff; Shelduck (1 pair); Little Egret (2); Goldeneye (3); Peregrine (one female) hunting plovers; 2 Shelducks seen from 68c hide; wing tagged Grey Heron; 10 Canada Geese,, 3 Cettis and Water Rail heard and a Sparrowhawk. Steve Davies; Felicity Cobb; Paul Castle / Linda Cady.
Kent End Farm: c 200 Lapwings Felicity Cobb
CWP29/30/38 - Smew inc. displays! (14 - five drakes, nine redheads); Scaup (3 - two drakes, one duck); Goosander (one drake); Tufted Duck (106); Pochard (73); Greylag (8); Wigeon (121) Paul Castle / Linda Cady.
CWP 82: 150 Wigeon Felicity Cobb
CWP 74: 14 Goldeneyes, 100+ Lapwings, 50+ Golden Plover, 6 Curlews Steve Davies
CWP 44: pr Rc Pochards, pr Goosanders and pr Kingfishers on CWP 44. Julian Thomas
At least 7 Goosanders on CWP 41 and more on CWP 57 (not counted) Julian Thomas
CWP 114: (WeBs Count): Shoveler 30; Tufted Duck 66; RC Pochard 10; Moorhen 1; Cormorant 28; Gadwall 10; Goldeneye 4; Pochard 67; Grey Heron 2; Coot 307; Mallard 7; Mute Swan 25; Great Crested Grebe 1; Reed Bunting 2 Richard and Oona James
CWP 114: (WeBs Count): Shoveler 30; Tufted Duck 66; RC Pochard 10; Moorhen 1; Cormorant 28; Gadwall 10; Goldeneye 4; Pochard 67; Grey Heron 2; Coot 307; Mallard 7; Mute Swan 25; Great Crested Grebe 1; Reed Bunting 2 Richard and Oona James
Another walk by Martin Adlam and Dawn Young resulted in the following highlights:
3 male Blackcaps, with two in sub-song, one of which was by the Neigh Bridge car park (Grid Ref. SU 018947) and the other singing male close to CWP 38 (SU 032940). The 3rd male was in the lane opposite the Car Park (SU 018943) on the way down to the Swillbrook Nature Reserve.We also had an Oystercatcher overhead by Swill Brook (SU 030932), a pair of Stonechats close to Pike Corner (SU 033932); the male was in superb breeding plumage and a Willow Tit by Swillbrook Nature Reserve (SU 017939). It took a while before we came across any Redwing, with a dozen or so birds alongside Spine Road (SU 020946), but we didn’t see or hear a single Fieldfare.
Other Sightings by Martin and Dawn:
Great Crested Grebe – a pair displaying on Pit 81
Pintail – A drake on pit 41
Shoveler – A drake on Pit 57
Goldeneye – 1 Duck on Pit 48
Goosander - Found on Pits 48, 41 & 42
Lapwing – 60+ overhead heading north at Pit 44
Kingfisher – A single bird on the south bank of Pit 41
Green Woodpecker – Adult calling from around Pike Corner
Meadow Pipit - 2 overhead at Pike Corner
Treecreeper – Between Pit 40 & 41
Also seen were a Seven-spot ladybird Coccinella septempunctata just up from Pike Corner, Pussy Willow coming into flower and a Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria in full bloom.