Local patch

[venkat]

Hi am a new user just registered.

My own local patch is St. mary's Island in Northumberland, it consists of a small wetland, surrounded by bushes and hedgerows, a rocky shoreline with plenty of tidal pools and of course the open sea. I hav also recently extended the patch to Holywell pond nearby, a large lake surrounded by fields and woodland.

Personally the pleasure from patch birding is not just finding a rarity but also not so unusual birds that you still dont see that often. Highlights from my patch so far are Temminck's Stint, Red-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Blue-winged Teal (recorded by someone else), Red-backed Shrike (found by someone else), Redstart, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers and Marsh Harrier.

[MichaelF]

Welcome to the forum!

Get down there myself fairly regularly.

Here's that teal, from April '06

[Mosstrooper]

Welcome Vencat, same patch as myself.

[venkat]

Hi guys

Thanks for your welcome and replies, and great pic of that blue-winged teal it was a cracker wasn't it.

Out of interest was that teal presumed wild or an escapee? Also from my experience of St mary's Island, the wetland used to attract many ducks and waders but of late seems devoid of life. Does anyone know what has happened to it?

There was a nice female scaup at holywell a couple of days ago. Also have any of you guys caught up with any scoters off st mary's?

[MichaelF]

Presumed wild; it has been accepted by BBRC.

Not had any scoter at St M's yet this year, but I've only been down once so far.

[Mosstrooper]

Presumed wild; it has been accepted by BBRC.

Not had any scoter at St M's yet this year, but I've only been down once so far.

Nice to know that Michael, as the finder i was concerned by the leg ring, even though BWT are extensively ringed in the USA.

Venkat, there are two kinds of invasive plant in the pond, these need to be sprayed to eradicate them. This involves draining the pond, i believe some of the members who created the site are looking into this, the local council will do nothing on this site.

However 300+ teal, widgeon, mallard, gadwall, and pintail recently show its not entirely deserted. Waterpipit, Brent Geese, Med gull, still around,as is a female peregrine.

[MichaelF]

there are two kinds of invasive plant in the pond, these need to be sprayed to eradicate them
What species? Sounds rather drastic action; I'd suspect it would be far better to get some cattle or horses on to graze it down.

[venkat]

Thanks for the explanation of the invasive plant mosstrooper, i do remember the gadwall your right, plus a shoveler a month or so back as well.

Certainly the sooner the wetland is restored back to what it was the better, it seems ideally located for any blown in migrant wader/waterfowl.

Out of interest has anyone seen any interesting waders there of late - the purple sands are showing nicely, as well as the sanderling, dunlin, knot etc. Anything slightly out of the ordinary by anyone? Nice willow tit and brambling at hoylwell pond today the feeding station is worth looking for brambling its been there a while.

Finally any good spots for waxwing around here, Im yet to see one this winter haha.

[Mosstrooper]

What species? Sounds rather drastic action; I'd suspect it would be far better to get some cattle or horses on to graze it down.
Cant name the species Michael , both pond based.Cattle would be totally impractible due too the nature of the site. Couple of Water Rail pond skating today
Venkat, i dont anticipate any change in the waders for a few months, but of course you never know.

[venkat]

Anybody else caught up with the garganey at st mary's. Went there this evening is a cracking bird (glad it was a drake i dont think id have found a female).

[MichaelF]

Yes! :cool:

And this too :D

[Mosstrooper]

The Water pipit is still around Vencat, changing into summer plumage now. Someone had Waxwings in the Brier Dene on Tuesday also Woodcock found by a birder in Marys Hide. And Michael F found a fly by Marsh harrier same day. Trickle of common migrants through, swallow, sand martin, wheatear. and sandwich terns. Fox and Weasel on the wetland.

[venkat]

Thanks for the information mosstrooper have seen water pipit once there but not recently. Still can't seem to find the three garganeys at holywell maybe they just hide in the reeds or something.

And nice pictures of water rail and garganey, is the water rail a frequent sight there it never seems to emerge?

[MichaelF]

First time I've seen one so much out in the open for 2 or 3 years. Usually, they're far more skulking – with good reason, this one had to run for cover a couple of times when a Moorhen went for it.

[Colin Key]

.......... this one had to run for cover a couple of times when a Moorhen went for it.

Surprised at that since in my experience (I see Moorhen and Water Rail every day) it is the rail which is the most aggressive of the two species. They are known to be cannibal when food is in short supply, a fact I can confirm after seeing a fight to the death many years ago between two Water Rail at Elmley RSPB (Kent) when the water was frozen over. The victorious one had great difficulty dragging the corpse back into the reeds where I presume it was consumed :eek:.

Colin

[MichaelF]

Knew Water Rails could be aggressive to each other, but never seen one try to tackle a Moorhen!

What I did see in Bulgaria a while back was a Spotted Crake seeing off a Water Rail, several times - the rail was definitely the more timid and furtive of the two, and the crake the more confident in the open.

[Mosstrooper]

Thanks for the information mosstrooper have seen water pipit once there but not recently. Still can't seem to find the three garganeys at holywell maybe they just hide in the reeds or something.

And nice pictures of water rail and garganey, is the water rail a frequent sight there it never seems to emerge?

Water Rail seen less often in the past week, ive seen two so there could be a forthcoming happy event. They seem to emerge more on sunny days, a Jack snipe was also seen on a similar day.