Birds seen at Moor Green Lakes during OCTOBER 2008

Winter birds seem to have arrived, accompanied by 5cm of snow on the 28th. As expected, no Goldeneye or Goosander yet.

Up to 14 Great Crested Grebe present. A Black Swan on Horseshoe Lake on the 18th and 19th. Little Egret reported on the 31st. Approx 300 Canada Geese and 106 Egyptian Geese are typical for the roost. A hatching of ten Egyptian Geese on Horseshoe Lake around the 10th is not exceptional for these daft birds; eight young remained on 31st.

Duck numbers have not increased this month: 38 Mallard, 29 Pochard, 25 Teal, 105 Wigeon, 35 Tufted Ducks, 29 Gadwall and 17 Shoveler recorded.

The local Kestrels were seen regularly, and up to five Buzzard and Sparrowhawk seen. A Peregrine on 2nd and 21st and a Red Kite on 22nd. Best of all – on the 8th an Osprey was seen perched in the trees on the new workings before flying off over Colebrook Lake. A Barn Owl has been seen occupying the nest box from the 22nd. Little Owls regularly reported. A Red-legged Partridge was seen on the 2nd.

Maximum of 143 Lapwing on 8th, since then the numbers fell to a handful by the month end; these were joined by 38 Golden Plovers on 18th with six remaining until the 19th. Green Sandpipers present all month, a maximum of six on the 8th. A Little Stint present on the workings from 8th to 13th and again on 16th. A Dunlin present on the 31st, Snipe present all month, but elusive as usual, a Water Rail was seen on 24th.  

The Gulls gather on the workings in the afternoons when up to 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 45 Black-headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, and 3 Herring Gulls have been recorded. A third winter Great Black-backed Gull was present on the 1st. Highlights of the overnight roost on the 29th were 560 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Yellow-legged Gulls and a second winter Caspian Gull.

House Martins were present until the 6th and a late Swallow present on the 19th. Up to 70 Meadow Pipits have been recorded. The first Redwing I saw was on the 10th and Fieldfairs on the 18th. Chiffchaffs still present until mid-month, when Goldcrest numbers began to increase – typically about 30 on site.

Siskins and Redpolls have become widespread and Goldfinches and Linnets are attracted to the Thistles. No reported Bramblings yet?

As always, please report your own sightings on the record sheets in Colebrook Hide.

Report compiled by Bruce Archer

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