July 2010 Wildlife Sightings

Find out what birds have been seen this month at Moor Green Lakes  >>>
  

1 adult Mediterranean Gull; 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls; 1 Greenshank; 1 Common Sandpiper; 5 Green Sandpipers.

All seen in the afternoon at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry) by Rich Horton. Location map

Yellow-legged Gulls now seen on an almost daily basis with 4 adults today.  
The midday Gull roost remains large with the following species seen: Black-headed Gull (200+); Lesser Black Backed Gull (134); Herring Gull (30+); 1 adult Great Black Backed Gull.
Other species included: 
6 Little Grebe; 2 Great Crested Grebe; 1 Tufted Duck; 21 Lapwing; 1 Green Sandpiper; 3 Common Sandpiper.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

The first post-breeding Great Black-backed Gull returned today. Gull numbers have been increasing with birds commuting between Runfold Landfill and the workings at Tice's. Notable birds today:
1 Green Sandpiper. 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Dunlin. 17 Lapwing. 2 Egyptian Goose. 40+ Herring Gull. 3 Yellow-legged Gull (adults). 80+ Lesser-Black backed Gull.  1 Great Black-backed Gull. 1 Common Gull (adult). 280+  Black-headed Gull.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

Red Kite.  I know they are settled around Lower Earley and Arborfield now but it was a lovely surprise to see this one here, in fact I thought I was seeing things on Monday so it was nice of it to return on Wednesday!
 

Seen flying over the Kingsway/railway line/Shepherd Meadow area towards the Meadows roundabout between 2pm and 3.30pm by Jacqui Ward. Location map

The Gull roost is increasing with birds of all ages congregating on the southern edge of the workings.  The following birds were roosting:
30+ Herring Gull. 4 Yellow-legged Gull (3 adults and one immature). 90+ Lesser Black-backed Gull. 1Common Gull (adult).
In addition there was again 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 adult Dunlin.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

Red Kite. 

Seen flying over the Kingsway/railway line/Shepherd Meadow area towards the Meadows roundabout between 2pm and 3.30pm by Jacqui Ward. Location map

20 Tufted Duck. 6 Grey Heron.
7 Lapwing. 2 Great Crested Grebe.
4 Little Grebe. 2 Green Sandpiper.
2 Common Sandpiper. 20+ Common Tern. 60+ Lesser Black-backed Gull. 30+ Herring Gull. 160+ Black-headed Gull. 4 Reed Warbler.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

2 Black-tailed Godwit. 1 Common Sandpiper. 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult). Also many Gulls in the roost (Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black Headed). 
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

Green Sandpiper. Yellow-legged Gull. Gull numbers are almost into the 100s for both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gull and in the 30s for Herring Gulls.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

Another good day with plenty of birds on or around the workings.  
Highlights were: 48 Lesser Black-backed Gull. 30+ Herring Gull.
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull). 50+ Black Headed Gull. 1 Redshank. 1 Common Sandpiper. 1 Hobby.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

The Large Gull roost continues in the workings. Today was a good day with the following worth noting:
1 Mediterranean Gull (this is the second summer they have been seen here KP Duncan). 1 Redshank (John Hunt). 2 Green Sandpiper. 1 Common Sandpiper (1).Also Little-ringed Plovers and Common Terns.
 

All seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry), by Richard Seargant.
Location map

Friday 2nd

Green Sandpiper present on the settling ponds.

Seen at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry) by Rich Horton. Details sent in by Richard Seargent).
Location map

Plenty of fledged birds on or adjacent to the River Blackwater. Following species were all seen with young:

Birds: Moorhen. Coot. Mallard. Grey Wagtail. Nuthatch. Chiffchaff. Blue Tit. Great Tit. Long-tailed Tit. Blackcap.

Plenty of insects on the wing throughout:
Butterflies/Moths: Six Spot Burnet. Ringlet. Comma. Red Admiral. Meadow Brown. Silver-washed Fritillary. Small Skipper.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle. Emerald Damselfly. Emperor Dragonfly. Broad-bodied Chaser. Black-tailed Skimmer. 
 

All seen between North Camp Station and Hollybush by Richard Seargent. Location map

The gravel workings are now drying out and providing suitable habitat for waders on the reverse migration, indeed a total of 4 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper have been present this week.  
Birds seen today included: 2 Little Grebes. 2 Great Crested Grebes. 9 Tufted Ducks. 4 Gadwalls. 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 30 Herring Gulls. 50 Black Headed Gulls. 22 Common Terns. 19 Lapwings. 5 Little Ringed Plovers. 1 Reed Bunting. 2 Reed Warblers.

A total of 36 species seen in 45 minutes at Tice’s Meadow (Farnham Quarry) by Richard Seargent. Location map