Monday 13 October 2008

11 OCTOBER 2008

SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2008

Overcast but pleasantly warm; in fact temperatures reaching 72 degrees F once the early morning mist had cleared. Southerly winds. Dry.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(with IW, RH & Mike Campbell)
(0800-0900 hours)

Great Crested Grebes (33)
Little Grebes (7)
Mute Swans (19)
WHOOPER SWANS (2)
Common Teal (322)
Eurasian Wigeon (127)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (7 still)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (9)
Lapwing (198+)
COMMON SANDPIPER (2 still)
*DUNLIN (2)
Common Snipe (7)

Visible migration included 1 Jay, 2 Redwings (off south), 1 Song Thrush (off south), 14 Meadow Pipits and 5 Skylarks, whilst at least 22 Goldcrests were in surrounding hedgerows.

STARTOPSEND RESERVOIR (much mud now appearing)

Excellent numbers of wildfowl taking advantage of the dropping levels including 106 Mallard, 18 Common Teal, 29 Northern Shoveler, 75 Tufted Duck and 33 Northern Pochards.

There were also 7 Great Crested Grebes present, as well as 3 Mute Swans (1 juvenile).

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR - a single juvenile Great Crested Grebe survives

No comments: