Monday 11th April 2011

Despite a few notable absentees, a healthy 73 species were seen around the village today, with the following of note;

Little Grebe   A pair remain on Stoneybeck Lake in addition to the Castle Lake birds.
Cormorant   Two on Castle Lake.
Whooper Swan   The single adult is still on Stoneybeck Lake.
Shelduck  Three pair together on Stoneybeck Lake this afternoon.
Shoveler   Four pair and one drake on Stoneybeck Lake.
Pochard   Female on Castle Lake.
Goosander   Two females on Castle Lake and a drake flying over heading west.
Common Buzzard   Two near Low Hardwick (picture below).

Peregrine   One with a kill near Stoneybeck Lake before flying off towards Fishburn (poor picture below).

Little Ringed Plover   Five together at Castle Lake and later two at Stoneybeck Lake.
Golden Plover   Four (three in full summer plumage) dropped into Castle Lake this afternoon (two in picture below).

Lesser Black-backed Gull   Three adults at Stoneybeck Lake.
Swallow   Small but increasing numbers particularly near Alan's Pool.
Sand Martin   Many back at the breeding colony in the working quarry, with at least three hundred seen at various locations today.
Yellow Wagtail   Two at Castle Lake.
Wheatear   Four together in the south-west corner of Castle Lake this morning and an additional bird in the stubble field east of Alan's Pool.
Blackcap   At least four singing males at various locations.
Willow Warbler   A major increase now easily out-numbering Chiffchaff with between 25-30 singing males, highest concentrations at the DWT Quarry (one pictured below) and around Fishburn Lake.

Corn Bunting   Two singing east of Alan's Pool (one pictured below) and another near Stoneybeck Lake.

Also today a Fox was seen near Island Farm being 'escorted' by a few Magpie.