Durham Bird Club's Castle Lake Nature Reserve

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Tuesday 27th January 2015

Sightings for today from Dave Makinson (good to see you again Dave) and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 1 drake Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 41 Moorhen, 20 Curlew, 2 Redshank and 20 Fieldfare.

Castle Lake - 3 Oystercatcher back on territory and typically vocal, 240 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 3 Pintail (2 drakes), 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 100 Golden Plover, 100 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and 6 Long-tailed Tit.

A1 Flashes - 100 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 500 Lapwing and 25 Curlew.

River Stell - 1 Little Grebe.

Alan's Pool - 1 Kestrel, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and 3 Bullfinch.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Sunday 25th January 2015

Todays sightings, thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - 2 Little Egret, 300 Golden Plover, 700 Lapwing, 260 Canada Geese, 3 Pintail, 1 Goldeneye, 400 Wigeon, 290 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 6 Redshank, 50 Goldfinch.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Tuesday 20th January 2015

A cloudy morning with a light covering of snow and most water bodies iced over, but thankfully some lighter winds at last and some pleasant afternoon sunshine.

Birds seen today included the following.

Castle Lake (90% frozen) - 10 Mute Swan, 130 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 260 Wigeon, 230 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 90 Teal, 1f Goldeneye, 150 Lapwing, 100 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 6 Fieldfare, 28 Redwing.

River Stell - 3 Mute Swan, 2 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe.

Low Hardwick - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Woodcock, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, c8 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Willow Tit, 1 Jay.

Alan's Pool - 2 Snipe, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Meadow Pipit.

Island Farm seed-crop - 100 Yellowhammer, 50 Reed Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk which caught a Yellowhammer.

No bird photo's today, just this one, a sad end to one of Foumarts Lane's finest trees.

Monday 12 January 2015

Monday 12th January 2015

Some sightings for today;

Stoneybeck Lake - 11 Wigeon, 21 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 34 Moorhen, 39 Curlew, 3 Redshank and a mixed flock of c300 Herring Gull/Common Gull/Black-headed Gull.

Castle Lake - 90 Canada Geese, 1 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye (1 drake), 300 Golden Plover, 2 Pied Wagtail and 4 Fieldfare.

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Tuesday 6th January 2015

A decent selection of birds seen today;

Stoneybeck Lake - 30 Canada Geese, 9 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 2 Redshank.

Castle Lake - 2 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 4 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 300 Golden Plover, 5 Redshank, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 14 Fieldfare.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Redshank.

Alan's Pool - 2 Little Egret.

Low Hardwick - 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Sandpiper.

Island Farm - 5 Stock Dove, 1 Tree Sparrow, 40 Yellowhammer, 30 Reed Bunting.

Some pictures from today;
Green Sandpiper still favouring the flash near the moto-cross.

One of the Little Egret at Alan's Pool.

Little Owl playing peek-a-boo near Castle Lake.

Thursday 1 January 2015

Thursday 1st January 2015

Happy New Year!
The first sightings of the year today;

Castle Lake - 1 Shelduck, 7 Pintail (5 drakes), 1f Goldeneye, 2 Little Egret, 200 Golden Plover, 37+ Curlew, 5 Redshank, 1 Fieldfare, 400 Jackdaw & 15 Reed Bunting.

Fishburn Lake - 2 Goldcrest, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Jay, 30 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch.

Low Hardwick - 2 Redshank & 1 Green Sandpiper (on flash near the moto-x), 1 Kestrel & 3 Bullfinch.

A1 Flashes - 20 Herring Gull (including an adult 'Scandinavian Herring Gull') and 3 adult Great Black-backed Gull's.

Green Sandpiper pictured today.