Durham Bird Club's Castle Lake Nature Reserve

Sunday 13 November 2016

Tuesday 8th November 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - 3 Goosander, 1 Shelduck, 600 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff and 12 Redshank.

Friday 4th November 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - 5 Little Egret, 2 Dunlin, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 140 Curlew, 150 Lapwing, 26 Snipe, 11 Redshank, 8 Shoveler, 250 Wigeon and 1000 Starling.

Sunday 23rd October 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - single Brent Goose (the first ever record of this species at Bishop Middleham), 3 White-fronted Geese, 1 Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 10 Redshank, 52 Snipe, 6 Curlew, 4 Shoveler and 300 Lapwing.

Thursday 20th October 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to John Olley.

Low Hardwick and Castle Lake - 8 Whooper Swan over south, 40 Pink-footed Geese over south, 500 Golden Plover, 1200 Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Redshank, 20 Reed Bunting, 2 Water Rail and 3 Kestrel.

Tuesday 18 October 2016

Monday 17th October 2016

Sightings for Monday;

Castle Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 155+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 22 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk (made an unsuccessful attempt to catch a Tree Sparrow), 5 Golden Plover, c300 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Swallow overflew south @13:50 (my latest ever Swallow sighting here), 2 Grey Wagtail, 20 Tree Sparrow, 2+ Yellowhammer and 5+ Reed Bunting.

River Stell - 1 Little Egret.

Low Hardwick - 1 Pink-footed Goose still hanging out with mixed Canada/Greylag flock, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, c200 Lapwing, 10 Stock Dove, 1 Little Owl (in a new location), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13+ Skylark over heading south, 30+ Redwing over, 2 Jay and 3 Lesser Redpoll over.

Fishburn Lake - still virtually dry - 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper (with a limp), 1 Buzzard and 8 Yellowhammer nearby.

Alan's Pool - 1 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Lapwing and the limping Green Sandpiper.

Monday 10 October 2016

Monday 10th October 2016

First post for a while due to holidays and work commitments etc.

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 1 Pink-footed Goose which later flew off to the south, 140 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 7 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 10 Common Gull, 5+ Skylark, 2 Swallow heading north!, 33+ Pied Wagtail and a nice flock of 9 Corn Bunting including juveniles.

River Stell - 3 Mute Swan.

Low Hardwick - 20 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 6+ Long-tailed Tit.

River Skerne - 1 Kingfisher.

Alan's Pool - 2 Wigeon, 1 Kestrel, 8 Moorhen and 4 Snipe over.

Monday 19 September 2016

Monday 19th September 2016

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake and surrounds (taking in Fishburn Lake & Low Hardwick) - 190 Canada Geese (including two very pale-bodied individuals), 45 Wigeon, 15+ Shoveler, 1ad2juv Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine (over Low Hardwick @10:55 heading directly to Castle Lake), 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 7 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 12 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7juv Common Gull, 75 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 1 Wheatear (on fence post east side of lake), 1m Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff (some singing), 2 Goldcrest and 7 Corn Bunting including juveniles). 


Sunday 18 September 2016

Friday 16th September 2016

Catching up with sightings from Friday with thanks to Joe Hughes.

Castle Lake - 1 drake Common Scoter (only the third ever record of which two are from this year), 50+ Snipe, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpiper, 11 Golden Plover, 5 Ruff and 6 Dunlin.

Monday 12 September 2016

Monday 12th September 2016

Sightings today from Joe Hughes and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - 2 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 50 Curlew and 50 Lapwing.

Castle Lake - 12 Wigeon, c50 Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Ruff, 5 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl, 4 Skylark, 20+ Swallow and 20+ House Martin.

Low Hardwick - 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Common Whitethroat and a family of Bullfinch.

River Stell - 1 Little Egret.

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Wednesday 7th September 2016

Sightings for today from John Olley, Joe Hughes and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - 4 Snipe, 2 Greenshank and a Buzzard.

Castle Lake - 600 Greylag Geese, 7 Wigeon, 22 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 2 Pochard, 5+ Grey Partridge, 22 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe with juveniles, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 800 Lapwing, 6 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 12 Snipe, 120 Curlew, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1,100 Black-headed Gull (a new site record maybe?), 1 Little Owl, 2 Kingfisher chasing each other around the lake, 2 Skylark, 1 Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat on the eastern side between 09:30-09:45, quite a scarce bird around these parts, in fact this is only my second ever sighting here, September is definitely a good month to catch up with this species, a Chiffchaff was singing in the wildlife garden, 20 Tree Sparrow and 100 Linnet complete the day's total.

Alan's Pool - 3 Grey Heron and a single Snipe.

Sunday 4 September 2016

Sunday 4th September 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to Fred Milton;

Castle Lake - 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Wheatear.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Greenshank.

Sunday 28 August 2016

Sunday 28th August 2016

Sightings today from Fred Milton (good to see you again) and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - (big clear-out of waders) - 1 Pintail, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 5 Lapwing, 1 Curlew and a singing Chiffchaff.

Alan's Pool - 3 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a nearby Willow Tit.

Castle Lake - 1 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 10+ Teal, 1pr Great Crested Grebe with 2 juveniles, 1 juv Black-necked Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 46 Curlew, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl and 1 Kingfisher.

A couple of record pictures from today;

Wood Sandpiper at Alan's Pool.

Little Stint with 2 Dunlin at Castle Lake.

Thursday 25 August 2016

Thursday 25th August 2016

Today's sightings with thanks to Joe Hughes;

Stoneybeck Lake - Spotted Redshank, Snipe, 3 Ruff, 5 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover and a Corn Bunting.

Castle Lake - 8 Curlew Sandpiper, 40+ Snipe, Little Stint, 4 Dunlin, juvenile Black-necked Grebe, Ruff and 2 Corn Bunting.

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Wednesday 24th August 2016

Sightings from this morning followed by some from yesterday with thanks to Joe Hughes, Brian Clasper and Dave Makinson.

Stoneybeck Lake (7am) - 11 Ruff, 3 Snipe, 1 juvenile Spotted Redshank and 5 Green Sandpiper.

Castle Lake - 500+ Greylag Geese, 2 Wigeon, 8 Grey Partridge, 10+ Little Grebe, 1pr Great Crested Grebe with 2 juveniles, 1 juvenile Black-necked Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Ruff, 4 Dunlin, 1 juvenile Little Stint, 11 Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a singing Corn Bunting.

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
Stoneybeck Lake - 10 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 1 Peregrine and 1 Dunlin.

Castle Lake - 13 Curlew Sandpiper (another new site record), 7 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret, 8 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 1 Little Stint, 7 Snipe, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Little Ringed Plover.

Monday 22 August 2016

Sunday 21st August 2016

Catching up with sightings from the last few days with thanks to Joe Hughes, John Olley and Allan Jones.

Friday 19th August 2016
Castle Lake - Marsh Harrier, Little Stint, 3 Dunlin, 16 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 60 Curlew and 8 Ruff.

Sunday 21st August 2016
Castle Lake - a superb selection of waders - 10 Curlew Sandpiper (all juveniles and a new site record), 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Ruff, 4 Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, 9+ Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper and 10 Curlew. Other birds seen included a juvenile Black-necked Grebe, 270 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 350 Greylag Geese, 20 Little Grebe, 1 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 juvenile Little Grebe, 6 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and a Yellow Wagtail.

Sunday 14 August 2016

Sunday 14th August 2016

Sightings from today;

Stoneybeck Lake - eclipse drake Pintail, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Willow Tit calling from roadside trees.

Castle Lake - 1 Wigeon, 1pr Great Crested Grebe with 2 juveniles, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 13 Snipe, 10 Curlew, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail and c40 Linnet.

Alan's Pool - 1 Sparrowhawk riding the thermals and 2 recently fledged Sedge Warbler.

Monday 8 August 2016

Monday 8th August 2016

Sightings from Monday morning;

Stoneybeck Lake - 300 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Common Gull.

Castle Lake - 700 Greylag Geese, 18+ Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe with 2 juveniles, 3 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 50+ Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 1 juvenile Little Stint showed well below the hide, 16 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 250 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 10 Swift, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes - 70 Canada Geese, 1 Grey Heron and 8 Curlew.

Two rubbish pictures of the Little Stint



Friday 5 August 2016

Friday 5th August 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to Steve Evans.

Castle Lake DBC Nature Reserve: (noon - 16:00) 12 species of waders today including Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Black tailed Godwit & Whimbrel. Also Common Gull, 2Corn Bunting, family of Yellow Wagtails. Buzzards, Kes, Sprawk, Peregrine nearby, but no sign of today's target bird-Hobby.


Thursday 4 August 2016

Thursday 4th August 2016

Sightings from this afternoon with thanks to Fred Milton.

Castle Lake - 1 Wood Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Corn Bunting.

Monday 1 August 2016

Monday 1st August 2016

Another early morning circuit of Castle Lake produced the following;

c150 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Partridge, 10+ Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe pair, one carrying young, 2 Little Egret (1 on Alan's Pool), 1 Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 2 Curlew, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 singing Corn Bunting.

Earlier a quick look at Stoneybeck Lake noted 5 Little Ringed Plover and a single Dunlin.

Saturday 30 July 2016

Saturday 30th July 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones;

Castle Lake and surrounds - 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 200 Lapwing, 24 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 2 Little Egret (1 a juvenile), 6 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 5 Grey Heron, 12 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe chicks just hatched, 5 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a juvenile Marsh Harrier over high east.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Wednesday 27th July 2016

Sightings today from Joe Hughes and myself;

Stoneybeck Lake - 8 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank and 1 Corn Bunting.

Castle Lake - 5 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 10+ Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Oystercatcher, 3 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper, 1 adult Common Tern, 1 Peregrine, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes - 1 each of Lapwing and Green Sandpiper.

Alan's Pool - 1 Little Egret and a Grey Heron.

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Monday 25th July 2016

Sightings from Monday late afternoon/early evening.

Castle Lake (north end) - 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl (pictured below) and 1 Corn Bunting.



Castle Lake (below the hide) - 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 6 Green Sandpiper and 4 Common Sandpiper.

Castle Lake (elsewhere) - Pochard with 2 juveniles, Little Grebe pair with 3 juveniles plus some well grown juveniles which presumably bred elsewhere, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Oystercatcher, 60+ Lapwing and 12 Black-headed Gull.

A1 Flashes - devoid of birds except for a single Lapwing which may explain the increase in Green Sandpiper numbers on Castle Lake.

Stoneybeck Lake - 64 Greylag Geese, a drake Pintail going into eclipse plumage was a bit of a surprise sighting for late July, 4 Teal, 1 Little Grebe, a superb 16 Little Ringed Plover including a combination of adults, juveniles and two broods of 3 & 2 chicks, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 juvenile Yellow Wagtail.


Sunday 24 July 2016

Sunday 24th July 2016

Sunday's sightings with thanks to John Olley and Fred Milton.

Castle Lake - 1 BNG, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 2 LRP, 5 Curlew, 160 Lapwing, 16 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret, 6 broods of Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe chicks, 2 Pochard ducklings, distant Buzzards mobbed by small falcon possible Hobby, 3 Yellow Wagtail juveniles, 3 Corn Bunting singing.

A1 Flashes - 1 Greenshank, 8 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, Grasshopper Warbler and 4 Corn Bunting singing.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Corn Bunting singing.

Saturday 23 July 2016

Saturday 23rd July 2016

Sightings today from Joe Hughes and myself.

An excellent selection today, particularly waders with eleven different species as return passage moves up a gear.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Little Ringed Plover (including 3 chicks, possibly two separate broods, a good breeding record), 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and a Common Buzzard).

Castle Lake - 44 Greylag Geese (numbers not building as quick as previous years), 1 Teal, female Pochard with two ducklings, Great Crested Grebe pair still sitting, 2 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret including a juvenile, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, c40 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 1 summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit, 42 Curlew, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 10 Black-headed Gull, 1 Peregrine, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 singing Corn Bunting near Alan's Pool.

Two mediocre pictures of the Wood Sandpiper





A1 Flashes - (not much water left, but some great looking mud!) 1 Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpiper and 12 overflying Curlew.

River Stell - a female Tufted Duck with 7 ducklings, 2 Grey Heron and a Common Sandpiper.

Low Hardwick - a singing Grasshopper Warbler.






Wednesday 20 July 2016

Monday 18th July 2016

Catching up with sightings from Monday with thanks to Joe Hughes and John Olley;

Castle Lake - 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 LRP, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, up to 8 Corn Bunting between the lake and Island Farm, 4 Grey Heron, 200 Lapwing, 20 Curlew and 2 juvenile Yellow Wagtail.

Sunday 17th July 2016

Catching up with sightings, firstly for Sunday with thanks to Joe Hughes;

Castle Lake - 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Curlew and a Buzzard.

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Wednesday 13th July 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - drake Wigeon in eclipse plumage, female Shoveler with three well grown juveniles, female Pochard with two ducklings, three Tufted Duck broods of six,six and seven ducklings respectively, 5+ Little Grebe, single Great Crested Grebe still sitting, one Grey Heron, an Oystercatcher pair with a juvenile (three breeding pairs this summer), 2 Little Ringed Plover, single Dunlin, 5 Snipe back already, one summer plumaged Redshank, 7 Green Sandpiper (4 at the north end and 3 below the hide), 2 Common Sandpiper, one each of Yellow and Grey Wagtail, one, possibly two Reed Warbler singing intermittently and a Corn Bunting still singing between the hide and the sewage works.

A1 Flashes; 29 Greylag Geese (not be long before numbers start to build up), 3 Oystercatcher, 65 Lapwing and 7 Curlew.

Stoneybeck Lake; 8 Greylag Geese, 5 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 30 Lapwing including a new chick and a single Snipe.

Monday 11 July 2016

Sunday 10th July 2016

Sightings for Sunday with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones.

Castle Lake -  2 Little Tern briefly then high east, single Common Tern, Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 7 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, 160 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 18 Oystercatcher, 2 LRP, Ringed Plover, two broods of 6 Tufted Duck ducklings, Pochard with 2 ducklings, 22 Shelduck ducklings, 3 Corn Bunting, 250 Sand Martin, 60 Swift, 20 Pied Wagtail.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Tuesday 5th July 2016

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake - 1f Pochard with 2 ducklings, c20 Tufted Duck with two broods of 6 & 7 ducklings, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Oystercatcher with at least 1 juvenile, 4 LRP, c80 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 6 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Black-headed Gull of which two were juveniles, 1 Little Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Greenfinch (scarce away from the village) and a singing Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes - 6 Greylag Geese and 2 Grey Heron.

Wildlife Garden - Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a family of Great Tit's.

Stoneybeck Lake - 3 Greylag Geese and 8 Oystercatcher.

Sunday 3 July 2016

Sunday 3rd July 2016

Sightings for today with thanks to Joe Hughes;

Castle Lake - 3 LRP, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 17 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wigeon and 2 Corn Bunting.

Thursday 30 June 2016

Thursday 30th June 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley;

Castle Lake - 3 Green Sandpiper, 14 Oystercatcher, 3 Corn Bunting and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Wednesday 29th June 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 2 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 LRP, 1 Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler and 2 Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes - c50 Lapwing and 1 Green Sandpiper.


One of four Green Sandpiper seen this morning, 2 at the northern end and 2 including this one from the hide (one later migrated as far as the A1 flashes).

Saturday 25 June 2016

Saturday 25th June 2016

Sightings for Saturday afternoon;

Castle Lake - numerous Shelduck broods, 2 Wigeon, new Gadwall broods of 6 & 8 ducklings, 3 Teal, 3 Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1f Kestrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Black-headed Gull (including the first juvenile seen this summer), 1 Little Owl and a singing Corn Bunting.

Stoneybeck Lake - 2 Teal, 1 Buzzard flew over, 15 Lapwing.

Monday 20 June 2016

Sunday 19th June 2016

Sightings from a late afternoon Sunday visit;

Stoneybeck Lake/Farnless Farm - Shelduck with two broods of 4 ducklings each, Mallard with ducklings, 6 Teal, 2 Little Grebe, Coot with young, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 LRP, Lapwing with 1 well grown juvenile, 2 Black-headed Gull, 80 Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail juveniles and a singing Corn Bunting.

Castle Lake - 1 Black Swan, 10 Mute Swan, 2 drake Wigeon, Shoveler now down to 3 ducklings, 5 Pochard, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher with well grown juveniles, 3 LRP, 4 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a singing Corn Bunting.

Friday 17 June 2016

Friday 17th June 2016

Sightings for today with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones;

Castle Lake - brood of 4 Shoveler ducklings, 3 broods of Shelduck ducklings 7,7 and 4, brood of 8 Gadwall ducklings and new brood of 8 Mallard ducklings, new brood of 4 Canada Geese, Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, Redshank, 20 Lapwing, male Kestrel causing panic, 3 GC Grebe, 10 Little Grebe, 7 Pochard, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk Reed Warbler, 30 Tree Sparrow at farm and 8 Corn Bunting between lake and Island farm.
Fishburn Lake -  drake Wigeon, fledged Whitethroats and Willow Warbler, Willow Tit.

Monday 13 June 2016

Monday 13th June 2016

Sightings for Monday;

Castle Lake - Canada Geese broods totalling 21 gosling, Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 7+ Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 LRP, Pied Wagtail with juveniles, 1 Corn Bunting singing.

River Stell - 1 Sedge Warbler still singing near the old sluice gate.

Low Hardwick - 3 Teal (later flew to Castle Lake), 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing and showing reasonably well despite the dismal weather, 3 Sedge Warbler, 6 Common Whitethroat, 4 Long Tailed-Tit, 2 Linnet and 8 Reed Bunting.

Alan's Pool - 1 Black Swan with 2 Mute Swans (pictured below).




Friday 10 June 2016

Friday 10th June 2016

Sightings for today with thanks to John Olley;

Castle Lake - Black Swan, 10 Little Grebe, 22 Shelduck includes new brood of 7 ducklings, three broods of Mallard- 20 ducklings, 3 LRP, 14 Oystercatcher, 7 Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 100 Sand Martin, 3 fledged Pied Wagtail chicks, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Corn Bunting, 30 Tree Sparrow.

Stoney Beck Lake 3 LRP, 4 broods of Shelduck, 7, 4, 4, and 2 ducklings, 30 Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Corn Bunting, 4 Little Grebe, pair of GCGrebe.

Monday 6 June 2016

Monday 6th June 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 14 Mute Swan, 14 Greylag Geese over east, Shoveler,  4 Pochard, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, Oystercatcher pairs with 2 and 1 well grown juveniles, LR Plover, Yellow Wagtail and 2 Reed Warbler.

A1 Flashes - 2 Grey Heron.

River Stell - singing Sedge Warbler.

Low Hardwick - Coot with juveniles and 7 Sedge Warbler in three separate areas.

Alan's Pool - 2 Mute Swan, Coot with young and a singing Sedge Warbler.

Fishburn Lake - 1 Buzzard, 1 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting.

Stoneybeck Lake - Shelduck pairs with broods of 6,4 and 2, 3 Little Grebe, Coot with young, 2 LRP and 4 Black-headed Gull.


Wednesday 1 June 2016

Wednesday 1st June 2016

Sightings from this morning included the following;

Castle Lake - highlight of the day (and probably the year so far) was the sight of 3 drake Common Scoter keeping close together at the south end of the lake and diving frequently until approx. 10:45am. (This is only the second ever record for Bishop Middleham after a single drake back in December 2000), and although todays sighting does not fall in a known period of Common Scoter movement it was presumably weather related. A scarce bird away from the coast.

Other birds on offer were 12 Mute Swan, 5 broods of 15 Canada Geese gosling, Shelduck pair with 6 ducklings, 1 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 1 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 2 well grown juvenile Oystercatcher, 2+ Little Ringed Plover, c3 Ringed Plover, 1 female Ruff, 1sp Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, a pair of Black-headed Gulls copulating, 2 Common Tern, 10+ House Martin and 3 Yellow Wagtail.

Sunday 29 May 2016

Sunday 29th May 2016

Sightings for today with thanks to Alan Jones and John Olley.

Castle Lake - Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 4 LRP, 2 newly hatched Lapwing chicks, 2 Redshank, 3 well grown Oystercatcher chicks with 10 adults, GCGrebe with eggs, Black H Gulls nesting. 3 Corn Bunting, 5 Yellow Wagtail, Little Egret in full breeding plumage eventually off north. 150 Sand Martin, 40 Swift, Blue and Great Tit nesting.

Stoney Beck Lake -  LRP, Common Sandpiper, Shelduck with 4 ducklings, 6 Coot chicks, 4 Lapwing chicks.


Saturday 21 May 2016

Friday 20th May 2016

Sightings for Friday with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake 9 Canada geese goslings, 5 Oystercatcher chicks, 7 Gadwall ducklings, 6 Coot chicks, 3 LRP displaying still 14 Lapwing displaying or sitting. 6 Pochard, 6 Shoveler, Redshank displaying, pair of common Tern back.




Tuesday 17 May 2016

Monday 16th May 2016

Sightings for Monday evening.

Foumarts Lane - 1 Little Owl, 1 Mistle Thrush and singing Whitethroat, Blackcap & Chiffchaff.

Castle Lake - 15 Mute Swan, 11 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 2 LR Plover, 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Swift, 1+ Yellow Wagtail and singing Whitethroat & Corn Bunting.
Birds with young included Canada Geese (3 broods), Mallard, Lapwing (with 2 chicks), Coot & Moorhen.

A1 Flashes - 13 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew & 2 Redshank.

Stoneybeck Lake - 2 Little Grebe, Oystercatcher pair with 3 chicks at Farnless Farm trying to avoid young Bison hooves!, 2 LR Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a singing Corn Bunting.

Monday 9 May 2016

Monday 9th May 2016

Some sightings from this morning;

Foumarts Lane - singing Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat.

Castle Lake - 9 Mute Swan, 4 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Redshank (including 7 which flew in together), 1 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Swift, 3+ House Martin over the village, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear and 2 Corn Bunting.

Low Hardwick - 2 singing Sedge Warbler.

Thursday 5 May 2016

Thursday 5th May 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley.

Hardwick Park to Bishop Middleham -  pair of Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, good numbers of Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. 10 Reed Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting, 5 Buzzard, Black-tailed Godwit, LRP, 20 Oystercatcher, 10 Shelduck, 2 Pochard drakes, 4 Shoveler, 60 Gadwall across area and 4 Grey Heron.

Tuesday 3 May 2016

Monday 2nd May 2016

Sightings for Bank Holiday Monday from Joe Hughes and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Little Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Castle Lake - 1 ringtail Hen Harrier went through south, 2 Teal, 6 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3sp Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 12 Swift, 1 House Martin, 4 White Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Corn Bunting.

Alan's Pool - 1 Grey Heron and 3 Wheatear.

Low Hardwick - 1 singing Sedge Warbler.

Sunday 1 May 2016

Friday 29th April 2016

Sightings from Friday with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - 3 summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 2 LRP, 2 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 10 Lapwing, 12 Oystercatcher, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Shelduck, pair of Pochard, Shoveler, 9 Canada Geese on nests, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 50 Swallow, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Low Hardwick - 2 Sedge Warbler singing.

Fishburn Lake - 2 Buzzard, 18 Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and 6 Shelduck.

Friday 22 April 2016

Friday 22nd April 2016

Sightings today from Joe Hughes and myself.

Castle Lake - 2 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Dunlin, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 2pr Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Corn Bunting.

Low Hardwick - 1 Little Grebe, 20+ Swallow and a Common Whitethroat.

Fishburn Lake - Blackcap, Willow Tit and 5 Bullfinch.

Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler very numerous now.

Saturday 16 April 2016

Saturday 16th April 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones.

Castle Lake - 4 Canada Geese sitting, 9 Goldeneye, 30 Teal, 28 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 24 Gadwall, 8 Oystercatcher with 3 sitting birds, 10 Lapwing with 3 sitting birds, 10 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit displaying, 3 Wheatear, 6 Swallow, Corn Bunting singing, White Wagtail, 10 Pied Wagtail, 14 Skylark, 6 LBB Gulls, Buzzard.

Friday 15 April 2016

Friday 15th April 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to Joe Hughes;

Castle Lake - 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 5 Goldeneye, House Martin's and Swallow's.

Monday 11 April 2016

Monday 11th April 2016

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake (quick look only) - 3 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 3 Cormorant, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a singing Corn Bunting.

Near the old sluice gate were a singing Blackcap, 2 singing Chiffchaff and 3 singing Willow Warbler. Unfortunately there was no sign of yesterdays Firecrest (great find Fred).

A1 Flashes - 12+ Oystercatcher and 57 Curlew.

Low Hardwick - 3 Swallow.

Friday 8 April 2016

Friday 8th April 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones.

Castle Lake - 10 Whooper Swan, 40 Canada Geese, 20 Greylag Geese, 14 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 50 Gadwall, 4 Goldeneye, 60 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 8 Oystercatcher, 10 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 40 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 10 Reed Bunting, 2 singing Corn Bunting, 10 Pied Wagtail 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 8 Meadow Pipit, 8 Skylark.

Low Hardwick - 2 pair of Buzzard, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler singing, 3 Reed Bunting.

Monday 4 April 2016

Monday 4th April 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 10+ Shoveler, 8+ Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, 5+ Redshank, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Sand Martin, c30 Meadow Pipit and 3 Corn Bunting (2 singing).

River Stell - 2 Little Egret (including the colour-ringed individual).

Near the old sluice gate were 2 singing Chiffchaff.

Alan's Pool - 50+ Sand Martin.

Low Hardwick - 1 singing Chiffchaff and 2 Jay.

Fishburn Lake - 6 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, GS Woodpecker drumming, 1 Swallow, 50+ Sand Martin and 2 singing Chiffchaff.

Foumarts Lane - another singing Chiffchaff.

Saturday 2 April 2016

Saturday 2nd April 2016

Some sightings for today with thanks to Joe Hughes.

Castle Lake - 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 White Wagtail, 15 Sand Martin, Snipe, 8 Redshank, 2 Chiffchaff, 9 Goldeneye, Grey Wagtail and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Friday 1 April 2016

Friday 1st April 2016

Today's sightings with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones.

Castle Lake - 3 Whooper Swans briefly then north, 110 Curlew, 12 Redshank, 4 Snipe, 20 Oystercatcher,  14 Lapwing, 20 Shelduck, 170 Wigeon, 60 Gadwall, 14 Goldeneye, 10 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe pair displaying, 12 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Corn Bunting, 6 Lesser BB Gulls.
 
Stoney Beck Lake - Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing 14 Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 18 Tufted Duck, 2 Redshank.

Monday 28 March 2016

Monday 28th March 2016

Some sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 10 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 12 Shoveler, 12 Goldeneye (with lots of display from the two adult drakes), 1 Sand Martin flew over heading south at 09:25, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe and a singing Corn Bunting.

Two rubbish record pictures of the LRP


Wednesday 23 March 2016

Wednesday 23rd March 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 3 Ringed Plover (the first this year, flew off south at 08:55), 5 Snipe, 8 Redshank, 8 Goldeneye (including 2 1st winter drakes), 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 12 Redwing and a singing Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes - 1 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard and 16 Oystercatcher.

Fishburn Lake - 1f Pochard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Buzzard, a calling Chiffchaff and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Alan's Pool - 1 Little Grebe and a Green Sandpiper.

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Monday 21st March 2016

Sightings from yesterday with thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake - 2 Ruff (the first this year), 12 Redshank, 14 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 60 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 200 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Pied Wagtail, Buzzard and Grey Partridge.

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Tuesday 15th March 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 11 Mute Swan, 19 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, 7 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye (1 drake), 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 6 Oystercatcher, 19 Snipe, 44 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull.

A1 Flashes - 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, 25 Oystercatcher and 3 Redshank.

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Mute Swan, 13 Shelduck and 1 Little Grebe.

Record photo of the colour ringed Little Egret from today.

The ten Mute Swan that usually hang out at Stoneybeck Lake flew onto Castle Lake this morning.

Sunday 13 March 2016

Sunday 13th March 2016

Sightings today from John Olley, Alan Jones and myself.

Stoneybeck Lake - 9 Whooper Swan present all day, 10 Mute Swan, 22 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 10 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Oystercatcher, 40 Lapwing, 17 Curlew, 1 Redshank and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Castle Lake - 2 Pintail (1 drake), 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 5 Great Crested Grebe, 60 Gadwall, 90 Lapwing and 10 Redshank.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 28 Oystercatcher, 2 Green Sandpiper, 150 Curlew and 3 Little Egret (one of which was colour ringed and identified as an individual originally ringed in the nest at North Cotes, Lincolnshire on 7/5/14 and subsequently sighted at Aberlady, Scotland in October 2014 and Greenabella Marsh, Cleveland in April 2015).

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 2 pair Shelduck, 270 Wigeon, 2 pair Shoveler, 1 pair Pintail, 7 Pochard, 2 female Goldeneye, 1 Cormorant, 3 pair Oystercatcher, at least 17 Snipe, 35 Curlew, 8 Redshank and a charm of 45 Goldfinch.

A1 Flashes - 150 Wigeon, 2 male Shoveler, 21 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank and a Green Sandpiper.

Stoneybeck Lake  (just a quick look due to the rain) - 10 Mute Swan, 15 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron and 1 pair Oystercatcher.

Monday 7 March 2016

Sunday 6th March 2016

Catching up with sightings from yesterday;

Castle Lake - 8 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe and 10 Redshank.

A1 Flashes - 1 Kestrel, 19 Oystercatcher and 6 Skylark over north.

Stoneybeck Lake - 10 Mute Swan, 15 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon,  9+ Shoveler, 16 Pochard, 1 Kestrel, c70 Curlew, 1 Redshank and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Tuesday 1st March 2016

Todays sightings;

Castle Lake - 30 Pink-footed Geese on the hill on the south-east side of the lake, 2 Shelduck, 1m Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 5 Snipe, 6+ Redshank and a Corn Bunting.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 2 Mute Swan, 5 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 18 Oystercatcher and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Stoneybeck Lake - 10 Mute Swan, 24 Shelduck, 12+ Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.


Some of the thirty Pink-footed Geese at Castle Lake this morning.

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Wednesday 24th February 2016

Sightings from today;

Castle Lake - mostly frozen over this morning but some of the ice had melted by mid-afternoon, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 135 Canada Geese, 8 Shelduck, 3 Pintail (1 drake), 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Grey Heron, 18+ Oystercatcher, 60 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and 6+ Skylark.

Alan's Pool/Island Farm - 1 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Partridge, 7 Coot, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting both in song.

Fishburn Lake - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit singing and 2 Bullfinch.

Low Hardwick - 2 Mute Swan, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Water Rail on a small well vegetated stream, 74 Curlew, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Long-tailed Tit and singing Reed Bunting.

River Stell - 2 Little Egret and 2 Grey Wagtail.

Town End Farm - 1 Nuthatch singing nearby.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Sunday 21st February 2016

Today's sightings;

Stoneybeck Lake - 10 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Geese, 14 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon, 7 pair of Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 29 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, 1f Goldeneye, 1 Common Buzzard mobbed by a Peregrine, 90 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 550 Lapwing, 76 Curlew, 1 Redshank, Skylark singing, 30 Fieldfare and 2 singing Song Thrush.

Foumarts Lane - 2 singing Chaffinch.

Castle Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 6 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 11 Oystercatcher (with a pair copulating), 9 Redshank and Skylark singing.

A1 Flashes - 7 Shoveler, 10 Oystercatcher, 60 Curlew and 3 Redshank.

Sunday 14 February 2016

Sunday 14th February 2016

Sightings today with thanks to John Olley.

Stoneybeck Lake - 30 Pochard, 7 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 50 Teal, 2 Pintail, 6 Wigeon, 10 Mute Swan and 200 Lapwing. Unfortunately no sign of yesterdays Smew.

Castle Lake - 8 Grey Partridge, 1000 Lapwing, 30 Golden Plover, 200 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 6 Oystercatcher, 12 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, 30 Gadwall, 720 Wigeon, 240 Teal and 10 Shoveler.

A1 Flashes/Low Hardwick - 100 Curlew, 3 pair of Buzzard, 1000 Lapwing, 2 Redshank and 20 Pied Wagtail feeding together.

Saturday 13 February 2016

Saturday 13th February 2016

A drake Smew was found by Fred Milton on Stoneybeck Lake this morning but wasn't seen in the afternoon.

Monday 8 February 2016

Monday 8th February 2016

Some sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 12 Shoveler, 1f Goldeneye, 3 Cormorant, 10 Oystercatcher, 3 Snipe and 15 Redshank.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 2 Mute Swan, 1 Little Egret and 112 Curlew.

Stoneybeck Lake - 9 Mute Swan, 13 Shelduck, 10 Wigeon, 2f Pintail, 1m Shoveler, 14+ Pochard, 90+ Coot, 1 Redshank and 2 Skylark.

Friday 5 February 2016

Wednesday 3rd February 2016

Many thanks to Ian Downs for providing this photo of a Short-eared Owl next to Alan's Pool on Wednesday at about 16:30.

Sunday 31 January 2016

Sunday 31st January 2016

Some sightings from this afternoon;

Stoneybeck Lake - 9 Mute Swan, 15 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 1f Pintail, 12+ Pochard, 100+ Lapwing, 75 Curlew and 1 Redshank.

Castle Lake - 14 Shoveler, 1m Goldeneye, 3 Cormorant and 7 Oystercatcher.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 100+ Curlew and a Little Egret.

Low Hardwick - 1 Short-eared Owl.

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Wednesday 27th January 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 7 Shelduck, 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 2 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 23 Redshank, 110 Curlew, 12 Stock Dove and 4 Skylark.

Stoneybeck Lake - Pochard numbers increasing almost daily now at least 31 present (mix of male/female), 4 Pintail (1 drake), 2 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 30 Gadwall, c50 Teal, 90 Coot and 9 Mute Swan.

Monday 25 January 2016

Monday 25th January 2016

Today's sightings;

Stoneybeck Lake - 9 Mute Swan, 9 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler and 22 Pochard.

Castle Lake - 30 Pink-footed Geese flew in from the north at 12:45 and landed on the hill on the south-east side of the lake, c200 Canada Geese, 8 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, c600 Lapwing, 50+ Curlew, c20 Redshank, 6 Stock Dove, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Fieldfare and 15 Linnet.

River Stell/A1 Flashes - 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe and 50+ Curlew.

Low Hardwick - 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Woodcock, 29 Pied Wagtail feeding together, 2 Meadow Pipit, 7 Chaffinch and 10 Bullfinch.

Fishburn Lake - 2 Mute Swan, c20 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldcrest, 7+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit and 1 Treecreeper.

Alan's Pool - 6 Grey Partridge, 15 Coot and another dead Mute Swan (fox?).

 
Their back!

Lapwing everywhere today.

Saturday 23 January 2016

Saturday 23rd January 2016

Sightings from today with thanks to John Olley and Alan Jones.

Castle Lake - 230 Canada Geese, 40 Greylag Geese, 170 Pink-footed Geese over north then back over south-east, 20 Shoveler, 700 Wigeon, 640 Teal, 60 Gadwall, 100 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 19 Redshank, 300 Golden Plover, 2200 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Skylark and 10 Tree Sparrow.

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Tuesday 19th January 2016

A decent selection of birds seen this morning;

Castle Lake (60% frozen) - 2 Mute Swan, 200+ Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 4 drake Pintail, 12 Shoveler, 500 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and 10 Corn Bunting.

Alan's Pool - 2 Mute Swan, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe and a Meadow Pipit.

Fishburn Lake - 2 Mute Swan with a further 6 overflying out of Stoneybeck Lake, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch and a Jay heard only.

River Stell - 1 Little Egret and 2 Green Sandpiper.

A few photo's from today;

The Marsh Tit at Fishburn Lake was very confiding and called frequently.

 

Nuthatch at Fishburn Lake.

Dunlin at Castle Lake.

Saturday 16 January 2016

Saturday 16th January 2016

Sightings today with thanks once again to John Olley and Joe Hughes;

Stoneybeck Lake - 120 Coot, 40 Gadwall, 14 Pochard, 100 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 62 Teal, 10 Mute Swan, 260 Lapwing and 20 Curlew.

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Wednesday 13th January 2016

Sightings from this morning included the following;

Foumarts Lane - 5 Tree Sparrow.

Castle Lake - 3 Mute Swan, 30 Pink-footed Geese flew in from the north, did a few circuits of the lake and headed off in a southerly direction (pictured below), 250 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, drake Goldeneye, 200 Golden Plover over, 300+ Lapwing, 45 Curlew and 10+ Redshank.

River Stell - 2 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron and 1 possibly 2 Green Sandpiper.
Shocking picture of the Little Egret on the Stell.

Stoneybeck Lake - 6 Mute Swan, 3 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 70 Coot, 200 Lapwing and 35 Curlew.

Sunday 10 January 2016

Saturday 9th January 2016

Catching up with sightings from the last two days.

Friday 8th January 2016 (with thanks to John Olley and Joe Hughes).
Castle Lake - 1600 Lapwing, 600 Wigeon, 210 Curlew, 200 Golden Plover, 10 Shelduck and 12 Redshank.

Saturday 9th January 2016
Stoneybeck Lake - 6 Mute Swan, 60+ Canada Geese, 4 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 10 Pochard, 15 Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe.

Monday 4 January 2016

Monday 4th January 2016

Sightings from this morning;

Castle Lake - 4 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 3 Goldeneye (1 drake, 1 female & a 1st-winter drake), 7 Mute Swan, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and 19 Redshank.

A1 Flashes/River Stell - 5 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron and 3 Fieldfare.

Stoneybeck Lake - 5 Mute Swan (flew to Castle Lake), 3 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 10 Pochard (5 drakes), 2f Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel and 50+ Curlew.

Saturday 2 January 2016

Saturday 2nd January 2016

Many thanks to John Olley and Dave Makinson for today's sightings;

Stoneybeck Lake - 1 Pochard, drake Goldeneye, 4 Shoveler, 60 Gadwall, 74 Coot, 220 Lapwing, 166 Curlew, 40 Teal and 2 Shelduck.

Castle Lake - 4 Pintail, 520 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 6 Shelduck, 140 Curlew, 120 Lapwing, 4 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Mute Swan, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Pied Wagtail and 2 Corn Bunting.

Low Hardwick/A1 Flashes - 1 Short-eared Owl, 800 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 1 Little Grebe, 60 Wigeon and 200 Black-headed Gull.

Island Farm - 3 Corn Bunting, 110 Tree Sparrow, 50 Yellowhammer and 20 Reed Bunting.

Friday 1 January 2016

Friday 1st January 2016

Happy New Year!
Today's sightings;

Stoneybeck Lake - 7 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Fieldfare and 5+ Redwing.

Castle Lake - 6 Shelduck, 3 Pintail, drake Goldeneye, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Grey Heron, 130 Curlew, 10+ Redshank, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Fieldfare and 2 Corn Bunting.

Alan's Pool - 1 Mute Swan.

Fishburn Lake - 12 Mallard, 1 Song Thrush and a flock of 20 Siskin.

Low Hardwick - 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 200 Golden Plover, 300 Lapwing, 1 Short-eared Owl out hunting mid-afternoon and 4 Bullfinch.

River Stell - 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret and 2 Green Sandpiper together.

Foumarts Lane - 1 Grey Wagtail feeding on floodwater close to the village (rubbish picture below).