Red-crested Pochard

A single Red-crested Pochard was found on Castle Lake by Andrew Kinghorn yesterday (22nd) afternoon and was confirmed as still present today (JO).

Red-crested Pochard on Castle Lake (photo by Andrew Kinghorn) only the second record of this species at Bishop Middleham.
Andrew also found and photographed this Mediterranean Gull.

Sunday 5th August 2012

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake;
juv. Dunlin, Greenshank, 10 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, GC Grebe carrying 3 recently hatched chicks, 500 Greylag Geese, 100 BH Gull, Corn Bunting. 
A1 Flashes;
juv. Shelduck, Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpiper, Peregrine over high south. 
No sign of Pec Sand between 12:00-15:00.

juvenile Dunlin at Castle Lake this afternoon.

Greenshank.

Great Crested Grebe carrying three chicks.

July Round-Up

Catching up with sightings from the last few weeks;

Tuesday 10th July;

Castle Lake; 9 Redshank through east, Tufted Duck pair with 7 ducklings, fem. Wigeon, 5 GC Grebe, 2 Grey Partridge.(NF). Thursday 12th July; Island Farm/Alan's Pools  8 Corn Bunting, 48 Skylark, 14 Yellowhammer, 20 Meadow Pipit, 110 Linnet, 40 Swallow, 4 Grey Partridge, 20 Tree Sparrow, immature Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Gadwall and 10 Mallard. (JO). Saturday 14th July; Castle Lake/A1 Flashes; Little Ringed Plover with single chick, Common Sandpiper, 21 Oystercatcher, 95 Coot plus chicks, 2pr GC Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 160 Black-headed Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Corn Bunting. (NF/MN). Sunday 22nd July; Castle Lake; Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit(sp), Little Ringed Plover, Corn Bunting, 3 Tree Sparrows, Hobby came through at 1.30 hunting hirundines. (JH). Tuesday 24th July; Castle Lake; 8 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 1 Teal, Tufted Duck with broods of 5,5 & 1, 6 Little Grebe, 5 GC Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 LR Plover with single chick, 2 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 LBb Gull, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting singing. A1 Flashes; 1 LR Plover, 16 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpiper. Stoneybeck Lake/Farnless Farm; 275 Greylag Geese, 6 Mute Swan, 3 Pochard, 4 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, Corn Bunting singing. (NF). Wednesday 25th July; Castle Lake; 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin. (DF). Friday 27th July; Castle Lake; 132 Coot, 500 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, Common Sandpiper, 10 Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck broods of 5,5,6 and 7. 6 Little Grebe, two Great Crested Grebes still sitting, 14 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey 2 Yellow Wagtail. (JO). Saturday 28th July; Castle Lake; female Marsh Harrier over at 17:15. (MR). Sunday 29th July; Castle Lake; Common Buzzard, LRP with juvenile, 2 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, Common Sandpiper.    A1 Flashes; 120 Greylag Geese, 3 Common Sandpiper, LRP, 25 Curlew, Yellow Wagtail. (NF). In the afternoon a Pectoral Sandpiper was found on Castle Lake by Joe Hughes, the seventh record of this species at Bishop Middleham. Monday 30th July; Castle Lake; 3 Common Sandpiper, 600 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 LRP, 6 Oystercatcher, 120 sand Martin, 4 Yellow Wagtail.  A1 Flashes; Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 10 Oystercatcher, 300 Lapwing, Buzzard. (JO). Tuesday 31st July; A1 Flashes; Pectoral Sandpiper showing well between 07:30-10:00 though occaisionally elusive; also Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 LRP (1 juv.), 2 Teal, 2 Stock Dove, Yellow Wagtail.  Castle Lake; Peregrine, 2 Common Tern over. (NF). Farnless Farm/Stoneybeck Lake; Hobby. (AK).

Saturday 7th July 2012

Today's sightings thanks to John Olley.

Castle Lake;
120 Lapwing with 4 chicks, 2 Curlew, 3 adult Little Ringed Plover with a single chick, Ringed Plover through, 5 Oystercatcher chicks with 10 Adults, 3 Common Sandpiper, Garganey, 16 Shoveler, 70 Gadwall including ducklings, 7 Grey Heron, Quail singing, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 14 Pied Wagtail, Corn Bunting, 12 Tree Sparrow and Sparrowhawk.

A1 Flashes/Low Hardwick;
40 Curlew, 100 Black Headed Gull, 10 Lesser B B Gulls, 12 Common Gull, 4 Pochard, Buzzard and 40 Carrion Crow together.

Tuesday 3rd July 2012

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake; 24 Greylag Geese, 5 Shoveler, moulting drake Garganey, 2 Grey Partridge, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 85 Lapwing, 1 summer plumage Black Tailed Godwit, 10 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 2 Corn Bunting, 6 Yellow Wagtail. Low Hardwick; 1 possibly 2 Quail calling, 7 Reed Bunting, 5 Sedge Warbler, 20 Skylark. (NF, JO, BC). A rather messy looking drake Garganey on Castle Lake this evening before it flew to the A1 Flashes in company with the five Shoveler. Presumabley it is the same individual that has been present on and off for the last few weeks. Plenty of Gadwall broods around now The Little Egret looks well settled despite the close attentions of one or two Grey Heron. Corn Bunting singing close to the hide.

Monday 2nd July 2012

Today's sightings;

Castle Lake;
Redshank, 7 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 50 Lapwing including 3 chicks, 14 Oystercatcher including 4 chicks. 40 adult Gadwall with 21 ducklings, 3 Shoveler, 8 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 40 Mallard, 70 Coot, 2 pair of GCGrebes, 2 pair of Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 100 Sand Martin, 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 40+ Skylark, 30 Linnet, 80 Jackdaw, 30 Common Gull, 20 Black Headed Gull and 4 Stock Dove. (NF,JO,DM).

Saturday 30th June 2012

Sightings today included the following;

Castle Lake;
Little Egret, 2 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, 4 GC Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 3 LR Plover, Common Sandpiper. 
A1 Flashes;
7 Curlew, 2 Grey Partridge. 
Stoneybeck Lake;
8 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, Shelduck pair with 7 juveniles, 4 Little Grebe, 4 Mute Swan.

The first Little Egret of the "summer" at Castle Lake this morning.