October 2003

October was quiet-ish but the 1st did produce another Little Egret (PBT) (10th Park record) Gulls have not been systematically checked and with the vast number currently on the tip, maybe there is something waiting to be found?

10th brought only the 2nd Coal Tit this year. All our summer visitors have left, expect a few Chiffchaff & Blackcap. October saw the last 2 Swallows 23rd (RRe) and the latest ever record of Sand Martin on the 24th (PBT).

Redwing numbers seen flying over or away have grown between 30 & 70, again roosts have not been counted accurately or at all. Just a handful of Fieldfare have been seen, as is the case with Lesser Redpoll, 1-4 8th, 14th & 27th. A flock of about 15 Siskin on the 3rd is the only count above 10.

Wildfowl seem to have dispersed between Lavell’s, Sandford & Black Swan Lake (BSL). Teal have spread out too, but numbers remain near 40. I have left the scrape water level low, pending reed cutting. No Spotted Crake this year, which is kind of expected, since there has never been consecutive records, but Water Rail were here in force, becoming more apparent after the September work party, up to 4 calling, but usually only 1 visible at dusk or dawn.

I am not aware of any Peregrine sightings for October, which is a little hard to believe, but I haven’t had time to look much this month either. Gulls have been present on the tip in their thousands and are still been regularly agitated by the presence of at least 2 Red Kites, which is later than last years records.

It didn’t take too long for another Bittern to turn up, just missing October, found by MBu 3rd November, just left of Tern Scrape. I really hope to get news shortly on the post mortem.

A park rarity perhaps surprisingly is Brambling, but 4 were found near to Tern Hide, probably feeding around the bird table on the 29th, 3 remaining all day, then 1 30th & 31st.

Snipe numbers jumped up to 5 after the work party. Water Rail were in good numbers, 4 from the 1st. Meadow Pipits began regular fly overs again from the 12th.

October by Voous Order

Grebes & Herons

Little Grebe - 1-2 Lavell’s, 4 BSL 14th.
Bittern - A new adult appeared near to Tern Scrape 3rd Nov (MBu).
Little Egret - Adult on the 1st (PBT), spent most of the day on Tern Scrape

Geese & Wildfowl

Mandarin - A pair at BSL picnic area.
Wood Duck (feral)- The female remained til the 1st and then vanished.
Teal - Numbers circa 40 all month, 73 at dusk on the 3rd (FJC).
Shoveler - Numbers varying between 4 & 10+, mostly on Sandford.
Tufted Duck - Numbers stable around 60+.
Pochard - Just 1-2 all month, then 6 29th.
Gadwall - Numbers now lower around the 60+ mark, no proper counts done.
Wigeon - Numbers ranging around 100 3rd & 14th and most have moved over to BSL, unless they are scared off due to sailing.

Birds Of Prey (BOPs)

Red Kite - Still at least 2 over the tip, but still reaching Lavell’s too.
Common Buzzard - Just a handful of reports.
Peregrine - No reports
Sparrowhawk - Several in the area, most frequently a large female.
Kestrel - A pair use Lavell’s and the car park field and seen to chase an immature male
Hobby - No further reports.

Rails/Crakes etc

Water Rail - At least 4 calling on 1st, probably remain in area, 1-2 seen occasionally, best time to stand a chance of seeing them is dusk.

Waders

Snipe - 3 on 1st, 4 on 2nd, 5 3rd, 1-2 the rest of the month.
Lapwing - Small flocks over and handfuls on Tern Scrape, no big numbers on tip either.
Green Sandpiper - No reports.
Common sandpiper - No reports.

Gulls

Greater Black-backed Gull - Small handfuls coming to drink and wash on Lavell’s.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - No accurate counts, estimates between 2000 & 3000 on the tip.
Herring Gull - No accurate counts done, but several hundred over tip
Yellow-legged Gull - Occasional sightings of individuals on Tern Scrape.
Common Gull - Numbers now reaching double figures
Black-headed Gull - Daily visiting numbers reach nearly 200+ birds.

Pigeons, Doves & Owls

Barn Owl - No reports.
Little Owl - Heard calling 13th at dawn.
Tawny Owl - Heard calling 13th at dawn.

Swift, Kingfisher, Woodpeckers & Larks

Kingfisher - 2 regularly around Lavell’s.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Present at all times and bred.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Male in the dead Alders on Sandford, 1st (RRe) & 15th (PBT).
Green Woodpeckers - Present at all times.
Skylark - Several dates with 2-5 birds moving West earlier mornings only.

Swallow & Martins

Sand Martin - Probably the latest ever bird on the 24th (PBT).
House Martin - Last birds around 7th (SC).
Swallow - Last birds on the 23rd (RRe).

Pipits & Wagtails

Meadow Pipit - Several days of birds passing over, usually heading West.
Pied Wagtail - Wintering numbers flock heading for Winnersh Triangle now around 50+
Grey Wagtail - 2-6, most frequently by the sailing club.

Thrushes

Blackbird - No notable increases.
Redwing - Numbers between 30 and 70 over or in the area.
Song Thrush - No notable increases.
Fieldfare - Returned 25th? 4-5 26th.
Mistle Thrush - Now more regularly around the sailing club car park.

Warblers, Crests & Flycatchers

Blackcap - Certainly still recorded 2nd, 6th & 27th.
Chiffchaff - Good numbers all month.
Goldcrest - Now with tit flocks, 6 27th (MW).
Spotted Flycatcher - No further reports.

Tits, Nuthatch & Treecreeper

Blue & Great Tit - Resident and bred, now flocking together with warblers too.
Long-tailed Tit - Winter flocks probably exceed 100 on 25th (TA FJC)
Coal Tit - 1 in dead alders on Sandford 10th (FJC).
Nuthatch - Still around Lavell’s, probably 2 calling 1st (FJC)
Treecreeper - Resident and probably bred, again more often with tit flocks now.

Finches & Buntings

Greenfinch & Goldfinch - Around the car park area.
Linnet - 1 & 2’s over, also around the tip.
Brambling - This is a park rarity 4 found near Tern Hide (MBu et al), 3 remained all day, 1 then 30th & 31st.
Bullfinch - Resident, a bit quieter in winter.
Reed Bunting - 1-2 Residents roosting still.

2003 Bird Species Total

Stands at 132, wildfowl may bring number up a little higher.

Bird Of The Month

Brambling v’s Little Egret

What to look out for in November

Wader passage could still produce something new but is rather unlikely now. Snipe numbers should build further, maybe we could get a Jack Snipe.

Keep watching the wildfowl on Sandford & BSL, if it goes cold Gadwall & Wigeon numbers will rise and soon Goldeneye will return too. Shoveler congregate on Sandford Lake, where Pochard and Tufted Duck also rest when there is sailing. BSL can produce Black-necked Grebe, usually am only due to sailing etc. Other wildfowl such as White-fronted Geese could show up, as could any wildfowl in fact.

Check the tit flocks for Firecrest, also Yellow Browed Warbler could show up too.

Thanks to all the usual observers who have contributed to this report!

Mystery bird Recorders, I have given up trying guess who you are, so please check the observer list and fill in your names next to initials provided, if you are not there, forgive me and add your own.

Many thanks & please feel free to email me : fraser1947@hotmail.com Fraser Cottington Chairman & Bird Recorder