May

Here's a belated review of my visit in May. Alas I wasn't able to make a visit in June, it's been busy busy busy with one thing and another.

As reported at the time the highlight was a singing Cetti's Warbler for the second year.

19th and 20th May.

Mute Swan - 6
Greylag Goose - 24
Canada Goose - 10
Shelduck - 1
Gadwall - 4
Teal - 1
Mallard - 30+
Tufted Duck - 8
Red-legged Partrigde - 5
Grey Partridge - 2
Little Grebe - 2
Cormorant - 1
Little Egret - 2
Heron - 9
Sparrowhawk - 5
Buzzard - 13
Kestrel - 8
Oystercatcher - 1
Lapwing - 22
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Herring Gull - 40+
Cuckoo - 2 different males calling
Swift - 18+
Kingfisher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3
Sand Martin - plenty
Swallow - low numbers (maybe 20+)
House Martin - low numbers (15+)
Meadow Pipit - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 10
Reed Warbler - 3
Blackcap - widespread
Garden Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 28 is a healthy total!
Chiffchaff - widespread
Willow Warbler - 5
Bullfinch - 1

Quite a few butterflies on the wing. Most numerous were Orange Tip (20+) followed by several Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and whites and 3 Speckled Wood.

A male Four-spotted Chaser (dragonfly) was at Kelk Beck.

1. Canada Goose - proven breeding! They don't breed every year (or they hide well) and there's never more than a couple of pairs across the area. I guess they just prefer parks and built up areas.

2. Pair of Gadwall. There is a peak in sighthings every spring as birds disperse from wintering sites to search out breeding sites. They are hard to locate in summer though ducklings have been seen in a few years. My guess is they don't breed every year.

3. Sedge Warbler. The total of 10 males present is rather low.

4. Shelduck. Another species that has bred but doesn't particularly favour the area. The last known success was quite a few years ago now and they've become quite scarce.

5. And finally - Stock Dove. An understated but much underrated bird.

Yearlist additions:

094 - Swift
095 - Yellow Wagtail
096 - Cetti's Warbler
097 - Reed Warbler
098 - Garden Warbler