Spring Sun

Another trip to Liden Lagoon was interesting with some good highlights and a "high" which resulted in a low. I parked up opposite Barnmoor Close and walked clock-wise around the lagoon. The first birds to catch my attention were two male Blackcaps competing with each other vocally by the overflow and as they did so a Swallow passed over head, heading north.

A male Blackcap 

Competes with another male.

4 male Blackcaps present here today.

Along the paths Ground Ivy is in flower.

Just as you walk behind the bungalow there is an open patch with several new saplings growing, which were planted last year. The area has been recently cleared and there were butterflies and Drone flies everywhere. The were at least 3 Peacock, an Orange-tip, Brimstone, Holly Blue and a "3-winged" Speckled Wood. The Drone Flies were all resting on the nettles and as you walked past them they all took off. In amongst them were a several Hoverfly, Syrphus ribesii.

Peacock Butterfly

In my narrative I've put this down as 3-winged Speckled Wood. On closer examination I think it actually only has 2½.

Hoverfly, Syrphus ribesii

The same hoverfly

Drone Fly, just one of dozens at the lagoon today

Once over the stream it was back up the other side where I came across an Alderfly, more Drone Flies and a 7-spot Ladybird. Above me in the Hawthorns a Grey Squirrel was upsetting the resident Long-tailed Tits, which must be nesting close-by. Whether it was after the eggs of the tits or the Wood Pigeon that was also nesting there I'm not sure, but the Wood Pigeon was having none of it and somehow managed to chase the Squirrel off. Also above was a Sparrowhawk that caused further havoc as it glided low over the water.

Alder Fly

7-spot Ladybird

The local Sparrowhawk that joined in with the Grey Squirrel to upset the local birds.

Further down the path, which runs adjacent to the A419, there are many fishing platforms and from one of these I could see a Little White Egret on the north bank of the South Island. Also on this island was another Blackcap singing alongside a Chiffchaff.  Looking across to the other side of the boom, that joins the two islands together, were dozens of large gulls and in total I managed tot up at least 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 36 Herring Gulls of all ages.

A bit of stretch after standing on its right leg for awhile.

Around the southern end of the lagoon were last years pen and her two youngsters, which have been tolerated by the new resident pair. The lagoon is obviously big enough for them all, but it is most unusual for a cob to accept them!

The lone pen and her youngsters still present on the Lagoon, despite a new pair nesting at the far end of the water.
Also at this end of the pool was Willow Warbler singing from the tall trees next to the Edale Moor estate and on the water were the resident pair of Gadwall that seem to enjoy being here, but don't seemed prepared to nest here though. Under the surface were a few Mirror Carp and Common Carp swimming around, with at least 4 fish over the 8-9lb mark.

The drake Gadwall

And his mate

A nice size Common Carp in the shallows

Along with a Mirror Carp

As I headed up the tarmac path, back towards the car park, another Blackcap was heard singing from the gardens on my left. There was also a pair of Goldfinches in the Alders and a couple of Magpies and a Carrion Crow on the path.

Looking across the Lagoon I could see the Great Crested Grebes nest which looked enormous. It was only when I took a look with my binoculars, I realised that perched on top of this 18" high nest was a Coot. The Great Crested Grebes had abandoned it and were building another nest about 10 feet further back.

What was the Great Crested Grebes nest, which has now been taken over by a Coot

One of the pair of Great Crested Grebes building a new nest.

Looking at the depth of the water I realised that it had dropped at least 6 - 8" making the nest to high for them. Grebes like the nest to be just above the water-line and unfortunately the water level was very low. It was this point I decided to carry on past the car park and head back to the overflow. On the way there, the new pair of Mute Swans have nested under the Willows next to the benches. Normally Mute Swans here have nested on the island, so this should be interesting to see how this pans out.

The new pair of Mute Swans have decided to build their nest under the Willows by the benches.

Back at the overflow, I could see that one of the boards that controls the height of the water had been removed and as a result had increased the height of the grebes nest to such a point it was too high for them to get into. Because of the nature of the nest, it didn't drop down as the water ran out of the lagoon. I guess they make nests at the low water mark and if the water rises, so the nest rises with it. But unfortunately with the opposite happening the water levels dropped but the nest didn't, leaving high and dry.

The overflow that has had a board removed......

........so dropping the water level by a good 6-8"

Birds Recorded: 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 5 Mute Swan (resident pair and last years pen and her 2 juveniles), 30+ Canada Goose, Mallard, 1 pair Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, 36 Herring Gull, 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, 1 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 2 Magpie, Carrion Crow, 11 House Sparrow and 2 Goldfinch.

Also 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip, Holly Blue and a Speckled Wood.

Other invertebrate were dozens of Drone Flies, Alder Fly, Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii), White-tailed Bumble bee and Common Wasp.

Fish seen 3 Common Carp and a Mirror Carp