The Good and the Bad

It was a little bit late but it was the first chance I've had to carry out my BTO WeBS count at Nythe Pool, and in some ways I'm glad it was, as I probably wouldn't have come across what smelt diesel in the water course. From the pool and 200 metres upstream of the Dorcan stream to the sub-station, there was definitely a discharge of some type of fuel in the water. The stream is quite high after recent rains and it's possible it is high water mixing with fuel residue thrown onto the bank. However whatever it was, it was pretty strong and the surface water was a typical rainbow colour when oils sit on the surface. The good news is both the Fire Service and Environment Agency are looking into it. Hopefully by Monday it will all be clear.

The discolouration on the water surface is very evident by the Electric Board's Sub-station and the smell of what to me smelt like diesel was very strong.

Further downstream Nythe Pool receives the pollutants from upstream

It does make you wonder how these little back waters survive.

On a happier note I managed one more species than did on my last WeBS count, with a very busy Grey Heron that was patrolling most of the pool, along with the resident pair of Moorhens.

A Grey Heron patrolling the reedbeds at Nythe Pool

Further along Dorcan stream I carried along to Shaftesbury pool and came across a lot of Mallard, a few Tufted Duck and just over 20 Canada Geese. Along the banks there were a few Moorhen, a pair of Coot, the resident Swans (that know a meal when they see one) and several Black-headed Gulls.

A female Tufted Duck on the pool at Shaftesbury Avenue

Coming through, there's no stopping this Mute Swan and his mate as the offer of free food is on hand from a passer by. Notice the ducks all lining up behind, they weren't far behind the Swans.

Having circumnavigated Shaftesbury Avenue pool and heard a Kingfisher a little further upstream towards Coate Water, I headed back to Nythe pool, where the Grey Heron had moved up to the waterfall. Also here were a few Goldcrests, Blue Tits and Great Tits. There were also two or three Blackbirds feeding on the Hawthorns and every walk should finish with a Robin watching you leave.

Later the Grey Heron turned up by the waterfall just as the sun came out.

Motionless and very patient, the Grey Heron waits for an unsuspecting prey.

One of a few Blackbirds seen on my walk today

And one of the overwintering Robin keeps a watchful eye on me as I leave the pool.

Birds Recorded: 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 20+ Canada Goose, 40+ Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 7 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 12+ Black-headed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, 1 Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Lots of Gulls

After a very mild November day, with temperatures hitting 14C, it soon changed as the sun set and the temperature plummeted. At least it was dry and with a cloudless sky I was all set for doing a roost count over Nythe.

Observations made between 4:00pm and 4:30pm

South is towards Coate Water
East is towards Patheon (Pharmaceutical company, Dorcan Way)
West towards Greenbridge
North towards Cotswold Water Park

Time                  Number                  Species                              Direction Heading

4:00pm                    8                         Starlings                                 Local

4:01pm                    2                         Carrion Crows                          South

4:04pm                    1                         Magpie                                    Local
                               3                         Wood Pigeons                         South

4:05pm                    3                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                               8                         Black-headed Gulls                   West

4:06pm                    1                         Wood Pigeon                            South

4:07pm                    1                         Wood Pigeon                            South
                             38                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:08pm                    9                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls         North
                               1                         Wood Pigeon                            South

4:10pm                    1                         Magpie                                     South
                             43                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls         North

4:12pm                  15                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls         North

4:14pm                    2                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls         North
                               1                         Redwing                                    North
                               1                         Starling                                     North
                               2                         Grey Wagtails                            West

4:15pm                   51                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                              28                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                               4                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:16pm                    2                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:17pm                    1                          Meadow Pipit                            West
                               1                          Chaffinch                                  West

4:20pm                    2                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                             23                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:21pm                    1                          Pied Wagtail                             West
                               6                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:23pm                     2                          Pied Wagtails                          West
                              70                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:25pm                     1                          Pied Wagtail                           West

4:26pm                     4                          Pied Wagtails                          West

4:27pm                     2                          Magpies                                   Local
                                2                          Greenfinch                               South

4:29pm                     2                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:30pm                    13                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                                8                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North


Totals:

   8   Black-headed Gulls
319   Lesser Black-backed Gulls
   6    Wood Pigeon
   7    Pied Wagtails
   2    Grey Wagtail
   9     Starlings
   1    Chaffinches
   2    Greenfinches
   1    Meadow Pipit
   1    Redwing
   2    Carrion Crows

Certainly a lot less Pied Wagtails and Black-headed Gulls going to roost since last week. But an amazing increase in Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading north to Cotswold Water Park. A couple of nice birds recorded were Redwing and Meadow Pipit.

An Excellent Day Out

As a full time carer, its been quite difficult of late to get out of the house to do a good days birding. But with Dawn my fiancée at home today, I managed to take a day off and join Richard Williams on an excellent day out at Northwick Warth. We set off in the drizzle at around 9:00am which then got worse as we approached the Severn Estuary. However once parked up in New Passage Road, it started to ease off and in fact the whole day was pretty dry more or less with the odd light shower passing through.

We made our way onto the Severn Way just northwest of where we parked the car and headed north up the path to where The Pill flows out into the River Severn (Here). The tide was just turning as we got there at about 10:15am and a lot of waders were up on the fields. There were Curlew, Oystercatchers, Redshank, hundreds of Dunlin all milling around in the grass waiting for water to drop away.

The view is looking north with The Pill flowing out into the River Severn. Though not obvious in the photograph, the water close to the bank centre of picture was full of Wigeon, Teal and a few Shoveler.

On the fields here there were a few Canada Geese and a lone dark-bellied Brent Goose, which was left there when all the geese decided to have a swim in the estuary. Other birds on the grassland were a single Little Egret that just about popped every where we went, 20+ Lapwing, lots of Pied Wagtails, dozens of Meadow Pipits and 70+ Starlings.

Good numbers of Canada Geese

And the wandering Little Egret that covered most of this area as we walked up the estuary and back.

The dark-bellied Brent Goose, seemed very happy to graze alone, even when all the Canada Geese took off to go for a swim.

As we made our way up to the sluice gate a Water Rail called out but try as we could we couldn't locate. And then we came across a really bizarre incident involving a Mistle Thrush dive bombing a pair Redshank. Every time they tried to land on the bank he would take off and chase them. Eventually they flew off and the Mistle Thrush flew up onto a fence post, before flying off with his mate in the opposite direction. As we walked over the sluice we came across a Grey Heron waiting patiently by a small pool for his meal and then out of nowhere a Kingfisher flew across the pool over the path in front of us and down The Pill, before disappearing up towards another smaller sluice.

A Grey Heron waits for his meal to come to him.

The Severn Way then bisects the Pilning Wetland on you right and New Passage & Northwick Warth on your left. The pools of Pilning (Here) had a few Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Black-headed Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, Mallard a pair of Gadwall, plus a pair of Coot and several Moorhens. In the reedbeds there were at least 2 Water Rail squealing away.

One of a couple of shelters along this stretch, which came in handy with the rain coming down. This one overlooked Northwick Warth.

We decided to walk on another half mile or so through a couple more gates and see if there were any Merlin's or Short-eared Owls about. To cut a long story short we failed. Whether it was the wrong weather conditions I dont know, but there were certainly none around today. However the hedgerows proved quite interesting with Goldcrest, Redwing, and both Blackbird and Song Thrush in sub-song. A LBJ caught my eye and a Stonechat landed on the brambles up in front of us (Here), before disappearing over the hedge. Fortunately when we back tracked, having reached the second gate and not seen anything else to add to our list, the Stonechat gave a star performance and gave me a few poses to photograph. A quick "chat" alerted me to a Blackcap, but it neither showed itself or called again. Likewise with a Fieldfare that called just once.

A male Stonechat

A slightly different pose

And the reason he was dipping and looking anxious was because the "local" Robin was not happy about his presence in his hedge.

 As we headed back towards the car we could see really good numbers of waders in flight and then disappearing below the fields and back up again, before alighting on the mud flats. By the time we got back to the mouth of The Pill, the tide had dropped an incredible amount and the whole length of the beach was covered in waders, ducks and a few gulls.

Just a few of the waders in flight..........

Mainly Dunlin and a few Redshank and at least 2 Turnstones in amongst them.

The tide drops to reveal the beach and mud flats, covered in waders.

Before we left Northwick Warth we also recorded 3 Chiffchaff and a few Bullfinches. There was a Kestrel sat in a tree, which spotted something in the grass, dived down onto it and wasn't seen again. However it must have caught something as the local Magpies were trying to get in on the action. Apart from the Short-eared Owl and Merlin that we missed out on, the only other bird we thought might come across was a Black-tailed Godwit, unfortunately that eluded us as well.

Once back at the car we headed off to Severn Beach for lunch and then a walk along the promenade. This stretch is in complete contrast to Northwick Warth and alas there wasn't that much to see, though we did see at least 5 Curlew, 6 Shelduck, a Grey Heron and a few gulls.

As the light was fading we decided to call it a day and retraced our journey back, driving back along Passage Road in the hope of a Short-eared Owl. Unfortunately yet again we drew a blank. However after recording 55 species throughout the day I don't think either of us minded that much, especially when we expected the weather to be a lot worse than it was. All in we had an excellent day and I would like to say a big thank you to Richard for taking me to an excellent bird watching spot. I will be coming back that's for sure. Thank you Richard.

Bird species recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, Canada Geese, Greylag Goose, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, lots of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, at least 3 Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, 20+ Lapwing, dozens of Curlew, lots of Redshank, at least 2 Turnstones, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, lots of Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Stonechat, Blackbird, possibly 1 Fieldfare heard calling, Redwing, Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, possible Blackcap calling, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 70+ Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch.

A Chilly Lagoon

With a little bit of time to myself, I managed a quick trip to Liden Lagoon around 4:00pm, just as the sun was setting. I think I made it just in time as it was quite surprising how dark it got once the sun dipped below the horizon.

The Swans were the first to greet me and were quickly followed by a few Canada Geese and Mallard. The Swans have obviously grown to associate humans with free handouts, which unfortunately was the undoing of the cob, when it was killed by two dogs back in July. The juvenile Swans are doing really well now and you can just see the white feathers coming through.

The pen and her 3 offspring seemed to be doing well, and are certainly unafraid of approaching humans.

My walks are always clockwise around the lagoon and from the car park close to Barnmoor Close, I headed off past the Swans towards the A419 and at the overflow I heard a bird I've not come across for awhile and it was a Coal Tit. It was also here that I had a great view of the sun going down over the water, and as I found out a bit further along the east bank, it was getting quite dark that I needed my Flash to photograph two Shaggy Ink Caps, Coprinus comatus in the undergrowth.

From the northeast corner where the water flows out of the lagoon, the sun just dropping away behind the trees.

A pair of Shaggy Ink Caps in the undergrowth.

Before long these two will autodigest and as they deliquesce, the tightly packed gills separate and curl back, allowing spores to float out into the air. The end result is a black gooey mess. If I remember I will try and go back in a few days and have a look at the aftermath.

As I got down to the southern end of the lagoon a Sparrowhawk was dive bombing a Carrion Crow. Normally it's the other way round. When it got really close it veered off and landed in a tree whilst the Crow just carried on its way. Really bizarre! By the time I got to the tree the Sparrowhawk was also gone.

At this end of the Lagoon there were a good 20 or so Canada Geese, a few Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. The Tufted Duck were more or less between the two islands and as I started to count them, it was quite apparent that their numbers were well down from my last visit, with just 20 birds. However as I looked back up the water there was another big party of 20 birds, so 40+ wasn't too bad.

Tufted Duck, one of just over 40 on the Lagoon.

A Grey Heron flew over the lake and was being harassed by a Carrion Crow, later I came across it by the overflow, but taking a photo of it in the darkness was never going to happen.

A Grey Heron is silhouetted against the darkening skies...

He's not alone as this Carrion Crow is fast catching him up

And then follows the Heron down to the waters edge.

From the start to finish of my walk it was quite noticeable that a lot of Pied Wagtails were heading off to roost towards the North West. In fact I would say that there was a good 40+ that passed overhead. Other highlights were a Bullfinch calling from the south island, and Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits heading off to roosts in the hedgerows.

And then finally the moon came up over to the east and with the Swans in the foreground and the light really fading, I left the Lagoon to the wildlife.

The moon comes up as the Swans carry on patrolling the water.

Almost a Full Moon. Tomorrow night it will be a Full Moon and will known as the “Beaver Moon” or the “Frosty Moon.” It rises around sunset and sets around sunrise; this is the only night in the month when the moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky. More on this Here

Birds recorded: Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 21 Canada Goose, Mallard, 40+ Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, 15 Black-headed Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 40+ Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Bullfinch.

And Another Roost Watch

From last night there wasn't a lot of difference with the bird counts. The exceptions being low counts of  Wood Pigeons and finches. Included in the counts Magpies, as there were a few flying around tonight.

The noticeable difference was the temperature again and the wind. The outdoor thermometer was reading 7.9°C and there was a chilly northerly wind which made it feel even colder. Yesterday evening there were clear skies but today there was 90% cloud cover.

Observations started at 4:13pm with the last bird recorded at 4:49pm.

South is towards Coate Water
East is towards Patheon (Pharmaceutical company, Dorcan Way)
West towards Greenbridge
North towards Cotswold Water Park

Time                  Number                  Species                              Direction Heading

4:13pm                    22                     Starlings                                 Local birds roosting
                                2                      Pied Wagtails                         Local birds
                                1                      Magpie                                   East

4:14pm                     2                      Black-headed Gulls                 North
                                2                      Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North
                                2                      Jackdaws                               South

4:15pm                     3                       Pied Wagtails                         West
                              12                       Black-headed Gulls                 North

4:16pm                    16                      Starlings                                 East
                                 1                      Wood Pigeon                          South

4:17pm                      3                       Jackdaws                               South

4:18pm                      3                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North

4:19pm                      2                       Jackdaws                               North
                                 3                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North

4:20pm                     13                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North

4:21pm                       2                       Pied Wagtails                         North

4:22pm                       1                       Starling                                  West
                                  1                       Lesser Black-backed Gull        North

4:25pm                       1                       Pied Wagtail                           West
                                  1                       Pied Wagtail                           East
                                  1                       Magpie                                   East
                                  4                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North
                                  1                       Chaffinch                                North

4:26pm                       4                      Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:27pm                       2                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:28pm                       3                       Pied Wagtails                          West
                                  2                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:29pm                       6                       Pied Wagtails                           West
                                  1                       Grey Wagtail                            West

4:30pm                       1                       Magpie                                    South
                                  8                       Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North
                                  5                       Wood Pigeons                         South

4:35pm                       1                       Greenfinch                               West

4:38pm                       2                       Lesser Black-backed Gull         North

4:41pm                       2                       Pied Wagtails                           West

4:44pm                       1                       Starling                                    East

4:46pm                       3                       Magpies                                   South

4:47pm                       1                       Lesser Black-backed Gull          East

4:49pm                       2                       Jackdaw                                   West


Totals:

   14   Black-headed Gulls
   45   Lesser Black-backed Gulls
     6   Wood Pigeon
   20   Pied Wagtails
    1    Grey Wagtail
    9    Jackdaws
    6    Magpies
  40    Starlings
    1    Chaffinch
    1    Greenfinch

Main changes from last night: Lesser Black-backed Gulls up, Wood Pigeon down, Pied Wagtails down, Jackdaws up, Starlings up and finches well down. Of interest the/a Grey Wagtail flew over the house exactly the same time as yesterday evening at 4:29pm.

More Roost News

A very different evening here in Nythe, with clear skies and a noticeable drop in temperature. I was out a bit earlier and recorded plenty of birds though very few Pied Wagtails.

Observations made between 4:10pm and 4:46pm

South is towards Coate Water
East is towards Patheon (Pharmaceutical company, Dorcan Way)
West towards Greenbridge
North towards Cotswold Water Park

Time                  Number                  Species                              Direction Heading

4:10pm                    3                         Starlings                                 West
                               4                         Black-headed Gulls                 West

4:11pm                     3                        Chaffinches                             North

4:12pm                     3                        Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North
                                1                        Chaffinch                                North

4:14pm                     1                         Starling                                  North

4:15pm                     5                         Wood Pigeons                         South
                                2                         Pied Wagtails                          Local birds calling
                                3                         Black-headed Gulls                  North

4:18pm                     2                         Wood Pigeons                         South

4:19pm                     6                         Wood Pigeons                         South
                                2                         Jackdaws                               South

4:21pm                     2                         Chaffinches                              West

4:23pm                     2                         Greenfinches                            West
                                4                         Wood Pigeons                         South

4:25pm                     4                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls       West

4:26pm                     2                         Greenfinches                           West

4:27pm                     6                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:28pm                   25                         Starlings                                  West

4:30pm                    6                          Black-headed Gulls                   North

4:31pm                    5                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North
                               1                          Grey Wagtail                            West

4:32pm                     2                          Pied Wagtails                          West
                                5                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:35pm                     8                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:39pm                     3                          Pied Wagtails                          West

4:40pm                     7                          Pied Wagtails                          West

4:41pm                     2                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North
                                1                          Blackbird                                 Local

4:45pm                     2                          Wood Pigeons                         South

4:46pm                     2                          Pied Wagtails                           West


Totals:

   13   Black-headed Gulls
   33   Lesser Black-backed Gulls
  19    Wood Pigeon
  16    Pied Wagtails
    1    Grey Wagtail
    1    Blackbird
    2    Jackdaw
  29    Starlings
    6    Chaffinches
    4    Greenfinches

Herrings and Mussels

Having not been to Liden Lagoon for awhile, I thought I'd have a look and see what had happened to all that blanket weed that had covered almost the whole lagoon back in the Summer. I'm pleased to say it's all gone and having spoken to an angler fishing on the far bank, it hadn't effected the fishing, as he'd had a nice Bream in his keepnet.

At long last a weed-free lagoon

Around by the bungalows there was more evidence of Bryony in fruit and down by outlet there were a couple Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)  in berry as well.

A good crop of Guelder Rose fruit

Surprisingly there were no Grey Herons around the pool and there were very few Moorhen. Coot were just about everywhere and there were good numbers of Mallard. There were quite a few Tufted Duck with a lot of juveniles, which is always confusing, as at this age as you can never really tell if they are male or female. Counting them was hard enough anyway as they kept diving. In the end I was counting ripples as they dived. Eventually I came up with 52, though there could quite easily have been 60.

There were a few males that I could see in amongst the 50+ tufties.

The pen Mute Swan was with her 3 juveniles and seemed to be getting on okay, despite the fact that the cob died from its horrific injuries after two men let their dogs maul it to bits at the beginning of August. It will be interesting to see whether she chases the youngsters off or if another male arrives and starts courting her, drives them off himself.

An interesting observation today was watching a Herring Gull by the south island. Every now and then it would fly up and drop vertically into the water, before popping up to the surface with a Swan Mussel. The first time it did it, it brought up a stone. So it dropped it, paddled a few feet and then spotted a proper Mussel and did the same again. It flew up and dived down to get one. This time it got a good sized one and after paddling a few feet, took off, before landing on the rocks; where it dropped the Mussel, presumably to crack it. Unfortunately the Mussel bounced off the rock and into the water. As it thought about retrieving it, another adult Herring Gull landed on the rock next to it and the Mussel was forgotten about.

Having flown up and dived down to get a Swan Mussel, this Herring Gull realises it has a stone......

And releases it back into the water.............

So its up off the water............

And a vertical dive bomb down for another go.........

And up with the real thing............

A few paddles..........

And a few more, before taking off and.................

And landing on the rock.............

A quick look round before dropping it. Unfortunately it bounced straight into water.

As its mate lands to see what's going on, the Swan Mussel is forgotten about and sits a good 50 metres from where it was sitting quietly a few minutes earlier.

Birds Recorded: 4 Mute Swan (adult + 3 juv), 48+ Canada Geese, Mallard, 52+ Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, 80+ Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. Oh and a Swan Mussel