Saltwells 2004
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Saltwells 2004 |
| This is a list of the 84 species of birds I saw at Saltwells LNR and
Netherton Reservoir during my 177 visits in 2004.
Little Grebe (46) - Up to three birds seen occasionally on the
reservoir from the start of the year to April 17th, and from September 19th to the end
of the year. One on July 22nd. Great Crested Grebe (172) - Three pairs bred successfully on the reservoir. One pair bred early, with chicks on May 19th, and two pairs bred late, one with a chick on August 13th and the other pair with a chick on September 15th. Peak count of eleven on March 18th. Cormorant (5) - one on the reservoir on March 2nd, two on March 3rd, one on April 6th, one on April 7th, two on September 24th. Grey Heron (70) - Seen in every month of the year. Some observers claimed a pair had bred at Daphne Pool. Mute Swan (167) - The year began with no pairs present at the reservoir, although a pair formed (darvic) no attempt at breeding. Canada Goose (72) - Two pairs bred on the canal between the reservoir and Saltwells Bridge. Peak count on the reservoir of 18 on June 11th. Wigeon (2) - Two on the reservoir on October 10th, with one on November 12th. Teal (17) - a pair on the reservoir on March 1st, with two on September 2nd. Present at Mushroom Green Marsh from December 4th to the end of the year, with a maximum of 21 on December 24th. Mallard (177) - Bred on the canal, with the first brood seen on May 9th. Peak count on the reservoir of 60 on August 13th. Shoveler (2) - Two males and a female on the reservoir on January 29th, and a single female on March 2nd. Pochard (4) - Three males on the reservoir on October 27th, with two on October 30th, November 11th and 12th. Tufted Duck (79) - Seen regularly on the reservoir from the start of the year until the middle of April, and then only occasionally until September, when it became more regular. Peak count of 41 on January 30th. Goldeneye (1) - One female on the reservoir on November 22nd. Sparrowhawk (41) - Present throughout the year, with breeding apparently occuring in the claypit area. Buzzard (12) - Seen on single dates in February, March, May, August and December, two dates in September and five dates in October, all single birds. Kestrel (11) - A maximum of three seen on several occasions in late September and early October. Otherwise scarce. Peregrine (1) - One over Netherton Hill on April 2nd. Water Rail (2) - One on the frozen canal adjacent to the reservoir on March 1st. Two at Mushroom Green Marsh on December 9th. Moorhen (164) - Bred along the canal, with chicks first seen on June 16th. Also nested at Daphne Pool and in the reedbed. Peak count of 15 on December 19th. Coot (177) - Bred along the canal and on the reservoir, with the first juveniles seen on May 8th. Peak count of 59 on the reservoir on January 11th. Common Snipe (3) - One on the pools at the foot of Netherton Hill on April 30th, May 1st and December 26th. Common Sandpiper (5) - Four on the reservoir on April 24th, one on April 26th and April 30th, three on July 1st and one on July 6th. Black-headed Gull (133) - Present until March 19th, with single birds on April 2nd and May 8th. The first bird returned on June 28th. Peak count of 400 on the reservoir on March 2nd. Lesser Black-backed Gull (145) - Seen in every month. Peak count of 186 on November 12th. Adult seen catching and eating a Coot chick on the reservoir on July 13th. Herring Gull (30) - Seen on seven occasions in the first winter period, and 23 occasions in the second winter period. Peak count of 11 on December 24th. Common Tern (4) - One on the reservoir on July 20th, two on July 27th, two on August 12th and one on August 13th. Stock Dove (39) - Bred in Saltwells Wood. Seen in every month. Woodpigeon (177) - Bred in Saltwells Wood, where it continued to roost in large numbers. Collared Dove (145) - Breeding resident. Swift (61) - First bird seen on April 27th with the last on September 3rd. Peak count of 25 on April 28th. Kingfisher (16) - None in the first half of the year. One on several dates from July 6th to September 16th, with two on three dates in August. Green Woodpecker (24) - At least one nest in Saltwells Wood. First juvenile seen on July 7th. Great Spotted Woodpecker (28) - Presumably bred in Saltwells Wood. Skylark (1) - Two flew over Netherton Hill on October 8th. Sand Martin (8) - Five over the reservoir on March 18th. Up to four over the reservoir on seven dates between April 17th and 30th. Swallow (19) - eight on April 17th were the first of the year, with 20 on the 30th. A single bird on October 12th was the last of the year. House Martin (49) - six on April 17th were the first for the year, with a peak count of 30 on May 8th. Regularly seen throughout the summer, suggesting increased local breeding. Fourteen on September 19th were the last of the year. Meadow Pipit (15) - one on Netherton Hill on June 30th. Seen on fourteen dates between September 17th and October 16th, with a maximum of 10 on October 6th and 12th. Grey Wagtail (16) - a single bird was seen on three occasions in February. One on July 15th. Seen on twelve occasions from September 24th to the end of the year. Pied Wagtail (10) - seen on one date in August, November and December, and seven dates in October. Wren (148) - common resident, with the first juveniles seen on June 8th. Eight singing on June 27th. Dunnock (125) - common resident, especially in the gorse on Netherton Hill. First juvenile seen on May 17th. Four singing on April 6th. Robin (162) - common resident, with the first juvenile seen on May 9th. Five singing on May 27th. Whinchat (2) - a male on Netherton Hill on 28th and 29th April. Wheatear (10) - a good spring passage, with 3 on Netherton Hill on April 17th, one on 25th and 26th, 3 on 27th, 2 on 28th to 30th and one on May 1st. In the autumn, single birds on 27th August and 18th September. Blackbird (163) - common resident. Fieldfare (6) - seen on two dates in January. First returning birds were fifteen on October 26th with a peak count of 20 on October 30th. Song Thrush (66) - resident, most commonly seen on Netherton Hill, where three were singing on March 27th. Redwing (25) - in the first winter period only seen on March 17th. The first returning birds were ten on October 8th, with a peak count of thirty on the 30th. Mistle Thrush (45) - Peak count of fourteen birds on Netherton Hill on September 25th. Sedge Warbler (7) - One singing on Netherton Hill in April and May. Reed Warbler (6) - one singing in the reedbed in May. An adult and two juveniles in the reedbed on August 22nd. Lesser Whitethroat (15) - first of the year singing on April 29th. Four heard singing on Netherton Hill on May 8th. An adult with two juveniles on July 13th. Whitethroat (33) - first of the year were two singing on the hill on April 24th, with five in song on June 19th. An adult with two juveniles on June 19th. Last seen on September 5th. Garden Warbler (2) - Single birds on 12th and 22nd August. Blackcap (52) - a female along the canal on February 9th. First singing bird of the year on April 7th, with five singing on May 11th. First juvenile seen on June 27th. A pair on Netherton Hill on October 31st, and a male at Mushroom Green on December 7th and 8th. Chiffchaff (87) - first singing on March 17th, with the last on October 8th. Peak count of seven singing on June 27th. Willow Warbler (29) - first heard singing on April 5th, with a peak count of four on April 17th. Two birds sang throughout May. Goldcrest (50) - only seen on five occasions in the first winter period. An adult with three juveniles in the wood on June 11th. Seen regularly in the second winter period. Spotted Flycatcher (4) - Single birds seen on May 9th and 12th, August 19th and September 5th. Long-Tailed Tit (141) - common resident, with the first juveniles seen on May 7th. Maximum of 18 in the reedbed on September 15th. Willow Tit (16) - At least one pair resident on Netherton Hill throughout the year and could often be heard calling from the gorse. One seen carrying food on May 15th, with an adult and two juveniles seen on June 8th. Coal Tit (33) - At least one pair resident in Saltwells Wood throughout the year. Blue Tit (174) - common resident, with first juveniles seen on June 7th. Great Tit (163) - common resident, with first juveniles seen on May 21st. Nuthatch (15) - resident in Saltwells Wood, with one seen carrying food on June 8th. An adult with a juvenile on June 16th. Treecreeper (14) - resident in Saltwells Wood. Two on August 3rd. Jay (71) - seen regularly in Saltwells Wood, especially from September to November. Maximum of 6 on October 8th. Magpie (177) - common resident. Peak count of 31 on Cinder Bank on January 25th. Jackdaw (10) - one or two birds seen flying over occasionally. Rook (6) - a single bird was seen occasionally on an adjacent housing estate. Two on July 19th. Carrion Crow (151) - at least one pair bred in the area, with a peak count of 10 on October 20th. Raven (1) - One over Netherton Hill on March 18th. Starling (142) - continues to breed on the surrounding housing estates, often visiting the cricket pitch to feed. Peak count of 70 on October 20th. House Sparrow (149) - continues to breed on surrounding housing estates. First juvenile seen on May 17th Chaffinch (107) - seen regularly throughout the year, with an increase in sightings during the breeding period compared to recent years. An adult with two juveniles in the wood on June 11th. Brambling (2) - singles in Saltwells Wood on February 25th and March 1st. Greenfinch (97) - three birds singing on Netherton Hill in March and April, with the first juveniles seen on June 10th. Peak count of nine on October 8th. Goldfinch (22) - small groups feeding on Netherton Hill in the autumn. Twelve on December 8th at Mushroom Green Marsh. Siskin (4) - seen on two dates in February and two dates in March. Maximum of eight on March 18th in Saltwells Wood. Linnet (27) - Present on Netherton Hill in the breeding season. Maximium of eight on April 17th. Lesser Redpoll (3) - Seen on single dates in January, February and April, with a maximum of 25 on Netherton Hill on April 2nd. Bullfinch (45) - There appeared to be at least two pairs present during the year. First juvenile seen on July 6th. Maximum of seven on December 19th. Reed Bunting (18) - A single bird was seen on two dates in January on Cinder Bank. First of the spring was one singing in the reedbed on April 7th. An adult with a juvenile on August 8th.
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