Saltwells 2005
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Saltwells 2005 |
| This is a list of the 82 species of birds I saw at Saltwells LNR and
Netherton Reservoir during my 134 visits in 2005. There were fewer spring migrants this year,
probably due to the cold weather in April.
Mute Swan (100) - Although a pair was present on the reservoir throughout
the year there was no attempt at breeding. Greylag Goose (1) - three flew over the reservoir on March 25th. Canada Goose (69) - Two pairs bred on the canal between the reservoir and Saltwells Bridge. Teal (32) - Monthly maxima at Mushroom Green Marsh were January - 16, February - 11, March - 6, April - 1, November - 3 and December - 4. Mallard (134) - Bred on the canal, with the first brood seen on April 23rd. Peak count on the reservoir of 70 on December 29th. Garganey (1) - A male on the reservoir on April 2nd. Shoveler (2) - A female on the reservoir on November 14th, with another on December 9th. Pochard (2) - Two males and a female on the reservoir on November 14th, with a female on December 9th. Tufted Duck (49) - Seen regularly on the reservoir from the start of the year until the middle of March, and then only occasionally until September, when it became more regular. Peak count of 14 on February 9th and 11th. Little Grebe (57) - Up to three birds seen occasionally on the reservoir from the start of the year to March 28th, and up to six birds seen from November 7th to the end of the year. Singles on August 2nd and September 3rd. Great Crested Grebe (115) - a pair bred on the reservoir, with two juveniles seen on July 16th. Maximum of 10 on March 11th. Cormorant (2) - one on the reservoir on July 1st, with one flying over the reserve on April 3rd. Grey Heron (44) - Up to three birds present in the area throughout the year. Sparrowhawk (23) - Present throughout the year, with two displaying on March 25th. Buzzard (13) - A pair were present in the wood in April, but did not breed. Four soaring over the hill on March 24th. Kestrel (19) - A single bird seen hunting on the hill throughout the year. Water Rail (2) - One at Mushroom Green Marsh on November 25th and December 9th. Moorhen (124) - Bred along the canal, with chicks first seen on May 11th. Peak count of 10 on November 26th. Coot (134) - Bred along the canal and on the reservoir, with the first juveniles seen on May 26th. Peak count of 67 on the reservoir on December 24th. Lapwing (1) - Three flying over on March 27th. Common Snipe (2) - One on the pools at the foot of Netherton Hill on December 28th, with 2 on the 31st. Common Sandpiper (1) - Five on the reservoir on July 13th. Black-headed Gull (89) - Present until March 18th, with three on May 5th. The first bird returned on June 13th. Peak count of 380 on the reservoir on December 29th. Common Gull (1) - One on the reservoir on August 2nd. Lesser Black-backed Gull (119) - Seen in every month. Peak count of 222 on January 12th. Herring Gull (38) - Seen on the reservoir in small numbers from January to May, and from October to December. Peak count of 22 on January 12th. Great Black-backed Gull (1) - One on the reservoir on January 12th. Common Tern (1) - Two on the reservoir on July 11th. Stock Dove (51) - Bred in Saltwells Wood. Present throughout the year. Woodpigeon (134) - Bred in Saltwells Wood, where it continued to roost in large numbers. Collared Dove (99) - Breeding resident. Tawny Owl (1) - one calling in the wood on June 16th. Swift (37) - First bird seen on April 26th with the last on August 16th. Peak count of 20 on June 13th. Kingfisher (13) - None in the first half of the year. One on several dates from July 13th to the end of the year, with two on November 21st. Green Woodpecker (31) - Presumably bred in Saltwells Wood. First juvenile seen on July 5th. Great Spotted Woodpecker (29) - At least one nest in Saltwells Wood. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1) - A male on Netherton Hill on August 30th. Skylark (2) - Two flew over Netherton Hill on March 28th, with one on the hill on September 3rd. Sand Martin (2) - One over Netherton Hill on March 28th. Two over the reservoir on April 28th. Swallow (10) - one on April 11th was the first of the year, with four on the 28th. A single bird on September 3rd was the last of the year. House Martin (19) - one on April 15th was the first for the year, with a peak count of 20 on April 28th. Meadow Pipit (2) - one on Netherton Hill on March 19th, with eight on the 26th. Grey Wagtail (17) - the single bird present on Blackbrook at the end of the previous year remained until March 9th. A single bird on the canal in September and November. Pied Wagtail (19) - one seen with nesting material in April, probably nesting on the adjacent industrial estate. Wren (120) - common resident, with the first juvenile seen on June 13th. Fourteen singing on April 9th. Dunnock (96) - common resident, especially in the gorse on Netherton Hill. Three singing on March 20th. Robin (126) - common resident, with the first juvenile seen on June 13th. Thirteen singing on April 14th. Wheatear (1) - two on Netherton Hill on 12th September. Blackbird (130) - common resident. First juvenile on May 18th. Fieldfare (2) - three on January 3rd, and two on November 14th. Song Thrush (46) - resident, most commonly seen on Netherton Hill, where four were singing on April 30th. Redwing (27) - common in the first winter period, with a maximum of 24 on March 16th. Only seen on two dates in the second winter period. Mistle Thrush (56) - Peak count of 22 birds on Netherton Hill on November 7th. Reed Warbler (8) - one singing in the reedbed in May, with two singing on the 19th. Blackcap (31) - first of the year singing on March 28th, with two singing throughout April and May. Last seen were four on September 5th. Lesser Whitethroat (12) - first of the year singing on April 26th. A single bird singing on Netherton Hill until July. Last seen on September 5th. Common Whitethroat (25) - first of the year singing on April 28th, with only two birds heard singing on Netherton Hill in May and June. Chiffchaff (61) - first singing on March 20th. Peak count of five singing on April 21st. Willow Warbler (32) - first heard singing on April 2nd, with a peak count of three on April 21st. Three birds sang throughout May. Goldcrest (65) - seen regularly throughout the year. Three singing in the wood on April 3rd. An adult with a juvenile in the wood on July 8th. Spotted Flycatcher (1) - a single bird seen on August 28th. Long-Tailed Tit (108) - common resident, with the first juveniles seen on May 22nd. Maximum of 15 in the wood on December 12th. Willow Tit (6) - At least one pair resident on Netherton Hill throughout the year and could often be heard calling from the gorse. Coal Tit (21) - At least one pair resident in Saltwells Wood throughout the year. Blue Tit (128) - common resident. Great Tit (120) - common resident, with first juvenile seen on June 6th. Nuthatch (22) - at least one nest in Saltwells Wood. Treecreeper (7) - resident in Saltwells Wood. Adult with food on May 26th. Jay (59) - seen regularly in Saltwells Wood. Magpie (133) - common resident. Jackdaw (14) - up to four birds seen flying over occasionally. Rook (5) - a single bird was seen occasionally on an adjacent housing estate. Three over on March 22nd. Carrion Crow (129) - at least one pair bred in the area. Raven (1) - One over Netherton Hill on March 12th. Starling (97) - continues to breed on the surrounding housing estates, often visiting the cricket pitch to feed. House Sparrow (105) - continues to breed on surrounding housing estates. Chaffinch (107) - seen regularly throughout the year, with a continued increase in sightings during the breeding period. Four singing on April 13th. Greenfinch (92) - three birds singing on Netherton Hill in March and April. Peak count of eight on December 28th. Goldfinch (19) - Eighteen on August 28th on Netherton Hill. Siskin (1) - eight on December 11th on Cinder Bank. Linnet (33) - Present on Netherton Hill in the breeding season. Maximium of ten on May 12th. Bullfinch (43) - Present throughout the year. First juvenile seen on July 18th. Maximum of six on February 2nd. Reed Bunting (19) - First of the spring was one singing in the reedbed on April 3rd, with two there on the 9th with a pair at Primrose bridge. A pair with nesting material in the reedbed on May 24th.
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