Saltwells 2008
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Saltwells 2008 |
| This is a list of the 78 species of birds I saw at Saltwells LNR and
Netherton Reservoir during my 104 visits in 2008.
Mute Swan (31) - no evidence of breeding in the year. Canada Goose (28) - no sign of any breeding on the canal this year. Peak count of 20 on the reservoir on February 12th. Gadwall (1) - a male on the reservoir on May 23rd. Teal (15) - Monthly maxima at Mushroom Green Marsh were January - 5, February - 3, March - 2, November - 5 and December - 4. Mallard (102) - Bred on the canal, with the first brood seen on May 10th. Peak count on the reservoir of 58 on July 25th. Shoveler (2) - A male on the reservoir on February 15th, with two females there on December 31st. Pochard (4) - A male and two females on the reservoir on February 19th, four there on December 8th, a male on December 11th, and three males on December 16th. Tufted Duck (38) - Seen on the reservoir in every month apart from January and June. Peak count of 66 on December 12th. Goldeneye (1) - A male on the reservoir on December 11th. Little Grebe (56) - Up to six birds seen occasionally on the reservoir from the start of the year to April 21st, and up to six birds seen from September 9th to the end of the year. Great Crested Grebe (60) - A pair bred on the reservoir, with 2 juveniles seen on July 16th. Cormorant (4) - A single bird on the reservoir on December 8th and 9th, with two there on the 11th and 12th. Grey Heron (30) - Present in the area throughout the year, with a maximum of four on January 1st. Sparrowhawk (20) - Present throughout the year. Buzzard (32) - Seen throughout the year, with a pair present in the wood in March and April. Kestrel (23) - A pair seen mating on march 25th. Water Rail (1) - One on the frozen canal on December 31st. Moorhen (92) - Bred along the canal, with chicks first seen on May 13th. Peak count of 16 on November 29th. Coot (100) - Bred along the canal, on the reservoir (seven nests) and at Daphne Pool, with the first juvenile seen on April 20th. Peak count of 51 on the reservoir on November 30th. Common Snipe (1) - one on the pools at the foot of Netherton Hill on March 7th. Common Sandpiper (2) - One on the reservoir on April 26th and May 3rd. Black-headed Gull (103) - Present until April 1st. The first bird returned on July 1st. Peak count of 400 on the reservoir on February 1st. Common Gull (1) - One on the reservoir on January 8th. Lesser Black-backed Gull (94) - Seen in every month. Peak count of 480 on February 1st. Herring Gull (61) - Seen on the reservoir in small numbers in every month. Peak count of 29 on January 14th. Common Tern (2) - One on the reservoir on July 15th and 25th. Stock Dove (32) - Bred in Saltwells Wood. Present throughout the year. Woodpigeon (104) - Bred in Saltwells Wood. Collared Dove (18) - Breeding resident. Tawny Owl (1) - A single bird seen in the wood on June 1st. Swift (17) - First bird seen on May 10th with the last on August 24th. Peak count of 30 on August 24th. Kingfisher (7) - A single bird on February 6th. One on six dates from November 14th to December 15th. Green Woodpecker (24) - Presumably bred in Saltwells Wood. Great Spotted Woodpecker (25) - At least two nests in Saltwells Wood. Juveniles seen on JUne 1st. Sand Martin (3) - seen on three dates in April. Swallow (9) - one on April 17th were the first of the year, with a peak count of six on April 20th. One on August 24th was the last of the year. House Martin (6) - Two on April 21st were the first for the year, with a peak count of 50 on August 31st, which were also the last of the year. Meadow Pipit (12) - first of the year was one on Netherton Hill on March 11th, with ten on April 4th. Seen on eight dates between September 16th and October 15th, with a maximum of 10 on September 21st. Grey Wagtail (15) - one by the reservoir on February 15th and March 29th, and one in the wood on January 28th, February 12th and March 4th. In April, one by the reservoir on the 14th, 18th and 25th, with two on the canal on the 21st. In the autumn, one in the wood on September 23rd, November 28th, December 1st, 2nd, 15th and 22nd. Pied Wagtail (1) - one in Mushroom Green on November 14th. Wren (79) - common resident, with fifteen singing on April 4th. Dunnock (49) - common resident, with three singing on April 4th. Robin (92) - common resident, with the first juvenile seen on June 1st. Thirteen singing on April 4th. Stonechat (7) - In spring, three on Netherton Hill on March 16th. In autumn, two on September 26th, one on the 29th, three on October 14th, one on the 21st, one on November 7th and two on the 12th. Wheatear (5) - singles on Netherton Hill on April 18th and 23rd and May 2nd, with two April 21st and three on April 26th. Blackbird (92) - common resident. Fieldfare (1) - three on November 30th. Song Thrush (20) - resident. Four singing on the hill on June 1st. Redwing (9) - seen on one occasion in the first winter period, and eight in the second, with a maximum of 22 on Netherton Hill on December 13th. Mistle Thrush (28) - resident. Maximum of 10 on the cricket pitch on August 31st. Blackcap (14) - first of the year was one singing on April 12th. Last seen were two on September 21st. Lesser Whitethroat (7) - first of the year singing on May 1st, and heard singing on the hill until the middle of June. Common Whitethroat (14) - first of the year was one singing on April 23rd, with three birds heard singing on May 1st. Chiffchaff (38) - first of the year was one singing on April 1st. Maximum of five singing on May 2nd. Last of the year on Septemberr 24th. Willow Warbler (12) - first heard singing on April 20th. Up to three birds sang throughout May and the first half of June. Goldcrest (42) - seen regularly throughout the year. Two singing in the wood on April 4th. Long-Tailed Tit (70) - common resident, with first juvenile seen on June 1st. Maximum of ten on January 22nd. Willow Tit (1) - one visiting a feeding station on Cinder Bank on December 7th. Coal Tit (14) - At least one pair resident in Saltwells Wood throughout the year. Blue Tit (87) - common resident, with first juveniles seen on June 24th. Great Tit (83) - common resident. Juvenile seen on July 15th. Nuthatch (20) - at least one nest in Saltwells Wood. Treecreeper (15) - resident in Saltwells Wood. Jay (48) - seen regularly in Saltwells Wood. Magpie (104) - common resident. Jackdaw (3) - two on the hill on May 2nd, with four flying over on the 10th. Rook (1) - three flying over Mushroom Green on February 12th. Carrion Crow (89) - at least one pair bred in the area, nesting on a pylon. Starling (17) - continues to breed on the surrounding housing estates, often visiting the cricket pitch to feed, with sixty there on August 31st. House Sparrow (37) - continues to breed on surrounding housing estates. Chaffinch (61) - seen regularly throughout the year. Five singing on May 17th. Greenfinch (49) - three birds singing on Netherton Hill on May 17th. Peak count of eight on February 15th. Goldfinch (23) - only sightings during the breeding season was a pair on April 14th and one on May 1st. Maximum of six on November 11th. Siskin (2) - two in the wood on January 15th and March 7th. Linnet (14) - Present on Netherton Hill in the breeding season. Maximum of 10 on May 10th Lesser Redpoll (1) - a flock of about 25 seen at the southern end of the claypit on November 28th. Bullfinch (29) - At least one pair present in the breeding season. Juvenile seen on September 21st. Reed Bunting (6) - a male singing in the reedbed on five dates in May and June.
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