Saturday, 5 March 2011

Linacre Reservoir - 5th March 2011

Despite some very murky, overcast conditions I decided to have a couple of hours around Linacre this morning, just in case any summer migrants had come in. Unfortunately non had, but I did manage to get the first wildfowl counts of the month and hear drumming Great-spotted Woodpeckers and my first Grey Wagtail of the year.

Great-spotted Woodpecker


Waterfowl numbers were average for this time of the year with the following recorded: Mallard (43), Coot (14), Moorhen (14), Tufted Duck (20), Black-headed Gull (30), Great-crested Grebe (2), Little Grebe (2), Mandarin (12), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1) and Grey Wagtail (1).

The Great-crested Grebes were together on the middle reservoir, so hopefully they should breed here again. Other signs of breeding activity included singing by the Grey Wagtail, the Cormorant being in full summer plumage and the Mandarin flying around and disappearing into the woods west of the reservoirs where people tell me they nest.

Cormorant

The usual woodland birds were recorded again with singing from Great Tit, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Dunnock and Chaffinch. At least 4 Great-spotted Woodpeckers were chasing each other through the trees and at least 2 were drumming in the same area.

This month's WeBS walk takes place next Saturday (12th) at 8.30am in the lower car park, so here's hoping we can record our first Chiffchaffs!

No comments:

Post a Comment