Linacre WeBS - 14th December 2024

 Last weekend, I carried out the last Linacre WeBS count of 2024. It was, again, a very quiet affair with lower than average numbers of birds.

Birds seen were: Mallard (75), Mandarin Duck (21), Tufted Duck (6), Coot (1), Moorhen (10), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (1), Little Grebe (1) and Black-headed Gull (9).

There were a few other birds in and around the woods: Nuthatch, Siskin (heard), Buzzard, Jay, Blackbird, Dunnock and a nice flock of c15 Long-tailed Tits, around the top reservoir.

Linacre - 8th September 2024

 It rained hard last night, so I decided to have a look at Linacre this morning, on the off chance that something exciting had dropped in. Guess what...? It hadn't!!!

When I go there (9am) it was dry, so I set off up to the top reservoir. On arrival, I heard Grey Wagtail ( 4 were seen) and saw the first of 94 Mallards. I then spotted a Cormorant, that very quickly turned into 2, 3, 4 and 5 ( the highest count of the year)! 

Cormorants ( distant and in the pouring rain!)

Other birds seen, before it began to rain very heavily, were: Coot (2 adults), Moorhen (7 adults and 1 juvenile), Mandarin (42), wheeting Chiffchaffs and a single Swallow.

Linacre WeBS - August 2024

 I carried out this month's WeBS count at Linacre yesterday. As always at this time of the year, it was pretty quiet. Unfortunately, the top reservoir is still closed off, for repairs to the boardwalk, and the water levels are much lower than normal there. Despite searching, I couldn't locate any passage waders!

Counts for this month's survey were: Mallard (100; 99 adults and 1 duckling), Mandarin (22 birds), Coot (2 adults), Moorhen (14; 11 adults and 3 juveniles), Tufted Duck (18 adults, no sign of breeding this year), Grey Wagtail (2 juveniles), Grey Heron (1), Great-crested Grebe (2 adults) and Kingfisher (a minimum of 2 birds - 1 on the middle reservoir and 1 on the bottom reservoir, but there appeared to be a few flying around - possibly juvenile birds?).

There were still c50 Linnets in the field by the car park, along with 5 Stock Doves, a feral Pigeon, 10 Chaffinch and Goldfinch. A small flock of c15 House Martins were over the middle reservoir, and a single Common Buzzard was seen.

Just 1 butterfly was seen, a single Speckled Wood, in the farmer's field, by the car park.

Speckled Wood

Linacre Nestboxes -2024 Season

 Last Thursday, Jayne and I popped down to Linacre to ring the last chicks (pulli) of the 2024 season. As it turns out, contrary to many areas, the nestboxes have been very good this year, with a total of 192 pulli, 1 adult Mandarin and 1 adult Pied Flycatcher ringed.

By far the most numerous bird ringed this year was, as always, Blue Tit. In total, I ringed 20 broods, ranging from 3 - 10 birds, making a total of 132 birds (the highest number since 2018). All these nests have now fledged, and only 6 birds didn't fledge - a fledging rate of 95%, which is pretty good. The second most numerous species was Great Tit, with 6 broods of between 5-8 birds, totalling 43 birds. This time all birds fledged, so 100% success rate! The third tit species, was Coal Tit, with just 1 brood of 6 ringed. Again, all the brood fledged, so another 100% success rate! This was particularly nice, as this is only the third time this species has used the boxes, since they were put up in 2006! Last year's clutch were predated, so the previous successful nest was back in 2011. 1 Tawny Owl was also ringed. This box hasn't yet been checked, so I don't know if it has fledged yet. Likewise, the adult Mandarin Duck, and her clutch still need to be checked. The last species, Pied Flycatcher, has also had its most successful year to date. In total, 3 nests were discovered this year, 2 of which had chicks that could be ringed (2 broods of 5). The first young ringed have now fledged, and the second box will be checked again next week. The other brood was predated.

As always, all nests were monitored for the BTO's Nest Record Scheme, and all birds ringed, were done so, under BTO licence.

Linacre Nestboxes - 19th May 2024

 Last week's visit to Linacre was very successful, with 43 active nests found. I was back down again yesterday, and am very pleased to say that the nests were still going strong. In addition, I spotted a few butterfly species, including a new one for the year.

First up, the nestboxes. Last week, there were 2 Pied Flycatcher nests, but this week, it had increased to 3! One of last week's nests had increased the number of eggs to 7 (from 5), and the other two contained 5 and 4 eggs. The Wren's nest was still active as was the Coal Tit's. These chicks were old enough to ring (brood of 6) as was the first brood of Blue Tits (6). I'm particularly pleased with Coal Tits, as this is the first time this species has successfully nested in the boxes. As always, the results will be entered into the BTO's Nest Record Scheme.

After checking the boxes, I had a quick check for butterflies, and dropped lucky with 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 3 Silver Y moths and, best of all, a Painted Lady!

Painted Lady

There weren't many birds on the water (presumably still nesting), but I did record 2 broods (10 and 9) of Mandarin Ducks.

Linacre Update - 11th May 2024

 Yesterday morning I went down to Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count, and to catch up with the nestboxes.

The WeBS count was, as usual for May, quite quiet, with the following birds recorded: Mallard (46 birds; 32 adults and 14 ducklings - 4 broods of 5, 5, 3 and 1), Tufted Duck (4!), Grey Wagtail (2; 1 male and 1 female), Grey Heron (1), Coot (5 adults), Moorhen (4 adults) and Mandarin Duck (10).

The nestboxes, on the other hand, were much more exciting! I found our first full clutches Pied Flycatcher eggs of the year (2 nests, each containing 5 eggs). Another 2 singing males were also heard away from these boxes, so I'm keeping everything crossed for further nests. The Coal Tit and Wren nests were still going strong, and the first Blue Tit chicks of the year had hatched. In total, we now have 43 active nests on site - a very good year! Other birds recorded around the site were 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs and 1 singing Garden Warbler.

On Thursday, I was also on site, with Chloe, to ring the adult Mandarin Duck that is nesting on site. This year, we also added a colour ring, so hopefully, we'll get some more sightings of her.

Mandarin Duck "HA"

Last, but by no means least, I also managed to spot a few insects: 2 female Orange Tips, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Helophilus pendulus, 1 Common Carder Bumblebee, 1 Red-tailed Bumblebee and 1 Hairy Shieldbug.

Linacre - 2nd March 2024

 Yesterday saw me down at Linacre for my first visit of March. It was a chilly 3 degrees, with a mixture of rain and sleet, but the sight of the Mute Swan 6Y24, first found last week, warmed me up!!

The Mute Swan had moved from the middle reservoir, down on to the bottom reservoir, and, when I arrived, was having a lovely preen, showing off her darvic ring beautifully.

Mute Swan

A little later on, with the help of some more seed, she came up to the dam wall, where I grabbed a photo of her metal ring,W52824. Checking on the BTO website showed me that she was a second year bird, as thought,, having been ringed, as a juvenile, on 14th August 2023. Hopefully, she'll find Linacre to her liking, and hang around for a while.

Other birds seen were: Tufted Duck (21), Mallard (83), Mandarin Duck (20), Coot (7), Moorhen (11), Great-crested Grebe (2 - a pair on the middle reservoir), Little Grebe (1), Black-headed Gull (27), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 - the first record of 2024), Canada Goose (2 flew along the valley calling), Kingfisher (1 on the middle reservoir), c.50 Jackdaws, 1 Magpie, 2 singing Song Thrushes and singing Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blue, Coal and Great Tits.

Linacre Mega!!

 Yesterday (27th), I received a message from the volunteer rangers letting me know that there was a swan species on the middle reservoirs. Unfortunately, the bird was too distant to identify accurately, other than to say that it was a young bird, with grey feathers and a grey beak.

I managed to get down after work, and, luckily for me, the bird had moved much closer to the dam wall, allowing me to see that it was a juvenile (born last year) Mute Swan. This record is the first of this species since 2013!!!

Mute Swan 

The bird came closer still, with the help of some seed, and I noticed that it was ringed, with a yellow darvic ring, used by Sorby Breck Ringing Group! After many shots, I got a photo of the ring, 6Y24.

6Y24

After a little investigation, I found out that the bird, had been ringed at Frecheville, Sheffield, in August 2023. Hopefully, she'll continue to spend some time at Linacre.

Whilst on site, I also spotted 3 Goosander (1 male and 2 females), 6 Teal (4 males and 2 females), a pair of displaying Great-crested Grebe and 13 Mandarin Ducks.

Linacre WeBS - January 2024

 Last week (20th), I walked around Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count. 

After a week of very cold temperatures, the bottom reservoir was about 25% frozen, and there were some good numbers of birds: Mallard (145), Mandarin Duck (45), Moorhen (12), Coot (12), Grey Heron (2), Goosander (13; 8 males and 5 females), Teal (c.32), Cormorant (2), Grey Wagtail (1) and Tufted Duck (28).

Linacre 10th and 17th December 2023

 I've just realised that I didn't post details of last week's visit to Linacre , so today's post is going to cover that and today's WeBS count.

Last week's details are: 122 Mallards, 39 Mandarins, 32 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Tufted Ducks, 1 Cormorant, 8 Coots, 15 Moorhens, 2 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, c.20 Teal and 4 Goosanders (3 males and 1 female). Other birds seen/heard included Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Siskin, 4 Raven (my highest ever count) and, best of all, a flock of c.4-500 Jackdaws coming out of the roost on the middle reservoir - an amazing sight and sound!

Today's count also started with the Jackdaw roost (about 300ish birds). Water birds seen were: 117 Mallards, 62 Mandarins, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Tufted Ducks, 7 Coots, 16 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes and 6 Teal (4 males and 2 females).

Linacre - 2nd December 2023

 Last Saturday, I had a few hours down at Linacre. It was a relatively quiet walk, until the end, when I spotted 80 Teal on the middle reservoir! This is the highest count since January 2023, when 49 were seen.

Other birds seen were: 137 Mallard, 39 Mandarin Duck,  5 Tufted Duck, 18 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 33 Black-headed Gull, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Grey Wagtail.

Woodland birds seen were: Blue, Great and Coal Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Crow, Chaffinch, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. 

Linacre WeBS - 19th November 2023

 Today was the day for this month's WeBS walk around Linacre. I had a couple of hours, walking around all three reservoirs, recording just shy of 400 waterbirds of  9 species.

Counts were: Mallard (154), Mandarin Duck (153), Coot (10), Moorhen (19), Tufted Duck (47), Kingfisher (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (3) and Black-headed Gull (13).

Mandarin Ducks

Other birds seen/heard were: Raven (2), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Nuthatch, Wren, Robin, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit and Redwing.

Linacre - 5th November 2023

 I had my first visit of the new month to Linacre this morning. I spent a couple of hours walking around all three reservoirs, and recorded some good numbers of waterfowl.

Birds seen were: Mandarin Duck (170 - my highest count of the year so far, and my third highest ever), Mallard (119), Tufted Duck (67 - the highest count of the year), Moorhen (11), Coot (10), Black-headed Gull (22), Lesser Black-backed Gull (6 over), Goosander (3 females- the first of the winter), Grey Wagtail (1) and Pied Wagtail (1).

Pied Wagtail

Other species of note were: Redwing (2 over) Fieldfare (4 over), Siskin (heard), 1 juvenile Woodpigeon and Treecreeper (1 seen).

Linacre WeBS - September 2023

 I was down at Linacre yesterday morning for this month's WeBS count. I had a good walk around all three reservoirs, and recorded some good numbers of returning waterbirds.

Birds seen were: Mallard (124 - my highest September count), Mandarin Duck (157 - also my highest ever September count), Tufted Duck (13 - still quite low numbers), Moorhen (23; 17 adults and 6 juveniles), Coot (9; 6 adults and 3 juveniles), Little Grebe (1 adult on the bottom reservoir), Great-crested Grebe (3; 2 adults and 1 juvenile on the middle reservoir), Kingfisher (2 on the bottom reservoir), Grey Heron (10) and Grey Wagtail (2).

Walking around, I also had 5 species of corvid (Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie and Raven), along with 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Mistle Thrush, Blue/Great and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Woodpigeon.

Linacre Nestboxes Update

 On Monday I had a few hours down at Linacre ringing the first Blue and Great Tit chicks of 2023. In total, I ringed 11 broods; 6 Blue Tits (12, 5, 7, 6, 9, 7 and 11) and 3 Great Tits (4, 6, 5 and 11). I also had an hour there today, when I ringed another 5 broods; 3 Great Tits (6, 7 and 7) and 2 Blue Tits (6 and 6). 

There are still a few more boxes to ring, including a brood of 5 Pied Flycatchers.

Walking around, I also spotted this beautiful male Mandarin Duck and a brood of 13 Mallard ducklings.

Mandarin Duck

Mallard and ducklings

Linacre WeBS December 18th 2022

 After a week of ice and snowy conditions (maximum temperature of  3 degrees) I went down to Linacre yesterday morning (17th) to carry out this month's WeBS count. I had expected the reservoirs to be frozen, but, apart from a little ice ( c.10 %) on the bottom reservoir, the other two reservoirs were completely ice-free.

I walked around all three reservoirs and recorded the following numbers: 231 Mallard (highest count of the year), 114 Mandarin Duck, 72 Tufted Duck, 16 Moorhen, 8 Coot, c.50 Black-headed Gull, 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Little Grebe.

Black-headed Gulls

Other birds seen around the site included: 1 Tawny Owl, Siskin (3, the first of the winter), Magpie, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Wren, Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, Fieldfare (heard) and Redwing (10 over).

UPDATE: A report on Derbyshire Facebook Page from 18th recorded 119 Teal (!!!), 2 Gadwall, 1 male Shoveler, 104 Tufted Duck, 8 Goosander, 3 Cormorants and  19 Lapwing!!!

House Martins, Chiffchaffs and Pink-footed Geese

 When I set off to carry out this month's WeBS count at Linacre it felt like a "Pink-footed Goose morning". There had been several reports of skeins flying over during the last week, and the weather was perfect, with bright blue skies and no cloud cover. As it was, I heard one skein and saw another, totalling 28 birds, and heading west. This is my first record at Linacre this autumn.

Pink-footed Geese

Whilst stood by the dam wall by the lower reservoir, I also heard House Martins, and was very pleased to see 4 flying above the trees, my latest record for this site. a total of 4 Chiffchaffs were also singing around the site, along with several other birds "wheeting" in the willows by the top reservoir. Other birds counted whilst on site were: 78 Mallard, 87 Mandarin Ducks, 6 Moorhens (3 adults and 3 juveniles), 9 Coots (8 adults and 1 juvenile), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Grey Wagtails, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Great-crested Grebes (2 adults and 1 juvenile), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher and 12 Tufted Duck.

Linacre Nestboxes - 7th April 2021

 Yesterday I went down to Linacre to meet up with some of the regular Severn Trent volunteers (thanks everyone, it was great to meet you all). One of the volunteers shared photos of  2 caterpillars that had been found on site. One was a Pale Tussock and the other was an Elephant Hawk-moth. Both species were new records for the site.

Pale Tussock

Elephant Hawkmoth

Whilst there, we had a first check in the "owl boxes", and found that 3 of the 5 were in use, albeit not by owls!! As usual, the 3 boxes all contained Mandarin Duck eggs, including 1 with at least 38(!) eggs in it - a classic example of "egg dumping" by several different females. The other 2 contained just 3 and 4 eggs. None of the broods were being incubated yet. Several pairs of Blue Tits were seen entering nestboxes, so it seems that the the breeding season is beginning in earnest. 

Mandarin nest with 38 eggs

After the nestboxes, I had a quick walk around the middle and top reservoirs, and spotted my first Swallows (6), House Martins (2) and Sand Martins (2) of 2021.

Other species seen were: Kestrel (1 male hunting below the top reservoir - my first Linacre record of 2021), Raven (2 over the bottom reservoir), Grey Heron (1, my first Linacre record of 2021) and Sparrowhawk (1 female). 

Linacre 21st March 2021 - Chiffchaffs are back!!

 It was a grey, still, overcast morning with a temperature of  9 degrees, as I arrived on site. As usual, I did a two hour walk around all three reservoirs, listening out for any new arrivals and counting the wintering duck.

Numbers of duck are beginning to fall now, as birds disperse from the water, to start their breeding activity. Having said that, there were still good numbers present: 51 Mallard, 14 Coot, 12 Moorhen (including a bird sitting on one of last year's nests!), 10 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag Geese (flying over - year tick), 2 Cormorants, 80 Tufted Duck, 4 Great-crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe and 28 Mandarin Ducks (including 6 in trees by the bottom car park - nest prospecting).

The woodland was very noisy this morning (with bird song!), and included my first Chiffchaffs of 2021, with 2 singing around the reservoirs. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was also watched drumming, a Skylark was singing in the fields by the top reservoir, and 3 Siskin were seen feeding on the path by the boardwalk.

Linacre WeBS - 14th March 2021

 This weekend was the monthly WeBS count down at Linacre. I was down for two hours on Sunday morning, and walked around all three reservoirs.

The waterbirds counted were: 74 Mallard, 108 Tufted Duck, 50 Mandarin Duck, 10 Moorhens, 14 Coots, 5 Grey Wagtails (including the first singing male of the year), 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Goosander (both females), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 40 Black-headed Gulls.

The woodland birds were in full song, but, unfortunately, no summer migrants...yet! These beautiful daffodils were also out in full bloom.

Daffodils