2 visits to Linacre this weekend; the first by members of the Chesterfield RSPB Group (thank you everyone) and then by me this morning, to carry out the monthly WeBS walk.
As is usual at this time of the year numbers of wildfowl begin to fall as birds disperse to other areas to breed. This is especially the case with the Mandarin Ducks and today's count of just 4 birds was down from a much more impressive 38 just a week ago! Where these birds go to breed we just don't know, but at least one pair used one of the nestboxes on site last year (see here for details). 6 Canada Geese were present today, including the hybrid bird. They were split into 3 pairs over all three reservoirs. 60 Black-headed Gulls were still present as were 33 Mallards, 5 Moorhens, 15 Coots, a singing Grey Wagtail, 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Great-crested Grebes (a pair on the middle reservoir and another summer plumaged adult on the top reservoir), a trilling Little Grebe, the immature Goldeneye and 7 Goosander. Last record from the water was 3 Lapwings that were seen flying over - our first record this year.
Signs of the forthcoming breeding season were everywhere with lots of the woodland birds singing and a piar of Jackdaws prospecting around the chimney pot of the house again.
The Year List moved on by 1 species today when a Red-legged Partridge was found running up the main drive at Linacre. As wella s being a Year Tick, it's also a first ever record for Linacre!
102 - Red-legged Partridge
Welcome to my blog all about my birdwatching, wild bird ringing activities and moth recording at Linacre Reservoirs, Derbyshire; in Great Britain and abroad.
No comments:
Post a Comment