Blagdon Lake Birds
July 2024 News
I am in the process of updating the website now that I have been very kindly helped by Simon at HeklaDesign to get things sorted. It may take me a few days to bring the daily blog up-to-date, albeit I will have little more than a list of the birds and things seen while I have been off line. So please bear with me as this page gradually expands and the gap between today and Tuesday 14th May gets filled. After which I'll put the information into separate indexed folders for easier navigation. Assuming that process goes well, I will then migrate the whole site into Wordpress with Simon's help to make management easier. Fingers crossed!
Friday 26th July [Sunny and warm all day]
I enjoyed a leisurely stroll from the Lodge to Top End hide and back this afternoon. I notched up 40 bird, 7 butterfly and 4 dragonfly species, including a male Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope in front of the Fishing Lodge. There were 2 Siskins Spinus spinus on the feeder, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a single Great White Egret Ardea alba, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo among those I saw, but I met a couple ladies later who'd seen 4 Hobbies, and a Treecreeper Certhia familiaris that I'd missed. Hopefully, the Lesser Emperor will still be present tomorrow and I'll try and get some pics.
Thursday 25th July [Overcast with mizzle for much of the day]
It was miserable at Blagdon today, with fine driving drizzle on and off of for much of the day. It promised to dry up in the evening , so I drove through the south side of the lake birding as I went, on the way to meet Mark and Jean L. at Compton Martin to video a couple of bat roost emergences. I didn't see anything terribly exciting, just a Little Egret Egretta garzetta of note. We had a very respectable count of Soprano Pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus from a new maternity roost, but the church roost count had to be abandoned due to the onset of rain again, unfortunately.
Wednesday 24th July [Mainly overcast. Mild.]
I popped over to t'other place this morning, and while I was there I saw the Barnacle Goose, Blue B00 (ringed at Slimbridge), and 2 Little Egrets near the dam. Late afternoon, I popped down to the lake in the car for a nosey and saw 3 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, a Common Tern Sterna hirundo, a Great White Egret Ardea alba, 2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 3 Pochard Aythya ferina, and checked through all the Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula that I could get the scope on, for something unusual. I didn't really hear or see many small passerines because I spent far too much of my time sorting out the identity of the tern.
Tuesday 23rd July [Mainly dry & sunny]
I birded on foot to Flower Corner from the Lodge and met Meryn P. along the way. After a catch-up he went on ahead in his car. I'd seen a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos on the dam, and was adding butterflies to my list as I made my way. While chatting to Merv., an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus flew down the lake past us, and we logged 12 Little Egretta garzetta and 1 Great White Egret Ardea alba. He then drove on to the hide and I walked to Flower Corner and had just turned back and got to Hellfire Corner when he phoned. He'd heard an unusual call while in the hide, went outside and spotted a parrot on the path in the wood. It flew up into a tree and stayed put until I ran back and was able to watch it with him. My first thought was that it was going to be a Ring-necked Parakeet, but this was probably a young bird and a different species with blue wings. It was a Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. Merv. got some photos on his phone, but I failed dismally before it upped and flew overhead, over the hide and out of view. What a turn up! We both saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo from the hide and I saw a Siskin Spinus spinus on the bird feeder. I managed to see Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Red Admiral butterflies and quite a few 6-spot Burnet Moths during the walk.
In the evening, I met Mark at Hollow Marsh (Farrington Gurney), where we spent a couple of hours with a bat detector trying to establish which species might be found there. We had both Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, Noctule, and a probable Serotine, and picked up lots of stridulating grasshopper/crickets. Mark recorded some, so we might be able to identify at least one more species than the ubiquitous Dark Bush Cricket.
Monday 22nd July [A little drizzle, breezy & overcast in the morning, then dry with some sunshine.]
This morning Phil, Rob, Skip and I carried out the monthly WeBS count. The lake has stayed at roughly the same level, 78%, for the last few weeks so, unless things change, we are heading for another disappointing autumn with little wader passage. The totals were as follows: 190 Canada Geese, 28 Mute Swans, 1 Egyptian Goose, 11 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 157 Mallard, 1 male Pochard, 398 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 22 Great Crested Grebes, 11 Moorhens (8 juvs.), 581 Coots, 4 Common Sandpipers, circa 30 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 14 Cormorants, 12 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 2 juv Hobbies, 4 Grey Wagtails (3 juvs.) and a Reed Bunting.
Saturday 20th July [Drizzle & overcast]
There were 10 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos and an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam along with the usual suspects, plus 7 Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus and a Little Egret Egretta garzetta of note.
Friday 19th July [Overcast & cloudy.Warm.]
There was a Redshank Tringa totanus, a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and 7 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca at the dam when I arrived, although all but one of the 'gyps' flew off up the lake. A couple of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a single Great White Egret Ardea alba and a Hobby Falco subbuteo were also seen while birding on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back in the evening.
Wednesday 17th July [Overcast]
I arrived at the Lodge to be told by Ethan that one of the Mute Swan Cygnus olor cygnets (of the brood of four at the Lodge) had been killed. It seems it might have been by another swan or, more likely, by a Mink Neogale vison. Considering how big they've got by now, it was quite a surprise. There were 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca and a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos at the dam, 6 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a Great White Ardea alba, plus 6 species of butterfly.
Tuesday 16th July
I didn't get to the lake today, but Rich A. sent me his sightings as follows: 2 Hobbies, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, 2 Treecreepers, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Coot, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Stonechat, 3 Little Egrets, Magpie, Wren, 10+ Long-tailed Tits, Tufted Duck, Great Tit, Goldfinch, 1 Buzzard, Mute Swan, Reed Warbler and Coal Tit. Additionally he saw Ringlet and Red Admiral butterflies. Thanks, Rich.
Monday 15th July
During the morning, I went for a run (and walk if I'm honest) up to Beacon Batch where I saw a Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (probably the same one as last night) and a Stonechat Saxicola rubicola near the trig point. Later, in the evening, at the lake I counted 177 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, a Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus.
Sunday 14th July
A mid-afternoon look around at the lake produced a reasonable bird list of 36 spp. including an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca, a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a Great White Egret Ardea alba, a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, my first Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum dragonfly of the year, and a Painted Lady Vanessa cardui butterfly. In the evening (before the football) I walked/ran to Beacon Batch trig point on Black Down where I saw a Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe on the path in front of me, before taking in the spectacular evening view and then legging it back down the hill before kick-off.
Saturday 13th July [Broken clouds & cool]
Another evening visit to the lake, which produced 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos on the dam wall, an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca, a Shoveler Spatula clypeata, 2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata. It was also nice to see a Swallow Hirundo rustica over Bell's Bush meadow - they seem to be few and far between this year.
Friday 12th July
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back this afternoon, and saw 36 bird species including 17 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta at Rugmoor, and 3 Hobbies Falco subbuteo (including 2 juveniles) from Top End hide, of note.
Wednesday 10th July
I birded at the lake late this afternoon, from Green Lawn to Flower Corner and back. New in, was a passing adult Redshank Tringa totanus on the dam wall with a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos nearby, 6 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and 3 Sand Martins Riparia riparia on their way back south.
Tuesday 9th July
I had quite an exciting evening stroll, as I came across a flock of 12 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra while counting a flock of about 100 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula. Unfortunately, I only had my binoculars with me and had walked to the lake from the house. Luckily, one of the rangers came past and gave me a lift back to Park Lane where I jumped out and made my way back home as quickly as possible to collect my telescope. I drove back to Rainbow Point and scrutinised the Scoters more closely to be able to age and sex them. There were 2 females and 10 males, the latter comprising 9 adults and one 2nd-calendar year. It turned out that they were the same flock that had been seen at t'other place earlier in the day. I also saw 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, 7 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, and 10 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta.
Sunday 7th July
I saw a juvenile Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis this evening, although with no recent sightings of adult birds, I guess it probably flew in seeking others rather than having been raised at the lake. Nevertheless it was nice to see it. I birded from home to Top End gate and back, during which I also saw 2 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Little Egret Egretta garzetta, and a Fox Vulpes vulpes, of note.
Friday 5th July
I had to go to Chew Magna this morning, so I decided to drive home via the lake, and birded my way along the south shore. I saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 2 Black-headed gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, and a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos.
Wednesday 3rd July
I spent the morning with Chris Sperring, Melanie & Lionel P. checking Barn Owl boxes. We found two broods, one of four and one of two, which was a relief because we weren't sure how breeding had been going in the area this year. Chris told us it hasn't been one of the better years for Barnies and the brood of four was only the second he'd seen of that size this year. In the evening I popped down to the lake and saw a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and 3 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, of note.
Tuesday 2nd July
I didn't visit the lake today, but had two reports of sightings, one from Mark of a Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus at Park Lane, and one from angler Jeff H. who watched an Otter Lutra lutra swim up the lake. I've only ever seen one Hedgehog at the lake in all the years I've been visiting, although we do have them in the village - even coming to our patio for a drink and spilt bird food on occasion.
Monday 1st July
I birded my way around the lake this evening, while checking the bat boxes were all hanging safely. I noted 41 bird species, including 25 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula, a Greenshank Tringa nebularia, a single Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, and a Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus butterfly.
Sunday 30th June
I had a walk around the village recording birds and other wildlife at lunchtime today. At this difficult time of year when passerines are moulting and keeping a low profile the list was rather meagre at 24 species, with no real surprises. Later, I spent 45 minutes at the lake in the evening. It was good to see a Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, they are very difficult in spring/summer with high water, 5 returning Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Pochard Aythya ferina, a Great White Egret Ardea alba, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, and heard four each of Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita.
Friday 28th June
I didn't get to the lake until quite late this evening, but managed a list of 33 bird species during a walk from the Lodge to Holt Copse and back. I saw a late brood of 12 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ducklings, the only Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus youngster (1st brood at the lake this year) I've seen so far this year, on the back of a parent in Holt Bay, 2 Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, and heard a Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti still singing.
Thursday 27th June
Just for once, I spent the afternoon at the lake instead of the evening. I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back, although I felt tired from yesterday's run (a rep. session). I saw 5 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, a Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Little Egret Egretta garzetta, a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, and counted 6 Black-tailed Skimmers Orthetrum cancellatum along the way.
Monday 24th June
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Long Bay bridge and back this evening, and saw 6 Gadwall Mareca strepera, 2 Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo of note, and heard a Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti and 2 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin singing. Mark reported seeing a Barn Owl Tyto alba while working this evening too.
Sunday 23rd June
I didn't get down to the lake today, but did walk around the village recording what I saw bird-wise. My biggest surprise was seeing a Kestrel Falco tiunnunculus perched on a wire down the hill near Menlea, while compiling a list of 23 bird and 2 butterfly species.
Saturday 22nd June
I spent an hour at the lake this evening, heard 2 Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti and 2 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin, and saw a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus while putting together a list of 31 bird species.
Friday 21st June
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Flower Corner and back in light rain this evening. I counted 245 moulting Canada Geese Branta canadensis, just 16 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula, and heard a singing Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti. Given the hour, and the conditions, a list of 24 bird species wasn't too bad in the circumstances.
Thursday 20th June
I walked from the Lodge to Flower Corner and back this evening, and was pleased to see the first brood of 4 cygnets are being kept safe and growing under the watchful eyes of the doting parents, and while on the subject of young birds I also heard Tawny Owls Strix aluco food-begging. Other notable birds included a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers Cettia cettti, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, and one of those elusive Moorhens Gallinula chloropus that have been keeping out of sight during the breeding season.
Wednesday 19th June
I spent nearly two hours at the lake late this afternoon birding on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back. I saw the female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and 2 Hobbies Falco subbuteo, and counted 1 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti, 10 Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla, 4 Garden Warblers S. borin, 2 Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata, 3 Emperor Dragonflies Anax imperator, 4 Black-tailed Skimmers Orthetrum cancellatum, a Marbled White Melanargia galathea, 6 Meadow Browns Maniola jurtina, and saw flowering Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis.
Tuesday 18th June
Two and a half hours at the lake this evening enabled me to log 43 bird species during a walk from the Lodge to Top End gate and back. We appear to be down to just 7 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula at the moment, and there were 2 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus, a Little Egret Egretta garzetta, the female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, 3 Hobbies Falco subbuteo, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti, 4 singing Garden Warblers Sylvia borin, and a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata of note.
Monday 17th June
I had two hour birding walk from the Lodge to Top End gate and back this evening during which I saw just 10 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, and singles of Swift Apus apus, Hobby Falco subbuteo, and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata of note. I was, however, very pleased to see a Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (they don't seem to have reached us in numbers this year). A third brood of Canada Goose Branta canadensis has appeared on the lake as well, comprising 5 juveniles, I think. It was good to be back out in the field again after a short infection had grounded me for a few days.
Wednesday 12th June
I met up with friend and fellow naturalist John M. at Priddy Mineries today. We spent 3 hours looking around together, before I had to leave as I felt unwell. We saw plenty of nice things, including Coot, Raven, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and Reed Bunting, plus Downy Emerald Dragonfly, Small Pearl-bordered and Small Heath butterflies, and a few specialist plants that grow on the mining spoil tips.
Tuesday 11th June
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Bell's Bush barrier and back this evening. Three Shoveler Spatula clypeata and a Gadwall Mareca strepera took me by surprise, and I counted 18 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula on a lake that is pretty empty of waterfowl by normal standards. I heard recently fledged Tawny Owls Strix aluco calling, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti, a single Garden Warbler Sylvia borin, saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo, in putting together a list of 38 bird species.
Monday 10th June
We carried out the WeBS count today from 0930-1314 hrs. I noted 111 Canada Geese, 24 Mute Swans (4 juvs), 67 Mallards, 12 Tufted Duck, 113 Coots, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 47 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Buzzards, a Kestrel, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Garden Warblers, and 8 Grey Wagtails.
Friday 7th June
Another evening, another visit to the lake. There were more than 500 Swifts Apus apus over the lake during my hour and a half birding on foot from the Lodge to Bell's Bush and back. Three Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, 3 Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti, a singing Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, at Burmah Road, and 2 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin were the pick of the bunch.
Thursday 6th June
I picked up Martin K. and drove down to visit Noah's Lake hide on the Somerset Levels this morning, hoping to see the Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica which had been present for a few days. We had good views of it, a Hobby, 5 Marsh Harriers, a Red Kite and the usual wetland species there. On the way home at lunchtime, we drove over to Tealham Moor, to go and see the very attractive American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica that was there in its breeding plumage. Two Marsh Harriers and Yellow Wagtails were among the bonus birds we enjoyed while we were there too.
I was back on 'patch' in the evening, birding on foot from the Lodge to Top End and back. I heard a Cuckoo Cuculus canorus singing along the North Shore, noted just 2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus singing at Burmah Road, plus a good selection of other birds in a list of 39 species.
Wednesday 5th June
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back this evening. I spotted a brood 5 Mute Swan Cygnus olor cygnets with their parents in Long Bay, counted a paltry 7 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, reckoned on there being at least 400 Swifts Apus apus over the lake, saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo, and heard a Cuckoo Cuculus canorus singing along the North Shore, plus one Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti and 3 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin along the south side.
Tuesday 4th June
This evening I birded on foot from the dam to Hellfire Corner and back. I counted 149 Canada Geese Branta canadensis, as numbers build to moult at the lake, 5 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula, heard a Cuckoo Cuculus canorus on the north side of the lake, saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo, and heard one Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti singing. Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis are flowering on Green Lawn.
Monday 3rd June
I took a 3 hour stroll this morning, birding my way from the Lodge to Top End and back. I counted 83 Canada Geese Branta canadensis, saw a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, at least 9 Buzzards Buteo buteo, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, heard 2 Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti, 7 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, a Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria, and the second site record (to my knowledge) of Reeve's Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi. In the evening I tried for the Gull-billed Tern at Noah's Lake on the Somerset Levels, but missed it by a few minutes. Doh!
Sunday 2nd June
I birded on foot this evening from the Lodge to Flower Corner and back. I saw 2 Gadwall Mareca strepera, 9 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, 2 Hobbies Falco subbuteo, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, and heard 2 Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti, a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus collybita, a Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, and 2 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin, of note.
Saturday 1st June
I birded from the Lodge to Top End and back this evening hoping to see if there were a few Hobbies Falco subbuteo feeding around sunset at Top End. I only saw one. I saw a Barn Owl Tyto alba and heard 4 Tawny Owls Strix aluco on my way back to the Lodge though. On my way there I'd seen a Siskin Spinus spinus on the Lodge feeder, counted 4 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, and heard 3 Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti singing.
Friday 31st May
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Flower Corner and back this afternoon, having been away for three weeks. I saw a brood of Mute Swans Cygnus olor in Long Bay and could make out 2 cygnets, but there may have been others riding on mums back. As I rounded Green Lawn, I could hear a Cuckoo Cuculus canorus singing along the North Shore, and at Holt Bay I spotted a family group of Coot Fulica atra (3 juvs.). At Flower Corner I watched a Red Kite Milvus milvus and 5 Buzzards Buteo buteo following the plough, and on the way back saw a Siskin Spinus spinus at Lodge Copse and heard one each of Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti and Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.
Thursday 30th May
It was good to be back home again, and I went to the lake in the evening and birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back. I saw a flock of 70+ Woodpigeon Columba palumbus on Holt Farm, a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, a Barn Owl Tyto alba, a Tawny Owl Strix aluco, 4 Hobbies Falco subbuteo, and heard one Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti and 2 Garden Warblers Sylvia borin singing. My bird list was 33 species between 1936-2216 hrs.
Wednesday 15th May
My sister and brother-in-law had gone back to Scotland, so Ce and I headed north on the tram again today to visit The Grove Museum of Victorian Life just outside Ramsey. It was really fascinating and well worth a look. We spent some time wandering around Ramsey park, harbour and town. We just had to have another ice cream from the Gelatory too! I didn't see any birds of particular note, apart perhaps from Swallow and Canada Goose. On the way back to Douglas on the tram, the evening cliff/sea views were breathtaking as we headed down the east side of the island. We even saw a few Brown Hares in the fields by the line as we rattled by.
Tuesday 14th May
I had a message from Mervyn P., who went to Blagdon Lake today, as follows: Common Sandpiper, Coot and Grey Wagtail at the dam, 5 Hobbies in the same field of view in his bins at Green Lawn, Swifts, House Martins, a few Reed Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Blue damselflies at Top End, a Beautiful Demoiselle at Bell's Bush, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, Blackcap and some Southern Marsh Orchids also noted. Top man Merv. Thanks.
At North Quay, Douglas, I saw an Eider Duck, 2 Black Guillemots, 2 Mute Swans and 2 Shelduck, in the harbour.
Monday 13th May
I went out of the hotel, on the promenade at Douglas, after having something to eat early in the evening because I'd seen a tern working its way around the bay through the window. A few minutes scanning with my binoculars brought 2 Eider Ducks, Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, a Black Guillemot, and a Grey Heron among others.
Sunday 12th May
This morning I'd booked a surprise trip for my brother-in-law, Sam, with Isle of Man Trike Tours. We had the full experience, around both the old and present TT courses, even touching a ton over The Mountain in the safe hands of our brilliant driver. I'd done it on a previous visit with Celia, but was pretty keen to go again...
My sister booked us a visit to the Milntown House and estate, so it was back on the tram to the end of the line at Ramsey, and a very pleasant afternoon on the estate, with a guided walk around the house and an afternoon cream tea, during which we were hugely entertained by a pair of Mallards that wandered into the conservatory and kept making their way to the kitchen and being chased out. I put together a bird list on BirdTrack, including some butterflies that were in the kitchen garden.
Saturday 11th May
We spent the day on the trams heading north from Douglas and, having changed at Laxey, took the Snaefell Mountain Railway up to the high point of the island. We saw Hooded Crows, and a Wheatear near the trig point, and my sister pointed out a Mountain Hare from the tram as we headed back down to The Bungalow.
Friday 10th May
We're on holiday on the Isle of Man for a couple of weeks, enjoying the peace and quiet, trams and steam railway. We took the steam train ride to the south of the island at Port Erin today, where I saw 3 Swifts over the bay/town. I'm hoping to visit the Calf of Man while I'm here.
Thursday 9th May
Message from Melanie P. to say her sister-in-law and niece saw 2 Hobbies Falco subbuteo this morning. Thanks ladies.
Tuesday 7th May [Sunny & warm]
I was busy around the house and in the garden for most of the day, but met Melanie P. early evening for a birding walk along the north side of the lake, for a change. We saw two broods of five Canada Goose Branta canadensis goslings, and I saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo at Top End, as did Ross F. (thanks for the text Ross & sorry I missed you). Mark told me he'd seen a Hobby this afternoon at Holt Bay too - possibly the same one.
Sunday 5th May [Showers]
I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide & back this evening, much of it in drizzle/light rain. I saw the seventh brood of four Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ducklings at Top End, and the first brood of Canada Goose Branta canadensis with five goslings at Green Lawn, after a tip-off from Mark. There wasn't much else to report which was hardly surprising given the conditions.
Saturday 4th May [Sunshine all day - at last]
Wow! Wall-to-wall sunshine made for a very pleasant bat box check late morning with Mark around the Pumping Station and Hatchery. We found several groups of Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus and one group of about 10 Natterer's Bat Myotis nattereri, saw lots of butterflies on the wing including a Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus spotted by Mark, several teneral blue damselflies, and a female demoiselle that I think was a Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo at the Hatchery.
I then went to watch a football match at Wincanton FC with Ce, where I could hear no fewer than 3 Lesser Whitethroats singing from my position on the touchline. They are almost a thing of the past at the lake these days, and I've not heard one there yet this year.
After a quick bite to eat when we got back home, I went back to the lake, parked at Rainbow Point and birded on foot to Top End gate and back, with a bit of time in the hide as the sun went down. I saw a single Hobby Falco subbuteo, and 2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos of note, in a total bird list of 42 species.
I was told that an Osprey Pandion haliaetus was present at the lake this afternoon too (photographed).
Friday 3rd May [Overcast & breezy]
I only had time for a quick walk, so I birded from the Lodge to Wood Bay Point and back after checking the dam. There were 2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos on the dam wall, and I saw my first brood of Coot Fulica atra in Long Bay, with 5 chicks off the nest. As I walked around Holt Bay I became aware there were 3 Hobbies Falco subbuteo feeding over the water giving great views. I managed to record 41 bird species in the limited time available.
Thursday 2nd May [Overcast, cool and breezy.]
It wasn't much of an afternoon for birding. I drove to Top End hide and walked between Bell's Bush and Top End gate, looking and listening, but it was so breezy that I decided to go back to my car and drive along the lakeside, apart from another stop for a brief listen at Lodge Copse and scan of the dam wall. I spotted another new brood of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, the sixth, of 7 ducklings, saw a Nuthatch Sitta europaea on the feeder, and the Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos on the dam, in a list of 38 bird species in an hour and a quarter. So far, I've recorded 108 bird species in 101 visits to the lake this year - it has been tough birding with the combination of high water level and dire weather we've had so far. The level has dropped about a foot and I'd say the lake is about 94% full. I'm not sure if BW are pumping, especially with the prolific algal bloom I referred to last week, but the frequent storms have flooded most floating nests built by water birds, especially Coots and Great Crested Grebes, and if the level starts to drop rapidly in the next month or so, any second attempts at nesting are likley to result in the nests being left high and dry. The Mallards that have succeeded so far probably nested away from the waterside and walked the young to the lake. Pipe Bay and North Shore reedbeds have been trashed by the storms. New growth is only just starting to appear above the water surface so this may affect the number of Reed Warblers that may attempt to nest in them this year. I have heard the warblers singing in nearby hedges, so it'll be interesting to see if they are prepared to wait until conditions are right for nesting in the reeds, or, if they'll use the adjacent hedges and other waterside vegetation. The rookeries seem to have survived the worst of the storms and many nests are empty now because the young have flown, rather than because the nesting attempts failed. Overall, I'd imagine that breeding success will be down with most early breeding species, but it has been surprising to see how resilient a few, at least, have been.
Wednesday 1st May [Overcast & mild.]
At last, an Osprey Pandion haliaetus was showing well at Top End late this afternoon. I'm guessing it was the same bird seen earlier at Chew Valley Lake, but when it flew it appeared to go off down the lake, although I lost track of it so don't know if it left. I saw the usual Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos on the dam wall, 2 non-breeding Great White Egrets Ardea alba, a Little Egret Egretta garzetta, a good selection of warblers (though nothing new for the year), and another brood (the fifth) of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos with 4 ducklings. My day list was 46 bird species.