Houghton Green Flash - 2008 review part 1

Charts:

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Wigeon numbers at HGF (maximum weekly count) 2007 v 2008

Coot numbers at HGF (maximum weekly count) 2007 v 2008
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Photos:

Drake Wigeon, Martin Mere, 2006

Coot with young, Anglesey, 2006

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Having recorded lots of data on bird numbers at HGF over the last 4 years, I thought I might as well do some analysis of this data. I am going to start with Coot and Wigeon - other species I have been tracking will appear in later installments.

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Coots had a bumper year with several breeding attempts - two of these being successful. Coot numbers during the ealry breeding season tend to be low - usually no more than a dozen birds with most breeding attempts in the clumps of plants and low bushes around the edge of the pool failing. In 2008 four breeding attempts were made, one pair successfully fledged 3 young and a second pair successfully fledge 1 young. The main reason is probably the lack of water pumping in the area by United Utilities which lead to high water levels at the pool during the summer. This meant that the breeding sites were surrounded by water and thus less accessible by predators.

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Coots start to moult in June with most of the moult completed during July though some feathers are moulted in August and early September. Coot numbers start to build up at HGF during the moult period with juveniles joining in later. In the last 2 years the flock has built up to a peak by early autumn and satyed until mid-winter when the birds start to drift off. In 2006 though the flock disappeared in mimd-autumn and didn't return for several weeks.

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In 2008 the flock numbers very substantially increased in the second half of the year when compared with previous years. The maximum counts for the last 3 years are:

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2006xxx69

2007xxx80

2008xxx125

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Wigeon is a winter visitor to HGF. I have heard it said that this flock is one of the largest inland flock in the NW of England. Not sure how true that is, however I am not aware of many other flocks this size except for Frodsham. Although Wigeon breed in some parts of the UK (mainly the pennines and northern Scotland), these birds tend to be pretty resident in winter or move only short distances. The birds wintering in the NW are from Iceland, Scandinavia and NW Russia.

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The pattern at HGF tends to be pretty consistent with birds arriving for the winter building over over 2 months or so and then the flock departing within a week to 10 days in Spring. The arrival and departure dates for the last few years are as follows:

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YearxxxxDepartxxxxxxArrive

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2006xxx8th Aprilxxxx26th Oct

2007xxx11th Aprilxxx29th Sept

2008xxx8th Aprilxxxx25th Sept

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Maximum counts for the last 3 years are:

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2006xxx107

2007xxx99

2008xxx103

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The attractions of HGF are that there are plenty of grassy banks for grazing with the grass cut short in autumn by the landowner and a large deep pool where they can escape from predators. The numbers fluctuate on an almost daily basis with birds coming and going, presumably travelling to local pools for brief stop overs. The numbers tend to hit their maxium at HGF in February.

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In 2008 the flock departed and arrived at more or less the same times as 2007, though in 2006 the flock arrived much later. Presumably there is a weathe factor influencing this. It is also pleasing that the flock has coped well with the increased disturbance from dog walkers. Typically the flock consists of between 55% and 65% drakes.