Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Routine bits and bats


















































Photos:


Roadkill Sparrowhawk at HGF

Kestrel at HGF

Common Tern chick at Moat Lane pools

Sparrowhawk being mobbed by adult tern at Moat Lane


15th July

Bill continues to improve. He can almost walk straight now for short distances but still has to be hand fed – he cannot match the orientation of his head to the position of his dog bowl.

Got an e-mail from Jonathan about a Channel Wag at Barrow Lane so I headed over there for a look late morning. The male Channel Wag was at the far end but remained distant. I found a male Channel Wagtail two years ago at HGF which paired up with a flavissima female. It stayed there for a couple of weeks and then disappeared – I wonder if this is the same bird or perhaps an offspring?

It’s difficult to assess the number of Yellow Wags here but I estimate there are at least three nests. The Quail sang briefly nr the back of Oven Back farm and a single Grey Partridge exploded out of the potato patch just a few feet away and made me jump! I later saw a covey of ten running down the hedge side to the south.

Early afternoon I popped round to HGF. Two adult Black-necked Grebes were in residence as were all six Kestrels with mum and dad hunting while the juveniles perched on the end of the barn. The adults arrived back simultaneously with prey and the youngsters immediately split with two birds chasing each parent! An adult Little Grebe and a Ringed Plover were also there. A third Great Crested Grebe is now incubating – the pair which had tried to nest on the SE corner of the pool have rebuilt. Of the other two pairs, one started incubating on 19th June and the pair which failed earlier restarted on 28th June.

I spotted three lads in there late teens ferreting the bank at HGF so I headed over to talk to them. I commented on the old saying about only ferret when there is an R in the month. One confessed he had heard that, then said there were no young rabbits in this bank before contradicting himself when he justified rabbiting at this time of year by saying that rabbits breed all through the winter. I argued with them until I was blue in the face but each time there was a different excuse – trying out a new lurcher, followed by trying out a new ferret….I left them wondering where their ferret had got to. F***ing tossers!

Next I nipped over to Rixton. Just as I pulled in at the top end of Holly Bush Lane I saw a falcon dash over the fields to the east. My immediate impression was Hobby, however when grabbing the bins the strap caught around the camera and snagged. By the time I freed it the falcon had gone. I did spot a Yellow Wagtail there which looped over to the lane and then flew into the fields over the other side of the A57. Around 100 Swifts were feeding over the fields.

At Moat Lane pools I found Mute Swan JP4 is now alone. Perhaps the 2cy bird which has stayed with him for several months didn’t like the jet skiers? Both Common Terns were present and mobbed me – they went bananas when a male Sparrowhawk flew over the pool. Scanning the island I eventually found one tern chick which looked in good condition and had obviously survived the jet skis from a week earlier. When I wandered around to pool 2, a male Kestrel flew out of the hedge and right across me, making me jump for the second time today.

At home this evening while we were having dinner a Sparrowhawk was engaged likewise on the lawn with the meal being a juvenile Blackbird. This is the third bird (and second juvenile Blackbird) killed here by Sparrowhawk(s) this week.

July 16th

Early morning in the rain I nipped over to Newton Lake after taking Karen to the hair dressers. The pool was well full and a single Green Sandpiper was probably the best bird, however just as nice was the return of the old Pen Mute Swan. She disappeared several weeks ago in the company of another bird. Perhaps she couldn’t forget her home or even her mate that died during the winter? Who knows what birds think – I do suspect they are a lot more advanced than most people give them credit for. She has been here for years anyway. The Cormorant (a 2cy bird) was still present plus singles of Teal and Tufted Duck.

Late morning I headed over to HGF. A single Black-necked Grebe was present plus a Little Ringed Plover. As it was raining (some contrast to Thursday when it was a scorcher) there was a large flock of Swifts, Swallows and even a few House Martins feeding over the fields nr Midhops. Five Kestrels were in evidence – both adults and three juveniles. They are clearly roosting in the barn now. While I was watching the pool edge through the scope a bird flitted into view and just as quickly disappeared – the glimpse I got suggested juvenile Yellow Wagtail. Another visit late evening produced a Yellow Wagtail perched on the wires by the kennels.

July 17th

Green Sandpiper still at Newton Lake this morning in heavy rain. It was pleasing to see a pair of Blackbirds feeding two juveniles on the lawn in the garden – at least 50% of the brood are still alive despite the attentions of the Sparrowhawk. A single Black-necked Grebe was present on HGF, however nothing much was moving in heavy rain. Miserable day.

July 18th

Back working in Brum and am travelling there and back each day. I arrived home late evening absolutely kackered. I was pleased though that Bill has managed to walk to the pool at HGF tonight – he improves steadily.

On the pools were 21 Great Crested Grebes (the nest in the SE corner has been flattened again), 27 Coots and 30 Tufted Ducks plus 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Ringed Plover. The male Kestrel and a shadowing juvenile were hovering over the south field. Sadly I found a Sparrowhawk dead in the road – a juvenile or possibly a moulting female I think. Nearby was a partially plucked Woodpigeon.

A Stock Dove was present in the garden this morning.

July 19th

Had a wander to Rixton after work. On the lawn at the top end of Hollybush Lane were 19 Pied Wagtails – four adults and the rest being juveniles. A crèche? There were some more by the tip too. On the way down the line I spotted a pair of Grey Partridges with seven youngsters plus a Corn Bunting and 3 Yellowhammers. At least 80 Lapwings were in the field at the bottom.

I turned up at Moat Lane pools to find number one pool was being drained. I had a chat with the foreman in charge – basically the jet sky bunch had caused a major disturbance of the peace and consequently the council had asked for the pool to be drained to put off the scrotes from coming back. The foreman was also under the impression that the terns had either not bothered breeding this year or had finished breeding. Fortunately he was interested in wildlife so I showed him the tern chick in my scope (he was chuffed) and he agreed to leave plenty of water around the island.

Later I nipped over to HGF. It was raining by now and not much about – a single Little Ringed Plover being the only bird of real interest.

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