October 2002 Summary
The month was on the whole fairly quiet, but a few uncommon gulls and a couple of interesting wildfowl provided a bit of interest. Highlights included a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, a reported Little Gull, and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. While an eclipsed plumaged Mandarin and an escaped Chiloe Wigeon added a bit of variety. While the bird of the month went to a Redstart, being only the 13th record for the reservoir, and the first for nearly 20 years!
|
Species |
Highest Count |
Date |
Notes |
|
Great Crested Grebe |
100+ |
6th |
Numbers dwindled towards the end of the month |
|
Little Grebe |
2 |
2nd/9th |
|
|
Cormorant |
44 |
9th |
|
|
Grey Heron |
10 |
9th |
|
|
Mute Swan |
10 |
|
2 adults and 8 juveniles |
|
Canada Goose |
91 |
25th |
|
| Mandarin | 1 | 7th | Eclipse male |
|
Shoveler |
2 |
25th |
Also a single male on 5th |
| Chiloe Wigeon | 1 | 5-6th | Presumed escaped male |
|
Wigeon |
43 |
9th |
|
|
Teal |
73 |
2nd |
|
|
Tufted Duck |
1 |
23rd |
1st winter male |
|
Buzzard |
4 |
5th |
|
|
Sparrowhawk |
1 |
25th |
|
|
Kestrel |
1 |
2nd/25th |
Adult male |
|
Peregrine |
1 |
2nd/25th |
|
| Pheasant | 4 | 9th | |
|
Moorhen |
20 |
4th |
|
|
Coot |
13 |
4th |
|
|
Snipe |
5 |
23rd |
|
|
Lapwing |
5 |
14th |
|
|
Greenshank |
1 |
1st |
|
|
Green Sandpiper |
1 |
1st/7th/9th/14th |
|
|
Common Sandpiper |
2 |
2nd/4th/6-7th |
|
|
Black-headed Gull |
238 |
9th |
|
| Mediterranean Gull | 1 | 1st | 1st winter bird |
| Little Gull | 1 | 3rd | Single bird reported |
| Common Gull | 1 | 1st | 1st winter bird |
|
Herring Gull |
53 |
5th |
|
|
Yellow-legged Gull |
1 |
1st |
|
|
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
2 |
25th |
|
|
Stock Dove |
11 |
9th |
|
|
Kingfisher |
1 |
16th/18th/23rd |
|
|
Green Woodpecker |
1 |
4th |
|
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
1 |
4th |
|
|
Swallow |
2 |
16th |
|
|
Grey Wagtail |
3 |
9th |
|
|
Pied Wagtail |
11 |
9th |
|
|
Meadow Pipit |
4 |
2nd/4th |
|
| Redwing | c.30 | 23rd | |
| Mistle Thrush | 3 | 25th | |
| Song Thrush | 3 | 18th | |
|
Chiffchaff |
2 |
2nd |
|
| Blackcap | 1 | 2nd | |
| Goldcrest | 4 | 31st | |
| Redstart | 1 | 2nd | Juvenile/female |
|
Marsh Tit |
1 |
18th |
|
| Coal Tit | 1 | 11th/18th | |
| Treecreeper | 2 | 18th | |
|
Jay |
1 |
|
Single birds seen on several dates |
|
Bullfinch |
1 |
23rd |
|
| Goldfinch | 22 | 2nd | |
| Reed Bunting | 2 | 31st |