Access to this ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ is restricted to permit holders and we were guided on this visit by Douglas Buchanan, a member of the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group. From the ornithological point of view this site is home to a breeding colony of the rare Black-necked Grebe and we were fortunate enough to see about ten adult birds along with several chicks. (None of us managed to get a good photograph this year however so this picture is one taken by group member Graham Cawdell last year.)
The conservation group’s website includes lists of sightings, photographs and other interesting information which can be reached by clicking here.
Another interesting sighting this year was a pair of immature (2nd summer) Mediterranean Gulls, one of which was ringed and the conservation group’s website includes an on 31st May showing where this bird has been recorded since it was ringed in 2015.
Six members of the group attended this visit and a total of 44 species were recorded. For a complete list of sightings click ‘Continue Reading’:
Species | Number Seen | Comment |
---|---|---|
Blackbird | Several | |
Blackcap | Heard only | |
Black-headed Gull | Hundreds | Nesting |
Black-necked Grebe | c.10 | + chicks |
Bullfinch | 2 | |
Buzzard | 2 | |
Canada Goose | Many | + chicks |
Carrion Crow | A few | |
Chiffchaff | Several | |
Coot | Many | + chicks |
Cormorant | A few | |
Common Sandpiper | One | |
Gadwall | Several | |
Goldfinch | A few | |
Grasshopper Warbler | Heard only | |
Great Crested Grebe | c.10 | + chicks |
Great Spotted Woodpecker | One | |
Great Tit | One | |
Greenfinch | A few | |
Greylag Goose | 2 | |
Jackdaw | A few | |
Lapwing | A few | + chicks |
Linnet | A few | |
Little Grebe | A few | |
Magpie | Several | |
Mallard | Many | |
Mediterranean Gull | 2 | |
Moorhen | A few | |
Mute Swan | Several | + cygnets |
Pheasant | Heard only | |
Pochard | Several | + chicks |
Reed Bunting | One | |
Reed Warbler | 2 | |
Robin | Several | |
Ruddy Duck | 2 | |
Shelduck | Several | |
Shoveler | Several | |
Stock Dove | 2 | |
Swift | A few | |
Tufted Duck | Several | |
Whitethroat | Heard only | |
Woodpigeon | Several | |
Wren | One | |
Unidentified Gull | One | (Immature) |
Last Updated on September 10, 2017