12 members attended the meeting starting at Fairburn Ings car park at 9.30. It was a cool breezy start to the day that warmed with a light shower and sunny periods throughout the day.
From the car park we heard a Red-legged Partridge. Cormorants and a Little Egret flew over towards the reserve. Walking past the visitor centre a Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs and a Wren were singing with Blue Tits, Great Tits, Woodpigeons and a solitary House Sparrow in the bushes. The only bird at the feeding station was a Greenfinch.
From the first hide there were Canada Geese in the field. Five Grey Herons in the marsh appeared to be a family group made up of adults and juveniles. The sand martin wall had martins entering the nest holes. It is a stone faced construction built into an earth bank. One Common Tern flew past and a Sedge Warbler and a Cuckoo were heard.
Along the wooded path we added Bullfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackcap and a Common Whitethroat before reaching the viewing screen where we saw a Kingfisher on a branch over the ditch. Two had been seen earlier by others.
Next we headed up the Coal Pit Trail. The small lagoon on the right had two Grey Herons, our first Pochard drake, Coot, two Tufted Ducks and a Green Woodpecker. On the grassy hillside there were Jackdaws, a Rook and Carrion Crows.
At the Coal Tip lagoons there were 20+ Swifts in the air, five Pochards, Coots and Cormorants. Two Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler were heard singing in the reed beds. On the second lagoon we heard a Bittern booming several times but no sighting. Also a Cuckoo was heard calling.
Looking down to the Moat heronry there were Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Cormorants and four Spoonbills. The Spoonbills showed very well at their nests and flying back and forth. (One member counted eight from the road side).
A scan of the third lagoon revealed four Black-necked Grebes at the far side with two Little Grebes. A Mute Swan was sat on its nest in the reed bed.
Looking towards Lin Dyke lagoon we had good views of a male Marsh Harrier, more Swifts and House Martins. A Shelduck pair had seven Ducklings on the water. 32 Mute Swans, seven Gadwall and a pair of Shovelers were on the water with three Little Egrets in the field.
Cetti’s Warblers were heard in the waterside bushes. Further along the path a Buzzard was overhead being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. On our return towards the visitor centre a Hobby flew overhead towards the river. A Skylark was singing and an Oystercatcher flew down to the small lagoon we had passed earlier.
We stopped for lunch at the centre picnic area before heading to Lin Dyke car park. This area is usually very good for warblers and it didn’t disappoint. But before we left the car park a Peregrine flew past and landed in an electricity pylon. We saw Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers and a Garden Warbler all singing. Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Long-tailed Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen along the path to the canal locks. On the muddy shoreline of Lin Dyke lagoon the only waders we saw were a summer plumage Dunlin in the company of a Little-ringed Plover. Unfortunately a Cattle Egret which had been reported during the week wasn’t seen even though the Highland Cattle were quite active.
70 species were recorded. Some were “heard only”. Check the separate bird list.
Thanks again to all the members who attended and made another successful and enjoyable day.
Mike Smithson.
