29th August 2008

Vapourer

4 Willow Wabler,2 Reed Warbler,Swallows,House Martin,2 Flyover Yellow Wagtails + 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers being the only birds of note today whilst Butterflies seen were Large White,Green-veined White & Speckled Wood whilst moths seen were 2 Vapourer,1 Green Carpet,5 Straw Dot & 1 Silver Y, Dragonflies & Damsels 3 Migrant Hawker,7 Brown Hawker,Common Blue Damselfly & 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly

(D.Hutton)

27th August 2008

Quiet on the pool the last few days with the highlights being 3 Reed Warbler (25/8/08) & a flyover Yellow Wagtail (26/8/08) so with that in mind Rich Dawkins & myself decided to do a Moth Trapping session from 8-30pm (26/8) till 5am this morning! We ran 3 traps resulting in 65 Species & total of 811 moths caught with the highlights below



Dusky Thorn
Ghost Moth (male)
Bulrush Wainscot
Drinker
Frosted Orange

Flame Carpet
Green Carpet
Gold Spot
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Orange Swift

Red Underwing
Sallow
Centre-barred Sallow
Oak Hook-tip
Coxcomb Prominent

19th August 2008

10+ Swift,House Martins,swallows,1 common Whitethroat,1 Reed Warbler,1 Chiffchaff.3 Willow Warbler,Blackcap,2 Common Buzzard,1 Sparrowhawk also seen Green-veined White,Speckled Wood,Gatekeeper,Common Blue Damselfly & Blue-tailed Damselfly & a cpl of species of moth seen with Common Carpet & Udea Lutealis

(D.Hutton)

14th August 2008

Still good numbers Of Swallows & House Martins on the pool with 4 Sand Martin & 7 Swift also 9 Cormorant over,1 Little Owl in usual roost,2 Common Buzzard,3 Willow Warbler,1 Reed Warbler,4 Blackcap (3 Juv 1ad male) Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker.Butterflies seen inc Large White,Green-veined White,Peacock,1 Red Admiral,Speckled Wood,Gatekeepers & 1 Holly Blue whilst the only Dragonflies were 11 Brown Hawker

(D.Hutton)

13th August 2008

Plenty of Swallows,House Martins,4 Swift & 4 Sand Martins hawking over the pool also seen 1 Sedge Warbler,1 Reed Warbler & 2 Willow Warbler,Butterflies seen Gatekeepers,Green-veined White,Large White & 1 Red Admiral

(D.Hutton)

11th August 2008

The last month has been very quiet with hardly any movement or anything of real note!! Today was no different with just House Martins,Swallows & a few Swifts hawking over the pool & a single Reed Warbler seen. Dragonflies included 5 Black-tailed Skimmers,2 Brown Hawkers & a few Common-blue Damselflies whilst Butterflies inc 1 Meadow Brown,20+ Gatekeeper,2 Speckled Wood,3 Peacock,Large White & Green-veined White

(D.Hutton)

13th July 2008

4+ Lesser Whitethroat,7 Reed Warbler,2 Little Owl,1 Common Buzzard & 1 ad Mediterranean Gull & 1 Common Tern briefly before flying off also seen 5+ Large White,4 Gatekeeper,1 Comma,2 Large Skipper,10+ Ringlet,Meadow Brown,30+ Common Blue Damselfly,3 Brown Hawker & 9 Black Tailed Skimmer

(D.Hutton)

10th July 2008

Good No's of Swift,House Martin,Swallows & a single Sand Martin hawking over the pool also 2 Reed Warbler & a male Lesser Whitethroat singing around the pool,2 Hobby hunting the Martins but sighting of the day has to go to the 2 Common Crossbill
flying over the backend of the pool & appear to land in the pines in the copse in the NW corner (A 1st record for the pool taking the total recorded upto 180 species) also seen 1 Meadow Brown,20+ Ringlet,2 Large Skipper,3 Gatekeeper,10 Common Blue Damselfly & 1 Black-tailed Skimmer

(D.Hutton)

1st July 2008

3 Reed Warbler singing today on the pool also my 1st Hobby of the year on the pool taking out a Swift

(D.Hutton)

30th June 2008

1 Little Owl,1 Common Buzzard,2 Common Terns & at least 2 Reed Warblers still singing also 1 Redshank perched up on 1 of the tree stumps in the water (The 1st on the pool for a few years) Butterflies & Moths seen inc 2 Silver-ground Carpet,1 Speckled Wood & 4 Ringlet whilst Dragonflies inc 7 Black-tailed Skimmers & the 1st Brown Hawker of the year

(D.Hutton)

23rd June 2008

2 Reed Warbler,2 Common Tern,1 Little Owl,2 Common Buzzard being the only real birds of note this morning!!!

(D. Hutton)

16th June 2008

Very quiet still with only 1 Little Owl,1 Buzzard & 3 singing Reed Warblers of any note!
the 1st Black-tailed Skimmers (Dragonflies) were on the wing today with 2 males & 20+ Common Blue Damselflies,nearby at Kingswood Meadows at least 50+ Chimney Sweepers,3 Latticed Heath,10+ Burnet Companion (Moths) 4 Large Skipper,1 Meadow Brown (Butterflies) & again nearby at Whittleford Park 1 Broad-bodied Chaser,1 Four-spotted Chaser,1m Banded Demoiselle,30+ Azure,10+ Blue-tailed & 5 Common Blue Damselflies,1 Common Blue,5 Speckled Wood & 2 Small Copper Butterflies on the wing.

(D.Hutton)

13th June 2008

Lesser Whitethroat (maybe as many as 5), Reed Warbler, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, Common Tern and Kestrel. Scores of Swift, House Martin and Swallow mostly at the back of the pool.

Colin Green.

11th June 2008

1 Little Owl,2 Common Tern,2 Reed Warbler,4+ Lesser Whitethroat (2ad + at least 2 fledglings)
2 Lesser Blk Backed Gulls

(D.Hutton)

June 9th 2008

Elephant Hawkmoth
Pale Tussock
Scorched Wing
May Highflyer

2 Common Tern & 1 Little Owl being the only birds off note!! Decided to do a Moth trapping session with Rich Dawkins around the pool ran 1 125MV trap from 10pm -2am with just over 100 moths caught of 36 Species with the highlights being Elephant Hawkmoth,May Highflyer,Pale Tussock & Scorched Wing

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

June 4th 2008

Silver-ground Carpet

3 Reed Warbler stll singing,1 Buzzard also seen 1 Brimstone,2 Peacock,5 Green-veined White,1 Speckled Wood & 1 Red Admiral whilst moths seen inc 1 Green Carpet,3 Common Carpet & 52+ Silver-ground Carpet with the 1st Damselflies also being seen today 7 Common-blue & 1 Large Red

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

1st June 2008

Still very quiet on the pool with just the feeding Swallows,House Martins & Swifts & a male Lesser Whitethroat of any note,the Mute Swans have 6 Cygnets! Still no Damselflies seen on the pool which is very unusual & about a month late already,12+ Silver-ground Carpet (Moths) seen this morning

(D.Hutton)

21st May 2008

Very quiet on the pool again with 3 Common Buzzard,2 Common Tern,50 + Swift,6+ Orange-tip Butterfly,3 Green-veined White & 2 Common Carpet (Moths) also a report of a Little Tern? (which would be the 1st record since 1983) but as last year the record is dodgy to say the least! with yet another anonymous sighting! (Last year it was a Juv Common Tern) I spent all afternoon at the pool & the only birds were Common!!!!!

(D.Hutton)

20th May 2008

Looks like i jumped the gun a little yesterday? with a 1st for the pool today!!
a suberb Red Kite circling over the backend fields & over towards Tower Farm before drifting off towards Grove Farm also seen 2 Common Buzzard,2 Common Tern,100+ Swift,House Martins & Swallow (Taking the Bird list for the pool upto 179 Species)

(D.Hutton)

May 19th 2008

The last week on the pool has been very quiet,with most summer visitors & passage migrants now on their breeding grounds,so my attention will probably shift to the Butterflies & Damselflies & Dragonflies (When they emerge!!) The only bird of note today was the pools 1st Common Tern of the year (very late this year)

(D.Hutton)

May 9th 2008

A quick walk with the dog tonight after work produced a long wanted bird to my Seeswood list in the form of Oystercatcher,the 1st record since 1991 although a record was claimed Autumn 2004 of a flyover

(Dave Hutton)

8th May 2008

It's been very quiet on the pool for the past few days & it appears Seeswoods purple patch has ended with only 1 Common Sandpiper,Lesser Whitethroat,2 Blackcap,3 Reed Warbler,2 Little Owl & a pair of Gadwall (Uncommon on the pool) being the only birds of note over the last 2 days!! Butterflies inc Green-veined White,Orange Tip,Large White,Small Tortoiseshell & Speckled Wood.

It's also 20 Years today since Seeswoods finest bird was found by Mr John Liggins!!


'Caspian Tern'

5th May 2008

11 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, several Reed Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Swift, 10+ House Martin, 2 Swallow, male Kestrel, 3 Common Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies.

Alan Ramsell

4th May 2008

1 Blackcap,2 Reed Warbler,3 Swallow, 2 Common Sandpiper & 1 Little owl being the only birds of note on the pool early morning also 2 Bank Voles seen

(D.Hutton)

3rd May 2008

Fairly quiet. Grey Wagtail on the dam, Kestrel and Reed Bunting. Several Swifts. Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Gt Spotted Woodpecker heard.

Colin Green.

30th April 2008

1 Garden Warbler,1 Chiffchaff,1 Lesser Whitethroat,3 Reed Warbler,5 Swift,Swallow,House Martin,1 Buzzard & 1 Green Woodpecker

(D.Hutton)

nearby in Whittleford park....
3 Whitethroat & 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling & showing well)

April 29th 2008

No sign of the Wood Warbler today!! New in Garden Warbler singing this morning also 1 Common Sandpiper,1 Lesser Whitethroat,50+ Swallow,10+ House Martin,1 Swift,1 Yellow Wagtail,1 Little Owl

(D.Hutton)

28th April 2008

Today on the pool at least 4 Swift,100+ Swallow,10+ Sand Martin,20+ House Martin,1 f Whitethroat,1 m Lesser Whitethroat,Blackcap,Reed Warbler,2 Common Sandpiper & the bird of the day a very confiding Wood Warbler (the 1st on the pool since 3/5/95)

24th April 2008

Very quiet on the pool today with no sign of the Black Tern. 1 Yellow Wagtail,1 White Wagtail,3 Sand Martin,5 Swallow & 3 Little Owl seen

(D.Hutton)

23rd April 2008

3 Yellow Wagtail,2 Little Owl,6 Common Buzzard & 1 Black Tern (my 1st on the pool for a few years) 1 Sedge Warbler (1st for the pool this year)

also seen 2 Orange Tip,5 Peacock & 3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies

(2 Sedge Warbler this evening R.Dawkins,M.Maddox)

(D.Hutton)

22nd April 2008

2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Common Buzzard & 1 drake Mandarin (only the 5th record for the pool with the last being a drake on 19/9/04) also 1 Peacock butterfly

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

21st April 2008

100+ Swallow & good No's of Sand & House Martins, 5 Yellow Wagtail & 1 White Wagtail

(D.Hutton)

17th April 2008

20+ Swallow,10+ House Martin,5+ Sand Martin,1 Common Sandpiper,2 Yellow Wagtail & 5 Shoveler

(D.Hutton,R Dawkins)

16th April 2008 (Ringing Recovery)

All Photos by D.Hutton

The colour ringed Common Sandpiper on the pool yesterday was rung by Derek Yaldon in Derbys (Details below)

NW11666, ringed as a juvenile, 44.5 g, wing 104 mm (so not fully grown), still with down on nape. 10 July 2002, 19.30 hrs BST, W side of Ladybower Res (N arm) at about SK182885.Seen subsequently at N end of Derwent Reservoir, c. SK170922, 19/6/04, 26/6/05, 14/5/07.

16th April 2008

Visible migration on the pool today!!!
10+ Swallow,3 House Martins,Sand Martins,3 Willow Warblers,Chiffchaff,Blackcap,1 Common Sandpiper,1 Yellow Wagtail over calling but not seen (1st of the year) also 1 Little Owl,2 Cormorant

(D.Hutton)

15th April 2008

2 Willow Warbler,3 Swallow,4 Sand Martin,Curlew over calling,2 Common Sandpiper (1st of the year on the pool) 5 Buzzard,2 Kestrel,1 Sparrowhawk

(D.Hutton,A.Burton)

12th April 2008

9 Common Buzzard,1 Kestrel,1 Sparrowhawk,6 Greylag in with the Canada Geese,4 Swallow,4 Sand Martin,1 House Martin my first of the year,1 Grey Wagtail,1 Grey Heron

(R.Dawkins)

9th April 2008

RL Partridge, Grey Wagtail, 4 Common Gulls, Reed Bunting and Goldfinch.

Colin Green.

9th April 2008

1 House Martin,15+ Sand Martin,2 Blackap,1 Chiffchaff,2 Buzzard,1 Raven (over calling) 3 Little Owl

(D.Hutton)

8th April 2008

1 Water Rail,2 Common Snipe,3 Lapwing,2 Shoveler,1 Chiffchaff singing also 15+ Sand Martin & 1 House Martin (My 1st & the pools 1st of the year)

(D.Hutton)

6th April 2008

1 Willow Warbler singing in the snow (1st of the Year on the pool) also upto 10 Sand Martin

(D.Hutton)

4th April 2008

3 Little Owl. One at back of pool and another two on floor below favoured hedgerow. Several Sand Martin over water and 1 Chiffchaff singing in willows at back of pool. 1 Common Buzzard plus 2 Grey Wagtail on dam.
Also - Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Gt Crested Grebe, Jackdaw, Magpie, Starling, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Gt Tit, Blue Tit, LT Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock and BH Gull. 32 species, most this year - so far.

Colin Green

3rd April 2008

3 Little Owl,5 Common Buzzard,1 Sparrowhawk,100+ Fieldfare & 4 Sand Martin also on the back fields 3 Hares.

(D.Hutton)

2nd April 2008

This evening on the pool 1 Swallow (1st of the year) & 1 Chiffchaff singing

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

2nd April 2008

1 Cormorant, 2 male Shoveler and 8 Tufted Duck on pool. 2 Grey Wagtail on dam, 1 Kestrel and at back of pool 6 Fieldfare and 1 Little Owl. Just 5 Greylags and 12 Canada Geese.

Colin Green.

29th March 2008

1 Sand Martin. Little Owl at back of pool, 4 male and 1 female Tufted Duck, 2 Common Gulls and 1 Reed Bunting. No Greylag Geese!

Colin Green.

27th March 2008

1 Grey Wagtial on dam, 6 male and 2 female Tufted Duck, pair of Teal in field, 11 Gt C Grebe, 1 Common Gull, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 Common Buzzard.

Colin Green

March 26th

First migrant of the year on the pool Chiffchaff in the willows in the corner to the left of the Carpark!! not much else of note 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 male Shoveler,with 2 Hares in the nearby fields

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

24th March 2008

2 Grey Wagtail on dam, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Gulls, 1 Cormorant and a flock of House Sparrows in field hedge.

Colin Green.

19th March 2008

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker briefly at far end of pool in mature trees just inside field. 75 BH Gulls, 7 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser BB Gulls, 40 Canada Geese, 11 Greylags, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzard, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Colin Green.

17th March 2008

Quiet today. Numbers of geese and gulls are down. 14 Canada Geese, 7 Greylags, 2 BH Gulls and 2 Common Gulls. Otherwise of note only Reed Bunting, LT Tit and a Common Buzzard heard calling from the Arbury Estate.

Colin Green.

14th March 2008

4 Common Gulls, 24 BH Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 41 Canada Geese, 10 Greylag, 12 GC Grebe, Reed Bunting and Goldfinch.

Colin Green.

13th March 2008

1 Water Rail flushed from reeds to left of fisherman's car park. 1 Little Owl, 44 BH Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 46 Canada Geese but only 2 Greylag Geese. 2 Grey Wagtail, LT Tit and Reed Bunting.

Colin Green.

11th March 2008

1 Little Owl, 90 BH Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 40 Canada Geese, 50 Greylag Geese, Reed Bunting, LT Tit and 6 Lapwing a couple of fields back from the pool.

Colin Green.

9th March 2008

2 Mute Swan, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Mallard, pair Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 6 Moorhen, 37 Greylag Geese, 130+ Black Headed Gull, male Reed Bunting, 3 Mistle Thrush,Jackdaw, 2 Common Buzzard, male Pheasant.


(Alan Ramsell)

7th March 2008

2 Common Buzzard, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Lesser BB Gull, 3 Common Gulls, 3 Tufted Ducks and a couple of flocks of Starlings.

Colin Green.

March 6th 2008

Male Goosander still present this morning

(D.Hutton)

5th March 2008

This morning Little Owl about 35 metres along hedge from favoured holly bush.
6 Mute Swan, 28 Greylag, 77 Canada Geese, male Pochard, male Goosander, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser BB Gull, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Mistle Thrush.

(Colin Green)

5th March 2008

male Goosander still present also 5 Common Buzzard, 5 Common Gull, 3 Lssr Blk Backed Gulls & the Little Owl back in the usual roosting bush (1st time ive seen it this year)

(D.Hutton)

4th March 2008

1 male Goosander briefly before flying off with BH Gulls. 1 Grey Wagtail on dam, 2 Common Gulls, 58 Greylag Geese and 72 Canada Geese.

Colin Green.

4th March

1 male Goosander this morning also 2 Lssr Blk Backed Gulls,2 Common Gull &
1 Yellowhammer being the only birds of note

(D.Hutton)

2nd March 2008

3 Mute Swan, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 20+ Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck (5male + 1female), 7 Coot, 8 Moorhen, male Shoveler, 80+ Canada Geese, 40+ Greylag Geese, 130+ Black Headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush,Goldfinch,

1st March

One white goose with 30 Greylags, 84 Canada's, only a handful of BH Gulls, 1 Lesser BB Gull and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Colin Green.

3rd February 2008

No sign of the Red Crested Pochard but still large numbers of geese. Birds recorded were:

3 Mute Swan, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 29 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck,20 Coot
2 Pochard, 90+ Canada Geese,60+Greylag Geese, Grey Heron, 100+ Black Headed Gull
4 Common Gull, 1 Cormorant, 10+ Fieldfare,5+ Redwing, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

(A Ramsell)

2nd February 2008

Canada Geese 125, Greylag Geese 62, Lesser BB Gull 2, Common Gull 2, Cormorant 2, Pochard 1. No sign of the recent Red-crested Pochard.

Colin J Green.

30th January 2008

Today on the pool a (Female) Red Crested Pochard present only the 4th record with the last being on 5th January 1990


(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

6th Janaury 2008

Fairly quiet this morning with main highlight being:

3 Mute Swan, 3 Great Crested Grebe,36 Mallard,11 Tufted Duck,11 Coot,2 Moorhen,130+ Canada Geese,48 Greylag Geese,1 Pied Wagtail ,70+ Black Headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Kestrel,3 Pheasant

Alan Ramsell

December 30th

Shoveler 20 (12 Female - 8 Male), Pochard 5,Coromorant 1,Lapwing 1
Good views of Male Sparrowhawk sitting in the Oaks at the back-end,Red-legged Partridge 4,Fieldfare 1
Lesser black-backed Gull 3
Water Rails calling in the bay down from the fishermans carpark
R.Dawkins

29th December 2007

7 male and 13 female Shoveler, 4 RL Partridge, at least 70 Mallard, Cormorant, 3 Common and 2 Lesser BB Gulls. Geese in far fields beyond accurate counting distance.

Colin Green

December 19th

3 Lesser BB Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 1 Pochard, 4 Wigeon, 1 GS Woodpecker. BH Gulls 109, Canada Geese 106 and Greylag Geese 32.

(Colin J Green)

December 19th

40+ Siskin in alders at the back of the pool also 4 Wigeon (3m 1f) feeding on field with the mixed flock of Canada & Greylag geese,1 Kingfisher,2 Herring gull,4 Lsser blk backed gull,2 Shoveler (eclipse males)2 Buzzard,2 Song thrush & 12 Skylark over

(D.Hutton)

Smaller Dragonflies & Damselflies

Common Blue Damselfly (Top)

Blue Tailed damselfly (Top)

Emerald Damselfly (Top)

Banded Demoiselle (Male)

Ruddy Darter

Common Darter

All present in reasonable numbers especially the Blue Tailed & Common Blue Damselflies which can number several hundred in good weather,Emerald damselfly being the rarest on the pool with only a couple of sightings so far,care needs too be taken with the Common & the rarer Ruddy Darter with the subtle differences in colour & shape, best seperated by good views or by an experienced observer!!

11th December

2 Yellowhammer,3 Wigeon (1m 2f),4 Pochard,1 Teal,15 Tufted Duck,41 Greylag Geese,7 Cormorant

(D.Hutton)

Larger Dragonflies around the pool

Four Spotted Chaser (Top)

Brown Hawker

Broad Bodied Chaser (Female top Male bottom)

Black Tailed Skimmer (Male)

Southern Hawker (Male)

Migrant Hawker (Male)

Emperor Dragonfly (Male)

All these Dragonflies can be found regularly around the pool at the right time of the year,with the Emperor being 1 of the 1st on the wing & the Migrant Hawker the last on the wing upto mid-late October in a warm Autumn

4th December

1 Water Rail showing in the marshy cut off pool by the point,walked across the footpath right in front of us also 1 female Wigeon,1 male shoveler & 1 Common Buzzard

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)