Recent Sightings at Alston Wetland
11th May 2024
Shelduck, 11, (Gareth Powley)
2 adults with 9 new hatchlings
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Excellent views from Central Screen from 09:15 hr
9th May 2024
Swift, 3, (David Bickerton)
Little Grebe, 2
Ringed Plover, 1
Calling overhead
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Redshank, 4
Little Owl, 1
Chaffinch, 5
At least 5 singing
Greenfinch, 3
3 Singing
Reed Bunting, 4
2 Singing
7th May 2024
Canada Goose, (Geoff Carefoot)
present.
Shoveler, 1, Drake
Gadwall, 7
Moorhen, 2
Coot, 4
Oystercatcher, 1
sitter
Lapwing
2 sitters and at least 13 in adjacent ploughed field
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Dunlin, 1, male
Obs' with Mike Fisher.
Redshank, 4
Black-headed Gull, 6
Herring Gull, 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 23
Bathing
Little Owl, 1
Usual fence post.
Kestrel, 1, F
Over.
Jackdaw, 8
Sand Martin, 7
Swallow, 3
House Martin, 4
Collecting mud.
Song Thrush, 1
Greenfinch, 1, m
Singer
5th May 2024
Whimbrel, 75, (Tony Cooper)
Plus other common species
3rd May 2024
Shoveler, 1, Male, (Gareth Powley)
Gadwall, 5
Tufted Duck, 12, 10 drakes
Little Grebe, 3
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Redshank, 4
Minimum
Greenshank, 1
Present for 5th day
Little Owl, 1
House Martin, 5
Minimum count
2nd May 2024
Shoveler, 1, Drake
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Minimum count
Dunlin, 1
Redshank, 4
Minimum
Greenshank, 1
Re-found by Glenn Higgins at 09:30hr
Little Owl, 1
Low on west side of hedge; only seen 1 bird in last few days, maybe they are sitting?
Sand Martin, 10
Minimum
Swallow, 2
House Martin, 4
Lesser Whitethroat, 1, Male
Singing in hedge opposite gate to Reservoir No 1
Little Ringed Plover, 2, (Glenn Higgins)
Dunlin, 1
Greenshank, 1
Also seen by Gareth Powley
Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Church Brow ,thanks too Gareth Powley.for Location
1st May 2024
Tufted Duck, 4, (David Bickerton)
Little Ringed Plover, 4
Whimbrel, 12
Curlew, 5
Dunlin, 1
Redshank, 4
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Buzzard, 2
Kestrel, 1
Whimbrel, 1, (Gareth Morgan)
Briefly
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Still present early evening
Great Crested Grebe, 2, (Gareth Powley)
Again around the small island
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Excellent views feeding in front of Central Screen at 10:00hr
Greenshank, 1
Present for 3rd day
House Martin, 4
Collecting mud
30th April 2024
Shoveler, 2, (David Bickerton)
Gadwall, 4
Stock Dove, 4
Lapwing, 12
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Whimbrel, 2
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 3
Greenshank, 1
29th April 2024
Shoveler, 2, (Gareth Powley)
Pair?
Gadwall, 5
Stock Dove, 2
On maize stubble
Little Grebe, 1
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 4
Minimum count
Greenshank, 1
Good view from Central Screen at 14:00hr
Sand Martin, 10
Feeding low over water
Swallow, 2
Minimum count with Sand Martins
Lesser Whitethroat, 1, Male
Singing and seen several times in hedge on Happy Alley
28th April 2024
Gadwall, 3
Drakes
Little Ringed Plover, 1
On Wetland - others in maize field stubble
Common Sandpiper, 2
Little Owl, 2
Sitting on adjacent fence posts
26th April 2024
Shoveler, 1, Male
Tufted Duck, 9
8 males with 1 female
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 1
Central screen
Lesser Whitethroat, 1, Male
Singing; moving up and down hedge on south side of Res No1
Wheatear, 1, Male
Feeding from fence posts on west side of Res No 1
24th April 2024
Whimbrel, 21
Coordinated count with Peter Sharples. Maximum number was 21 at 20:00 hr
22nd April 2024
Gadwall, 9
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Back around the rush island at 09:30hr
Oystercatcher, 2
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Flying over the site
Whimbrel, 1
At 09:30hr
Curlew, 1
Redshank, 1
Little Owl, 2
Sand Martin, 10
Minimum around nest boxes
21st April 2024
Shoveler, 4
2 pairs
Gadwall, 10
Teal, 1
Little Ringed Plover, 1
In front of Central Screen, others in maize stubble
Whimbrel, 15
Loafing in front of Central Screen
Curlew, 3
Little Owl, 2
Together on east side of hedge
Sand Martin, 10
Using nest boxes - difficult to count but minimum 10
Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Singing in Pinfold Lane hedge - picked up by Gavin
20th April 2024
Great Crested Grebe, 0
Nest site in rushes commandeered by Coots! Very few birds at all on Wetland.
19th April 2024
Mute Swan, 2
Shoveler, 2
Pair
Gadwall, 6
Teal, 2
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Pair still at small rush island. Fencers making rapid progress with perimeter fence.
Oystercatcher, 2
Pair? One was the bird with the white speckles.
Little Ringed Plover, 1
On Wetland; more on maize field
Little Owl, 2
On adjacent fence posts on east side of hedge
Kestrel, 1, Male
Sand Martin, 4
18th April 2024
Mute Swan, 2
Shoveler, 2
Paired up?
Gadwall, 9
Fence construction work disturbed all waders
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Pair in courtship and nest building in rushes on mostly submerged island
Little Owl, 2
On adjacent fence posts on east side of hedge
Sand Martin, 2
Swallow, 1
16th April 2024
Curlew, 4
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Common Sandpiper, 2
From Central Screen at 19:45. No Whimbrels by 20:00
15th April 2024
Pheasant, 1, (Tony Cooper)
Canada Goose, 4
Mute Swan, 2
Gadwall, 9
Mallard, 3
Teal, 2
Tufted Duck, 9
Little Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 2
Lapwing, 3
Whimbrel, 3
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 0
Turnstone, 1
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 1
Sand Martin, 5
Blackbird, 3
on adjacent road
Song Thrush, 1
singing in hedge by adjacent road
14th April 2024
Shoveler, 5, (Gareth Powley)
Minimum count - at least 1 female
Gadwall, 7
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Now in summer plumage
Little Owl, 1
Fence post on east side of hedge
Swallow, 2
Briefly over west end at 09:15
12th April 2024
Shoveler, 1, Male
Gadwall, 6
Teal, 6
Minimum
Stock Dove, 1
On maize stubble
Little Grebe, 2
Little Ringed Plover, 6
Minimum count - at least 4 on maize stubble field
Curlew, 2
Dunlin, 1
Redshank, 4
Minimum
Buzzard, 1
Little Owl, 2
On east side of usual hedge
Kestrel, 1
Male
Meadow Pipit, 18
10th April 2024
Shoveler, 5, 4 drakes
Gadwall, 6
Redshank, 4
Little Owl, 1
Usual hedge - west side
Sand Martin, 2
Minimum count
3rd April 2024
Gadwall, 6, (Peter Sharples)
Teal, 8
Tufted Duck, 3
Little Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 3
Lapwing, 7
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Curlew, 1
Redshank, 2
Sparrowhawk, 1
flew north
Little Owl, 1
usual fence post
Chiffchaff, 1, male
singing on Pinfold Lane
1st April 2024
Shoveler, 2, (Gareth Powley)
Pair from Central Screen
Gadwall, 8
Very few other bird species at 10:00
28th March 2024
Mediterranean Gull, 8
Four "pairs" with over 200 BHGs
Common Gull, 20
Minimum count - with BHGs
26th March 2024
Pintail, 7
3 drakes
Little Ringed Plover, 3
Peter Sharples reported them at 09:30 - from Central Screen
Curlew, 7
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Redshank, 10
Minimum count
25th March 2024
Teal, (Vicky Mortimer)
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Black-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull, 0
Herring Gull
22nd March 2024
Egyptian Goose, 2, (Gareth Powley)
From Central Screen until approx 10:00hr
Avocet, 2
Dropped in front of Central Screen at 10:00 hr
21st March 2024
Goldeneye, 2
Pair courting at 09:30
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Still present at 09:30
Little Owl, 1
20th March 2024
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Still present
Knot, 4
Feeding in front of concrete inlet from Central Screen
Little Owl, 1
Singing in Ash Tree
19th March 2024
Barn Owl, 1, (Ian Lancaster)
Viewed from No.3 screen, hunting over reeds in marshy area.
18th March 2024
Mute Swan, 3, (David Bickerton)
Gadwall, 11
Mallard, 8
Teal, 19
Tufted Duck, 1
Little Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 2
Lapwing, 30
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Curlew, 14
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Dunlin, 1
Snipe, 2
Redshank, 5
Black-headed Gull, 15
Common Gull, 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2
Little Owl, 2
Sand Martin, 6
Chiffchaff, 1
Fieldfare, 16
Chaffinch, 2
Singing
Greenfinch, 1
Curlew, 52, (Gareth Powley)
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
With Curlew
Dunlin, 1, Dunlin
Snipe, 7
My sightings are supplemental to Dave Bickerton's and were at 14:30 hours
Redshank, 5
Black-headed Gull, 100
Minimum count - grass field south of Pinfold freshly slurried
Mediterranean Gull, 5
Loafing at 14:30
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 73
Chiffchaff, 1
At 15:00 in tree opposite Little Owls
15th March 2024
Gadwall, 9
Little Grebe, 1
Redshank, 3
Black-headed Gull, 60
Minimum
Common Gull, 6
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6
Long-tailed Tit, 2
Fieldfare, 50
Minimum - feeding on maize stubble
Reed Bunting, 1, Male
14th March 2024
Gadwall, 9
Tufted Duck, 1, Drake
Oystercatcher, 3
Lapwing, 30
Black-headed Gull, 70
Minimum count
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Herring Gull, 5
Little Owl, 1
Sitting on fence in the rain!
Fieldfare, 50
Minimum count feeding in maize stubble