Recent Sightings at Grimsargh Wetland
12th May 2024
Gadwall, 4, (David Hindle)
all on small island
Mallard, 20
Tufted Duck, 12
Oystercatcher, 3
Avocet, 2
after 4 days eloping the wanderer returns, female remains sitting throughout the period
Lapwing, 4
no chicks ?
Little Ringed Plover, 2
courtship behaviour
Curlew, 1
Redshank, 2
copulating
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff, 1
brief song
Blackcap, 1
Garden Warbler, 1
Reed Bunting, 1
10th May 2024
Avocet, 1
Sitting bird, alas her mate apparently gone AWOL, come back soon !!
Dunlin, 1
9th May 2024
Avocet, 1, (David Bickerton)
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Dunlin, 1
Redshank, 2
Copulating
Buzzard, 1
Willow Warbler, 3
Singing
Chiffchaff, 1
Sedge Warbler, 2
Blackcap, 1
Canada Goose, 25, (Geoff Carefoot)
Circa 25, some on nests plus 2 & 5 goslings
Shelduck, 2
pair flew in at 06:55 but departed west after a few minutes
Shoveler, 1, Drake
Gadwall, 4
2 pairs
Mallard, 12
One duck with 5 ducklings
Teal, 1
Drake
Tufted Duck, 16
Unusually 2 pairs on the shallow lake
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 4
Little Grebe, 1
Unusually on the shallow lake
Oystercatcher, 4
One sitting bird left scrape briefly on an exercising flight.
Avocet, 1
Sitting bird but partner unusually absent from site...Alston?
Lapwing, 6
One sitting bird
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Dunlin, 1
male
Redshank, 3
Black-headed Gull, 31
...but no sign of Little Gull at 06:00
Magpie, 2
Jackdaw, 8
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1
Male
8th May 2024
Whimbrel, 5, (Mark Breaks)
Curlew, 12
Little Gull, 1, Adult
Present at dusk
Shoveler, 1, drake, (David Hindle)
duck not seen brooding somewhere ?
Avocet, 2
sitting
Little Ringed Plover, 3
constant flying in tandem by 1 pair for 15 minutes whilst 3rd bird was present on the big island
Curlew, 1
Garden Warbler, 1
still singing
7th May 2024
Shelduck, 2
Gadwall, 2, pair
Teal, 1, drake
Tufted Duck, 5
Great Crested Grebe, 1
sitting
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 2
one sitting
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
on big island, tending to be elusive
Whimbrel, 8
Redshank, 3
Garden Warbler, 1
singing on causeway
Garden Warbler, 1
still singing in causeway tree 1930 hrs
5th May 2024
Shelduck, 1, (Tony Cooper)
Shoveler, 1
other common species also pesent
Avocet, 1
sitting on nest on smaller of the two islands; its partner must have been not far away
Whimbrel, 25
this makes minimum 100 at Grimsargh and Alston Wetlands
Canada Goose, 30, (Geoff Carefoot)
Some with small goslings.
Shelduck, 1, Drake
Shoveler, 1
Drake only.
Teal, 3, 2m,1f
Tufted Duck, 9
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Pair, one on nest in waterlogged bush.
Oystercatcher, 4, 2 Pairs
Avocet, 2, Pair
Pretty certain to be last year's pair, nesting within 3m of previous year.
Lapwing, 5
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Whimbrel, 3
20:00, pre-roost
Redshank, 2
Black-headed Gull, 30
Includes 12 sitting birds on rafts.
Greenfinch, 1
Male wheezing.
1st May 2024
Avocet, 2, (Mark Breaks)
Sedge Warbler, 1
Shelduck, 1, (Geoff Carefoot)
Drake
Gadwall, 3
Pair, and a drake consorting with mallard duck
Teal, 1, drake
Tufted Duck, 10
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 4
Again two scrapping furiously and intercepted by grebe
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Finally making an effort and bird now on nest in bush.
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 2
Water level dropping, back on small island.
Lapwing, 5
2 sitting
Little Ringed Plover, 0
not seen today
Curlew, 3
Bathing, no Whimbrel present mid-afternoon.
Redshank, 2
Magpie, 1
'Anting' or simply sunbathing on embankment
Jackdaw, 11
Swallow, 3
Chiffchaff, 1, m
Blackcap, 1, m
Garden Warbler, 1, (David Hindle)
28th April 2024
Shelduck, 1, Drake, (Geoff Carefoot)
Mallard, 20
Duck with 11 'day-old' ducklings
Teal, 4, 2 pairs
Tufted Duck, 9
Moorhen, 4
Two males aggressively sparring while female looked on.
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Appear to have abandoned nest building, again.
Oystercatcher, 4
One sitting on island
Avocet, 2
Feeding in shallows.
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 42
Present at pre-dusk visit at 20:15
Common Sandpiper, 1
Heard only
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 20
Sand Martin, 5
Swallow, 4
Oystercatcher, (Louise Clewley)
Avocet, 2
Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 175
Curlew, 8
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank
26th April 2024
Shelduck, 2, (David Hindle)
Gadwall, 3, 2 drake one diuck
Mallard, 5
surprisingly few
Teal, 2, drake/duck
Pochard, 2, pair
Tufted Duck, 9
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 3
Lapwing, 2
Nest: no longer recent brooding - predation ?
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 62
several flew off calling
Redshank, 2
Common Gull, 2
Great Black-backed Gull, 2, pair
fairly regular on small island
Herring Gull (argentatus), 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 0
24th April 2024
Shelduck, 3, (Geoff Carefoot)
Early evening
Gadwall, 4
2 pairs (but pochard & shoveler absent)
Teal, 2
Pair
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
One carrying nesting material to site selected by t'other.
Avocet, 2
feeding
Whimbrel, 35
Up to 35-ish early evening but didn't stay
Common Sandpiper, 1
...but LRP not seen.
Redshank, 1
Shelduck, 5, (David Hindle)
Gadwall, 2
Teal, 2
Tufted Duck, 5
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 3
Great Crested Grebe, 2
managing nest
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 2
one making a scrape
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 148
coordinated count from 2000hrs to 2110hrs
Whimbrel, 64
fairly stable day time count on big island
Curlew, 12
at roost with whimbrel
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 3
Black-headed Gull, 80
hawking insects towards dusk later 10 noctule and probable Daubentons bats
Swallow, 20
23rd April 2024
Canada Goose, (Geoff Carefoot)
Greylag Goose
Pink-footed Goose, 5
The 'famous five' remain
Shelduck, 1
Gadwall, 2
Pair
Mallard, 10
Teal, 2
Pair
Pochard, 2
Tufted Duck, 7
Stock Dove, 3
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
2 nests
Avocet, 3
Lapwing, 5
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Still a single bird.
Whimbrel, 49
32 flew off at 16:10 leaving 17
Curlew, 1
Redshank, 2
Black-headed Gull, 25
Cormorant, 3
Fishing in echelon.
Sparrowhawk, 1
Male, fast & low.
Magpie, 3
Jackdaw, 15
House Martin, 4
20th April 2024
Pink-footed Goose, 5, (David Bickerton)
Avocet, 3
Whimbrel, 9
Curlew, 2
Common Sandpiper, 1
Pink-footed Goose, 5, (Geoff Carefoot)
Flew in.
Mute Swan, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 4
Common Sandpiper, 2
Herring Gull, 1
Jay, 2
Lesser Whitethroat, 1, m
Dunnock, 2
Reed Bunting, 1, m
Shelduck, 1, (David Hindle)
Shoveler, 2, pair
Tufted Duck, 14
Avocet, 3
one pair copulating in shallow water off big island
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 71
into roost by 2030hrs plus 3 Curlew
Curlew, 3
Common Sandpiper, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Willow Warbler, 4
Bullfinch, 2, pair
regular emergence of the pair from dense and high shrubs in rear garden this pm
19th April 2024
Shoveler, 2, Pair, (Geoff Carefoot)
Pochard, 2, Pair
Tufted Duck, 14
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 9
Looked to be in to roost but departed at 19:55?
Curlew, 2
Curlew, 2
Sanderling, 1
Resting on island but departed at 20:05
Cormorant, 7
On small island but departed circa 20:00
Swallow, 2
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, m
18th April 2024
Shoveler, 2, (Mark Breaks)
Gadwall, 5
Avocet, 2
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Lesser Whitethroat, 1
16th April 2024
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Singing male
Pink-footed Goose, 5, (David Hindle)
on small island again isolated from feral grey lag
Shelduck, 2
Shoveler, 3, 2 drake one duck
Gadwall, 2, pair
nb common scoter now apparently gone. Butterflies: peacock and small tortoishell
Mallard, 0
9
Pochard, 2, duck and drake
Tufted Duck, 12
Coot, 3
Oystercatcher, 4
Lapwing, 4
one bird sitting
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Whimbrel, 14
first seasonal flock on big island
Curlew, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Cormorant, 4
Buzzard, 1
overhead
Tawny Owl, 1
heard only at dawn
Willow Warbler, 2
Chiffchaff, 1
Blackcap, 1
Lesser Whitethroat, 1
singing in hedge north bank
Starling, 2
nesting in box under house eave for 5th consecutive year
Bullfinch, 1
rear garden
15th April 2024
Shoveler, 2, Pair, (Geoff Carefoot)
Gadwall, 2, Pair
Tufted Duck, 14
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 2
Pair back on small island
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Turnstone, 1
Brought down by overnight storm
Dunlin, 1, M
Brought in by overnight storm.
Redshank, 1
Cormorant, 4
Sand Martin, 10
Swallow, 3
House Martin, 2
14th April 2024
Pheasant, 1, m, calling
Canada Goose
Uncounted but at least 5 on nests
Greylag Goose, 17
Shelduck, 2, pair
Shoveler, 2, Pair
Gadwall, 2, Pair by new islet
Mallard, 9
Surprisingly few
Pochard, 2, Pair
Surprisingly diving in shallow lake.
Common Scoter, 1, m
On the mere.
Tufted Duck, 15
Stock Dove, 4
As usual, on island.
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 6
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 5, 2 pairs
Pair making use of newly cleared small islet.
Lapwing, 5
All on islands
Curlew, 15
Redshank, 2, Presumed pair
Black-headed Gull, 59
Including one freshly dead...not again...
Herring Gull, 1
Cormorant, 3
On island, two asleep.
Jackdaw, 12
Great Tit, 0
Willow Warbler, 0, m
Chiffchaff, 2, m m
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, m
Chaffinch, 2
Pink-footed Goose, 5, adults, (David Hindle)
loafing on small island - slight increase in no's
Mute Swan, 1
Shelduck, 1
Shoveler, 2, pair
Pochard, 2, drake and duck
Common Scoter, 1, drake
on the mere only 3rd record for this site
Tufted Duck, 12
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 2
Coot, 6
Oystercatcher, 4
Lapwing, 5
Dunlin, 1
on large island
Redshank, 2
Black-headed Gull, 82
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Herring Gull, 1
Willow Warbler, 1
on the fen
Blackcap, 1
brief song rear garden
Bullfinch, 1, male
my rear garden
12th April 2024
Pochard, 1, m, (Geoff Carefoot)
Drake diving in the shallows of the island lake.
Stock Dove, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 6
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
A cracking bird in nuptial plumage.
Redshank, 1
House Martin, 2
Pink-footed Goose, 4, (David Hindle)
asleep on distant small island
Shoveler, 2, pair
Pochard, 1, drake
Coot, 1
only one
Oystercatcher, 5
Lapwing, 4
Curlew, 4
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
breeding plumage
Black-headed Gull, 70
Great Black-backed Gull, 1, adult
Sand Martin, 6
Blackcap, 1
singing in rear garden
11th April 2024
Black-headed Gull, (Geoff Carefoot)
10 or 11 occupied nests on the cable drum rafts.
Shelduck, 1, (David Hindle)
Gadwall, 2, pair
Pochard, 1, drake
Tufted Duck, 11
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 5
Lapwing, 3
Curlew, 1
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 2
Chiffchaff, 1
Nuthatch, 1
heard
8th April 2024
Little Ringed Plover, 2, (Mark Breaks)
Swallow, 1
Wheatear, 1
Female in fields to north
Canada Goose, 44, (Geoff Carefoot)
Greylag Goose, 16
Shoveler, 4
2 pairs
Mallard, 12
Tufted Duck, 6
Stock Dove, 2
Moorhen, 3
no coots seen.
Little Grebe, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 6
3 pairs
Lapwing, 14
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-headed Gull, 67
Med gulls not present, probably gone to Belmont.
Herring Gull, 2
Cormorant, 4
Jackdaw, 8
House Martin, 2
Willow Warbler, 2
Chiffchaff, 1
Wren, 1
Pink-footed Goose, 3, (David Hindle)
with feral grey lag on island
Mute Swan, 1
Shoveler, 3
Gadwall, 2, pair
Pochard, 2, pair
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 4
pair on each island
Lapwing, 0, 3
Mediterranean Gull, 0
Common Gull, 1
Herring Gull, 3
Cormorant, 5
Willow Warbler, 0
heard
Chiffchaff, 1
7th April 2024
Shelduck, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Shoveler, 7
Teal, 6
Pochard, 2
Pair
Whimbrel, 1
Roosted
Curlew, 169
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Mute Swan, 1, (David Hindle)
Shoveler, 4, 2 pair
Teal, 4, 2 pair
Tufted Duck, 6
Oystercatcher, 4
one pair on territory on islet with brooding Canada goose !
Lapwing, 4
Curlew, 12
in flight = volunteer day
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 120
Tawny Owl, 1
heard only rear garden at dawn
Willow Warbler, 1
one syllable of song, keeping down to avoid windswept Storm Kathleen
Chiffchaff, 1
heard briefly
Bullfinch, 1, male
on feeder, rear garden
2nd April 2024
Great Crested Grebe, 2, (Geoff Carefoot)
Oystercatcher, 9
Some recent interlopers.
Curlew, 9
Over.
30th March 2024
Canada Goose, 26
Greylag Goose, 8
Mute Swan, 1
Shoveler, 7
Mallard, 7
Tufted Duck, 9
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 7
Hoovering up under neighbours feeders
Coot, 5
Oystercatcher, 4, 2 pairs
Lapwing, 4, 2 pairs.
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-headed Gull, 126
Mediterranean Gull, 10
Cormorant, 12
Wing-drying on small island.
Buzzard, 2, (Circling together to the north west.)
Buzzard, 2
Jackdaw, 6, (Geoff Carefoot)
Chiffchaff, 4, 4 x M, (Circling together to the north west.)
Chiffchaff, 0
Dunnock, 2, 2 x M
Goldfinch, 3
26th March 2024
Shelduck, 2, (David Hindle)
Shoveler, 3, 2 drake and 1 duck
Gadwall, 1, drake
Mallard, 8
Tufted Duck, 6
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 4
Lapwing, 5
one making scrape
Black-headed Gull, 180
scattered over lake and mere with fewer med gulls
Mediterranean Gull, 33
Chiffchaff, 1
singing
25th March 2024
Canada Goose, (Vicky Mortimer)
Mute Swan, 1
Shoveler, 5
Tufted Duck
Moorhen
Little Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Cormorant
24th March 2024
Mediterranean Gull, 37, (Mark Breaks)
Cetti's Warbler, 1
Showing well in brush piles in front of screen after causeway
Shoveler, 7, (Geoff Carefoot)
Gadwall, 1
Tufted Duck, 12
Moorhen, 6
Coot, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 3
Lapwing, 6
Curlew, 142
Flighting in at dusk
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 0
Grey Heron, 1
Flew in at dusk.
22nd March 2024
Pink-footed Goose, 5, (Mark Breaks)
Still
Shelduck, 2
Shoveler, 7
Mediterranean Gull, 29
Including two second summers and a white darvic ringed bird
20th March 2024
Shoveler, 8, (Flew in at dusk)
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Redshank, 2
Canada Goose, 18, (Geoff Carefoot)
Shoveler, 3, 2 drakes
Gadwall, 2, pair
Tufted Duck, 11
Stock Dove, 2
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 6
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Dozing
Oystercatcher, 4
2 pairs,
Avocet, 1
Hopefully the return of one of last year's breeders.
Lapwing, 15
Curlew, 1
Redshank, 2
Black-headed Gull, 248
Mediterranean Gull, 19
3 overflying with very noticeable calls
Common Gull, 1
Herring Gull, 1
Cormorant, 2
Magpie, 1
Jackdaw, 11
Great Tit, 2, mm
Chiffchaff, 1, m
19th March 2024
Shelduck, 2, (David Hindle)
Shoveler, 2, paid
Mallard, 5
Teal, 3
Tufted Duck, 15
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Redshank, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 13
with 30 black headed gulls
Common Gull, 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2
Cormorant, 4
Chiffchaff, 1
singing on the fen
Song Thrush, 1
Reed Bunting, 1
18th March 2024
Shoveler, 2, (David Bickerton)
Wigeon, 1
Snipe, 2
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 46
Mediterranean Gull, 12
17th March 2024
Shelduck, 3, (Mark Breaks)
Shoveler, 4
Gadwall, 2
Curlew, 218
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Dunlin, 1
Snipe, 5
Redshank, 2
15th March 2024
Pink-footed Goose, 5
Gadwall, 2
Teal, 10
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Snipe, 6
Mediterranean Gull, 16
Including white ringed bird and a second summer
Cormorant, 9
Chiffchaff, 1
14th March 2024
Canada Goose, 67, (Geoff Carefoot)
Shelduck, 1
Mallard, 8
Tufted Duck, 9
Stock Dove, 2
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 1
Oystercatcher, 4
2 separate pairs
Lapwing, 64
Black-headed Gull, 307
Mediterranean Gull, 21
Herring Gull, 2
Cormorant, 4
Grey Heron, 1