Date
11th November 2017 0800 hrs to 1115 hrs by Geoff, Steve, Alison, Amanda, Dave M, Mike and Terry
Weather
Cool but pleasant morning with no rain or breeze Temperature 7C to 9C
Birds seen
Blackbird 80 Black-headed Gull 1 Blue Tit 20 Bullfinch 16 Buzzard 2 Carrion Crow 6 Chaffinch 25 Coal Tit 1 Cormorant 3 Dunnock 12 Goldcrest 4 Goldfinch 21 Great Tit 10 Greenfinch 8 Grey Heron 2 House Sparrow 24
32 Species in all
Kestrel 2
Kingfisher 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Long-tailed Tit 25
Magpie 55
Mallard 8
Mistle Thrush 1
Moorhen 1
Redwing 18
Reed Bunting 12
Robin 15
Song Thrush 4
Willow Tit 1
Woodpigeon 12
Wren 10
Yellowhammer 1
November’s Highlights
A good morning’s birding with the same number of species as last month and 7 more species than the equivalent survey last year. There were no warblers encountered again on the survey. November’s Highlights – without doubt the male Yellowhammer (which gave excellent views at close quarters in transect 4). The first ever sighting on the Meadows of this once common farmland bird, now on the BTO’s red list of birds of Conservation Concern; noted for its familiar song “a little bit of bread and no cheeeeeese”. With the Hawthorn hedges almost stripped bare of berries only 18 Redwing were noted throughout the survey area, markedly down from last months 81 birds. Of particular note this month were the high numbers of Chaffinch (25); Blackbirds (80); Magpie (55) and Long-tailed Tit (25). 4 Goldcrest were seen in various locations along the New Cut and around the Meadows; a decent count of this our smallest bird species. For the second time only on the Meadows a solitary Mistle Thrush was seen in transect 6. Two of our regular raptor species; Buzzard and Kestrel were seen during this months survey. The Buzzards especially, are particularly evident this time of year in transect 9. A Kingfisher was seen again flying close to Spittal Brook (transect 12). Outside of the survey date the Willow Tit has been seen regularly in November in transects 2, 4 and 12. A “mooch” around the survey area on a wet morning on Monday the 27th produced 2 x Willow Tits; 2 x Grey Wagtail in transect 4; 3 x Common Snipe in transect 4; a cock Pheasant in transect 7; and a pair of Gadwall and a Little Grebe in transect 12. Reports have been provided of a Barn Owl being seen hunting over transect 5 around 7.00 pm at night. Similar reports were received last year. Hope to get to see one myself on the Meadows some day soon.
Mammals
9 Grey Squirrels were logged during this month’s survey..
Butterflies
Not unsurprisingly, no butterflies to report this month.
Willow Tit Habitat Improvement
On Sunday the 26th November under the supervision of Mik Lees – Warrington Council Ranger, seven intrepid members of the Bird Group braved the showers and took part in a Willow Tit habit improvement workshop along the “boardwalk” area of the Ecology Trail. A big thank you to all concerned.
Song Thrush
Dunnock
Common Snipe
The 12 transects of the survey route are shown here
