A few quiet hours at the patch. Staines Moor 'highlights': 1 Water Pipit (Colne) with a metal ring on right leg, 6 Stonechat (4m, 2f), 3 Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard, c. 30 Fieldfare (swamp) and a few Skylark (now singing). Also, photographed a few fruiting fungi that I will try and identify. On Stanwell Moor 3 Canada Geese were just about noteworthy.
Showing posts with label Staines Moor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Staines Moor. Show all posts
5 March 2017
4 February 2017
Staines Moor: 4 February
A rather tedious day at the patch with 1+ Water Pipit (Colne), 3 Water Rail (all along the Colne - 1 at willow clump, 1 on mud by southern footbridge, and 1 in reeds at south end), 11 (5m, 1 1st-w m, 5f) Stonechat, 3 Little Grebe (Colne), 4 Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard S, 4+ Linnet, 4+ Skylark, 5+ Meadow Pipit, 1m Kestrel and 1f Common Pheasant (swamp).
Weather: Hazy sun, very light W wind, wet (rain previous night and in morning).
Weather: Hazy sun, very light W wind, wet (rain previous night and in morning).
14 January 2017
Staines Moor: 14 January
My first visit to the patch of 2017, and with the added bonus of meeting Jess on site for an hour or so. A European Golden Plover beside the Colne (just north of the southern footbridge) most of the day was very approachable and seemed to have a parasite or deformity preventing it from closing its bill fully. Also noted were 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Water Pipit (Colne), 3 Water Rail all along the Colne (1 at willow clump, 1 in reeds by southern footbridge, 1 in reeds at south end), 1f Eurasian Wigeon (Colne near dusk), 8 Little Grebe (Colne), 4 Stonechat (2m, 1 1st-w m, 1f), 7+ Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Pied Wagtail (Colne), 1 Red Kite W, 1f Kestrel, 7+ Fieldfare, 6 Moorhen (4 ad, 2 1st-w) and 1 Grey Heron.
Weather: Mainly cloudy (7 oktas) with some sunny periods later, showers mid afternoon, light cold WNW wind.
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| European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Staines Moor, 14 January 2017. A rather poorly looking individual with a deformity of the bill or maybe a parasite in the mouth. It seemed unable to close its bill but was feeding okay. |
Weather: Mainly cloudy (7 oktas) with some sunny periods later, showers mid afternoon, light cold WNW wind.
1 January 2017
Patch highlights of 2016
To say that 2016 on the patch was tough going is an understatement. It was a particularly poor year for birds - migrants and breeders alike - with one Red List species failing to return to breed for the first time. Despite this, two warbler species occurred that are potential additions to the Staines Moor list. It was also a poor year for fungi, probably as a result of a very dry last quarter. However, butterflies put on a great show, with the best autumn Red Admiral migration ever recorded at the patch.
All reports below refer to Staines Moor unless otherwise stated, and include unauthenticated records pending acceptance by the London Bird Club recorders (records that are not my own are credited in brackets).
The mild conditions the first half of winter 2015/16 continued into the January and February. End of winter highlights include 2 Eurasian Treecreeper along Bonehead Ditch on 1st January9, a high site count of 18 Stonechat on 5th January3, 7 Water Pipits on 16th January, a singing Eurasian Treecreeper by Slips Pond on 11th February, single Jack Snipes on 11th February and 25th February, 1 male House Sparrow on the Moor Lane unit of the Staines Moor SSSI on 19th February (a very rare bird for Staines Moor), and 2 Water Rail along the Colne, with one bird showing extremely well under the willow clump from 12th to 17th March. 6-8 Water Pipit on 17th March is another good site count.
Spring migration was very slow. Another singing Eurasian Treecreeper along the old railway on 2nd April was presumably the bird seen here throughout the winter, and a Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Common Redstart were all present on 12th April.
The highlight of the spring was a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits feeding beside the Colne all day on 12th May. The female was ringed as an adult on 11 May 2006 in the Netherlands at Polder bij Lies on the island of Terschelling in the western Wadden Sea. A single Grasshopper Warbler returned to breed (seen on 5th and 7th May and heard on 12th May), but depressingly, there was no sign of any Common Cuckoos at either Staines Moor or Stanwell Moor this year - the first year of absence for the patch that I can remember.
Redshank returned to Staines Moor in mid March, with 2 on 17th increasing to 5 on 20th5. 2, presumably a pair, were still present on 22nd May but breeding was not proved. Sadly, although 4 displaying Northern Lapwing were seen on 22nd March, not a single pair bred successfully.
First arrival dates of common summer migrants at Staines Moor or Stanwell Moor for 2016:
Coverage over the summer months was almost non-existent. After a very poor spring I really needed a long break away from the patch and so didn't make a single visit, but neither, seemingly, did many others. A Barn Owl at the south end of Staines Moor on 13th June is an unusual summer record5, and an intriguing report of a Marsh Warbler on the 27th August2 will be a site first if accepted.
Autumn passage began with a huge influx of migrant Red Admirals butterflies provided a fantastic spectacle as their feed on blackberries in their hundreds, peaking with at least 554 counted on Staines Moor and Stanwell Moor on 8th September.
Early October provided the autumn passage highlights. A tame Red Knot feeding beside the Colne on Staines Moor for an hour on 7th October must have been a fantastic sight and is only the third site record4. The next day the national Yellow-browed Warbler influx reached the patch with Staines Moor's first seen in a tit flock in the north-west corner6.
The first Short-eared Owl of the autumn appeared on 8th October8, with 2 together on 16th October5 and 20th October5, and the first returning Water Pipit and Jack Snipe were both noted on 22nd October. A Mediterranean Gull on 27th October is, surprisingly, only the third record for Staines Moor and a Dartford Warbler that showed up in the south-east corner of Staines Moor on 11th November is the seventh site record. 2 Jack Snipe were along the Colne on 15th November7 and a juvenile Marsh Harrier south-west over Staines Moor on 4th December1 was the last notable record of the year1.
Personally, 2016 on the patch will be remembered as a highly frustrating and infuriating year, with a huge number of hours spent in the field during spring and autumn migration in particular producing absolutely naff all. This is the nature of inland patch birding of course, but I really hope 2017 is a little better.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the following observers for reporting their records: 1Nick B, 2Ed Bates, 3John Edwards, 4Hugh Evans, 5Thomas Gibson, 6Rob Innes, 7Steve Portugal, 8Jim Sweetland and 9Jim and Tony Sweetland.
All reports below refer to Staines Moor unless otherwise stated, and include unauthenticated records pending acceptance by the London Bird Club recorders (records that are not my own are credited in brackets).
The mild conditions the first half of winter 2015/16 continued into the January and February. End of winter highlights include 2 Eurasian Treecreeper along Bonehead Ditch on 1st January9, a high site count of 18 Stonechat on 5th January3, 7 Water Pipits on 16th January, a singing Eurasian Treecreeper by Slips Pond on 11th February, single Jack Snipes on 11th February and 25th February, 1 male House Sparrow on the Moor Lane unit of the Staines Moor SSSI on 19th February (a very rare bird for Staines Moor), and 2 Water Rail along the Colne, with one bird showing extremely well under the willow clump from 12th to 17th March. 6-8 Water Pipit on 17th March is another good site count.
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| Water Rail, River Colne, Staines Moor, 17 March 2016. Water Rail occasionally winter in the willow clump along the Colne just south of the northern footbridge. |
Spring migration was very slow. Another singing Eurasian Treecreeper along the old railway on 2nd April was presumably the bird seen here throughout the winter, and a Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Common Redstart were all present on 12th April.
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| Migrant Grasshopper Warbler, Staines Moor, 12 April |
The highlight of the spring was a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits feeding beside the Colne all day on 12th May. The female was ringed as an adult on 11 May 2006 in the Netherlands at Polder bij Lies on the island of Terschelling in the western Wadden Sea. A single Grasshopper Warbler returned to breed (seen on 5th and 7th May and heard on 12th May), but depressingly, there was no sign of any Common Cuckoos at either Staines Moor or Stanwell Moor this year - the first year of absence for the patch that I can remember.
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| Bar-tailed Godwits, Staines Moor, 12 May |
Redshank returned to Staines Moor in mid March, with 2 on 17th increasing to 5 on 20th5. 2, presumably a pair, were still present on 22nd May but breeding was not proved. Sadly, although 4 displaying Northern Lapwing were seen on 22nd March, not a single pair bred successfully.
First arrival dates of common summer migrants at Staines Moor or Stanwell Moor for 2016:
| Species | Arrival date | Location | Observer |
| Barn Swallow | 20 Mar | Staines Moor | Iain, John & Kath Darbyshire |
| Northern Wheatear | 26 Mar | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Sand Martin | 26 Mar | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| House Martin | 3 Apr | Staines Moor | Tim Rymer |
| Common Redstart | 12 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Grasshopper Warbler | 12 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Willow Warbler | 12 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 12 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Sedge Warbler | 17 Apr | Staines Moor | Jim Sweetland |
| Eurasian Hobby | 20 Apr | Staines Moor | Sue Middens |
| Common Tern | 20 Apr | Staines Moor | Sue Middens, Thomas Gibson |
| Common Swift | 20 Apr | Staines Moor | Thomas Gibson |
| Ring Ouzel | 21 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Whinchat | 21 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Reed Warbler | 21 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Common Whitethroat | 21 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Yellow Wagtail | 21 Apr | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Garden Warbler | 5 May | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 7 May | Staines Moor | Lee Dingain |
Coverage over the summer months was almost non-existent. After a very poor spring I really needed a long break away from the patch and so didn't make a single visit, but neither, seemingly, did many others. A Barn Owl at the south end of Staines Moor on 13th June is an unusual summer record5, and an intriguing report of a Marsh Warbler on the 27th August2 will be a site first if accepted.
Autumn passage began with a huge influx of migrant Red Admirals butterflies provided a fantastic spectacle as their feed on blackberries in their hundreds, peaking with at least 554 counted on Staines Moor and Stanwell Moor on 8th September.
| Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta feeding on blackberries, Staines Moor, 8 September 2016 |
Early October provided the autumn passage highlights. A tame Red Knot feeding beside the Colne on Staines Moor for an hour on 7th October must have been a fantastic sight and is only the third site record4. The next day the national Yellow-browed Warbler influx reached the patch with Staines Moor's first seen in a tit flock in the north-west corner6.
The first Short-eared Owl of the autumn appeared on 8th October8, with 2 together on 16th October5 and 20th October5, and the first returning Water Pipit and Jack Snipe were both noted on 22nd October. A Mediterranean Gull on 27th October is, surprisingly, only the third record for Staines Moor and a Dartford Warbler that showed up in the south-east corner of Staines Moor on 11th November is the seventh site record. 2 Jack Snipe were along the Colne on 15th November7 and a juvenile Marsh Harrier south-west over Staines Moor on 4th December1 was the last notable record of the year1.
Personally, 2016 on the patch will be remembered as a highly frustrating and infuriating year, with a huge number of hours spent in the field during spring and autumn migration in particular producing absolutely naff all. This is the nature of inland patch birding of course, but I really hope 2017 is a little better.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the following observers for reporting their records: 1Nick B, 2Ed Bates, 3John Edwards, 4Hugh Evans, 5Thomas Gibson, 6Rob Innes, 7Steve Portugal, 8Jim Sweetland and 9Jim and Tony Sweetland.
30 November 2016
Sedge Warbler recovery
Received some more ringing data, this time regarding the ringed Sedge Warbler at Staines Moor back in May. This bird was ringed as a 1st year (ring number confirmed as 3N46271) on 4 August 2013 (time unknown) at Ria de Villaviciosa, Asturias in north-west Spain (DMS 43.28.00N -5.-25.00W), by the Madrid (Icona) ringing scheme. Presumably the bird was on it's first southbound migration to west Africa at the time? The sex was unknown when it was ringed so it is good to have been able to establish that.
Many thanks to the BTO for providing the information.
Many thanks to the BTO for providing the information.
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| Ringed male Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Staines Moor, 22 May 2016. This bird was ringed 959 km away in north-west Spain in 2013. |
26 November 2016
Staines Moor fungus foray: 26 November
Spent a few hours at Staines Moor today on a fungi foray, checking the grassland for waxcaps. I was hoping that after the recent rain a few more species would be fruiting, but I think it is a little cold at the moment. I managed to find 3 Silky Pinkgill Entoloma sericeum, 11 Snowy Waxcap Cuphophyllus virgineus, several Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, and a few other species I've yet to identify.
Avian highlights were 1 Water Pipit (Iris Channels), 1 Short-eared Owl showed very well, hunting over the east side from 15:15, 46 Linnet - the largest flock I've seen on the moor for several years, a decent sized flock of Fieldfare and Redwing in the NW corner (100+ Fieldfare, 60+ Redwing), 1 Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat (3m, 2f, 1 too distant and brief to determine), 2-3 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (Colne), 3 Little Grebe (Colne), 7 Pied Wagtail (feeding on grass on west side), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Red Kite, 1m Reed Bunting, 7 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Egyptian Goose SW. Also noted was 1-2 Red Fox.
Weather: Damp, sunny periods (5 oktas), light but cold NE wind.
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| Silky Pinkgills Entoloma sericeum, Staines Moor, 26 November 2016 - I'm currently doing my first spore print from one of these. |
Avian highlights were 1 Water Pipit (Iris Channels), 1 Short-eared Owl showed very well, hunting over the east side from 15:15, 46 Linnet - the largest flock I've seen on the moor for several years, a decent sized flock of Fieldfare and Redwing in the NW corner (100+ Fieldfare, 60+ Redwing), 1 Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat (3m, 2f, 1 too distant and brief to determine), 2-3 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (Colne), 3 Little Grebe (Colne), 7 Pied Wagtail (feeding on grass on west side), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Red Kite, 1m Reed Bunting, 7 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Egyptian Goose SW. Also noted was 1-2 Red Fox.
Weather: Damp, sunny periods (5 oktas), light but cold NE wind.
25 November 2016
Bar-tailed Godwit recovery
Received some data on the ringed female Bar-tailed Gotwit at Staines Moor on 12 May. The bird was ringed as an adult on 11 May 2006 (metal ring number 1473844, colour code R1YYRR), ten years and a day before the Staines Moor sighting, at Polder bij Lies on the island of Terschelling in the western Wadden Sea, Netherlands. It has been observed on eight occasions since, each sighting in May in the Dutch Wadden Sea, the most recent being on 7 May 2015 at De Schorren, Texel. Therefore, the Staines Moor sighting is the first observation outside of the Netherlands.
Many thanks to Job ten Horn of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) for providing the data.
Many thanks to Job ten Horn of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) for providing the data.
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| Female colour ringed Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (left), Staines Moor, 12 May 2016 |
5 November 2016
Staines Moor: 5 November
Business as usual at the patch today. Staines Moor: at least 3 Water Pipits (Colne), 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 9 Stonechat (5m, 4f), 2 Little Grebe (Colne), 1 Cetti's Warbler (showed well at the southern end of Bonehead Ditch), 6 Fieldfare (dropped down briefly then off NW), 3 Pied Wagtail (Colne), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest, 2+ Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron. Still very few fungi fruiting.
Stanwell Moor: 1 Little Egret (Lower Mill Farm Lake).
Weather: Cloudy in the morning (7 oktas) becoming sunnier in the afternoon (4 oktas), light north-westerly wind.
Stanwell Moor: 1 Little Egret (Lower Mill Farm Lake).
Weather: Cloudy in the morning (7 oktas) becoming sunnier in the afternoon (4 oktas), light north-westerly wind.
27 October 2016
Staines Moor: 27 October
A half decent day at the patch today. An adult winter Mediterranean Gull hawking insects high over the east side of Staines Moor with c.130 Black-headed Gulls (mainly adults) and a Common Gull is only the third record for Staines Moor and the first here since 2001. Unfortunately it remained too distant for good photographs, mostly hawking insects high over Bonehead Ditch and only briefly resting on the bank of the Colne.
Also noted on Staines Moor were 3-5 Water Pipit along the Colne, 1 Short-eared Owl hunting over the south end late afternoon, 8 Stonechat (5m 3f), 1f Blackcap (NW corner), 2 Goldcrest and 1 Common Chiffchaff (both old railway), 1 Little Grebe (Colne), 2 Little Egret (Colne), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 5+ Pied Wagtail (Colne), 7+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, 1+ Kingfisher (Colne), >5 Red Kite, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2+ Kestrel, 1H Cetti's Warbler (Colne), 2 Egyptian Geese W and 1 imm. Mute Swan (Colne). Vis mig was almost non-existent - 2 Common Snipe NW and 2 Reed Bunting E.
A Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell were both noted heading southwards. Also, a few more fungi found fruiting on Staines Moor today in continuing dry conditions, including 3 Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea together (a very local species in Britain), 8 Field Mushrooms Agaricus campestris, several Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, a few groups of Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus (on Crack Willow Salix fragilis along the old railway), but still only a few Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera.
Stanwell Moor added a Water/Rock Pipit over east calling towards the King George VI Reservoir, 1H Cetti's Warbler (by the gravel pit), 13 Eurasian Wigeon E and 4f Eurasian Teal on Lower Mill Farm Lake.
Weather: Calm and overcast with mist early morning with sunny periods developing late morning, becoming cloudier again in the afternoon, very light westerly wind.
Also noted on Staines Moor were 3-5 Water Pipit along the Colne, 1 Short-eared Owl hunting over the south end late afternoon, 8 Stonechat (5m 3f), 1f Blackcap (NW corner), 2 Goldcrest and 1 Common Chiffchaff (both old railway), 1 Little Grebe (Colne), 2 Little Egret (Colne), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 5+ Pied Wagtail (Colne), 7+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, 1+ Kingfisher (Colne), >5 Red Kite, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2+ Kestrel, 1H Cetti's Warbler (Colne), 2 Egyptian Geese W and 1 imm. Mute Swan (Colne). Vis mig was almost non-existent - 2 Common Snipe NW and 2 Reed Bunting E.
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| Adult winter Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus hawking insects over the east side of Staines Moor today - third site record |
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| 1 of 8 Stonechats on Staines Moor today |
A Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell were both noted heading southwards. Also, a few more fungi found fruiting on Staines Moor today in continuing dry conditions, including 3 Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea together (a very local species in Britain), 8 Field Mushrooms Agaricus campestris, several Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, a few groups of Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus (on Crack Willow Salix fragilis along the old railway), but still only a few Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera.
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| Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea, Staines Moor, 27 October 2016. Three rather old specimens but note the blue-green cap, that was slimy to touch, with small white veil fragments (especially around the margin), the crowded sinuate pink-brown gills, greenish-white stipe - whiter above the ring, greener below, with white scales (especially below the ring) dusted with brown spores. No odour noted. |
Stanwell Moor added a Water/Rock Pipit over east calling towards the King George VI Reservoir, 1H Cetti's Warbler (by the gravel pit), 13 Eurasian Wigeon E and 4f Eurasian Teal on Lower Mill Farm Lake.
Weather: Calm and overcast with mist early morning with sunny periods developing late morning, becoming cloudier again in the afternoon, very light westerly wind.
22 October 2016
Staines Moor: 22 October
A few hours on the patch today was slightly better than of late (not that this was difficult to achieve). On Staines Moor, 1+ Water Pipit along the Colne (the first returning bird), 1 Jack Snipe (flushed from the Colne), and 1 Short-eared Owl (hunting over the east side late afternoon) were the highlights.
Also noted on Staines Moor were 7 Stonechat (4m, 2f, 1f/imm m), 8 Goldcrest, 4 Common Chiffchaff, 1+ Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Kingfisher (Colne), 1-2 Little Grebe (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 1f Pied Wagtail (Colne), 3+ Skylark, 3 Greenfinch (2m, 1f), 21 Meadow Pipit, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Song Thrush, 1m Reed Bunting, 3-5 Red Kite, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1H Cetti's Warbler (south end of Bonehead Ditch) and a Red Fox.
Vis mig was poor with just 1 Siskin W, 1 redpoll sp H, 2 Common Chaffinch W, 2 Goldfinch W, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2N, 2W), 5 Northern Lapwing N, 28 Common Starling NW and 4 Woodpigeon S.
Stanwell Moor added 4 Common Pochard W.
Weather: Overcast in the morning (8 oktas) with sunny periods in the afternoon (6 oktas), light NNW wind becoming NNE in the afternoon, some very light rain in afternoon.
Also noted on Staines Moor were 7 Stonechat (4m, 2f, 1f/imm m), 8 Goldcrest, 4 Common Chiffchaff, 1+ Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Kingfisher (Colne), 1-2 Little Grebe (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 1f Pied Wagtail (Colne), 3+ Skylark, 3 Greenfinch (2m, 1f), 21 Meadow Pipit, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Song Thrush, 1m Reed Bunting, 3-5 Red Kite, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1H Cetti's Warbler (south end of Bonehead Ditch) and a Red Fox.
Vis mig was poor with just 1 Siskin W, 1 redpoll sp H, 2 Common Chaffinch W, 2 Goldfinch W, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2N, 2W), 5 Northern Lapwing N, 28 Common Starling NW and 4 Woodpigeon S.
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| Record of today's Jack Snipe at Staines Moor |
Stanwell Moor added 4 Common Pochard W.
Weather: Overcast in the morning (8 oktas) with sunny periods in the afternoon (6 oktas), light NNW wind becoming NNE in the afternoon, some very light rain in afternoon.
12 October 2016
Staines Moor: 12 October
A few very quiet hours at the bore this afternoon produced... know what, today was so crap I really can't be arsed to write it up.
Barely notable were: 1 redpoll sp. (flew off SW from north end of Colne), 5 Stonechat (3m, 2f), 8 Common Chiffchaff (north end of Colne), 1 Common Snipe (flew off from Colne), 1m Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Red Kite N, 1 Kingfisher (Colne) and 2 Pied Wagtail (Colne).
Barely notable were: 1 redpoll sp. (flew off SW from north end of Colne), 5 Stonechat (3m, 2f), 8 Common Chiffchaff (north end of Colne), 1 Common Snipe (flew off from Colne), 1m Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Red Kite N, 1 Kingfisher (Colne) and 2 Pied Wagtail (Colne).
9 October 2016
Staines Moor: 9 October
A long mid morning to dusk session at the patch today. Staines Moor produced 1 Short-eared Owl briefly early afternoon then hunting over the east side at dusk (presumably the bird reported yesterday), 12-14 Stonechat (6m, 5m 1 undetermined), 2-3 Siskin (including a male drinking at Butts Pond and 2 off from here high south), 2 Little Grebe (first returning wintering birds on the Colne), 6+ (1H) Goldcrest (5 Bonehead Woodland), 12 (1H) Common Chiffchaff (mainly Bonehead Woodland), 3 (1f, 2H) Blackcap, 3-4 Barn Swallow mainly S, 2 Common Snipe, c. 30 Meadow Pipit (east side), 3H Cetti's Warbler, 1+ Kingfisher (Bonehead Ditch), 1 Red Kite, 2 Kestrel (including 1 attempting to catch Goldfinches), 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 3-4 Common Buzzard, 9 Linnet and 2 Pied Wagtail (Colne).
Stanwell Moor added 5 (2H) Common Chiffchaff, 1 Common Teal and a Red Fox.
I was really hoping to find Staines Moor's first ever Yellow-browed Warbler this year, especially after the recent influx, but was beaten to it yesterday by Rob Innes (very well done to Rob on an excellent find). The bird was also reported today - I didn't bother looking for it.
Weather: Sunny periods, little cloud in the morning (1 okta) becoming cloudier in the afternoon (6 oktas), light easterly wind.
Stanwell Moor added 5 (2H) Common Chiffchaff, 1 Common Teal and a Red Fox.
I was really hoping to find Staines Moor's first ever Yellow-browed Warbler this year, especially after the recent influx, but was beaten to it yesterday by Rob Innes (very well done to Rob on an excellent find). The bird was also reported today - I didn't bother looking for it.
Weather: Sunny periods, little cloud in the morning (1 okta) becoming cloudier in the afternoon (6 oktas), light easterly wind.
24 September 2016
Staines Moor: 24 September
Another dull as hell day trudging around the moor seeing very few birds - birding in Surrey is so exciting! 'Highlights' were: 1 Whinchat (NW corner), 3+m Stonechat (1 NW corner, 2 east side), 2 (1m, 1f) Yellow Wagtail (NW corner), 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff (inc. 6 Bonehead Woodland), 5 Common Snipe, 1 Goldcrest (Bonehead Woodland), 5 Skylark, 1-2 Little Egret, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and 2H Cetti's Warbler. Passage overhead amounted to 83 House Martin SW and 21 Barn Swallow (mainly S). Also 1 Red Kite and 3 more Common Buzzard were seen at distance over Wraysbury Reservoir.
First Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera of the autumn noted today and a few Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, and only 7 Red Admirals were seen on Staines Moor today - an amazing 530+ were present just 16 days ago!
A Speckled Wood in the garden on the 14th was one of very few records for the garden.
First Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera of the autumn noted today and a few Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, and only 7 Red Admirals were seen on Staines Moor today - an amazing 530+ were present just 16 days ago!
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| Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, on dung, Staines Moor, 24 September 2016 - a few of these tiny delicate mushrooms today |
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| Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera, Staines Moor, 24 September 2016 |
A Speckled Wood in the garden on the 14th was one of very few records for the garden.
14 September 2016
Staines Moor: 14 September
A few more migrants at Staines Moor today in unseasonally hot conditions. Migrants on the ground included 4 Whinchat (3 SE corner, 1 NW corner), 1m Stonechat (SE corner) - the first of the autumn, 13+ Yellow Wagtail around the livestock (with others overhead), 1-2 Common Snipe (calling high over the Colne early morning), 2 Northern Lapwing (also over the Colne early morning), 1 Sedge Warbler (beside Colne), 40 Meadow Pipit and 2+ Common Whitethroat.
Some movement overhead with 20 Meadow Pipit S, 63 Barn Swallow (mainly S), and 1 imm. m Eurasian Sparrowhawk WSW.
Also noted were 1+ Hobby, 1-2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 8 Linnet, 2 Red Kite, 3 Kestrel, 2-3 Common Buzzard and 1+ Grey Heron.
Still plenty of Red Admirals around in the NW corner, although much fewer than my last visit, and 7 were seen migrating (mainly S), and 1 Small Copper, 4 Small Heath and a Meadow Brown were logged. Stanwell Moor added a few more Red Admirals along the Colne Valley Way.
Some movement overhead with 20 Meadow Pipit S, 63 Barn Swallow (mainly S), and 1 imm. m Eurasian Sparrowhawk WSW.
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| 1 of 4 Whinchats at Staines Moor today |
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| 1 of a single flock of 11 Yellow Wagtail, including males, females and juveniles, around the horses on Staines Moor today |
Also noted were 1+ Hobby, 1-2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 8 Linnet, 2 Red Kite, 3 Kestrel, 2-3 Common Buzzard and 1+ Grey Heron.
Still plenty of Red Admirals around in the NW corner, although much fewer than my last visit, and 7 were seen migrating (mainly S), and 1 Small Copper, 4 Small Heath and a Meadow Brown were logged. Stanwell Moor added a few more Red Admirals along the Colne Valley Way.
8 September 2016
Staines Moor: 8 September
A little better for migrants at Staines Moor today with 2 Whinchat, 6 Yellow Wagtail (around the livestock), 2 Sand Martin S, 118 Barn Swallow S (then W from mid afternoon) noted, and 2 Common Whitethroat and 1H Lesser Whitethroat in the hawthorns (which could be local birds). Also noted were 1-2 Hobby, 1 Red Kite, 4+ Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, c50 Goldfinch (including many juveniles feeding on the thistles) and c100 Eurasian Starling (mainly around the livestock).
Red Admiral butterflies once again stole the show, with an amazing 530+ counted around the blackberries in the NW corner, west side, along the old railway, and in the NE corner, amounting to a spectacular sight. Their origin is a bit of mystery. They are very fresh and so presumably hatched fairly locally, and I suppose they are heading south stopping to feed on the abundance of blackberries currently on the moor. In addition another 24 Red Admirals were seen along the Colne Valley Way through Stanwell Moor in the morning.
Other butterflies on Staines Moor today include 1 Painted Lady (feeding with Red Admirals), 4 Small Copper, 9 Small Heath, 3 Comma and 2 Speckled Wood. Several Migrant Hawkers Aeshna mixta were also noted.
On Stanwell Moor 3 (2H) Chiffchaff were also noted.
Red Admiral butterflies once again stole the show, with an amazing 530+ counted around the blackberries in the NW corner, west side, along the old railway, and in the NE corner, amounting to a spectacular sight. Their origin is a bit of mystery. They are very fresh and so presumably hatched fairly locally, and I suppose they are heading south stopping to feed on the abundance of blackberries currently on the moor. In addition another 24 Red Admirals were seen along the Colne Valley Way through Stanwell Moor in the morning.
Other butterflies on Staines Moor today include 1 Painted Lady (feeding with Red Admirals), 4 Small Copper, 9 Small Heath, 3 Comma and 2 Speckled Wood. Several Migrant Hawkers Aeshna mixta were also noted.
On Stanwell Moor 3 (2H) Chiffchaff were also noted.
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| Painted Lady Vanessa cardui feeding on blackberries with about 20 Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta in the NW corner of Staines Moor today. Heading north or south I wonder? |
| Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta feeding on blackberries, Staines Moor, 8 September 2016 |
3 September 2016
Red Admiral invasion at Staines Moor: 3 September
My first visit to the patch this afternoon since May. A few migrants noted. A trickle of hirundines heading south-southwest amounted to 51 House Martin, 24 Sand Martin and 51 Barn Swallow, and 1 Whinchat around the swamp and a Northern Wheatear along the Colne were probably bought down by the persistent rain from mid afternoon. 1-2 Hobby, 1-2 Common Buzzard (including nice views of 1 perched on a snag along Bonehead Ditch), 33 (1H) Linnet, 3 Kestrel (including 1m and 1f), 1 Skylark, 7+ Meadow Pipit and 1 Little Egret along the Colne were the best of the other birds noted. 2 imm. Mallard and an imm. Moorhen on the Colne are noteworthy as signs of successful breeding.
Highlight of the day came in the form of an incredible number of Red Admiral butterflies present on site. Despite the windy and overcast conditions and rain setting in from mid afternoon, I counted a minimum of 196 in the NW corner alone, most feeding on blackberries. Most looked very fresh so presumably these are broods from this year's migrants? At one point I took shelter from the wind and rain next to a hawthorn and 20+ shot out at once! I estimate there must have been at least double this number at Staines Moor today.
Other inverts noted on Staines Moor include 2 Small Heath, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma, 2 Green-veined White, and 3 (2m, 1f) Banded Demoiselle. No grassland fungi fruiting yet - probably too dry.
At home this morning, found a White Point Mythimna albipuncta in the house - a long overdue addition to the garden moth list.
Highlight of the day came in the form of an incredible number of Red Admiral butterflies present on site. Despite the windy and overcast conditions and rain setting in from mid afternoon, I counted a minimum of 196 in the NW corner alone, most feeding on blackberries. Most looked very fresh so presumably these are broods from this year's migrants? At one point I took shelter from the wind and rain next to a hawthorn and 20+ shot out at once! I estimate there must have been at least double this number at Staines Moor today.
Other inverts noted on Staines Moor include 2 Small Heath, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma, 2 Green-veined White, and 3 (2m, 1f) Banded Demoiselle. No grassland fungi fruiting yet - probably too dry.
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| Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta, Staines Moor, 3 September 2016 - 1 of at least 196 on site today |
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| Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta, Staines Moor, 3 September 2016 - 8 feeding on blackberries in this pic (click to enlarge) |
At home this morning, found a White Point Mythimna albipuncta in the house - a long overdue addition to the garden moth list.
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| White-point Mythimna albipuncta, Worcester Park, 3 September 2016 - an immigrant species found mainly in coastal counties in south-east England but spreading northwards |
22 May 2016
Staines Moor: 22 May
Not quite sure what happened to spring, but just like that it is now summer, with a few very quiet hours at Staines Moor today producing naff all passage migrants.
A Lesser Whitethroat flicking between bushes in the SE corner (my first ever on this part of the moor), 1 Red Kite over N, 1 Common Swift E and a Barn Swallow W could all have possibly be moving through rather than local birds, but no other movement was evident.
Other 'highlights' were 2 Gadwall (flew onto the Colne), c.200 Eurasian Starling (mainly adults but some juveniles in tow, with many towards the southern end of Bonehead woodland, around the livestock and in NW corner), 2 (1m, 1f) Common Shelduck E, 2 Egyptian Geese W, 2 Redshank (Colne and east pool), 1+ Hobby, 1 Common Buzzard (local bird), 3 Common Tern (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 5 Sedge Warbler (2 pairs and a lone ringed male in the swamp - see below), 5H Common Whitethroat, 2H Common Chiffchaff, 2 (1m, 1H) Blackcap, c12 Common Pheasant (1 very tame male torquatus, and 1 female with c.10 very young chicks in the swamp, a couple of which I almost trod on!), 7 Reed Bunting (6m, 1f), 1 Grey Heron, several Linnet and lots of Meadow Pipit and Skylark.
No sign of the Grasshopper Warbler or the pair of Stonechat, and still no Common Cuckoo - the first year of absence that I can remember and I really hope we haven't lost them as a regular breeding species.
A Roe Deer spooked in Bonehead woodland was my first daylight sighting at the patch, 1 Downlooker Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopacea was my first this year, and plenty of Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus are now in flower. 12 horses are now out to graze.
Weather: Sunny (2 oktas in morning) becoming cloudy early afternoon (4 oktas by 13:00 and 8 oktas by 14:00), very light SW wind, damp early morning.
A Lesser Whitethroat flicking between bushes in the SE corner (my first ever on this part of the moor), 1 Red Kite over N, 1 Common Swift E and a Barn Swallow W could all have possibly be moving through rather than local birds, but no other movement was evident.
Other 'highlights' were 2 Gadwall (flew onto the Colne), c.200 Eurasian Starling (mainly adults but some juveniles in tow, with many towards the southern end of Bonehead woodland, around the livestock and in NW corner), 2 (1m, 1f) Common Shelduck E, 2 Egyptian Geese W, 2 Redshank (Colne and east pool), 1+ Hobby, 1 Common Buzzard (local bird), 3 Common Tern (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 5 Sedge Warbler (2 pairs and a lone ringed male in the swamp - see below), 5H Common Whitethroat, 2H Common Chiffchaff, 2 (1m, 1H) Blackcap, c12 Common Pheasant (1 very tame male torquatus, and 1 female with c.10 very young chicks in the swamp, a couple of which I almost trod on!), 7 Reed Bunting (6m, 1f), 1 Grey Heron, several Linnet and lots of Meadow Pipit and Skylark.
No sign of the Grasshopper Warbler or the pair of Stonechat, and still no Common Cuckoo - the first year of absence that I can remember and I really hope we haven't lost them as a regular breeding species.
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| Ringed and unpaired male Sedge Warbler singing in the swamp today (coordinates/grid reference of recovery: 51.442805, -0.512438/TQ 03482 72584). I think I've managed to piece together the ring number from photos - 3N46271, and the pic bottom right seems to say MADRID and the word AVES above it, so perhaps this bird was ringed in Spain by the San Sebastian/Aranzadi (Spain) ESA scheme. Hopefully I'll find out some history soon. Many thanks to the Lakes and Pennines, the BTO and Lee Barber on Twitter for their feedback (right-click on image and open in a new tab to enlarge). |
A Roe Deer spooked in Bonehead woodland was my first daylight sighting at the patch, 1 Downlooker Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopacea was my first this year, and plenty of Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus are now in flower. 12 horses are now out to graze.
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| 1 of about 10 Common Pheasant chicks with a hen, encountered in long grass in the swamp today. This bird and another were frozen to the spot right by my feet. |
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| Downlooker Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopacea in the swamp today (taken with a Samsung Note 4) |
Weather: Sunny (2 oktas in morning) becoming cloudy early afternoon (4 oktas by 13:00 and 8 oktas by 14:00), very light SW wind, damp early morning.
12 May 2016
Staines Moor: 12 May
For me, birding is all about finding my own birds. I have little interest in seeing birds that others have found, even on the patch. This spring I've been determined to find a good bird at Staines Moor, especially as last spring was so piss poor on the patch. Over the last week alone I've been up before dawn three times and spent no fewer than 29 hours traipsing around covering every millimetre of the patch, with one eye fixed on the sky. While seemingly every other London site has been awash with Arctic Terns, Little Terns, Black Terns, Sanderlings, Wood Sandpipers, flocks of tundra Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers and Wood Warblers, Staines Moor has yielded nothing!
But with a good passage of waders through London over the last few days I was hoping today would produce a Wood Sandpiper or some other wader along the Colne. Imagine then how I felt when soon after arriving on site this morning, another birder arrives, walks past me, then comes back a few minutes later and tells me there are two Bar-tailed Godwits along the Colne! Now maybe I am being greedy and ungrateful (and well done to the birder who found them as this is a great patch record), but really, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
Staines Moor records today: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit ((1m and 1f in summer plumage, seen feeding and resting beside the Colne where they appeared to be catching a lot of food, and also on the east pool. The female was ringed and flagged - I'll try and find out where it was ringed), 20 Common Swift (mainly N), 2 Barn Swallow N, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard several times and probably glimpsed in flight), 3 Hobby (hunting together over the NW corner), 3 Redshank (2 Colne, 1 east pool), 1m Gadwall (Colne), 1+ Common Tern (Colne), 4 Common Whitethroat, 4 (1m, 3H) Blackcap, 4 (3H) Sedge Warbler, 3H Chiffchaff, 10 Reed Bunting (8m, 2f), 1 Little Egret (Colne), 4-7 Red Kite (1 high W and the others presumably local birds), 2 Stock Dove (Bonehead Ditch), 1m Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail W, 2 Common Buzzard (including 1 pale phase NW), 1+ Grey Heron, 1 juv. Robin, and plenty of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet. No sign of the Stonechats today in a brief search, and still no Cuckoos!
Found some Yellow Meadow Ants Lasius flavus on an anthill on the west side - only my second ever sighting at Staines Moor (or anywhere for that matter) as the workers rarely stray above ground. The hairless lower sections of the antennae and the tibiae, which are diagnostic of this species, could be seen on the terrible photos I took with the Samsung Note 4. Butterflies today included my first Green-veined White of the year and a Small Copper.
Stanwell Moor added 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Little Egret W.
So I think I am done with this spring and with the patch for a while - it's all far far far far far far far too much effort for little reward and I'm desperately trying to remember why I keep bothering. Who knows though, maybe I can muster enough energy and motivation for one more day this spring of finding bugger all?
Weather: Sunny with some thin cloud, freshening NE wind, rain previous night.
But with a good passage of waders through London over the last few days I was hoping today would produce a Wood Sandpiper or some other wader along the Colne. Imagine then how I felt when soon after arriving on site this morning, another birder arrives, walks past me, then comes back a few minutes later and tells me there are two Bar-tailed Godwits along the Colne! Now maybe I am being greedy and ungrateful (and well done to the birder who found them as this is a great patch record), but really, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
Staines Moor records today: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit ((1m and 1f in summer plumage, seen feeding and resting beside the Colne where they appeared to be catching a lot of food, and also on the east pool. The female was ringed and flagged - I'll try and find out where it was ringed), 20 Common Swift (mainly N), 2 Barn Swallow N, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard several times and probably glimpsed in flight), 3 Hobby (hunting together over the NW corner), 3 Redshank (2 Colne, 1 east pool), 1m Gadwall (Colne), 1+ Common Tern (Colne), 4 Common Whitethroat, 4 (1m, 3H) Blackcap, 4 (3H) Sedge Warbler, 3H Chiffchaff, 10 Reed Bunting (8m, 2f), 1 Little Egret (Colne), 4-7 Red Kite (1 high W and the others presumably local birds), 2 Stock Dove (Bonehead Ditch), 1m Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail W, 2 Common Buzzard (including 1 pale phase NW), 1+ Grey Heron, 1 juv. Robin, and plenty of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet. No sign of the Stonechats today in a brief search, and still no Cuckoos!
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| Today's pair of summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit - check out the size different between the male and female. Still present beside the Colne at 13:39 when I left. |
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| The female was ringed as follows - left leg: pink flag top, 2 yellow rings bottom; right leg: metal ring top, 2 red rings bottom. Can't make out much on the metal ring - perhaps 147..? I've reported it to the BTO so maybe they can shed some light. |
Found some Yellow Meadow Ants Lasius flavus on an anthill on the west side - only my second ever sighting at Staines Moor (or anywhere for that matter) as the workers rarely stray above ground. The hairless lower sections of the antennae and the tibiae, which are diagnostic of this species, could be seen on the terrible photos I took with the Samsung Note 4. Butterflies today included my first Green-veined White of the year and a Small Copper.
Stanwell Moor added 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Little Egret W.
So I think I am done with this spring and with the patch for a while - it's all far far far far far far far too much effort for little reward and I'm desperately trying to remember why I keep bothering. Who knows though, maybe I can muster enough energy and motivation for one more day this spring of finding bugger all?
Weather: Sunny with some thin cloud, freshening NE wind, rain previous night.
7 May 2016
Staines Moor: 7 May
Little change from two days ago with passage migrants again almost non-existent in the fine weather, presumably passing straight through high overhead. 2 Spotted Flycatchers together at the south end of Bonehead Ditch were the highlight, and 1 Reed Warbler (in scrub at the north end of the Colne), 4 Common Swift and 8 Barn Swallow (4S, 3N, 1W) were the only birds seemingly moving through.
Summering warblers were very much in evidence today. The Grasshopper Warbler showed briefly twice, and 1m Garden Warbler (singing in the west hawthorns), and 1 Reed Warbler (bridge to Stanwell Moor), 9 (1H) Sedge Warbler, 13 (2H) Common Whitethroat, 1H Lesser Whitethroat (west hawthorns), 6 (4H) Chiffchaff, 9 (3H) Blackcap (inc. 4m, 2f), and 3 (2H) Cetti's Warbler (Butts Pond, bridge to Stanwell Moor) were also logged.
Other summer visitors noted include 3 Hobby (hunting insects over the two wooden bridges late afternoon), 1+ Common Tern (Colne), 2+ Redshank (Colne), 2 Common Shelduck E, 10 Reed Bunting (6m, 3f) and plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Found a Long-tailed Tit building a nest close to the predated nest and another pair nest buiding in a hawthorn in the NE corner, though I couldn't get close enough to find it. Also found a Carrion Crow sitting on a nest in the Bonehead woodland. Worryingly, where are our Cuckoos?
Also noted were 1m Stonechat with what was probably the female, but very distant (SE corner), 2m Goldcrest (both singing in Bonehead woodland), 3+ Little Egret, 6 Red Kite, 1f Kestrel, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 (1m, 1f) Pied Wagtail (Colne), 1 Coot (Colne), 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Canada Geese S, and 1 Grey Heron.
3m Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens along Bonehead Ditch were my first of the year, and butterflies seen include 1 Speckled Wood, many Orange-tip (including 1f), several m Brimstone, and 2 Peacock. Finally, found a dead Grass Snake beside the Colne at the north end today - only my second record for Staines Moor (thankfully my first record was a live one).
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| 1 of 2 Spotted Flycatchers at the south end of Bonehead Ditch today |
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| Migrant Reed Warbler singing in scrub along the north end of the Colne today |
Summering warblers were very much in evidence today. The Grasshopper Warbler showed briefly twice, and 1m Garden Warbler (singing in the west hawthorns), and 1 Reed Warbler (bridge to Stanwell Moor), 9 (1H) Sedge Warbler, 13 (2H) Common Whitethroat, 1H Lesser Whitethroat (west hawthorns), 6 (4H) Chiffchaff, 9 (3H) Blackcap (inc. 4m, 2f), and 3 (2H) Cetti's Warbler (Butts Pond, bridge to Stanwell Moor) were also logged.
Other summer visitors noted include 3 Hobby (hunting insects over the two wooden bridges late afternoon), 1+ Common Tern (Colne), 2+ Redshank (Colne), 2 Common Shelduck E, 10 Reed Bunting (6m, 3f) and plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Found a Long-tailed Tit building a nest close to the predated nest and another pair nest buiding in a hawthorn in the NE corner, though I couldn't get close enough to find it. Also found a Carrion Crow sitting on a nest in the Bonehead woodland. Worryingly, where are our Cuckoos?
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| Long-tailed Tit nest in the early stages of being built in the NW corner today |
Also noted were 1m Stonechat with what was probably the female, but very distant (SE corner), 2m Goldcrest (both singing in Bonehead woodland), 3+ Little Egret, 6 Red Kite, 1f Kestrel, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 (1m, 1f) Pied Wagtail (Colne), 1 Coot (Colne), 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Canada Geese S, and 1 Grey Heron.
3m Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens along Bonehead Ditch were my first of the year, and butterflies seen include 1 Speckled Wood, many Orange-tip (including 1f), several m Brimstone, and 2 Peacock. Finally, found a dead Grass Snake beside the Colne at the north end today - only my second record for Staines Moor (thankfully my first record was a live one).
5 May 2016
Staines Moor: 5 May
With high pressure over central Europe and a low situated just north-west of Britain, the airflow over southern England finally switched to a southerly today. But with warm temperatures and bright clear skies there was little hope of grounded migrants at Staines Moor today.
2 singing male Garden Warblers (1 NE corner, 1 west hawthorns) were the first of the year and not on the usual territories so presumably migrants. A very secretive Grasshopper Warbler was reeling intermittently and showed only very fleetingly, and Sedge Warblers have now arrived in force with at least 9 (1H) counted, with 3 in the Lesser Pond Sedge in the swamp, including 2 birds paired up (although this is not a site-wide count and many more must be present).
I had higher hopes that the sky would produce something, but 5 Red Kite (1 purposely high N and 4 presumed locals), 1 Common Swift high N, 2 Sand Martin NE and 12 Barn Swallow (mainly N) was all I could pick up. 2+ Eurasian Hobby were probably our local birds returned.
Also noted were 1 Reed Warbler (reeds by bridge to Stanwell Moor), 2(1H) Lesser Whitethroat, 4(1H) Common Whitethroat, 2(1H) Chiffchaff, 2 (1m, 1f) Stonechat still in the SE corner (though no sign of any nesting activity), 4 Common Shelduck (1m, 1f on The Butts, and 2 south, landing on the Colne briefly), 4 Redshank (Colne and east pool), 3+ Little Egret (Colne), 2+ Common Tern (Colne), 1 Northern Lapwing over W (probably a Stanwell Moor bird), 25+ Linnet, 5 (4m, 1f) Reed Bunting, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 (1m, 1f) Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail (Colne), 9 Eurasian Starling (around the cattle), 1 Common Buzzard (presumed local), 2H Cetti's Warbler (Butts Pond and north end of Colne), and lots of Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Quite a few butterflies flying today at Staines Moor including 1 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral, lots of Orange-tip, 2m Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1m Small White. Sadly the Long-tailed Tit nest I found on my last visit looked like it had been predated and pulled apart.
Stanwell Moor added 3 Northern Lapwing, 2 Barn Swallow N, 1 Common Buzzard and 4 Common Shelduck E.
Weather: Calm early morning then light S-SE wind developing, warm, sunny with some hazy cloud at times.
2 singing male Garden Warblers (1 NE corner, 1 west hawthorns) were the first of the year and not on the usual territories so presumably migrants. A very secretive Grasshopper Warbler was reeling intermittently and showed only very fleetingly, and Sedge Warblers have now arrived in force with at least 9 (1H) counted, with 3 in the Lesser Pond Sedge in the swamp, including 2 birds paired up (although this is not a site-wide count and many more must be present).
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| Lots of singing Sedge Warblers on site today, including this one in the swamp |
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| Record of today's Grasshopper Warbler - extremely elusive, even by gropper standards |
I had higher hopes that the sky would produce something, but 5 Red Kite (1 purposely high N and 4 presumed locals), 1 Common Swift high N, 2 Sand Martin NE and 12 Barn Swallow (mainly N) was all I could pick up. 2+ Eurasian Hobby were probably our local birds returned.
Also noted were 1 Reed Warbler (reeds by bridge to Stanwell Moor), 2(1H) Lesser Whitethroat, 4(1H) Common Whitethroat, 2(1H) Chiffchaff, 2 (1m, 1f) Stonechat still in the SE corner (though no sign of any nesting activity), 4 Common Shelduck (1m, 1f on The Butts, and 2 south, landing on the Colne briefly), 4 Redshank (Colne and east pool), 3+ Little Egret (Colne), 2+ Common Tern (Colne), 1 Northern Lapwing over W (probably a Stanwell Moor bird), 25+ Linnet, 5 (4m, 1f) Reed Bunting, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 (1m, 1f) Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail (Colne), 9 Eurasian Starling (around the cattle), 1 Common Buzzard (presumed local), 2H Cetti's Warbler (Butts Pond and north end of Colne), and lots of Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Quite a few butterflies flying today at Staines Moor including 1 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral, lots of Orange-tip, 2m Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1m Small White. Sadly the Long-tailed Tit nest I found on my last visit looked like it had been predated and pulled apart.
Stanwell Moor added 3 Northern Lapwing, 2 Barn Swallow N, 1 Common Buzzard and 4 Common Shelduck E.
Weather: Calm early morning then light S-SE wind developing, warm, sunny with some hazy cloud at times.
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