A few very quiet hours at the patch this afternoon produced 5 (possibly 6) Water Pipit around the SE flood, 1f Bullfinch (scarce here) along the old railway, 34+ Redwing (SW corner), 100+ Fieldfare in the NE corner, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Egyptian Goose E, 2 Canada Goose over (yep, even these are noteworthy here nowadays), 1 Grey Heron and just 4(2H) Meadow Pipit.
18 January 2014
11 January 2014
Moor night-birding
A mid afternoon/early evening visit to the patch proved quite productive. Highlights were 2m Goosander over W, 2+ Water Pipit around the southern floods, 11 Common Snipe, 45+ Meadow Pipit, 50 Fieldfare at the north end, 1f Stonechat and 3-4 Little Egret. Also logged were 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Grey Heron, 1f Kestrel, 1+ Pied Wagtail H, and 47+ Carrion Crow was a noteworthy count.
A couple of hours night-birding until 20:00 produced good views of 2+ Eurasian Woodcock around the anthills at the north end, 3 Common Snipe H, and a Red Fox.
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| Two drake Goosander over west just before dusk |
A couple of hours night-birding until 20:00 produced good views of 2+ Eurasian Woodcock around the anthills at the north end, 3 Common Snipe H, and a Red Fox.
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| A rather showy Eurasian Woodcock in the north-east corner tonight |
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| Although not ideal for night-birding in Britain, the moon provided beautiful celestial lighting for this evening's lamping session, with the Copernicus, Plato and Tycho craters now clearly visible (I used to do a lot of astronomy as a kid, I should do more). |
3 January 2014
First comprehensive bird list for Staines Moor
The Avian History of Staines Moor, by yours truly, published in the latest London Bird Report (2011: 76) includes the first bird list for the site, covering up to the end of 2011 (note that I have noticed an error in the article - the first Rock Pipit was actually recorded on 20 October 2000, not 1999). An additional three species have been recorded since then, all in 2012: Northern Gannet, Yellow-legged Gull and Tawny Owl.
Furthermore, since writing the article I have found out that a Hoopoe found by Rob Innes on the bank of King George VI Reservoir in 2005 actually flew out onto Staines Moor on its first day - 6 October, and was also photographed on Staines Moor on 8 October. These records bring the total number of bird species recorded here to 191. Not bad for 91 hectares of grass right next door to Heathrow!
To get hold of a copy you need to join the London Natural History Society - see their website for details: http://www.lnhs.org.uk/Join.htm.
1 January 2014
December Moth closes 2013
Arrived home last night to find a male December Moth Poecilocampa populi sitting next to the wall light by the front door. So being a true professional, using a Xmas card and a glass I placed it in the fridge. With all this stormy weather it is very dark at home today, but I managed to get a few reasonable pics. What a beautiful moth!
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| December Moth Poecilocampa populi, Worcester Park |
31 December 2013
Patch highlights of 2013
Another good year for bird sightings on 'the moors' (Staines Moor and Stanwell Moor) this year, although it did feel very quiet bird-wise compared to other London sites during the spring and autumn. Also, some good inverts and plants found as well. Here's a roundup of the best of 2013.
The later half of winter 2012/13 saw some quality winter birding. Up to six Short-eared Owls continued their stay into February (although I recorded a maximum of three birds), hunting mostly on the east side of Staines Moor but also visiting Stanwell Moor on occasion. They frequently showed very well, attracting a number of birders and photographers, but they could also prove frustratingly elusive at times. Also a Barn Owl was often seen during this period on both moors.
Freezing and snowy conditions during January produced a huge southerly movement of Fieldfare totalling 1,192 - a new record for Staines Moor, and January also produced my first patch tick in the form of two Treecreepers, my first sight record of a Cetti's Warbler on Staines Moor, and a Hen Harrier that I missed by just a few minutes (the less said about this the better) that stayed for two days. In February up to 80 Siskins frequented both moors, including a male ringed a few months earlier in Scotland, and up to four Water Pipits were present on Staines Moor.
Spring arrived very late this year delaying the return of many summer migrants. King George VI's wintering Red-throated Diver departed in early April, circling over Stanwell Moor as it did so and giving me another patch tick in the process. Mid April onwards finally saw migrants arriving in numbers, with good counts of Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear (including several 'Greenland' types) passing through Staines Moor, with a fall of 43 of the later thrashing the previous Staines Moor record. Other notable spring migrants were at least two Grasshopper Warblers (one on Staines Moor and another on Stanwell Moor), several Common Redstarts, two Whimbrel (another long overdue patch tick), Little Ringed Plover, several Greenshank, and a flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwits.
Nesting waders had another terrible year; reflecting the current sad state of Staines Moor after decades of poor 'management'. Redshank appeared to make no attempt to nest, and only a single displaying Northern Lapwing was seen on Staines Moor and sadly didn't stay to breed - a shocking decline of both species here over the last 30 years, largely brought about by a borough council that doesn't seem to care one bit for biodiversity. On a positive note, Cuckoo seem to doing well here - presumably parasitising the broods of both Meadow Pipits and Reed Warblers, and Linnet still breed in small numbers. Also, up to four Hobby showed well throughout the spring and summer.
After the very wet summer of 2012, lepidoptera had a much better year. Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns emerged in their hundreds, and Pearl Veneer moths Agriphila straminella must have numbered in the thousands. Small Coppers and Six-spot Burnet moths appeared in good numbers, with smaller numbers of Brown Argus and Cinnabar moths. Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral were both still extremely scarce however. Migrants included a few Clouded Yellows and many Silver Y moths, and Staines Moor's first Marbled White made an appearance.
Other interesting non-avian wildlife seen include: Large Bee-fly Bombylius major, a major emergence of Ephemera danica mayflies, and scarce plants such as Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus and Tasteless water-pepper Persicaria mitis.
Notable bird sightings from other observers in June were a drake Garganey on Stanwell Moor, and 8 Little Egret on Staines Moor - a new site record.
Autumn was much less eventful for passage migrants but there were still some notable records, including a Marsh Harrier over Staines Moor in September, another Hen Harrier and Staines Moor's second Northern Gannet (another juvenile), both in October (none of these three seen by me), and an excellent day in November that produced Staines Moor's third Great White Egret followed by seven Whooper Swans over east - the first site record of the later since 1956 - that fortunately dropped down onto Staines Reservoirs enabling several birders to connect with them. Also, on Stanwell Moor a female Merlin was caught and ringed (see here).
A wet and stormy December produced great views of Woodcock feeding at night on Staines Moor, several Jack Snipe sightings, and up to four Water Pipits. On Stanwell Moor, the second Merlin of the year made a brief appearance for one lucky observer, and a Bittern reportedly reappeared.
I wonder what 2014 will bring? A wintering Long-eared Owl roosting along Bonehead Ditch perhaps? Or maybe a spring passage Honey Buzzard or a Hoopoe around the anthills? Looking forward to finding out.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Rob Innes for permission to use his photo of the Whooper Swans.
The later half of winter 2012/13 saw some quality winter birding. Up to six Short-eared Owls continued their stay into February (although I recorded a maximum of three birds), hunting mostly on the east side of Staines Moor but also visiting Stanwell Moor on occasion. They frequently showed very well, attracting a number of birders and photographers, but they could also prove frustratingly elusive at times. Also a Barn Owl was often seen during this period on both moors.
Freezing and snowy conditions during January produced a huge southerly movement of Fieldfare totalling 1,192 - a new record for Staines Moor, and January also produced my first patch tick in the form of two Treecreepers, my first sight record of a Cetti's Warbler on Staines Moor, and a Hen Harrier that I missed by just a few minutes (the less said about this the better) that stayed for two days. In February up to 80 Siskins frequented both moors, including a male ringed a few months earlier in Scotland, and up to four Water Pipits were present on Staines Moor.
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| One of six Short-eared Owls present into February |
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| Up to four Water Pipits frequented the Colne and temporary pools at Staines Moor in early 2013 |
Spring arrived very late this year delaying the return of many summer migrants. King George VI's wintering Red-throated Diver departed in early April, circling over Stanwell Moor as it did so and giving me another patch tick in the process. Mid April onwards finally saw migrants arriving in numbers, with good counts of Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear (including several 'Greenland' types) passing through Staines Moor, with a fall of 43 of the later thrashing the previous Staines Moor record. Other notable spring migrants were at least two Grasshopper Warblers (one on Staines Moor and another on Stanwell Moor), several Common Redstarts, two Whimbrel (another long overdue patch tick), Little Ringed Plover, several Greenshank, and a flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwits.
Nesting waders had another terrible year; reflecting the current sad state of Staines Moor after decades of poor 'management'. Redshank appeared to make no attempt to nest, and only a single displaying Northern Lapwing was seen on Staines Moor and sadly didn't stay to breed - a shocking decline of both species here over the last 30 years, largely brought about by a borough council that doesn't seem to care one bit for biodiversity. On a positive note, Cuckoo seem to doing well here - presumably parasitising the broods of both Meadow Pipits and Reed Warblers, and Linnet still breed in small numbers. Also, up to four Hobby showed well throughout the spring and summer.
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| Summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits overhead in April - a highlight of this year's spring passage |
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| A pair of Hobby gave incredible views to many in the spring (more pics here) |
After the very wet summer of 2012, lepidoptera had a much better year. Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns emerged in their hundreds, and Pearl Veneer moths Agriphila straminella must have numbered in the thousands. Small Coppers and Six-spot Burnet moths appeared in good numbers, with smaller numbers of Brown Argus and Cinnabar moths. Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral were both still extremely scarce however. Migrants included a few Clouded Yellows and many Silver Y moths, and Staines Moor's first Marbled White made an appearance.
Other interesting non-avian wildlife seen include: Large Bee-fly Bombylius major, a major emergence of Ephemera danica mayflies, and scarce plants such as Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus and Tasteless water-pepper Persicaria mitis.
Notable bird sightings from other observers in June were a drake Garganey on Stanwell Moor, and 8 Little Egret on Staines Moor - a new site record.
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| Brown Argus Aricia agestis in August |
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| Large Bee-fly Bombylius major along the old railway in May |
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| Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus on one of the shallow pools on Staines Moor |
Autumn was much less eventful for passage migrants but there were still some notable records, including a Marsh Harrier over Staines Moor in September, another Hen Harrier and Staines Moor's second Northern Gannet (another juvenile), both in October (none of these three seen by me), and an excellent day in November that produced Staines Moor's third Great White Egret followed by seven Whooper Swans over east - the first site record of the later since 1956 - that fortunately dropped down onto Staines Reservoirs enabling several birders to connect with them. Also, on Stanwell Moor a female Merlin was caught and ringed (see here).
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| Great White Egret at Staines Moor in November |
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| Whooper Swans at Staines Reservoirs South Basin in November after flying east over Staines Moor (Photo by Rob Innes) |
A wet and stormy December produced great views of Woodcock feeding at night on Staines Moor, several Jack Snipe sightings, and up to four Water Pipits. On Stanwell Moor, the second Merlin of the year made a brief appearance for one lucky observer, and a Bittern reportedly reappeared.
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| Woodcock at Staines Moor in December |
I wonder what 2014 will bring? A wintering Long-eared Owl roosting along Bonehead Ditch perhaps? Or maybe a spring passage Honey Buzzard or a Hoopoe around the anthills? Looking forward to finding out.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Rob Innes for permission to use his photo of the Whooper Swans.
30 December 2013
A crisp winter's day at the patch
A good but rather protracted session at the patch yesterday in very icy but bright conditions. An hour and half night-birding before dawn produced two good but brief views of a Woodcock on the ground near the iris channels in the north-west corner, as well as 7(5H) Common Snipe, 1 Skylark, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Redwing calling overhead and 3 Rabbits.
The first hour after dawn saw some good Woodpigeon movement with 1786 counted, mainly heading SW and in flocks up to 500 strong - smashing the previous site record of 520 over south on 23 Oct 2005. Other highlights were 4 Water Pipit with Meadow Pipits around the largely frozen floods at the south end, another 10+ Common Snipe, 2 Chiffchaff along Bonehead Ditch, 47 Linnet (including 42 leaving the roost just after dawn), 30 Meadow Pipit and 5+ Pied Wagtail feeding on the frozen pools, 2 (1m, 1f) Stonechat, 2+ Little Egret, 1 Red Kite N, 1 Common Buzzard S, 2+ Little Grebe, another Skylark, another Grey Heron and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The first hour after dawn saw some good Woodpigeon movement with 1786 counted, mainly heading SW and in flocks up to 500 strong - smashing the previous site record of 520 over south on 23 Oct 2005. Other highlights were 4 Water Pipit with Meadow Pipits around the largely frozen floods at the south end, another 10+ Common Snipe, 2 Chiffchaff along Bonehead Ditch, 47 Linnet (including 42 leaving the roost just after dawn), 30 Meadow Pipit and 5+ Pied Wagtail feeding on the frozen pools, 2 (1m, 1f) Stonechat, 2+ Little Egret, 1 Red Kite N, 1 Common Buzzard S, 2+ Little Grebe, another Skylark, another Grey Heron and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
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| One of four Water Pipits at the southern end of Staines Moor today |
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| Water Pipit |
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| Part of a strong south-westerly movement of Woodpigeon for an hour after dawn |
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| Woodpigeons over south-west |
26 December 2013
The Wraysbury River floods at Staines Moor
A quick visit to the patch this morning found a fair amount of flooding on Staines Moor after the recent heavy rains, and the Wraysbury River having burst it's banks and flooded much of the south-west corner. The water level of the Colne is also very high, but the artificial raised banks created from material dredging from the river bed in the last century have so far preventing the river from flooding.
4 Little Egret, 4+ Common Snipe, 49 Meadow Pipit and 100+ Black-headed Gull were on the floods and along the Colne, 80+ Fieldfare were still present in the NW corner along with 32 Redwing, 8 Linnet, 8 Skylark, 22+ Starling, 1 Reed Bunting. Some movement noted overhead: 85 Woodpigeon SSW in small groups, 5 Gadwall SE, 1 Common Buzzard W, 9 Pied Wagtail (mainly NW). Also noted were 2 Grey Wagtail, 1m Stonechat, 3 Little Grebe on the Colne and a distant possible Woodcock at dawn in the NW corner.
Found a Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria floating on one of the pools. It was still alive so I rescued it by placing it in a tree, then slapped it on the Moor's moth list!
4 Little Egret, 4+ Common Snipe, 49 Meadow Pipit and 100+ Black-headed Gull were on the floods and along the Colne, 80+ Fieldfare were still present in the NW corner along with 32 Redwing, 8 Linnet, 8 Skylark, 22+ Starling, 1 Reed Bunting. Some movement noted overhead: 85 Woodpigeon SSW in small groups, 5 Gadwall SE, 1 Common Buzzard W, 9 Pied Wagtail (mainly NW). Also noted were 2 Grey Wagtail, 1m Stonechat, 3 Little Grebe on the Colne and a distant possible Woodcock at dawn in the NW corner.
Found a Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria floating on one of the pools. It was still alive so I rescued it by placing it in a tree, then slapped it on the Moor's moth list!
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| The flooded Wraysbury River in the south-west corner |
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| The artificial raised banks of the Colne at Staines Moor, created from material dredged from the river bed, usually prevents the river from flooding nowadays - a major reason why the Moor no longer supports large numbers of wintering waders and wildfowl. |
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| Pools on Staines Moor viewed from The Butts. With the banks of the Colne raised, the pools on Staines Moor form only after heavy rain and are only able to persist with a high water table. |
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| Flood victim - a barely alive Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria |
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