Breeding bird survey at Carr Vale.

Breeding bird survey at Carr Vale.

Mark Beevers tells us his summary of the first breeding bird survey at Carr Vale.

On 21st I carried out the first breeding bird survey of the season which produced notable counts of singing males for several species including 54 Robins (site record), 33 Wrens and 22 Chiffchaffs and other species recorded during the morning included a pair of Shoveler, five Golden Plover, male Peregrine, two Ravens east, three Sand Martins north and ten Redwings. The same day a very distant male Wheatear was seen from the mound and I mean it was distant but it was seen from the mound, hopefully the next one will be in the recording area and not the next parish! A male Shoveler remained on 22nd when a a Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull was present (black ring JZ625), the pair of Peregrines was seen as were a Sand Martin and Stoat. JZ625 was joined by a second colour ringed Great Black-backed Gull (JC075) on 23rd when 100 G B B Gulls and 200 Herring Gulls were on the point, 16 Buzzards were counted, the pair of Peregrines was seen, a Water Rail was calling and ten Sand Martins flew north. A late skein of 80 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west on 24th (second latest winter flock ever, latest was 25th March 2015) when 12 Cormorants included a flock of seven west, ten Snipe, 200 Herring and 100 GBB Gulls were present in amongst which a fourth winter Caspian Gull was found and JZ625 was seen again and a total of 12 Sand Martins flew north. Bird of the day on 25th was a Red Kite which came straight over the mound at 0830 and then what is assumed to be the same bird flew south east over Meadow Flash some ninety minutes later. The same day we logged one of the Peregrines, five Sand Martins, 100 Fieldfare (moving west in small parties as they do at this time of the year here), 21 singing Chiffchaffs (the northern half of the recording area i.e. Peter Fidler Reserve and walk to the mound), a fifth Long-tailed Tits nest was being built and a Siskin flew north.