Carr Vale sighting report by Mark Beevers

Carr Vale sighting report by Mark Beevers

It's been fairly quiet during the first week of June compared to the end of May.

It's been fairly quiet during the first week of June compared to the end of May. Regular birds include Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, calling Water Rails, Oystercatchers, Little Ringed Plovers (not breeding), the pair of Common Terns (with occasionally one or two extra birds), still small numbers of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, occasional Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers and a singing Lesser Whitethroat. A Cuckoo was reported on 1st, 2nd June saw a Grey Lag Goose with the Canadas, and the male Teal and Ringed Plover were still present with a singing Goldcrest too, but the bird of the day was an adult Bar-headed Goose, ok only feral but still a smart looking bird and the first for some years. On 3rd June two singing Goldcrests and a Willow Tit was carrying food. Nothing to report on 4th June but on 5th June a late Arctic Tern flew north and an immature Peregrine was seen. On 6th the highlight was a first summer Common Gull, whilst on 7th June a Red Kite was seen flying high north-east. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull has taken up residence on the middle flash and so far it has predated a minimum of ten Black-headed Gull chicks. Pretty quiet as I said.