Nine Oystercatcher's were photographed today which is a site record . We usually get between 5 and eight during March each year , before they dissappear to there breeding grounds elsewhere.
🦋 Butterflies
The first Butterflies of the year were noted , 1 x Brimstone, 2 x Small Tortoiseshell.
Also noted this morning
1 x L R Plover
3 x Mandarin
4 x Buzzard
9 x Greylag
1 x Goosander female
3 x G S Woodpecker
2 x Bullfinch
18 x G C Grebe
4 x Teal
Plus the usual common birds.
Our first Little Ringed Plover of the year is back on site . Also Oystercatcher's are down to six birds from eight , and we now have a pair of Shelduck at the north end. Also this morning 4 x Buzzard, 14 x Chiffchaff singing , 4 x Teal and a single Lesser Redpoll on the feeders. Two Jay , single Raven and Grey Heron , no sign of any Hirundines this morning.
First House Martins of the year with two at the north end. Five Oystercatcher's on the spit and five Mandarin also north end.
Afternoon visit
8 x Oystercatcher's
1 x Shelduck
9 x Greylag
3 x Buzzard
9 x Chiffchaff
2 x Lesser Redpoll
Early morning .
15 x Chiffchaff
32 x Wigeon
5 x Oystercatcher's
5 x Little Egret
7 x Buzzard
1 x Water Rail calling
Small flocks of Meadow Pipits passing over.
5 x Oystercatcher's
8 x Curlew
2 x Little Egret
9 x Chiffchaff
Tawny Owl
Green Woodpecker
Oystercatcher x 4
Wigeon x 32
Curlew x 8
Green Woodpecker x 1
Mandarin x 1 (drake)
Common Gull x 8
Little Egret x 2
South end
Chiffchaff x 5
Wigeon x 32
Green Woodpecker x 1
Also 7 x Curlew on the ground which is a good number for us , as we usually only get one or two and they are usually fly overs.
A short walk this morning south end produced 5 singing Chiffchaff, 36 Wigeon a single Little Egret and Raven.
Two Tawny Owls calling this morning , and around 50 plus Redwing in the field off the north car park . The first Buff-tailed Bumblebee for the year was seen today but we still wait for our first Butterfly sighting for 2025. 🦋
Tawny Owl x 2 calling
Redwing / Fieldfare mixed flock 50 plus
Wigeon x 30
Shoveler x 1 drake
Little Egret x 1
Goldcrest x 4
Chiffchaff x 3 ( overwintering birds)
Weasel x 1
If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see a new email address where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case here at Rudyard. Also high counts of species are also interesting aswell. Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation regards Steve.
steveseal1957@gmail.com
No sign of the Red-breasted Merganser since Friday now so obviously it was disturbed by the weekends boating activities. The Pink footed Goose is still present at the north end of the lake feeding with the Canada flock along with 8 x Oystercatcher's. Eight being the highest count and always in March before they dissappear to there breeding locations. The past 4 years totals below.
8 x 11/03/2022
7 x 01/03/2023
8 x 24/03/2024
8 x 03/03/2025
Also present today 4 x female Goosander, 2 x Little Egret , Kingfisher , 6 x Greylag and 18 x Teal.
No reports of the Merganser since Friday . Pink footed Goose still at the north end with the Canada flock, also Green Woodpecker at the north end. South of the dam 32 x Wigeon , 2 x Teal , 2 x Little Egret and a single drake Shoveler.
Tawny Owl , 5 x fem Goosander, 20 x Pink-footed Geese over early morning and single Raven.
