Priory CP Heronry update

Grey Heron on nest with chick

The Priory CP heronry continues to grow. This year we have ten nests and several pairs have chicks while others are still on eggs.

Saturday 12/04/2014

Another great morning in the park with a number of firsts for me for the year. Despite a cold wind this morning and overcast conditions, spring seemed to be in the air with a number of species seen mating including one of the pairs of Mute Swans on the Finger Lakes. I think these are the new pair but Orange 500 and her new mate are still hanging in there. The new pair were also nest building along one of the fingers this morning.

Mute Swan mating dance

The pair of Great Crested Grebes on Fingers were also seen doing the weed dance. There were also at least 3 Treecreepers along the Spit and the resident Common Buzzard was also about, being mobbed by a Crow as usual!

There was also some interesting behaviour from a Grey Heron seen from Kramer hide. There were four Herons in the area but one was obviously in breeding condition showing a lot of orange on its beak and it was moving branches about as if trying to build a nest. Feathers on the neck and crest were erect and there was a lot of bill clacking and sky pointing going on. Here are some pictures unfortunately obscured by branches.

Erect crest and neck feathers

Bill clacking

Sky pointing

There was quite a bit of Oystercatcher activity around the main lake island and it looks like there maybe one sitting on a nest on the island although it was obscured by foliage so we'll have to keep an eye on it. At least we know where we should be looking now.

Oystercatchers over the main lake

One of my year firsts was a singing Sedge Warbler at the STW reed bed. On to 100 Acre and we had the usual array of birds including the Black-winged Stilt which was very mobile this morning, Redshanks, Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers. Another year first was the 3 House Martins in with a group of Sand Martins and Swallows. There was also a White Wagtail but we dipped on Yellow Wagtail which had been seen by AG earlier. A Black Swan was a first for the site, initially on the crop field with 21 Mute Swans and later on the nearby lake.

Black Swan on 100 Acre

There were a lot of Blackcaps around the park this morning but Chiffchaffs seemed less numerous. There were also a handful of Willow Warblers around and when we returned to the Visitor a Common Buzzard passed overhead.

Common Buzzard

Earlier this week I popped down to the park in the evening to see what bats were around. While I was waiting for sun down quite a few Sand Martins came in over Fingers and the main lake, I estimated 60 when they all got up at the west end of the main lake. I was also fortunate to see a Swallow in with the flock over Fingers as I scanned through them with my bins.

I also came across this male Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Crescent.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Also of note were:

2 Shovelers (m) Fingers

5 Little Egrets

1 Oystercatcher

1 Buzzard calling from the Finger Lakes area

The bats showed up around 20:20 and good numbers of Pipistrelles were out and about when I left at 20:50. 

Changing of the guard?

It looks like there might be a changing of the guard as far as the Finger Lakes Mute Swans are concerned. After years holding this territory Orange 500 and family moved out in the last couple of weeks. Having had 5 young last year one had disappeared in recent weeks and then another was killed by a dog leaving 3 still with the adults. They moved over to Cardington Lock for reasons unknown leaving the Finger Lakes free and this week a new pair seem to have moved in, Orange 180 and an unringed bird. They are constantly on patrol around their new territory but time will tell if they can hold on to it. Will Orange 500 come back and stake a claim or maybe another pair will try their luck. Something to watch over the coming weeks.

Last week the volunteers were in again on Sunday, working at the east end of the main lake coppicing the sections between the fishing swims and the plantation behind them. The sections between the fishing swims were hard going with lots of tangled rose and rotten standing wood to get cleared out. The volunteers did a great job clearing three of the sections and finishing off the plantation by the end of the day. Much of the brash was used for dead hedging in the plantation but the Willow was cut and stacked for use as binders for a future hedge laying task.

Birding remains quiet in the park. 100 Acre is still the star area with ~1200 Golden Plovers and ~1000 Lapwings up near the bypass recorded on Sunday 9th of February. 76 Barnacle Geese was a nice surprise here also on Sunday.

Barnacle Geese

Lift off - Golden Plovers

Golden Plovers above Lapwings below

Here are the numbers for 100 Acre: 09/02 (courtesy of DK):

Mute Swan (1), Canada Goose (3), Barnacle Goose (76), Wigeon (80), Gadwall (3), Teal (2), Mallard (2), Pochard (5), Tufted Duck (11), Pheasant (2), Cormorant (1), Little Grebe (5), Great Crested Grebe (1), Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Coot (9), Golden Plover (1200), Lapwing (1000), Black-headed Gull (90), Common Gull (1), Stock Dove (5), Magpie (4), Jackdaw (3), Rook (7), Carrion Crow (36), Blue Tit (2), Skylark (2), Chiffchaff (1), Starling (33), Blackbird (4), Fieldfare (1), Song Thrush (1), Robin (6), Dunnock (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) (1), Chaffinch (1)

And here are the numbers for the park: 09/02 (courtesy of DK):

Mute Swan (10), Greylag Goose (1), Canada Goose (27), Gadwall (18), Teal (2), Mallard (60), Shoveler (5), Pochard (40), Tufted Duck (44), Cormorant (17), Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (1), Moorhen (3), Coot (60), Black-headed Gull (80), Common Gull (1), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon (7), Collared Dove (3), Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Magpie (8), Carrion Crow (17), Blue Tit (8), Great Tit (7), Long-tailed Tit (3), Wren (2), Blackbird (21), Song Thrush (7), Redwing (2), Robin (6), Dunnock (1), House Sparrow (3), Chaffinch (8), Greenfinch (3), Goldfinch (14), Reed Bunting (2)

I spent the afternoons in Kramer hide at the weekend but failed to get a Kingfisher on the perch. In fact I only saw a Kingfisher once all weekend so I think the high winds must have put them off. Following are a few record shots I took while waiting.

Little Grebe starting to show summer plumage

Juvenile Grey Heron

Male Teal

Treecreeper

The water levels came up yesterday in the park flooding the path between the navigation channel and the Finger lakes. This all happened between my visit in the morning and returning in the afternoon and when I left at 5pm the levels were still rising with water pouring into the Finger Lakes and Kingsmead flooded.

I've seen some very strange choices in footwear for visiting the park recently. Yesterday a women in very nice suede boots won the prize. I doubt she got much further than Beach. For anyone coming down you really need wellies or at least waterproof walking boots. Although there is a gravel path around the main lake the south side has had standing water on some sections when it is not flooded completely. Off the path the trails are very muddy with standing water in many areas. On 100 Acre there is quite a bit of standing water and the end of Meadow Lane, by the cycle track, is flooded deep enough to challenge even those in wellies.  

Saturday 14th December - Chiffchaff hunt

An unusual sight in the park was this Pheasant perched in a tree by the main path near the Steps. It seemed quite happy and did not move as joggers and dog walkers passed underneath. It's not unusual to see Pheasants in the park but I've never seen one here before. 

Pheasant

After last weeks Tristis type Chiffchaff along the cycle track we decided to have another look along there to see if we could find it again and maybe photograph it this time. Unfortunately we did not find that individual although we did have five Chiffchaffs, all seemingly collybita. The calls heard were certainly the collybita type call and the plumage seemed normal enough on all of the individuals. All were found along the track between the sewage works entrance and the corner of Meadow Lane.

Chiffchaff

The Golden Plovers and Lapwings were again in the crop field by the bypass although only in small numbers, much larger numbers were on the opposite side of the bypass. A passing Sparrowhawk put up the flock at one point. A single Egyptian Goose was still present in the same field.

Golden Plovers and Lapwings

Back in the park we watched this Grey Heron swimming in front of Kramer hide. The new Kingfisher perch was not in use but we watched a Kingfisher in a bush on the opposite bank. Hopefully it will progress to the perch in time.

Grey Heron

Following are a couple of pictures taken when the ringers were in a couple of weeks ago.

Redwing

Treecreeper

Always great to see birds in the hand but especially a couple of crackers like these two!

Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th April

As usual I got to the park early on Thursday and as I was putting on my boots I heard the unmistakeable song a Grasshopper Warbler across the other side of the car park. Having kitted up I hurried across to the area where I had heard the Gropper but it was silent and didn't sing again as far as I know. Having failed to find the bird I continued along the path to the meadow and cut back across to the main path and down to the Spit for another Otter vigil. Again I was blessed with lovely light but no Otter! I did see a Common Whitethroat, a Common Buzzard, 5 Little Egrets and I heard a Sedge Warbler. Not a bad start to the day.

Blue Tit

Later I joined the rangers and we went out egg oiling along the Great Ouse in Bedford. This involves finding as many Canada Goose nests as possible and oiling the eggs with paraffin oil to prevent them developing. The aim is to prevent the Canada Goose population increasing any further in Bedford. Winter counts peaked at 221 in the park so the population needs to be managed.

This morning (Saturday) I was a bit later than I had planned but still first in the car park. Three Reed Warblers were singing, 2 along the north side of the main lake between the Steps and the Crescent and the other one in the Crescent reedbed. A Common Whitethroat was found along the Spit again and 2 Sedge Warblers were singing along there.

Common Whitethroat

 At the STW bridge this Sedge Warbler was singing well from the reedbed.

Sedge Warbler

I really liked the reflection of this Grey Heron at Kramer hide, shame about the reed through the beak :-(

Grey Heron

Shots of the day came along the south side of the main lake where this Common Whitethroat had chosen a Blackthorn in blossom to feed in. I can't quite decide which of the 2 shots I favour but I'm edging towards the second one.

Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Some other highlights from the morning courtesy of DK:


20 Willow Warblers
22 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
3 Reed Warblers
4 Sedge  Warblers
3 C. Whitethroats
2 Oystercatchers
4 C. Terns
fem Redstart

On 100 acre:
3 Redshanks
2 Oystercatchers
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
2 Dunlins
Ringed Plover
3 C. Whitethroats
4 Willow Warblers
4 Blackcaps
Common Gull
Shoveler
Buzzard
Little Egret
Yellow Wagtail

Saturday 13/04/2013

Another dawn start but no Otter again. It was a beautiful start to the day though. An Oystercatcher was on the New Meadow when I arrived but flew as I walked along the main path.

Sunrise over the New Meadow

I set up along the Spit again and the light was great early on. I'd already seen a Water Rail in the Crescent and a party of 8 Redwings dropped into the tops of the Willows over by the Dead Seat, before departing towards the main lake.

4 Little Grebes were showing across the far side of west Fingers and a couple of them came a little closer allowing this shot of the 2 together.

Little Grebes

Up to 5 Gadwalls were on west Fingers although not particularly close this male looked good in the light.

Male Gadwall

A couple of Grey Herons flew past and I managed to capture one of them.

Grey Heron

DK and JA arrived and with DK's reports of new arrivals all week I was hoping for a bumper birding morning as we set off around the park. I'd already had 4 Chiffchaffs and we bagged a few more on our circuit. Blackcaps were a bit slow in coming but we found at least 3 in the Long Hedge by the Woodland Walk. A Willow Warbler was heard further along and we found 3 further along by the Kissing Gate.

On to 100 Acre and a quiet start with a couple of Teal on the small lake but we did a circuit hoping for a few waders and DK told us he had been seeing Red Kites over there during the past week. A couple of Lapwings were first up displaying over the big lake and they were joined by a couple more and a couple of Redshanks. There were a few Wigeons, Tufted Ducks, Little Grebes and a couple of Great Crested Grebes on there also.

Oystercatcher

Plenty of Skylarks are around so it would be good if dog walkers would stick to the well used trails and keep there dogs under close control as these and other birds are likely to be nesting on the ground soon. A couple more Redshanks were found and a Little Egret was spotted flying towards Willington Gravel Pits. We flushed a Snipe and an Oystercatcher gave us a nice fly past. A Kingfisher flew across the cycle track as we passed the STW.

Back in the park we had four Common Buzzards on a thermal over Kings Mead drifting north west. More Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were seen and heard. Along the south side of the main lake we came across a male Blackcap and then another which turned into a group of 6, males and females. A Common Tern was passing up and down the south side of the main lake and another was over the Marina.

As we walked up the west side of the lake 3 Sand Martins came in from the west, the only Hirundines we had all morning. A Greenfinch was singing in the north west corner.

So I managed to bag a few migrants that I hadn't seen yet but there are still plenty more. 100 Acre is looking really good and hopefully I'll take the guided walk over there in a couple of weeks time.

Saturday 21/07/2012

Once again it was pretty quiet in the park but at least the weather had taken a turn for the better. It's quiet on the bird front with some of the migrants already on the way back south. 

DK reported yet another brood of Great Crested Grebes on the main lake. These guys are still small and riding on the adults back. No idea where the nest was! This is the best year I can remember for GC Grebe breeding success.

On Fingers the Tufted Duck family are down to 4 youngsters. They are all accomplished divers now but still vulnerable to predation. 

We found this Brown Hawker dragonfly in the Rough and it stopped hunting for a few moments to allow us a quick photo. I think the name Brown Hawker doesn't do it justice. The wings are gold and as it is hawking around with the sun shining it is quite stunning.

Brown Hawker

We came across our first Gatekeeper of the year and, soon after, another one. The sunshine was really tempting out the insects.

Gatekeeper

This Grey Heron was posing on the side of the Canoe Slalom.

Grey Heron

It's the July guided bird walk next week, on Sunday 29th at 8am. It's generally a quiet time of year for the birds but hopefully we'll have a few dragonflies and butterflies to fill in any gaps. Hope to see you there.  

Saturday 8th October

It was pretty quiet this morning with little obvious sign of migration, just 3 Skylarks east. Compared to the last couple of weeks we struggled for ducks with just 3 Gadwall, on Fingers, along with the usual Mallards.

When we reached the Canoe Slalom things brightened up a little with a single Grey Wagtail in residence.

Grey Wagtail

A Kingfisher flew in and perched up on the concrete side of the canoe slalom but didn't hang around for long. Then as I stalked the Grey Wagtail for a better shot a Kestrel flew over flushing it further along. It was then flushed by a couple of dogs going by.

This Heron was playing hide and seek along the navigation channel.

The following images are from previous visits.

Wood Pigeon 

This Wood Pigeon was perched up nicely on an Alder branch in the Crescent producing a pleasing portrait.

Snipe 

This Snipe was on the edge of the island on the big lake on 100 Acre. Unfortunately it didn't sit tight so I only managed this long distance shot.

Grey Heron 

This amused me and brought to mind the phrase "Like shooting fish in a barrel"!

And finally a lovely sunrise photo over East Fingers. I could have done with being a few minutes earlier to catch the best lighting conditions but this one wasn't too bad.