Wheres October gone.  Blimey.  Woke up this morning and, for once, the weather forcasters got it spot on.  I messed around this morning, watched the grad prix, the rain stopped so i went to Croxall.  It was very windy and birds noted were Great-crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon, carrion Crow, mallard and Goldfinch from the car park.  Cormorant, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Pochard, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Teal, Magpie, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Wren, Lapwing, Wigeon and Coot on the main lake.  Starling, Kestrel and Blue Tit on the east side.  Lesser Black-backed Gull added on the way back to the car.  Wildfowl numbers were up this week with plenty of Mallard c300, Teal c150, Tufted Duck c80, Pochard c50, Wigeon c30.

 

 

This was a visit to the lake for the last hour, and hopefully another decent gull roost.  Birds on, around and near were Carrion Crow, Wren, Mallard 25, Tufted Duck 12, Wigeon 14, Teal 10, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Redshank 1,  Pochard 54, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan 2, Starling, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Grey Partridge 4, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit and 4 Yellowhammer.  The gull roost never took off tonight.  I counted about 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and about 150 Black-headed Gulls at the height.  The gulls never seemed settled and were constantly flying and landing, with some birds heading off.  There was a lot of shooting in the near fields so I wonder if this affected them.  I did notice some gulls flying around the same pit which you cannot see from the view point.  Just before the light went, and on my way home, I drove onto the A513 to have a look.  To my suprise there were no more gulls but there were about 400 ducks.  They were in the very distance so species could not be sorted.  A mixture I suppose.  In my excitement, last night, of reporting the roost, I forgot to mention two factors which might affect the future.  One is the increase in shooting, both legally and illegally (3 poachers chased off yesterday).  The other problem is going to be the construction of a centre for bad boys on the edge of the lake.  This will proberbly end all birding in that area as little brats get to enjoy, and no doubt ruin the local area.  It has all been marked out and Ive heard the machinery will be there very shortly.  Deep joy.