29th December 2011

Common Sandpiper on the Stewartby Lake sailing club bank.

20th November 2011

A very foggy day, the fog over Stewartby Lake was only just beginning to lift as I was leaving at 4.10pm.

Hightlights:

c20 Siskins near the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake

Treecreeper found by Neil Wright between the visitors centre and the sewage works, only seen very badly by me.

Goldcrests in sewage works copse and near Stewartby Lake

Goldcrest - sewage works copse

Long-tailed Tit - on the edge of Stewartby Lake near to the visitors centre.

A photo of the sun taken through the thick fog. I've heavily processed the image to increase the contrast. The arrows mark the position of a few sunspots.

19th November 2011

8.45am - 4.30pm
Highlights:
A Common Buzzard being mobbed by a Kestrel by the Pillinge.
Female Red-crested Pochard - Pillinge
2 Caspian Gulls seen in the roost, another one present by not seen by me.

This video shows a Kestrel mobbing a Common Buzzard by the Pillinge:

And here is a video still of the moment of impact:

One of the three Caspian Gulls at the Stewartby Lake roost this afternoon:

Redwing by the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake this afternoon:

12th September 2011

A very windy day with south-westerly winds gusting to 40-50mph around midday. Disappointingly, no seabirds on Stewartby Lake...

Highlights:

2 Ruff & 2 Green Sandpipers on the Pillinge

Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher from the Gullwatch

3 Black Terns - Stewartby Lake

1 young Little Grebe with an adult on the Pillinge

11th September 2011

Spoonbill!! Seen flying over the Pillinge form outside the cafe at about 4.15 -4.20pm

Highlights:
Spoonbill - Initially picked up flying over Stewartby Lake by Neil Wright and Steve Blain. I saw it flying behind the visitors centre and then over the Pillinge. Very pleased to get this bird over the country park after narrowing missing seeing it over the park yesterday evening.

Peregrine - good view of one flying over Stewartby Lake this afternoon
Ruff, 2+ Green Sandpipers on the Pillinge
4 Black Terns, now including an adult on Stewartby Lake
Turtle Dove - flew south low over Stewartby Lake about 7pm.

10th September 2011

8am -6.45pm
Guided walk (8 -11am) highlights:
2 Whinchats on posts at the Wetland 9 corner of the Pillinge
3 Black Terns on Stewartby Lake
Good views of Hobby
Ruff, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover on the Pillinge
A combined total of 64 species seen.
A party of about 10 Yellow Wagtails flew over the vistors centre bank of Stewartby Lake.

Red Kite seen later in the afternoon over Stewartby Lake.

9th September 2011

Two digiscoped photos of a Ruff on the Pillinge, the 157th species I've photographed on the country park.

Two photographs of one of the three Black Terns on Stewartby Lake today.

A video of one of the Black Terns

Summary:

c90 Sand Martins and 2 Black Terns on Stewartby early morning.

Cetti's Warbler - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

1 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1+ Hobby and Kingfisher on the Pillinge in the afternoon

1 Swift over the visitors centre at 5pm.