Here's the latest from Dove Stone. Good additions to our reserve 2013 birdlist with Mealy Redpoll (59) being seen earlier in the week up at Binn Green. In terms of id, Mealy Redpoll are larger and paler than Lesser Redpoll. Today we've had Whinchat (60) in the Chew Road/Chew Brook area. Whinchat is actually part of the thrush family; here's a link to some info on Turididae http://www.bto.org/about-birds/birdfacts/bird-families/chats
Back to the list. Ring Ouzel also seen today (61) and the first Cuckoo of the year, bringing our Dove Stone Reserve 2013 Birdlist total up to a mighty 62 ! Here's a link to the BTO's pages on the movements of the Cuckoo's they've tagged: http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking
So, other recent sightings. Good views yesterday of Common Sandpipers on Yeoman Hey reservoir and also of two Oystercatchers flying towards Dove Stone reservoir. Just a quick note to say that if you are coming to Dove Stone with a dog please bear in mind disturbance from dogs off the lead to nesting birds such as Common Sandpipers, particularly on the shoreline around Yeoman Hey.
Over on the far Dove Stone res. embankment wall ( near the 'plughole') yesterday there was a group of about 30 Meadow Pipits with Pied Wagtails on the dam wall. No Swallows to be seen yesterday - it was a day for some good Dove Stone weather: low cloud and fine rain, progressing to heavy rain ! Also yesterday a brief view of one of the Peregrines flying above Dove Stone rocks from Ashway Gap.
Up at Binn Green we've had a Sparrowhawk flying through the feeding area the day before yesterday. Plenty of regulars to see: Coal, Blue and Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Jay and Mistle Thrush and also a male and female Bullfinch. Also up at the Binn Green I watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker taking sunflower hearts from the feeders and stashing them in a hole in a nearby tree. On the feeders down at the main car park as well as some of the above birds we've had regular sightings of two Nuthatches. Also just slightly down from this area towards the boatyard I saw four Lesser Redpoll in the tree tops. Around and about there are Meadow Pipits in abundance all around the main trail and good numbers of Wheatear towards the tops. Up on the tops themselves Skylark have been showing well. Also around the main trail listen out for Curlew singing and Willow Warbler.
That's it for now, more soon with an update on Dove Stone's Dippers and of course, the latest sightings: Redstart perhaps?