Great Egret and Water Rail, Longham Lakes, December 2016 (Lorne Bissell).
So another year comes to an end. It was far from a vintage year for Longham Lakes, with just 116 species recorded, well down on last year (130). However, there were 2 species making their first appearance, Nightjar (May) and Little Stint (November-December). Other goodies included 2 more Yellow-browed Warblers, and the remarkable appearance of no less than 3 Great Egrets together. Indeed, December was arguably the best month of the year, with the egrets, Stint, Jack Snipe and Water Rail all visible at the same time.
It was a pretty average breeding season, with a large fall in the number of young Tufted Ducks produced (fewer than 20, down by over 100). Not many migrants were recorded either, with Yellow Wagtail, Redstart and Whinchat missing completely. Two Marsh Harriers was good, a November Wheatear was intriguing and, for mammal enthusiasts, Longham Lakes is now confirmed as a regkar site for Nathusius’s Pipistrelle bats.
29th December
Had a trip round the South Lake today 11.25-14.30. I had hoped that a Bean Goose might have turned up, or a Bewick’s Swan – but no such luck, only Canada Geese and 13 Greylags. The 3 Great White Egrets showed well, also a Jack Snipe and an Egyptian Goose on the large island on south lake. A good trip round the site was had with 44 species recorded and one more for the Patch Work Challenge (and a site first for me) with two Ravens flying west. Also Snipe – 6; Cetti’s Warbler – 1; Reed Bunting – 1; Redwing – 2; Bullfinch – 1 (Martin Wood).
23rd December
Highlights included the 3 Great Egrets again today; also 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Egret, 12 Pochards, 6 Snipe, a Kestrel and a Stonechat (Lorne Bissell, Martin Wood).
Great (left) and Little Egrets in flight, Longham Lakes, 22/12/16 (Ian Julian)
22nd December
Egret Central at Longham yet again, also a Kestrel (Ian Julian).
17th December
I arrived at 12.50 to a cacophony of noise as 77 Canada Geese and 2 Greylags made for Hampreston Fields, a party of 19 Cormorants discussing their days fishing and the piglet like squeal of Water Rail rolling across north lake and another ear blast of one right by the north west corner of South Lake. Combined with all the wildfowl and passerines (but no Water Pipits) made the grey afternoon a pleasant walk round the lake. Highlights Shoveler – 11, Pochard – 18, Teal– 13, Great White Egret – 3, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail – 2; lots of Tuftys and Gadwall; Water Rail – 2.
There is something about patch watching and Longham which drives me on and on with the hope of finding new birds and one day to find something special. So again I have signed up to Patch Work Challenge 2017 for Longham (Martin Wood). [Well done, Martin. Good to hear.]
16th December
The 3 Great Egrets were still about on Longham Reservoir North, together with 2 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons, making it something of a heron-fest. Plenty of ducks around, mainly Gadwall and Shoveler, as well as a record total of 95 Canada Geese on the lakes and Hampreston Fields. Surprisingly, there were no other geese among them. Also a few extras such as 1 Stonechat and 1 Sparrowhawk (Dominic Couzens).
15th December
The 3 Great Egrets are still around and there was also a report of a Water Pipit (Dorset Bird Club website).
12th December
Had a couple of hours at Longham today in the mist and rain. Water levels have gone up so the gravel where the Jack Snipe were is now submerged. There were Snipe on the island but I was unable to see any Jacks. Nice variety of birds with 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding along the path up though the centre on the 2 lakes; also 2 Great White Egrets and a Grey Wagtail (Jessica Evans).
Great Egret and Little Egret, Longham Lakes, 10/12/16 (Martin Wood)
10th December
Went over to Longham Lakes this afternoon and had good views of the Little Stint, 3 Great White Egrets and a Jack Snipe and my 94th species for this site this year with the Redshank. Watching the Stint next to Pied Wagtail it did not look much bigger than this species; it is a very tiny bird. Other birds about today are as follows: Cormorant – 37 mostly on the pylons; Great Crested Grebe – 4; Little Grebe – 10; Pochard – 15; Teal; Wigeon; Shoveler – 7; Gadwall; Lapwing – 1; Common Gull – 3; Black-headed Gull – 60; Herring Gull – 52; Grey Wagtail – 1; Reed Bunting –1; Meadow Pipit – 4; Moorhen – 1 (Martin Wood). There were 2 Great Egrets
Jack Snipe (above left end of log), Longham Lakes, 10/12/16 Martin Wood)
on site at 9am (Gary White).
9th December
Following all visible on edge of island in southern lake this morning: 2 Great White Egret, 1 Little Stint, at least 3 Jack Snipe (Nick Woods).
7th December
Was on site from Midday until 1.30p,, all 3 Great White Egrets were on the North lake , 2 of them on the far shore and 1 less than 30ft away. Amazing views. Had at least 4 Jack Snipe on “George’s Shore” and the Little Stint was still on the main Island with a Redshank for company (Ian Ballam). Eventually saw 5 Jack Snipe (John Down).
5th December
I had a short session at Longham this morning. 17 new birds caught and one re-trap Dunnock from 2014. The new ones were 6 Chiffchaff ( my latest ever date – previous being Dec 4th in 2014), 4 Redwing, 3 Blackbird, two Wren, 2 Goldcrest (Roger Peart).
If anyone wishes to enjoy views of up to 4 Jack Snipes feeding (and sleeping) in the open, follow the east bank of the South Lake south from the causeway for about 20 metres until you reach an obvious red lifebelt stand. Using your telescope view the south shore of the causeway in line with a distant pylon (at about 1o’clock). Carefully scan the exposed gravel beach where there are about 6+ Common Snipes and 4+ Jack Snipes. They favour the beach to the left of the distant pylon. A Water Rail was also showing well along this beach. Other birds of interest today were 3 Great White Egrets which are becoming ridiculously tame, Little Stint, Redshank and Shelduck. Lots of birds present due to the low lake levels (George Green).
4th December
Arrived to see 17 Little Egrets and 2 Great White Egrets showing brilliant white against the island in the bright sun. The third GWE had relocated to the N lake shore. Unfortunately, the kayakers were also launching for their now regular Sunday paddle around the lake, putting a large number of birds into the air which seemed to relocate elsewhere on site (Alan Pearce).
I also called past Longham late morning until lunchtime. Great White Egret – 3, much disturbed by the kayakers, so were regularly up in the air or scattered around the lakes or Hampreston Fields; Little Stint – still on the island off the causeway; Jack Snipe – 4 along the causeway with 2 Common Snipe; Redshank – 1 commuting between the south lake slipway and the muddy edges of north lake; Kingfisher – 1 (Kevin Lane).
2nd December
It was an afternoon of threes with three Great White Egrets still. Followed this up with my first Jack Snipe then incredible there were 3 together followed up with a Water Rail then another and very good view of a Water Rail on the small island on south lake and heard one near the visitor centre – so possibly 4 on site. To round off the afternoon while watching the Little Stint, 3 Black-tailed Godwit flew and started washing on the edge of the island which made a total of 4 seen as flushed one on the west bank. Other birds seen: Little Egret –10; Collared Dove – 8; Shoveler – 12; Gadwall – 24; Teal – 25; Wigeon – 16; Pochard – 9; Kingfisher – 2; Snipe –3; Grey Wagtail – 2 (Martin Wood).
Little Stint, Longham Lakes, 01/12/2016 (Lorne Bissell)
1st December
The “peep” found on 29th November was looked at for much of the day, and the consensus is that it is a Little Stint, the first for the site and a strange inland mid-winter record. The very small size and short bill are all good “peep” features (i.e. not Dunlin or Sanderling), while the rotund shape and short wings rule out White-rumped Sandpiper (George Green also managed to see that the rump wasn’t white). Others were able to confirm there were no palmations on the feet, so suggesting the bird is a Little Stint and not a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Apparently the bill structure, too far away for me to really get to grips with, is also good for Little Stint.
Other birds seen today included 3 Great White Egrets, Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 7 Common Snipe, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 3+ Little Grebes and a Common Sandpiper (Martin Wood, Roger Peart et al).