Spring 2019 at Longham Lakes

26th May
Quiet Sunday morning with no activities involving humans on the water. Usual vocal Reed Warblers and Cetti’s and plenty of Swifts. An Oystercatcher was on the large island, soon joined by its mate. Together they mobbed and successfully chased away a marauding corvid, before settling again on the island (Alan Pearce.)

16th May
In insect news, 2 Hairy Dragonflies, a few Scarce Chasers and a Red-eyed Damselfly were seen today, with large numbers of Brown Argus also on the wing. The (presumed) nesting Oystercatchers are still present and correct. And today’s miscellaneous duck is a female Shoveler (Matt Bell.)

14th May
Eventually in the early afternoon I found 4 species of Dragon: small numbers of Large Red, Common Blue, Azure and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Also a unidentified medium sized dragon briefly. Female Pintail on and around the large island on south lake. Takes me up to 104 yearbirds (Matt Bell.)

13th May
Totally delighted to hear a Cuckoo singing this morning at Longham, the first of the year. Also interesting to confirm two new breeding records for the site: Pheasant chicks recorded (breeding has been assumed but this the first proof). Also Greylag Goose with 3 chicks. Lots of other stuff, including a lot of Swifts (Dominic Couzens.)

12th May
Plenty of species today. Highlight was a Lesser Whitethroat viewed at the far end of the South Lake in the far corner (near the small island). Also a Common Whitethroat performing well in the same area, and another with nesting material in Green Lane. Great view of two Reed Warblers just past the pumping station as well as plenty of other sightings around both lakes. Cetti’s showing well at the end of the causeway and numerous Reed Bunting around. Great to see good numbers of Greenfinch.

There was a pair of Egyptian Geese on the island although I was sure that I saw three fly in earlier. Also an Oystercatcher tucked away with another noisily arriving as well. Ducks on the lakes were predominantly Tufted Duck and Mallard although there was also a solitary ♂ Gadwall. A Little Grebe appeared briefly by the edge of the small island before I lost it. A Little Egret and a Great Black-backed Gull were on the Meadows and a ♂ Pheasant in the cow field. A handful of Swallows and about 20 Swifts over (David Foster.)

Other counts: There were 150+ Swift, 36 House Martin, 9 Swallow, 30 Reed Warbler, 9 Cetti’s Warbler, 16 Blackcap, 244 Tufted Duck, 7 Chiffchaff, 12 Reed Bunting, 5 Common Whitethroat, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Stock Doves. As far as insects are concerned, there were Peacock Butterflies, Orange-tips, plenty of Common Blue and Brown Argus and 2 Brimstone, with Large Red Damselflies and 2 Hairy Dragonflies (Samuel Levy.)

9th May
In the afternoon there was 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin on the main island. Lots of Swifts (200+) and House Martins (100+), plus a Hobby, but no terns (Dominic Couzens.)

7th May
This pm – 3 Whimbrel flying over, also pair of Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers and Lapwing on main island of South Lake and finally large numbers of Swift feeding overhead (George Green.)

1st May
Hobby flew over the patch today. 2 Oystercatchers still. 1 Common Sandpiper. Good numbers of Swifts and Hirundines. 1 male Wheatear in the corn field. But no sign of the recent Cattle Egret. Good to see lots of Adela reaumurella (Green Long-horn Moth) never noticed these here before. Also huge numbers of Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni). I only saw a handful of these last year!! (Matt Bell)

 

29th April
A male Garganey popped in today, and other selected records were: a pair of Canada Geese with 4 goslings, 2 Shelducks, a female Mallard with 3 ducklings, 11 Reed Warblers, 10 Tufted Ducks, 5 Greylag Geese, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Tern, 2 Moorhens, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pheasant and 4 Cetti’s Warblers (Trevor Wilkinson.)

28th April
A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in brambles close to the SE corner of the South Lake. Otherwise the pair of Oystercatchers and a Common Tern were the best of the rest (George Green.)

21st April
I arrived at 8.20am and headed straight along the Causeway to look out over the meadows and was rewarded straight away with a pair of Egyptian Geese which quickly departed to the river, a pair of Shelduck and the Cattle Egret showing its summer plumage.  This spot also provided good views of Cetti’s and a Sedge Warbler in the hedgerow. A Common Whitethroat was also down in the scrub by the field edge. There were a handful of Mediterranean Gulls over the site but staying high up, and also a couple of pairs of Gadwall (1 pair on each lake). By the South Pools there were half a dozen Blackcaps (♂ & ♀) in the trees by Samuel’s Wood. Also, a solitary Lapwing on the island. Two ♂ Pheasants in the cattle field next to the ploughed field. Also had a Kestrel shoot through the Settling Marsh to the Waterworks. A singing Greenfinch at the south end of South Lake. In butterfly news, there were half a dozen Orange-tips and 2 Speckled Woods (David Foster.)

19th April
It was another busy day at Longham today, with more than 60 species recorded. Top of the pile was the very smart Cattle Egret that was in evidence at times, while 2 Oystercatchers were on the main island in South Lake late on. A Peregrine flew high overhead, as did a Red Kite. 3 Sedge Warblers were singing from the north of the site and there were at least 6 Common Sandpipers: 4 together on the weir near Longham Bridge and 2 around the Lakes themselves. The first Whitethroats were in, one on the west end of the Causeway, and one near the Settling Marsh. A male Pochard and Shoveler held on, in addition to a number of Gadwalls. A few Mediterranean and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were around, plus oddities such as Raven (Dominic Couzens, Alan Pearce, Martin Wood).

In terms of breeding or territory-holding birds: 2 Great Crested Grebes were displaying on South Lake; there was a Mute Swan nest with sitting adult upstream from Longham Bridge; there were 3 Kingfishers bickering on the Stour near Samuel’s Wood – so, at least one pair, maybe two; there was a Stock Dove singing from Samuel’s Wood and a pair on a dead tree in Emily’s Wood; a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from Emily’s Wood; there were at least 4 singing Cetti’s Warblers on-site; there were 9 singing male Reed Warblers around South Lake; there was a pair of Jays in Emily’s Wood and one bird in Samuel’s Wood; there was a Starling flying to a treetop at the south end of Samuel’s Wood; there were (only) 4 singing Reed Buntings along the south side by the River Stour; there was at least one pair of House Sparrows nesting on the eaves of a building in the Water Works. There were also sundry common species singing here and there.

18th April
Wow – Longham was in good form today. Matthew Bell reports: Singles of Cattle Egret and Red Kite today (both long-awaited patch ticks), plus 2 Whimbrel flew onto the large island, 1 Common Sandpiper was around, 2 Oystercatchers still, 2 Shelduck, 1 drake Pochard, a couple of very brief Swifts, 4 Wheatears in the Corn Field and lots of Reed Warblers. George Green adds: summer plumaged Cattle Egret present today mainly feeding with cattle in the Hampreston Fields, immediately adjacent to the west side of the North Lake. It occasionally flies to roost on the main island in the South Lake. The pools also held a pair of Egyptian Goose, a pair of Shelduck and a pair of Oystercatchers. For the 3rd afternoon in succession, I saw a Red Kite locally. First seen as I drove down Ham Lane towards Longham I managed to relocate it circling over Hampreston Church from the west side of the North Lake at Longham Lakes.

17th April
There was a Cattle Egret today, going into breeding plumage with yellow head and neck feathers, initially on the island near the causeway, but disturbed by squabbling geese and Cormorants, last seen flying away in a south-easterly direction. Also 1 Swift in among hirundine flock high over South Lake, 4 or 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Blackcaps and 2 Willow Warblers (Carl Wilcox.) Also a Wheatear which is not a common bird here, plus the pair of Oystercatchers still present (George Green.)

15th April
Not much change from recent visits. Best birds were on Hampreston Fields ‘pools’ with a pair of Egyptian Geese, a pair of Shelduck, a pair of Oystercatchers and a Black-tailed Godwit – a different individual to the bird seen recently (George Green.)

12th April
It was fairly quiet birding this afternoon, the best birds out on Hampreston Fields being the pair of Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwit and pair of Egyptian Geese (George Green, Roger Peart.)

8th April
A superb Little Gull hawking around the patch today, 2 Oystercatchers (patch tick for me) and 1 Black-tailed Godwit on the floods. There were 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Sedge Warbler, and just 1 Sand Martin! Meanwhile Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip on the wing (Matthew Bell.) Also 35+ Mediterranean Gulls on the South Lake, a pair of Egyptian Geese and some Reed Warblers (George Green.)

6th April
Bird of the afternoon was an Osprey flying over Samuel’s Wood where I picked it up flying over the west path and out over the lake. Out on the flooded pools 2 Egyptian Geese, Greylag and Canada Geese but no sign of the recent Oystercatchers (they would be new to my Longham list). Lots of Tufted Duck about and Black headed Gulls and a few Mediterranean Gulls mixed in with them, still 11 Shovelers and a couple of Teal left just loafing about a round the large island. There were at least three Cetti’s Warblers singing round the lake, a Blackcap in Samuel’s Wood and only my 2nd Nuthatch for the site in the same wood. 6 Sand Martins over and one Swallow (Martin Wood.)

2nd April
Yesterday’s Oystercatcher was still present on Hampreston Fields. Otherwise 100+ Mediterranean Gulls feeding on the recently ploughed field and commuting to the main lake, a marked arrival of 50+ Sand Martins and at least a couple of Swallows which quickly moved on, and a single Egyptian Goose (George Green.)

1st April
Oystercatcher and Egyptian Goose this afternoon on Hampreston fields (Alan Pearce.) Other species dotted about included 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mallard, 2 Pochard (m,f), 24 Greylag Goose (Hampreston fields), 8 Canada Geese (Hampreston fields), 4 Teal (Hampreston fields), 4 Gadwall (3m,1f), 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Shoveler (Hampreston fields). (Trevor Wilkinson).