TITTESWORTH BIRD NEWS
Summer 2008 issue
(Covers the period - April to June)

Weather and season

APRIL: Provisionally England had its coldest April since 2001. Rainfall was above average. There was sleet and snow locally on the 5th, 6th and 7th and further wintry showers occurred on high ground on the 10th and 11th. Daytime top temperatures were in the range 5 to 18ºC for this area. An easterly wind dominated between the 17th and 20th keeping temperatures below double figures. It was sunny on the 21st when the temperature locally lifted to 14ºC. Maximum daytime temperatures remained in double figures until the end of the month. With the return of a westerly wind from the 24th rain featured occasionally.
MAY: A low pressure over the north of the UK in the first few days of the month brought some very wet weather. In this area there were heavy rain showers and thunder on the 4th and 5th. Provisionally, the warmest May since 1914. Locally daytime highs ranged from 13 to 25ºC. The second half of the month was first dominated by high pressure then low. Temperatures were in the mid to late teens and the skies mainly cloudy and dull.
JUNE: The weather for June in England was very unsettled and changeable for the time of year, with only short spells of fine weather. In terms of the mean temperature, it was the coolest June since 2001. The highest daytime temperatures for this area were in the range 22-24ºC for the 8th and 9th. Rainfall was close to average although there were some very heavy showers locally on the 18th. It was not a particularly windy month but on the 22nd winds reached 60mph in the Manchester area.
SUMMER SOLSTICE: This year the Summer Solstice was on the 20th June. The longest day and therefore Midsummer's Day fell on the following day, the 21st June.

Site Issues

It's welcome back to Chris Fry who is now working one day a week on site, concentrating on conservation projects, very much his forte. Initially he is concentrating his efforts on the management of the ESA, north of the causeway.

Val Riley has started her botanical survey of the site and has found a large clump of Adder's Tongue Fern in the ESA. It is a fairly uncommon species in the north. Good start!

The first seasonal DVD filmed and produced by Richard Long about nature at Tittesworth is now on sale at the visitor centre at £5.95. It is an excellent film and will eventually be followed up by three others so that all seasons of the year are covered. So far sales have been very healthy. Go and buy it. It is worth it!

Tittesworth has entered the BTO Challenge again, a competition that the site has done well in - in the past. It's a combination of bird sightings and information about projects undertaken on site to improve the lot of wildlife. John Oakes provides the birding information and the ranger service provides the site project information. Please continue to record birding information in the west hide logbook. Volunteers are being sought for various tasks in support of wildlife. Please contact the rangers if you have a bit of time to spare to support them in their endeavours to make wildlife and plant life a central platform for site strategy. Please contact Richard Clough, Jim Nettle or Chris Fry on 01538 300224. Alternatively leave a message at reception either personally or by ringing 01538 300400.

Thanks to Richard Clough for providing information for this segment.

Peregrines on the Roaches

A pair of Peregrines set up a nest on a slab of rock on the south face of the Roaches, just north of Tittesworth. Two chicks were reared and eventually they were fledged. This was made possible because the Peak Park Rangers posted notices to the general public to avoid the sensitive area. Also regular climbers, walkers and birdwatchers advised visitors to avoid the nest area whilst full breeding/rearing occurred. A good result!

The fate of a Tittesworth Willow Warbler

Ken Capps informed us that a Willow Warbler (1U8352) ringed by him on the 19th July 2007 at Tittesworth was found dead at Faro, Portugal, on the 1st October 2007. Unfortunately the warbler was found dead in a rattrap. This is the first out of 3000 ringed Willow Warblers made by Ken that has been found. The route taken by this sad Willow Warbler is in keeping with the route predicted by the Migration Atlas published by the BTO in 2002. The bird travelled 1838km in 74 days. It's a pity that after all that effort the bird ended up dead!

Mealy Redpolls

Mike Bebbington, a regular birder at Tittesworth, found two Mealy Redpolls at Tittesworth on the 3rd February. Mike submitted a description to the Staffordshire Recorder who passed it on to his rarities committee for consideration. The committee accepted Mike's record. This is an exceedingly rare find at Tittesworth. Nowadays this species is officially known as a Common Redpoll BUT the most common redpoll for this area is known as a Lesser Redpoll! Well done Mike.

Aren't Birds Brilliant!

Amanda Lynnes of the RSPB runs bi-weekly events at Carsington Water introducing novices to birdwatching. She has also run a few events at Tittesworth this year and her next event under the same title will be on the 29th August. If you want to know more about birds then join Amanda and her RSPB team during the day - that is between 10.30am and 4pm. Telescopes and binoculars will be made available. Look out for Amanda around the visitor centre. She will be wearing a blue fleece with the RSPB logo.

Otters at Tittesworth?

Otter prints were said to have been found outside the artificial holt provided by Severn Trent rangers. This observation needs confirmation and if true is great news for Tittesworth.

BIRD NEWS: selected birding highlights

APRIL:

The most surprising find on the 2nd was a Barnacle Goose. This species has been absent from the site for many years. A Dipper was another good find on the same day. Over 20 Sand Martins were seen on the 3rd and the first House Martin for the year was recorded.

*** STAR BIRD ***

An OSPREY was seen flying around the site for 25 minutes from 9.50am on the 5th.

Also present on the 5th were two Shelducks, a Pink-footed Goose and a Mandarin bizarrely trying to swallow a frog! The first two Little Ringed Plovers for 2008 were located on the 6th. Twenty-five Swallows and 70 Sand Martins hunted over the water on the same day. Additionally 14 Pied Wagtails, a White Wagtail and two Grey Wagtails were found. The number of Sand Martins over the site on the 7th was very high at 120. Five Goldeneyes and three Goosanders were also noted. Probably the best sighting on the 8th was an over flying Raven. Three Mute Swans were also present. A pair of Scaup was found on the 9th and a description submitted to the Staffordshire Recorder for this site rarity. A mixed flock of 120 winter thrushes were present on the same day. The 12th yielded the first Common Sandpiper of the year. Also present were a male Gadwall, 22 Willow Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, two Willow Tits, two Lesser Redpolls and two pairs of Reed Buntings. The best sighting on the 13th was of two Peregrines. Others of note on the same day were - two Sparrowhawks hunting over the site, five Common Buzzards, three Shelducks, a single Snipe, three Curlews, two Jays and 28 Willow Warblers. Once again we had the pleasure of an Osprey visiting the site on the 15th, flying north towards its breeding grounds. Five Greylag Geese were present as well as two Nuthatches, a Tawny Owl and 11 Great Crested Grebes. Definitely the best find of the day on the 17th was four Yellow Wagtails, quite uncommon at Tittesworth.

*** STAR BIRDS ***

However, there was a report of a GREAT GREY SHRIKE north of the site towards the Roaches and a WOOD WARBLER near the Blackshaw Lane road bridge also on the 17th.

The first Common Redstart for 2008 was located on the 19th and interestingly so was a female Brambling. The Brambling was seen again on the 20th when eight Song Thrushes were singing. Two late staying Wigeon were found on the 21st. Six tiny Mallard ducklings were reported on the 22nd, the first of the year. A male Shoveler was a surprise short-term visitor. A single Lapwing was found on site on the 23rd. This species must have headed for the hills and moorlands to breed. An Oystercatcher was also present on the 23rd. The first 2008 Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler were recorded on the 25th. A Whimbrel on passage was also noted. Another first for the year was the appearance of a Whitethroat on the 26th. On this day two Peacock butterflies were on the wing - the first butterflies to be recorded this year. A Cuckoo was heard on the 27th. Note: A Cuckoo was seen and heard in nearby Macclesfield the day before. Other good finds on the same day were - two Dunlin, a Lesser Whitethroat (first for 2008), 20 Lesser Redpolls and a Kingfisher. The 28th was notable for the finding of a Whinchat.

*** STAR FIND ***

An OTTER was spotted on the 28th. Otter prints have been seen occasionally on site.

MAY:

A Wheatear was seen on nearby Gun Hill on the 1st. The first Swifts also appeared over the reservoir. Seventeen plant species were in flower including - Lesser Celandine, Butterbur, Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage and Cuckooflower. On the 2nd a lone Curlew was found. Another Osprey was spotted at around 2pm on the 3rd; it was mobbed by crows and unable to fish. Three Common Sandpipers were noted and two Brown Hares. The best find on the 4th was a Black Tern. Two Spotted Flycatchers appeared on the 7th - the first of the year. Nine butterfly species were present including the yellow Brimstone. Three Brown Hares and a Weasel were also seen. Four Greylag Geese flew into Churnet Bay at about 1.30om on the 8th. Three more species of flowering plants were noticed, namely Jack-by-the-Hedge (or Garlic Mustard), Ribwort Plantain and Red Campion.

*** STAR BIRD ***

A GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - a site rarity, showed up on the 11th.

Also present on the 11th were - two Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, two Nuthatches, three male Mandarins and six Reed Buntings. Of the butterflies present the Holly Blue was the most unusual. Of note on the 17th were - a Cuckoo, five Common Terns, two juvenile Grey Wagtails, two male Common Redstarts and four Sedge Warblers. A Rook feeding on a bird table was a novel sighting for the 18th. The prize find of the day on the 19th was a pair of Kingfishers. Six male Mandarins were found on the 21st. What a colourful sight! A Jay was located on the 25th. This is such a secretive species. A Black-tailed Godwit was found in the early evening of the 26th. Coot numbers were at a healthy 19 on the 27th. On hundred and ten House Martins hunted over the site on the 28th. Tufted Duck numbers stood at 15 and Coot numbers had lifted to 23. A pair of Common Redstarts was seen together - so hopefully breeding will occur. Undoubtedly the best observation on the 29th was two Treecreepers servicing a nest located in a crack near the base of a tree close to Blackshaw Lane road bridge over the River Churnet.

*** STAR BIRD ***

Two REED WARBLERS were found on the 30th. This species is a Tittesworth rarity.

A Dunlin put in a brief appearance on the last day of the month. Four Spotted Flycatchers were also noted.

JUNE:

On the first day of the month 21 Great Crested Grebes and 26 Coots were counted, quite a high number for both species. Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also about. The Reed Warblers were found again on the 2nd plus an Oystercatcher was logged. On the 4th a Peregrine was seen flying over the Roaches. There were 202 birds in the Canada Goose flock. This species is counted once per month. On the same day Coal Tits were feeding five young and a Pied Wagtail was feeding three youngsters. On the 5th the following were of particular note: a Peregrine, a Goosander, an Oystercatcher and two Little Ringed Plovers. Twenty-five Lapwings and five Curlews were around the Conservation Pool on the 6th. The presence of a juvenile Pochard was reported on the 7th. The 8th yielded a Green Woodpecker - now a site rarity, a Kingfisher, five Sedge Warblers, a Jay and a Brown Hare. Skylarks are hardly seen at Tittesworth these days but an ascending, singing bird was observed over Gun on the 10th. A juvenile Robin was located on this day proving breeding for this species. Some of the flowers in bloom included Foxglove, Oxeye Daisy, Autumn Hawkbit and Yellow Iris. On the 14th the following were logged: three Little Ringed Plovers, two Kingfishers, five Spotted Flycatchers and a Lesser Whitethroat. Three young Sedge Warblers were seen being fed on the 15th and two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were using nests. Two Oystercatchers were located on the 16th and two juvenile Grey Herons were observed.

*** STAR BIRD ***

A LITTLE EGRET showed up on the 19th, the first for 2008.

Also on the 19th two adult Common Sandpipers were observed looking after two juveniles. In addition two Peregrines were seen. Best finds on the 22nd were - two Moorhens, a Merlin and a Greenfinch family including several young. It came to light that the Peregrines seen from the site had hatched two chicks and were developing well. See page one for a fuller report. Pick of the bunch on the 23rd was as follows: two Kestrels, four Great Spotted Woodpeckers including a juvenile, six Nuthatches including three juveniles, eight Goldfinches including six juveniles, two Dippers and seven Reed Buntings. Of note on the 25th were five Little Ringed Plovers and a male Pied Flycatcher. The 26th yielded a Redshank and a Dunlin. On the 30th June the Little Egret that arrived on the 19th was still feeding in the shallows of the Conservation Pool. Also a Little Grebe put in an appearance - a site rarity.

The above sightings only represent around 7% of the records found in the logbook. Hopefully this gives an indication of the range of interesting birds either resident or visiting the site plus a bit of information about other inhabitants of Tittesworth's natural world (plants, butterflies, mammals).

Ray Perry 1st August 2008
Tel: 01625 432668
Email: ray_perry@btinternet.com