 Carr Vale Nature Reserve News
July 2007
During July we again maintained our daily coverage, though once again this was achieved through the dedication of Ian Swain and Kevin Navin who maintained the coverage whilst I was abroad. 91 species were recorded during the month, which is about average and two new species for the year took the yearlist to 131, a record for the end of July. Following on from the two periods of very heavy rain in June there was more heavy rain mid-month which again caused water levels to rise above average but towards the end of the month after a drier spell muddy edges again started to appear. Notable species seen in July included Grey Lag Goose, Shelduck, Pochard, Hobby, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit (three records), Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Redstart (first since 2004) and Spotted Flycatcher.
One or two Little Grebes were logged on 26 dates but no breeding has taken place yet this year and one to three Great-crested Grebes were present daily. Cormorants were recorded 24 dates with a peak count of four on the 16th whilst three were seen on five dates. Herons were recorded daily with a peak count of nine on four dates between 16th and 24th and Mute Swans peaked at eight (plus three young) on the 6th. The brood of three survived the month. A Grey Lag Goose was present daily between the 27th and 30th and Canada Geese numbers increased as usual, reaching 190 by the 29th.
A pair of Shelduck spent the day on the reserve on the 7th and Gadwall were recorded daily with a peak count of 31 (including the young) recorded on the 9th. A male Teal was present on the 2nd and a female / immature was seen on the 21st. A late brood of eight Mallard was found on the 4th and there was a count of 70 adults the following day. The brood of Shoveler was seen on nine dates until the 17th after which they are presumed to have fledged. A Pochard was present on the 18th whilst Tufted Ducks were logged daily with a peak count of 12 on the 14th and 21st.
Sparrowhawks were recorded on 12 dates and one or two Common Buzzards were recorded on three dates with four seen on the 10th (eight bird / days, two of which were from within the recording area). Kestrels were logged on 22 dates (a total of 31 bird / days) and single Hobbies were seen on five dates with two on the 8th whilst further singles were just outside the recording area at Sutton Scarsdale Flash on two dates. Two Peregrines were seen over the reserve on the 4th and 22nd and further single birds were seen on the 6th, 7th, 10th and 21st. 53 Coots were counted on the 9th on which date eight young were also present and 13th brood of the year hatched on the 6th.
The family of four Oystercatchers was seen on 13 dates until the 18th and when they weren't at Carr Vale they could usually be found a mile further south on Sutton Scarsdale Flash. An additional bird was present on the 3rd. Little-ringed Plovers were recorded daily until the 11th with a peak count of ten on the 6th and the last for the year was a single bird on the 15th. Additionally at Sutton Scarsdale Flash ten were counted on the 6th with 12 the following day, whilst later in the month five were there on the 14th and four were present on the 24th. Low numbers of Lapwings were recorded during the month with a high of just 146 on the 26th and a Dunlin was present on the 24th. It was a good month for Black-tailed Godwits with a single bird on the 3rd, seven flying south-east on the 10th and another seven flying north-east on the 15th. Single Curlews were seen on the 1st (flying west) and 9th (flying south) with a flock of eight noted flying north on the 21st. A single Redshank was present daily until the 16th and two were seen on the 29th but more unusual was a Greenshank which was present daily between the 3rd and 5th. Finally for the waders single Common Sandpipers were recorded on nine dates and additionally a single bird was seen at Sutton Scarsdale Flash on the 7th and 14th.
Gulls were generally scarce but on the 8th a flock of 170 Lesser Black-backed Gulls also held a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull and the same evening a Common Gull flew south with two more Common Gulls noted on the 21st and another Yellow-legged Gull was present on the 25th. The Common Tern chicks fledged mid-month and birds were seen daily with peak counts of six adults present on the 8th and 16th whilst seven birds, including three juveniles were present on the 22nd. A late Cuckoo was seen on the 25th, a Barn Owl was reported flying round the car park on the 3rd and a pair of Little Owls was seen on the 4th with a single bird present on the 25th. C500 Swifts were present just before a heavy shower on the 26th and at last the number of Kingfisher sightings increased with single birds noted on 23 dates and two present on the 25th and 27th. Green Woodpeckers were recorded on five dates including a juvenile on the 29th whilst Great-spotted Woodpeckers were also seen on five dates with a juvenile seen on the 21st.
There was little to report amongst the Dragonflies but a male Banded Demoiselle was seen on the 7th when an Emperor and ten Black-tailed Skimmers were on the wing. Butterflies were reported in slightly better numbers and single Commas were seen on the 6th and 19th whilst a Painted Lady was recorded on the 7th. At least one Ringlet was seen on the 8th but a shock discovery on that date was four Marbled Whites. This is the first record of this species for Carr Vale but in view of last years release of Large Coppers the origin of these insects must surely be dubious.
Amongst the mammals one or two Hares were reported regularly until the 11th and a Fox was seen on the 5th and 10th.
Mark Beevers
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