Swannery Bird Sightings - August 2020...

Waterfowl... 

The Canada Goose moult flock had largely dispersed by the end of last month meaning there was only a count of one-hundred and twenty-three during the August's WeBS count. The summering Barnacle Goose began to become more erratic in its appearances too and it was last seen on the 19th. The Mute Swan herd  numbered seven-hundred and forty-two during the WeBS, along with around two-hundred unfledged cygnets, while the resident Whooper Swan was still present throughout.

As expected Shelduck numbers dropped as adults moved off to moult elsewhere, with around twenty present early in the month but with only single figures (most, if not all first calendar year's) by the month's end.  Shoveler numbers increased from single figures in the first week to over twenty in the last; whilst Gadwall were only seen on six dates with a maxima of only three on the 2nd and 15th. The summering Wigeon was joined by at least four others on the 10th and the monthly maxima was seven on the 14th. Mallard numbers nearly doubled from last month with four-hundred and eighty counted during the WeBS. The summering Pintail was joined by an equally suspect tame individual on the 9th and both then lingered throughout, although, what was probably a different more flighty individual was present on the 31st. Teal numbers increased from single figures in the first few days to over twenty from the 4th and then at least fifty from the 14th. Pochard remained in single figures until the 23rd when sixteen were present, with around that number remaining until the month's end but in contrast Tufted Duck remained in single figures throughout.

Pochards, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Waders...

Three Oystercatchers (the last remaining family group) lingered until the 17th with none seen subsequently; two Avocets were present on the 30th;  one to five Lapwings were present daily; single Golden Plovers were noted on the 8th and 14th; single Grey Plovers were present on the 11th and 19th; Ringed Plovers were seen regularly but sixteen on the 30th was the only double figure count; and Little Ringed Plovers were seen on three dates, with one on the 3rd, two on the 5th and one on the 19th. 

Whimbrels were noted on three dates, with one on the 7th, three on the 10th and two on the 19th; single Curlews were seen on four dates; the only Bar-tailed Godwit was present on the 11th; and Black-tailed Godwits were seen on seven dates, with a peak of nine on the 15th.

Turnstones were noted on seven dates, with a peak of at least seven on the 31st; Knots were seen on five dates, with a peak of around twenty on the 29th; A Curlew Sandpiper was present on the 30th and three were seen on the 31st (all first calendar year's); two Sanderlings were present on the 18th, with one on the 19th; whilst Dunlin were regular with a peak of at least forty on the 31st.  

Knots (& Mute Swan), Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves

Dunlin, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves

Curlew Sandpipers, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

The first Snipe since April was seen on the 4th and there were then regular sightings with a peak of nine on the 31st; Common Sandpipers  were seen daily with a peak of at least fifteen on the 19th; Green Sandpipers were regular with a peak of five on the 2nd; Redshanks were also seen regularly with a peak of at least ten on the 30th/31st; single Wood Sandpipers were noted on the 2nd (a year to the day from the last sighting) and on the 11th; and single Greenshanks were seen on the 14th and 17th.

Redshanks, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Wood Sandpiper, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves

Greenshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Greenshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Gulls, Terns & Skuas...

A (first calendar year) Kittiwake was seen on the 25th; Black-headed Gulls were seen daily with one-hundred and eighty counted on the WeBS;  Mediterranean Gulls were regular with a peak of over thirty on the 7th; single Common Gulls were seen on the 7th, 9th and 17th; Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls were present daily with regular single figure counts of the former and a peak of over two-hundred of the latter on the 7th; single (first calendar year) Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on the 5th and 20th, whilst two were present on the 30th; Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen fairly regularly with a peak of at least five on the 29th. 

Yellow-legged Gull, (1st calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, August  2020 © Joe Stockwell

Sandwich Terns were seen regularly, with a peak of at least nine on the 31st; a (first calendar year) Little Tern was present on the 30th; Common Terns peaked at ten plus on the 1st/2nd but then only single figures were seen until the 20th, with none subsequently; single Arctic Terns were seen on the 13th and 27th.

Sandwich Terns, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves

A Great Skua (the first since October 2016) was seen on the 22nd, whilst a small skua species seen distantly and briefly on the 17th was thought most likely to have been a Long-tailed Skua (the last confirmed sighting of which was in October 2008).

Other Seabirds...

Single Fulmars overflew the embayment on the 13th and 15th; whilst single Gannets did the same on the 17th and 21st; Cormorants though were present daily, with eighteen counted during the WeBS.

Fulmar, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Other Water-birds...

Water Rails, Moorhens and Coots were all present throughout, with the latter increasing to three-hundred and thirty-five by the 23rd (WeBS). Little Grebes increased to seven from the 19th; whilst Great Crested Grebes. stayed stable at around thirty. Cattle Egrets were seen regularly, with a peak of at least four on the 31st; there were regular single figures counts of Grey Herons; a Great Egret was seen on the 12th; whilst ever-present Little Egrets peaked at over fifty on the 17th. Kingfishers were seen regularly, with at least three on the 31st. 

Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Kingfisher, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Hawks, Owls & Falcons... 

A Hobby was seen on the 14th; single Marsh Harriers were seen on four dates; there were regular sightings of Ospreys from the 14th, mostly singles but two were present on the 18th and 31st; single Sparrowhawks, Peregrines and Barn Owls  were seen regularly; Tawny Owls were either seen or heard on three dates (but no doubt present throughout); whilst single figures of Buzzards and Kestrels were seen daily.

Hobby, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Marsh Harrier, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Sparrowhawk, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Other Non-passerines... 

Swifts were seen regularly, with counts of up to fifty to the 11th but with then only single figures to the 19th and then none until a single on the 31st; Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were all present throughout.                                                                                             

Passerines... 

Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow and Raven were all present in varying numbers and frequency; as were Coal Tit,  Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit. 

Sand Martins and House Martins were seen regularly with a peak of thirty of the former and a peak of fifty of the latter on the 13th; Swallows were present daily with a peak of 200 on the 6th. 

The warblers that nested, namely Cetti's Warblers,  Chiffchaffs, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats, were all still present but there numbers were boosted by many others of their kind passing through; passage Willow Warblers were numerous too; whilst two  Garden Warblers were seen on the 4th, with another on the 13th; and a Grasshopper Warbler was seen on the 17th. 

Goldcrests, Wrens, Treecreepers, Dunnocks, and Starlings were all present throughout, the latter's reed-bed roost building up to at least two-hundred and fifty in number by the month's end.  

Blackbirds and  Song Thrushes were present throughout; whilst Mistle Thrushes were seen on four dates, peaking at at least ten on the 28th. The only Spotted Flycatcher was seen on the 4th; but Pied Flycatchers were seen on the 14th (one) and 18th (two).  Robins were present throughout; whilst Redstarts were noted on the 27th (one), 30th (two) and 31st (one); single Whinchats were seen on the 13th and 27th; Stonechats were present on the 11th (one) and 13th (two); but Wheatears were regular, with ten plus on a few dates. 

There were only a couple of sightings of Skylarks and no sightings of Meadow Pipits at all but as both bred in the surrounding pasture it seems likely that both were still present throughout. Single Tree Pipits were noted on the 13th, 14th and 31st; single figure counts of Yellow Wagtails were regular in the first half of the month but from the 17th double figure counts were the norm with a peak of at least thirty on several dates; single Grey Wagtails were noted on the 11th and 17th but with at least three on the 31st; and Pied Wagtails were present throughout. 

Yellow Wagtail, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Kev Butler

House Sparrows, Chaffinches,  Linnets and Reed Buntings were all present throughout, whilst a Bullfinch was heard on the 14th and Greenfinches were noted on the 13th, 17th and 29th; 

That's it for this post except to thank Alan Barrett, Kev Butler, Joe Stockwell, Nick Urch, and Charlie Wheeler for their sightings and where applicable for the use of their photos. 

September 2020 sightings to follow shortly.  
 

Steve Groves.