Wintersett Annual Round Up 2017

Wintersett Annual Round Up 2017

Weather

Spring: Started cold and dry, with Storm Doris from the south west on 23^rd February,

March was warm.   April was dry and sunny, but with cooling westerlies.

Summer was cool and wet.

Autumn was mild with westerly winds prevailing.

Winter: November and December were cool and mainly dry with a several very mild days and snow on 29.12.17.

The Wintersett Area recorded 166 bird species for 2017

same as last year, with no new birds added since October 21^st

The Top Ten Birds were: -

1. White-tailed Eagle - first record for the area, on 29.04.17.

2. Marsh Warbler – a male trapped and ringed 03.06.17. Last one was 28 years ago,

3. Sabine's Gull – 21.09.17

4. Common Crane – 02.07.17

5. Hawfinch - a total of 11 flyovers on 21, 28, 29, October and 11 November

6. European White-fronted Goose - 9 flew north 22.02.17.

7. Hen Harrier 24,05,17 + 10.09.17

8. Firecrest - 23.01.17 + 1 ringed 26,10,17

9. Dark-bellied Brent Goose 27.09.17

10. Long-tailed Duck 24.04.17

Other highlights:-

12 species of Gull recorded this year: Great Black-backed,, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged, Herring, Common, Mediterranean, Black-headed, Caspian, Iceland, Glaucous, Little and Sabine's .

10 species of Wader recorded on one epic Vis.Mig. Watch on 30^th April. Dunlin, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Little Stint, Avocet, Curlew and Lapwing.

2 Sand Martin on March 5^th were the earliest ever recorded here.

Glaring Omissions:  RINGED PLOVER! Smew, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl and Ring-necked Parakeet to name but a few!

Other Critters

9 species of Bat were recorded in the area.

Noctule, Common pipistrelle, Soprano pipistrelle, Brown Long-eared, Daubenton's, Leisler's, Brandt's/ Whiskered, Natterer's. The highlight was Nathusius' pipistrelle, a rare migrant.

Odonata Red-eyed Damselfly were recorded on Wintersett Res, Botany Bay and Golf Course Pond confirmed breeding.
A male Lesser Emperor  was at Anglers CP on the 18th, 19th  and 21st June.   A male Lesser Emperor Dragonfly was at Wintersett Res SE corner on 21st June and 22nd July..  
A male Red-veined Darter was seen on Anglers CP on 17th, 18th, 19th and 21st June.
A 'rare for here' Banded Demoiselle was seen at Anglers CP on 18th June by Mick Hemingway.

Lepidoptera:

Very poor numbers of most regular species. Red Admirals flourished in the autumn.

Moth highlights:

2 macros:- Waved Umber and Triple-spotted Pug were new for the area.

4 micros were new for the area. Confirmed by Harry Beaumont.

Coleoptera:  2 Green Tiger Beetles on the Disposal Point on 21.05.17 were the first record for the area.   On 28.09.17 several Galeruca tanaceti were seen at Moorhouse Lane Pond - another 1st for the area.    Both records confirmed by Mike Denton.

And finally:

The Wintersett Team  wish everyone

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR    and excellent birding in 2018