Box End Park WeBS: 18/01/2015

It was Great Duck Hunt day in Bedfordshire so everyone was out counting wildfowl at the local waterways. This is done to try to get an overall view of the number of wildfowl in Bedfordshire. It is deliberately run alongside the WeBS weekend so that many of the sites are already counted.

It was a cold start with the temperature around freezing there were a good number of Lapwings at roost on the Spit when I arrived and as usual they all got up, swirling around, making it tricky to count. After various attempts I came to an estimate of 200, the biggest count of the winter so far. They stuck around for quite some time before heading off west. A few minutes later some of them were back and they settled back in on the Spit until just before I left the site.

A Snipe got up, while the Lapwings were swirling about, and did a circuit of the park before heading off east.

The 3 Little Grebes and 3 Gadwalls were a nice surprise and the Black Swan was back again, hanging out with the 10 Mute Swans.

Here are the morning counts for WeBS.

Black Swan 1
Black-headed Gull 8
Buzzard 1
Canada Goose 2
Coot  1
Cormorant 16
Gadwall 3
Grey Heron 2
Kingfisher 1
Lapwing 200
Little Grebe 3
Mallard 45
Meadow Pipit 4
Moorhen 3
Mute Swan 10 Pair with 5 cygnets and 3 other adults.
Skylark 1
Snipe 1

Total number of species: 17, Individuals: 302
 

Black Swan

Box End Park WeBS: 10/08/2014

I just about squeezed in my WeBS count this morning before the heavy rain arrived, just got a little bit damp as I headed back to the car. Quite a few changes in the park where the Hay has been cut and the Spit has had a hair cut since my last visit.

I'm not sure what affect the cutting on the Spit had as their were 3 small Oystercatcher chicks last time, now there is just one well grown youngster with the 2 adults. I was pretty sure there were Common Tern chicks on there too but they may have been developed enough to fly by the time the cutting took place. There were certainly a few juveniles around this morning, perched on various bits of hardware around the lakes.

It was fairly standard stuff this morning although the Pied Wagtail numbers were good with a number of juveniles on site and the Coot numbers were impressive with 2 more new broods and 3 older broods as well as 19 adult birds. I also spotted one of the adult Coots with nest material so maybe still time for another brood! It's been an exceptional year for Coots in the park.

The resident pair of Mute Swans have moved onto the river with their 7 cygnets.

Black-headed Gull 1
Buzzard 2 Minimum count, possible family party in the area.
Common Tern 12 One dead bird floating in the lake, no rings.
Coot 19 Broods of 3 and 5 small chicks and 3,3 and 1 older chicks not included in count.
Cormorant 3
Grey Heron 1
Kingfisher 1
Lapwing 1
Mallard 31
Moorhen 2 Broods of 1 and 2 well grown chicks not included in count.
Mute Swan 2 Pair with 7 well grown cygnets. One of the adults is Orange 744.
Oystercatcher 3 2 adults and one juvenile.
Pied/White Wagtail 11 Rarer species

Total number of species: 13, Individuals: 89

Other birds of note:

Stock Dove
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Chiffchaff
Green Woodpecker
House Martin (best count of 37)
Swallow (a few feeding before the rain arrived)

Box End Park WeBS: 13/07/2014

It was noticeable from arrival at the lake side that the Common Terns were much more aggressive this month. I was being dive bombed and any passing Corvid was chased off. The vegetation is so thick on the island I can't see any Tern chicks but I'm sure they are there. The pair of Oystercatchers are still on site with their fully grown offspring but they had a surprise for me at the end of my survey when 3 young chicks came out of the vegetation on the island!

There were a lot a Mallards on site , not unusual at this time of year when they are going through their moult. There were also three females with small ducklings, probably the last ones this year.

I finally got to see all of the Mute Swan cygnets and was surprised to see 7 of them. I had thought there were 6 max which just goes to show how thick the vegetation is on the island this year. The Black Swan was also present, hanging around with the Mute Swan family which seemed to tolerate it quite happily.

There are a lot of Coots present with five family groups, having 5,1,1,2 and 1 young, and at least one pair still nesting. I've not seen this number breeding here before and I wonder if it is due to the increased vegetation on the island.

Black Swan 1
Common Tern 14
Coot 12
Grey Heron 2
Grey Wagtail 3
Mallard 94
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 4
Oystercatcher 3
Pied/White Wagtail 2

Total number of species: 10 Individuals: 137

It was also nice have a Little Owl calling from the west side of the park when I arrived. Another highlight of the morning was the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly seen while I was walking along the river on the east side of the park. It's the first one I have seen and was a very impressive beasty!

Box End Park WeBS: 15/06/2014

Good numbers of Mallards in the park this morning with a lot of shabby looking males now they are starting their post breeding moult. A few new broods of ducklings on show. The Black Swan seems to have taken a liking to the park and remains on the list for the second month running.

Good numbers of Coots this year with what looks like 6 pairs and at least 3 nests. 2 of the nests a 1 and 2 chicks respectively although there may be more on the nest with 1 as that is quite well hidden on the island.

Common Terns seems to be relatively quiet this year. I could only manage a count of 6 this morning. I am unable to locate any nests due to the vegetation on the island but hopefully they are there.

Of the 3 pairs of Mute Swans 2 have cygnets. One pair have at least 4 but were obscured by the vegetation on the island where they snoozed. The other pair have 3 cygnets.

Here are the counts:

Black Swan 1  
Black-headed Gull 4  
Common Tern 6
Coot 12
Cormorant 3  
Grey Heron 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Mallard 80
Mandarin Duck 1  
Moorhen 3  
Mute Swan 6
Oystercatcher 3  
Pied/White Wagtail  2
Skylark 3

Total number of species: 13 Individuals: 123

Other birds of note were:

Blackcap
Reed Bunting (at least 3 singing males)
Common Whitethroat
Green Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Stock Dove 

Box End Park WeBS: 18/05/2014

An early start for my WeBS count this morning to beat the tri-athletes who were arriving as I left at just after 6:30!

The Black Swan seems to have relocated to here from Bedford embankment and made it's way onto my WeBS list for this site for the first time. The Mute Swans that were nesting on the island now have 8 cygnets and, although I thought they had nested elsewhere, the Oycs were here with one youngster. I'm trying to find out how soon Oycs are able to fly as the youngster was in feather but with some down still evident. It's possible I missed the nest if it was in some of the thicker vegetation but I thought they were nesting over the road.

The Common Terns have increased in numbers with my best count of 17 this morning. Some are sitting with one sitting very tight and a couple of others a bit more flighty but returning to possible nests.

A Common Buzzard was also seen again this morning, I'm wondering if there are 2 pairs in the area based on recent sightings.

Good numbers of developed Mallard broods here, quite different to the experience at Priory CP where we have had excellent numbers of broods but very few seem to be making it past the early days of life.

Here's the WeBS list:

Black Swan 1  
Buzzard 1  
Canada Goose 4  
Common Tern 17 At least 3 possible nests with birds sitting.
Coot 8 Includes 2 on nests
Grey Heron 2  
Mallard 28 6 broods of 3,5,4,3,5 and 4 ducklings.
Mute Swan 6 1 with a brood of 8 cygnets and 1 still on a nest.
Oystercatcher 3 Family party including a single juvenile.
Pied/White Wagtail 5 Family party including 3 juveniles. Rarer species
Skylark 3   Rarer species
Total number of species: 11 Individuals: 78

Other birds of note:

Reed Bunting 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 6
Sand Martin 1
Reed Warbler 2
Garden Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 1
Treecreeper 1

No sign of Swallows from the nearby stables or House Martins from Great Denham, maybe they were still in bed!
 

Box End Park WeBS: 20/04/2014

It was a pretty poor WeBS survey at Box End Park this month with several regulars missing from the list. Here is the full WeBS list:

Buzzard 2  
Canada Goose 7 1 on nest.
Common Tern 4  
Coot 5  
Kingfisher 2  
Mallard 22  
Mute Swan 6 1 on nest.
Oystercatcher 1  
Pied/White Wagtail 2
Skylark 2

Total number of species: 10, Individuals: 53

Nice to see the Mute Swans nesting on the spit at the south end of the lake. The nesting Canada Goose is a first for the park that I am aware of. Not really a species we want breeding as we have too many in Bedford already, but probably a sign of things to come.

Nice to see the Common Terns back and hopefully numbers will increase over the coming weeks and we will have them breeding here as normal. Doesn't look like the Oystercatchers are nesting here but they still seem to be coming over to feed so they may be nesting in or around the small pool on the other side of the nearby bypass.

Other birds of note:

Greylag Goose 2 over north
Stock Dove 3
Willow Warbler 2
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Bunting 1
Blackcap 6
Chiffchaff 2

Also a couple of Swallows back at the Stables across the road.

Box End Park WeBS: 16/03/2014

A fairly quiet WeBS count at Box End Park this month. One of the pairs of Mute Swans looked like they were starting a nest on the spit and a pair of Canada Geese were keen on seeing off the others that were on site. Canada Geese have not nested here before so it will be interesting to see what happens. A Pair of Oystercatchers remain on the site so hopefully they will nest here again this year.

Black-headed Gull 3  
Buzzard 2
Canada Goose 10  
Cormorant 4  
Great Crested Grebe 2  
Grey Heron 1  
Grey Wagtail 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Mallard 19  
Mute Swan 7  
Oystercatcher 2  
Pied/White Wagtail 2  
Skylark 7  

Other birds of note were:

Green Woodpecker 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming
Stock Dove 1 singing over by the boat shed
Reed Bunting 4 singing males
Fieldfare 14 over west
Redwing 2 over west
Greylag Goose 1 over north
Meadow Pipit 1 over west

Box End Park WeBS: 16/02/2014

I was just glad to be able to access the park for my Webs count this week. The previous weekend the entire park was under water so it was good to see some grass between the lake and the river when I arrived.

It was also great to see the first Oystercatcher of the year on site although with the island underwater it was limited as to where it could go. I hope the island appears in time to give it a chance to nest this year.

There were a number of areas of standing water between the lake and the river which had attracted Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in to feed. This resulted in my highest site counts for these 2 species.

The Mute Swan count was also the highest for this species since I have been surveying this site. Quite surprised by that given they can go just about anywhere at the moment and find water!

Here are all the counts:

Black-headed Gull 26
Canada Goose 2
Cormorant 5
Grey Heron 2
Kestrel 1
Mallard 70
Meadow Pipit 16 (Also had 4 over)
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 19
Oystercatcher 1
Pied/White Wagtail 33
Skylark 1

Box End Park WeBS: 19/01/2014

Cloudy and mild for this month's WeBS count. With the recent flooding I wasn't expecting much as the birds are able to find standing water just about anywhere at the moment. Although the species list was sparse I did manage a new site tick with the 10 Teal. The Mallard count was surprisingly high, back up where it used to be. Here are the numbers:

Black-headed Gull 52  
Canada Goose 3  
Common Gull 1  
Cormorant 4  
Grey Heron 2  
Mallard 106  
Meadow Pipit 1
Moorhen 2  
Mute Swan 13  (includes Orange 744)
Teal 10  (Departed 07:55)

Total number of species: 10, Individuals: 194

Other note worthy sightings included:

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming
Green Woodpecker 2
Skylark 1 over west

Probably the best sighting of the morning was the Little Owl calling while perched in a tree on the west side of the park, by the road. Another could be heard calling a little further off, on the far side of the road near the stables. Another site tick.

Box End Park WeBS: 15/12/2013

Nothing exciting to report for the December WeBS coutn at Box End Park:

Black-headed Gull 52  
Buzzard 1  
Cormorant 2  
Grey Heron 1  
Grey Wagtail 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Little Grebe 2  
Mallard 46 Also 16 over north and 3 over west.
Meadow Pipit 3 Also 1 over west.
Moorhen 3  
Mute Swan 10  
Sparrowhawk 1  

Total number of species: 12, Individuals: 123

Also of note were:

Redwing 6 over south
Fieldfare 4 over west
Lapwing 24 over south east
Skylark 5 over west

The survey at Putnoe Wood was a bit better this month with a few more species recorded. Highlight was the Mistle Thrushes:

Blackbird 2 Blue Tit 19 Bullfinch 1 Carrion Crow 7 Chaffinch 1 Coal Tit 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Great Tit 18 Green Woodpecker 1 Jackdaw 10 Magpie 3 Mistle Thrush 2 Nuthatch 1 Redwing 1 Robin 7 Song Thrush 1 Stock Dove 1 Treecreeper 2 Woodpigeon 2 Wren 3

Box End Park WeBS: 10/11/2013

My WeBS count at the weekend was more notable for the none WeBS birds. Starlings were the main players with at least 4150 Starlings over west during the morning. I believe these to be from a local roost, possibly the Willington roost I have been visiting for the murmuration. It would be great to know for sure. One of the flocks was ~3000 and 2 others numbered ~500.

Other notable flocks passing over were as follows:

40 Canada Geese over south.
4 Skylarks over west.
100 Lapwings over west. Probably the local birds from the building site!
7 Fieldfares over west.
30 Redwings over west.

The main WeBS count results were slightly better than last month, Cormorants being the most notable birds with a couple of large groups fishing on the north and south lakes. The 2 Common Buzzards were early birds, coming in before sunrise. In fact I recorded all of the raptors by 07:15.

Black-headed Gull 25  
Buzzard 2  
Cormorant 28  
Great Crested Grebe 4  
Grey Heron 2  
Kestrel 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Mallard 43  
Meadow Pipit 1  
Mute Swan 8  
Pied/White Wagtail 1  
Sparrowhawk 1  

Total number of species: 12 Individuals: 117

Box End Park WeBS: 13/10/2013

It was grim at Box End Park this morning for my monthly WeBS count. Although still quite warm it was raining heavily with a strong northerly breeze. There were a small number of Redwings in the area, no sign of any passage today.

The survey results were as follows:

Black-headed Gull 24 (37 Over West)
Cormorant 8
Great Crested Grebe 2
Grey Heron 1
Lapwing 1
Mallard 27 (22+ Over NW and 12 Over N)
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 8

Total number of species: 8 Individuals: 72

I had planned to survey Putnoe Wood as well but decided to put that off, given the conditions the end of the Grand Prix seemed the better option :-) 

Box End Park WeBS: 23/06/2013

Not much about at Box End Park on the last WeBS weekend but a few juveniles brightened the day:

Common Tern 16 (At least 3 downy youngsters present on the island, not included in count)

Coot  2  

Great Crested Grebe 1  

Mallard 33 (Not including broods of 8,2,4,5,4,4,7 and 4 ducklings, 6 of these broods were recently hatched)

Mute Swan 10 (One pair had 2 cygnets)

Oystercatcher 5 (Includes 3 well grown juveniles)

Pied/White Wagtail 4 (3 of these were juveniles)

Skylark 1  

Total number of species: 8 Individuals: 72

It's been a slow start to the year for Mallard broods but a good return this week at Box End Park with most of the broods looking like they hatched within the last 2 or 3 days.

Other birds of note seen or heard on site:

Reed Bunting 1
Starling 111 (A surprisingly large flock feeding in front of the main building.)
Swift 3
House Martin 2
Stock Dove 2
Sand Martin 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Sedge Warbler 3
Blackcap 2
Grey Heron 1 over north
Lapwing 2 over north west

Box End Park WeBS: 14/04/2013

It didn't take long to notice the Common Terns were back at the park, just one at first, rising to 7 and back down to 3 by the time I left. Seems most were moving through. Swallows were also on the move with two seen separately, one heading west and the other north west. New arrivals were Blackcap and Willow Warbler, just one of each on site. A couple of Chiffchaffs were also around but they have been in for a couple of weeks now.

Full WeBS counts as follows:


Canada Goose 5  
Common Tern 7
Cormorant 5  
Egyptian Goose 1  
Gadwall 2  
Great Crested Grebe 2  
Grey Heron 1  
Kestrel 2  
Kingfisher 1  
Mallard 9  
Moorhen 1  
Mute Swan 5
Oystercatcher 2  
Pied Wagtail 1
Skylark 3  
Total number of species: 15 Individuals: 47
 
There were signs that at Mute Swan had been taken by a Fox. There was a trail of feathers from the south end of the lake to the stream on the southern boundary of the park. No sign of significant parts other than a bit of a wing, so no rings to be found.

Great to see the arrival of the Spring migrants, they have been a long time coming! A bit disappointing that there were no more waders, was hoping for Common Sandpiper and/or Redshank, maybe next time.

Box End Park WeBS: 10/02/2013

It was grim out doing the BTO WeBS count on Sunday with steady rain throughout the session. Not much to shout about again:


Black-headed Gull 40  
Canada Goose 19  
Coot 1  
Cormorant 14  
Grey Heron 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 59  
Little Grebe 2  
Mallard 24  
Meadow Pipit 1 plus 2 over east
Mute Swan 6  
Pied/White Wagtail 1  
Total number of species: 12 Individuals: 169

There was also a single Stock Dove singing over by the boat house, 4 Fieldfares over and a flock of c60 Siskins following the river downstream.

Box End Park WeBS: 13/01/2013

Not much to shout about Sunday morning, not that surprising really as a couple of weeks ago the park was under water. At least the Lapwings were back at the roost now the spit is above water. Counts for the day were as follows:
Black-headed Gull 33  
Cormorant 7  
Grey Heron 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 50  
Little Grebe 1  
Mallard 60  
Moorhen 2  
Mute Swan 7 Including 1 first winter bird and one adult with orange Darvic ring 744
Pied/White Wagtail 1  
Sparrowhawk 1  
Total number of species: 11 Individuals: 164

Other birds noted were:

Fieldfare 7 over east
Redwing 1 over east
Stock Dove 1 singing over by the boat house
Treecreeper 1
Skylark 2 over west

Box End Park WeBS: 16/12/2012

The latest WeBS count didn't provide many surprises although a Common Buzzard passing over at 07:30 was a bit of a surprise. In fact I had bagged the Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Kingfisher within the first five minutes of this visit.

A Skylark and 2 Meadow Pipits passed over West and a couple of Lesser Redpoll were a first for me at this site.

The feathery remains of a single Mute Swan looked like the aftermath of a Foxes dinner.

The full count was:

Black-headed Gull 15  
Buzzard 1  
Canada Goose 3  
Cormorant 6  
Grey Heron 2  
Grey Wagtail 1
Kestrel 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 13  Another 24 over circled over the park as I was leaving.
Little Grebe 1  
Mallard 33  
Mute Swan 10
Pied/White Wagtail 1
Snipe 2  

Total number of species: 14 Individuals: 90

Box End Park WeBS: 18/11/2012

WeBS time again and it was a cold frosty start with some patchy fog around the lake which cleared gradually during the morning.

Black-headed Gull 22  
Canada Goose 7  
Cormorant 3  
Great Crested Grebe 1  
Grey Heron 1  
Grey Wagtail 1
Kestrel 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 10  
Little Grebe 2  
Mallard 19 Plus another 9 over west.
Moorhen 2  
Mute Swan 7  
Pied Wagtail 1
Total number of species: 14 Individuals: 78

Nothing to get excited about but as always it was great to be out and about early.

Box End Park WeBS: 15/10/2012

Travelling back from Scotland on the Sunday but managed to get my WeBS count in on the Monday morning. Nothing special but the sunrise was a cracker, shame I didn't have my camera. Counts as follows:

Black-headed Gull 13  
Buzzard 1  
Canada Goose 4 33 over north
Cormorant 4  
Grey Heron 1  
Kestrel 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 2  
Mallard 26  
Mandarin Duck 1  
Meadow Pipit 1 Plus 1 over north.
Mute Swan 5  
Pied/White Wagtail 13
Skylark Present 5 over east and 1 over west
Sparrowhawk 1  
Total number of species: 15 Individuals: 74

Box End Park WeBS: 16/09/2012

It was a strange morning, the lake was very quiet in terms of water birds but a few surprises made up for it in the end. It was a miserable start, overcast and drizzle but the drizzle had died out by the end of the visit so i could dry out a bit.

Highlight of the morning were the 2 Hobbies coming in from the south with one of the birds taking a dive at what I suspect was one of the Grey Wagtails along the east side of the north lake. It missed and they didn't hang around for long. It was also nice to find a Yellow Wagtail in with the Pied's, Linnets and Meadow Pipits over near the main building.

The Grey Wagtail count was high for the site where we sometimes get 1 or 2. All 5 were along the east shore of the north lake doing a spot of fly catching.

Full WeBS submission as follows:

Black-headed Gull 1  
Cormorant 3  
Grey Heron 1  
Grey Wagtail 5  
Hobby 2  
Kestrel 1  
Kingfisher 1  
Lapwing 1  
Linnet 9  
Mallard 31 Plus another 77 over north.
Mandarin Duck 1  
Meadow Pipit 9 Plus 1 over east.
Moorhen 1  
Mute Swan 4  
Pied/White Wagtail 25  
Sparrowhawk 1  
Yellow Wagtail 1  
Total number of species: 17 Individuals: 97

A Little Egret passed through south early on. There was also a small party of House Martins feeding overhead most of the morning. Good numbers of Swallows (~18) were over in the south west corner of the park with another 10 passing through south. 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed through, 2 south and 2 east. A Jay was also a noisy visitor.

So all in all a pretty successful morning.