A full wander around the estate grounds this morning produced the following sightings;
Coppice Pond
Although partially frozen it made counting the waterfowl easier. The lone Mute Swan remains but there was no Canada Geese again. There were 42 Mallards, 10 Coot and at least 7 Moorhen.
Racecourse Plantation
Feeding quietly in the pathside trees were 4 Redpoll which I nearly missed as I walked past them. thanks to a flock of Goldcrests I managed to see them.
Blind Lane
A flock of 75+ Redwings were feeding among the leaf litter under two large isolated trees in the fields either side of Blind Lane. they didn't appear to mind me as I got closer and closer and I had excellent views of this winter visiting Thrush.
Cuckoo's Nest Wood
Nuthatches and Treecreepers were very vocal though I didn't see many of either.
17th November 2007
Nothing much to report today, the woods were very quiet. I did manage to see or hear some Redpolls at Coppice Pond and at the Racecourse Plantation.
The Mute Swan remains at Coppice Pond, though there was no sign of any Goosander, Tufted Ducks or Little Grebe.
The Mute Swan remains at Coppice Pond, though there was no sign of any Goosander, Tufted Ducks or Little Grebe.
3rd November 2007
I spent a couple of hours walking around the estate grounds counting birds for the BTO bird atlas. November isn't usually a great month to bird watch in St.Ives, however, I did find several parties of Siskin and Coppice Pond was very busy.
Coppice Pond
The Mute Swan remains, at least 10 Coot were present, as were 7 Moorhen.
The Black-headed Gull count reached over 50. Mallards numbers were high but Canada Geese numbers were low, with only 6 being seen.
A small flock of Siskins were in the Alders around the waters edge. A large flock of Long-tailed Tits contained few other species.
Racecourse Plantation
Another Tit flock contained all the common species, Blue, Coal, Great and Long-tailed.
More Siskins were heard.
Cuckoo Nest Wood
I heard just two Nuthatches throughout.
Coppice Pond
The Mute Swan remains, at least 10 Coot were present, as were 7 Moorhen.
The Black-headed Gull count reached over 50. Mallards numbers were high but Canada Geese numbers were low, with only 6 being seen.
A small flock of Siskins were in the Alders around the waters edge. A large flock of Long-tailed Tits contained few other species.
Racecourse Plantation
Another Tit flock contained all the common species, Blue, Coal, Great and Long-tailed.
More Siskins were heard.
Cuckoo Nest Wood
I heard just two Nuthatches throughout.
21st October 2007
I had a walk around parts of the estate with some other members of the Friends of St.Ives committee looking for some historical features. While we were searching I had one eye open for the wildlife, as you do.
Coppice Pond area;
The Mute Swan is still present. There were many Black-headed Gulls waiting for folk to come along and feed the Mallards and Canada Geese. In the nearby woods a party of Long-tailed Tits were very vocal as was a Fieldfare. Jays were seen foraging in the horse fields.
Friends Wood area;
A Little Owl sat on the dry stone wall was a welcome sight, as it's been a few months since I last saw one in the area.
Racecourse Plantation; Siskins were present.
Coppice Pond area;
The Mute Swan is still present. There were many Black-headed Gulls waiting for folk to come along and feed the Mallards and Canada Geese. In the nearby woods a party of Long-tailed Tits were very vocal as was a Fieldfare. Jays were seen foraging in the horse fields.
Friends Wood area;
A Little Owl sat on the dry stone wall was a welcome sight, as it's been a few months since I last saw one in the area.
Racecourse Plantation; Siskins were present.
22nd September 2007
An early evening walk from Coppice Pond clockwise past Lady Blantyre's Rock, past the Heather Park and through Racecourse Plantation produced the following;
Coppice Pond
The Mute Swan that has remained all summer still has yet to attract a mate. When he does it'll be interesting to see how the breeding Canada Geese react.
Lady Blantyre's Rock area
Several Siskins were heard flying over.
Racecourse Plantation
Even more Siskins were heard overhead, these I presume are migrants from the north.
Kettlewell Reservoir area
A Kestrel was seen sat on the wires.
Coppice Pond
The Mute Swan that has remained all summer still has yet to attract a mate. When he does it'll be interesting to see how the breeding Canada Geese react.
Lady Blantyre's Rock area
Several Siskins were heard flying over.
Racecourse Plantation
Even more Siskins were heard overhead, these I presume are migrants from the north.
Kettlewell Reservoir area
A Kestrel was seen sat on the wires.
9th September 2007
Some more good observations by a fellow birder;
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and three Crossbills were seen bathing in the dis-used Kettlewell Reservoir.
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and three Crossbills were seen bathing in the dis-used Kettlewell Reservoir.
Long-eared Owl
A birding friend of mine visited St.Ives on 21st August sometime in the afternoon. Not expecting to see a great deal given the time of day and year he didn't take his binoculars. This is always a mistake when a birder as you're bound to need them, and he did. A young Long-eared Owl was calling and flying around near Lady Blantyre's Rock.
July so far....
I've not been around St.Ives for a while, partly due to the weather, partly to do with the breeding season making it harder to see woodland species.
Recently there has been a lone Mute Swan on Coppice Pond, this is a first for me in over twenty years! Also a male Tufted Duck was present early July, that left me wondering if they had stayed to breed but I could find no sign of a female on a nest and so far there hasn't been any sightings of her with young.
I ventured in on Sunday 15th to help set up for the Pageant. Though I didn't see many birds I did notice the following as I was going about my duties:
Sparrowhawk circling over Blind Lane. The Swallows have been successful as there were many of them flying around the stables. A Grey Wagtail kept visiting the Mansion area where I was directing traffic. There were at least three Chiffchaff singing. Jays and Nuthatches were making a lot of noise.
I also had a couple of sightings of a fox.
Recently there has been a lone Mute Swan on Coppice Pond, this is a first for me in over twenty years! Also a male Tufted Duck was present early July, that left me wondering if they had stayed to breed but I could find no sign of a female on a nest and so far there hasn't been any sightings of her with young.
I ventured in on Sunday 15th to help set up for the Pageant. Though I didn't see many birds I did notice the following as I was going about my duties:
Sparrowhawk circling over Blind Lane. The Swallows have been successful as there were many of them flying around the stables. A Grey Wagtail kept visiting the Mansion area where I was directing traffic. There were at least three Chiffchaff singing. Jays and Nuthatches were making a lot of noise.
I also had a couple of sightings of a fox.
10th June 2007
An early morning wander produced many sightings of juveniles fledged from nests of various species. No sightings of either Flycatchers though.
25th May 2007
Spotted Flycatcher was seen this morning in Cuckoo Nest Wood, between next box 36 and the steps up to the Ferrand's Oak.
19th May 2007
Another scheduled bird walk for the Friends of St.Ives, this one being attended by three Bradford Ornithological Group members. This week we dropped down into Cuckoo Nest Wood to try and see the Pied Flycatcher first and then walked up past the reservoir and Racecourse plantation and down to Lady Blantyre and finally Coppice Pond.
Cuckoo Nest Wood
Unfortunately the high winds kept many of the songbirds from singing and those that were singing were harder to hear. However, after what seemed an eternity we found the male Pied Flycatcher as he sang. He'd been very elusive as this week he has moved to the woods up hill from nest box 39 and is no longer right next to the path. We discovered a Blue Tit pair are using box 14. Male Blackcap and Chiffchaff were using the same tree to sing from. Nuthatches were seen throughout and we had one sigting of a Jay.
Betty's Lodge
After entering the woods near Betty's Lodge we saw a family party of Long-tailed Tits
White Cotes Barn
A male Sparrowhawk was viewed for a while as it past us and headed away over the woods around Betty's Lodge.
Crossgates Barn
A male Kestrel was seen hunting toward the golf course. A pair of Swallows were feeding close by.
Racecourse Plantation
Goldcrest and Treecreeper were heard and then seen. A distant song drowned out by the wind may have been a Redstart.
Coppice Pond
3 pairs of Canada Geese had 3, 7 and 2 juveniles in tow. No sign of the Tufted Ducks.
I totalled up later and reckon we had at least 12 singing male Blackcaps and 6 Chiffchaffs.
Cuckoo Nest Wood
Unfortunately the high winds kept many of the songbirds from singing and those that were singing were harder to hear. However, after what seemed an eternity we found the male Pied Flycatcher as he sang. He'd been very elusive as this week he has moved to the woods up hill from nest box 39 and is no longer right next to the path. We discovered a Blue Tit pair are using box 14. Male Blackcap and Chiffchaff were using the same tree to sing from. Nuthatches were seen throughout and we had one sigting of a Jay.
Betty's Lodge
After entering the woods near Betty's Lodge we saw a family party of Long-tailed Tits
White Cotes Barn
A male Sparrowhawk was viewed for a while as it past us and headed away over the woods around Betty's Lodge.
Crossgates Barn
A male Kestrel was seen hunting toward the golf course. A pair of Swallows were feeding close by.
Racecourse Plantation
Goldcrest and Treecreeper were heard and then seen. A distant song drowned out by the wind may have been a Redstart.
Coppice Pond
3 pairs of Canada Geese had 3, 7 and 2 juveniles in tow. No sign of the Tufted Ducks.
I totalled up later and reckon we had at least 12 singing male Blackcaps and 6 Chiffchaffs.
12th & 13th May 2007
Pied Flycatcher has arrived in St.Ives!!!!
After two years of hoping we currently have a male singing outside nest box 36. Fingers crossed he'll attract a mate and or more males into the woods as there is plenty of real estate available.
Box 36 is east of the old barn in Cuckoo Nest Wood.
In general there are several singing Blackcaps and Willow Warblers with at least 6 male Chiffchaff. Only one Garden Warbler has returned so far and only one Whitethroat is singing on the southern edge of the estate. Wood Warblers are yet to come back.
I'm still waiting for the Spotted Flycatchers to return as well as Tree Pipit. There is still no sign of Redstarts after a few years of them not returning.
Other boxes currently being used are as follows:
Blue Tits are in boxes 66, 59, 40, 37 and 4
Great Tits are in box 34
These are only my observations, if you know of more please do get in touch.
Thanks!
After two years of hoping we currently have a male singing outside nest box 36. Fingers crossed he'll attract a mate and or more males into the woods as there is plenty of real estate available.
Box 36 is east of the old barn in Cuckoo Nest Wood.
In general there are several singing Blackcaps and Willow Warblers with at least 6 male Chiffchaff. Only one Garden Warbler has returned so far and only one Whitethroat is singing on the southern edge of the estate. Wood Warblers are yet to come back.
I'm still waiting for the Spotted Flycatchers to return as well as Tree Pipit. There is still no sign of Redstarts after a few years of them not returning.
Other boxes currently being used are as follows:
Blue Tits are in boxes 66, 59, 40, 37 and 4
Great Tits are in box 34
These are only my observations, if you know of more please do get in touch.
Thanks!
6th May 2007
A quick wonder around the circuit today hoping to stop for the likes of Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied & Spotted Flycatchers as well as Wood Warblers.
None of the above were seen! It appears that we're back to normal after a few weeeks of early arrivals during April, with St.Ives lagging behind everywhere else for migrants of course!
Cuckoo Nest Wood -
typical species such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch were all seen
Coppice Pond -
The pair of Tufted Duck are still hanging around but no sign of breeding yet
Heather Park -
plenty of Meadow Pipits and Willow Warblers but no Tree Pipit, yet.
Two Barns Area -
no sign of the Garden Warbler heard during my last visit.
Kettlewell Res -
a male Kestrel passed overhead.
None of the above were seen! It appears that we're back to normal after a few weeeks of early arrivals during April, with St.Ives lagging behind everywhere else for migrants of course!
Cuckoo Nest Wood -
typical species such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch were all seen
Coppice Pond -
The pair of Tufted Duck are still hanging around but no sign of breeding yet
Heather Park -
plenty of Meadow Pipits and Willow Warblers but no Tree Pipit, yet.
Two Barns Area -
no sign of the Garden Warbler heard during my last visit.
Kettlewell Res -
a male Kestrel passed overhead.
28th April 2007
Another complete circuit was done this weekend, starting in the new car park and heading into Cuckoo Nest Wood.
Cuckoo Nest Wood: Plenty of Blackcaps singing as more had obvisouly arrived recently, I listened to one break into his mimicry song as a female approached. There seems to be bit more activety at the nest boxes with a Blue Tit at box 34 and Great Tit at box 5. There were at least 3 Chiffchaff singing.
Coppice Pond: The Canada Geese have bred with at least one family of goslings hatched. The Tufted Ducks were not seen but hopefully they are still present. Coot and Moorhen have both nested.
Coppice Bog: Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing.
Heather Park: several Willow Warblers singing
Two Barns area: Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warblers were all in full song, and a Garden Warbler has thankfully returned.
I'm hopeful that in the coming weeks I'll be seeing other summer migrants such as Tree Pipits, Redstarts, Wood Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and (fingers crossed) Pied Flycatchers. It'll be interesting this year to see how many Spotted Flycatchers turn up as at one point last year there were 6 singing males, which was extraordinary.
Cuckoo Nest Wood: Plenty of Blackcaps singing as more had obvisouly arrived recently, I listened to one break into his mimicry song as a female approached. There seems to be bit more activety at the nest boxes with a Blue Tit at box 34 and Great Tit at box 5. There were at least 3 Chiffchaff singing.
Coppice Pond: The Canada Geese have bred with at least one family of goslings hatched. The Tufted Ducks were not seen but hopefully they are still present. Coot and Moorhen have both nested.
Coppice Bog: Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing.
Heather Park: several Willow Warblers singing
Two Barns area: Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warblers were all in full song, and a Garden Warbler has thankfully returned.
I'm hopeful that in the coming weeks I'll be seeing other summer migrants such as Tree Pipits, Redstarts, Wood Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and (fingers crossed) Pied Flycatchers. It'll be interesting this year to see how many Spotted Flycatchers turn up as at one point last year there were 6 singing males, which was extraordinary.
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