The onset of the ice dispersed the Tufted Duck and Goosanders. A drake Shoveler was a one-day visitor on January 15. The following day over 50 Canada Geese decided to skid about on the ice.
Up to 75 Tufted Duck returned once the ice had gone and they were joined by variable numbers of Pochard – all drakes: as many as nine. No Goosanders re-appeared. Remaining until at least the beginning of April was a pair of Teal: there had been as many as six birds earlier in the Winter. This was unprecedented.
A one day appearance by a Kingfisher on January 28 rounded off the month. I had to wait until March 02 for my next new species here – a singing Chiffchaff.
Gull numbers were about average for these post-Granville Tip days. Unexpectedly in early February there were several days with double figure counts of mainly first winter Herring Gulls and small numbers were seen most days in to April, long after they had gone from the lake.
A small group of Fieldfare was seen on the March 07. A Reed Bunting called along the E side on March 14 only. I was told one had been seen at a nearby garden feeder.
My first Blackcap of the year here was on March 24. My only Raven here this year flew over on March 30.
April opened with a puzzle. Sometime between the afternoon of the April 01 and early on April 02 the seven Mute Swans' eggs disappeared without trace. The cob had seemed rather lethargic for some days and perhaps not as 'on the case' as usual. This does not explain why there was no trace of eggs in the water or broken shells anywhere. It later transpired that the pen had made another nest on the island and she eventually emerged with four cygnets on June 06. Exactly who the father was remains unclear. The lethargic cob was found dead (of old age) around this time. The third 'white' bird that had been present since it was a cygnet in 2019 now seems to be paired with the pen. These four cygnets all survived and have remained. teaching themselves to fly. At the same time as the cygnets appeared three more adults arrived staying in to September. The last and the remaining 2020 cygnet disappeared in mysterious circumstances by the end of September.
Back to Spring. At least five Brambling were present on April 03 with over 25 the following day. There was a local influx of this Winter visitor this year, on their way back to Scandinavia. The first of very many Willow Warbler was heard on April 05 with as many as 12 birds some days. This species no longer breeds here and all passed quickly through.
Other warblers noted this year were Sedge Warbler (April 25), Reed Warbler (May 02) and Lesser Whitethroat (May 05), the latter being my first here for many years. None of these stayed to breed. Reed Warbler has done so in the past. Where they bred is now a fishing platform,
Waders are scarce to non-existent here due to lack of suitable habitat. Common Sandpiper is an exception with Spring passage first noted on April 18 and Autumn passage comprising a single bird on June 30 only.
Other birds breeding on and around the water had mixed fortunes. Council contractors prick the Canada Geese eggs to keep the numbers under control. More escaped this year with seven goslings apparently fledging. I saw at least ten parties of Mallard ducklings: I do not believe any survived. I had an unconfirmed report of Tufted ducklings: if correct they lasted only a few days.
Coots, eventually, and Moorhens had good breeding success. Early broods of Coot are always prone to loss and it seemed to be Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that were the culprit. Moorhens tend to keep their juveniles well-hidden. One pair of Great Crested Grebes bred with three juveniles apparently fledging.
My first House Martin sighting was May 13. Towards the end of August they were noted daily in very small numbers and sometimes with begging juveniles. My last was on September 12. They no longer breed around the estate. Swifts were also noted arriving late with the first on May 13. As usual they left at the end of July.
Another June record was my only Little Egret on June 16. One of the fishermen showed me photos of both Great White and Little Egret he took here in September. On June 17 and for several weeks afterwards, a Peacock could be heard calling from the Wolverhampton University grounds. Strange.
The usual mid-summer gathering of Canada and Greylag Geese comprised slightly fewer birds this year. The island seems to give them a feeling of security during their flightless period when they simultaneously moult all their flight feathers.
A Common Tern was present on September 10, almost certainly the same juvenile bird seen for several days at the Balancing Lake.
Autumn was notable for the number of Cormorants that visited: 13 was my highest count and easily my highest-ever count. Three Grey Herons vied for the fish and one of them became ridiculously tolerant of people and dogs, and afforded great photo opportunities. As the number of Cormorants reduced the Goosanders arrived to eat the smaller fish. The number of Tufted Duck remained low. I wonder whether the algal bloom and summer weed explosion has reduced their normal food supply – they specialise in diving for bottom-growing vegetation.
The year ended with an intriguing report from one of the fishermen of a Water Rail seen. Something to liven up the new year perhaps?
I recorded 72 bird species this year. In both 2020 and 2021 I logged 77.
Birds recorded in 2021 and not 2022
(Greater) Scaup
Oystercatcher
Common Gull
Red Kite
Peregrine
Sand Martin
Meadow Pipit
Linnet
Escapee
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Birds recorded in 2022 and not 2021
Common Tern
Lesser Whitethroat
Mistle Thrush
Brambling
Also reported to me this year but not seen by me
Water Rail
Great White Egret
Vagrant seen this year
Indian Blue Peafowl (aka Peacock)
New species of moth recorded here in 2022:
None
Hoverfly species recorded for the first time in 2022
Six-spotted Parasyrphus (Parasyrphus punctulatus)
(Ed Wilson)
Hoverfly species recorded for the first time in 2022
Six-spotted Parasyrphus (Parasyrphus punctulatus)
(Ed Wilson)