Wildlife Report for 2018 sightings of Stadt Moers park.

Our Chris has been busy recording in his local park.

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Report for 2018 sightings of Stadt Moers park.

A number of species are regular but a few rarities and uncommon birds added. I was surprised by a lack of a number of species such as meadow pipit and sedge warbler. The changes in the mute swans was interesting considering everyone you speak to in the park tell you its the same birds all year.

This is a systematic list of birds, mammals, dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies seen or heard during my regular visits to the Tushingham quadrant of Stadt Moers Park during January to December 2018.

Canada Goose Branta Canadensis

Maximum of 7 adult birds counted on the lake, 2 pairs did breed (1^st pair 5 juv 25/4, 2^nd pair later 2 juv 4/6.) 1^st breeding pair male bird was dominate of all other geese. Other pair only bred after the first group were a good size. No birds recorded after the 3^rd October.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

2 flew over 9^th April

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus

A number of flocks were seen on the 14^th October the biggest skein being 53. Over 100 birds seen on that day.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Maximum of 4 birds counted but lots of changes. Adult and juv (4CJU blue) ringed 29/9/17 at Stadt Moers was joined 2/3/18 by a pair, 1 (CJB5 green) ringed as a second year male on 10-8-16 at Spike Island. These birds left and another 2 arrived by the end of March, one with a BTO ring. Single bird left 11/4/18. No birds from the 25/4 till 28/5 when single bird (4CJU blue) returned. No birds from 4/6 till 24/12 when single bird (4CYP blue) ringed 3/2/2018 as juv male at Firs Flash, Leigh, Greater Manchester. No breeding this year.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

2 birds flew around the wet meadows 21^st April, landed but took off 5 minutes later.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Resident on lake and did breed.

Teal Anas crecca

2 birds seen during the January and February visits.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Maximum count of 8 birds on 1^st April 5 males 3 females. Birds recorded throughout the year but none breeding.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Adult bird seen on 1^st April only.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Maximum count of 2 birds. Single birds seen throughout the year.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Maximum count 10 birds in January. 8 birds counted 14/3. No birds seen after 28^th April until 24^th December when a single bird flew over.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Birds seen throughout the year.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Maximum count 5 birds on 14^th March. Birds seen throughout the year.

Water rail Rallus aquaticus

A single bird heard calling on 24^th December

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Birds recorded throughout the year. Breeding recorded 1^st juveniles 12^th May.

Coot Fulica atra

Birds recorded throughout the year. Breeding recorded 1^st juvenile seen 28^th April

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Single bird seen 28^th April on the wet meadow area.

Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria

Maximum of 8 birds counted on 2^nd March late afternoon. 3 birds left on the 3^rd March but flushed by dog walks and flew off. Birds on site due to cold weather movement (Beast from the East).

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

Single birds recorded on the 8^th January in the old Quarry area. 17^th February single bird flushed off the wet meadow.

Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

Maximum count of 4 birds on the wet meadow area during February and March.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Maximum count of 20 birds on the wet meadow area through January to March. 10 birds seen on the 24^th December.

Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Single birds seen on 22^nd April around the lake edge and on the 5^th May.

Black headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Birds seen throughout the year.

Mediterranean gull Larus melanocephalus

Single bird calling and flying over 17^th February.

Common gull Larus canus

Seen regular during Jan to March

Great black-backed gull Larus marinus

Single bird seen

Herring gull Larus argentatus

Seen regular through the year flying between Prescot reservoirs and Netherley sewage works and Huyton industrial estate.

Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus

Seen regular through the year flying between Prescot reservoirs and Netherley sewage works and Huyton industrial estate.

Winter on the lake

Feral pigeon Columba livia

Seen regular through the year.

Stock dove Columba oenas

First bird seen 9^th April.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus

Seen regular through the year.

Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto

Seen regular through the year.

Swift Apus apus

First birds seen on the 7^th May. Last bird seen on the 2^nd September.

Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major

Seen regular through the year.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Seen regular through the year.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

Seen regular through the year.

Magpie Pica pica

Seen most days

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Seen regular through the year flying over.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

Single birds seen flying over

Carrion crow Corvus corone

Seen most days

Raven Corvus corax

2 birds seen displaying 24^th January over the quarry area.

Coal tit Peripaus ater

Seen most days in autumn and winter.

Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus

Seen most days.

Great tit Parus major

Seen most days.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

An individual flying over 14^thMarch.

Sand martin Riparia riparia

First seen 14^thApril when 2 birds flew over. Last seen 2^nd September.

Swallow Hirundo rustica

First seen 8^thApril. Last seen 2^nd September when 12 birds flew through.

House martin Delichon urbicum

First seen 21^stMay.

Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus

Seen most days.

Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

First heard and seen 8^thApril.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

First heard and seen 14^thMarch

Reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

First heard and seen 5^thApril

Grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia

First heard 28^thApril not heard again.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Male first seen 14^thApril female seen 21^stApril.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

First seen and heard 21^stApril

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Seen regular through the year.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Seen most days.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Single individual seen once on 18^th April.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

Seen regular through the year.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Seen regular through the year flying over.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Seen most days.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

7 birds seen on 3^rd March

Redwing Turdus iliacus

Small numbers seen on 17^th February. Returning birds seen 14^th October.

Song thrush Turdus philomelos

Good numbers seen through the winter. A number of birds seen through the year.

Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus

Seen regular through the year.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Seen most days.

House sparrow Passer domesticus

Seen regular through the year.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Seen most days.

Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea

First seen 25^thApril with a juvenile bird seen on the Logwood Mill brook. Adults recorded on other dates flying over.

Pied wagtail Motacilla alba

A fly over bird seen on the 27^thMarch with another fly over 14^th October.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Seen most days.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

A male bird was seen on 17^th February with a peak count of 2 birds in March.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Birds seen or heard on site during the winter months.

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraystes

A single bird was seen on 8^th January and stayed around into February when a second bird was seen on 24^th February. Both birds left in March and were part of the hawfinch invasion that year.

Greenfinch Chloris chloris

Regularly seen through the year.

Linnet Linaria cannabina

First birds seen 21^st April and then seen collecting nesting material on 28^th April.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Seen most days.

Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Seen throughout the year with best count of 3 males.

Total; 77 species.

Butterflies recorded

Peacock                               first seen 14/4

Small tortoiseshell           first seen 21/4

Orange tip                           first seen 7/5

Holly blue                            first seen 7/5

Small white                         first seen 7/5

Large white                        first seen 7/5

Speckled wood                 first seen 7/5

Common blue                   first seen 7/5

Large skipper                     first seen 5/6

Dragon and Damselflies recorded.

Dragonflies

4 spotted chaser           Libellula quadrimaculata  first seen 7/5.

broad body chaser       Libellula depressa               first seen 28/5.

brown hawker               Aeshna grandis                    first seen 2/7.

Damselflies

azure damselfly             Coenagrion puella              first seen 18/5.

blue tailed damselfly   Ischnura elegans first seen 21/5.

red-eyed damselfly     Erythromma najas              first seen 28/5.

Mammals

Rabbit                                Oryctolagus cuniculus       seen regularly.

Grey squirrel                   Sciurus carolinensis            seen through the year but small numbers.

Rabbit damage