Bird Watching week in Dumfries and Galloway 19 to 26th March 2011

Bird Watching Highlights 72 Species.

Carsethorn = Red Throated Diver, Turnstone, Scaup, Great Black-backed Gull, Goosander, Redshank

Colvend = Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Sand Martin ( Red Squirrel)

RSPB Mersehead = Barnacle Geese, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Pintail, Whimbrel, Goldeneye, Tree Sparrow, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk.

WWT, Caerlaverock = Barnacle Geese, Whooper Swan, Pintail, Pink-footed Geese, Raven, Skylark.

Other Sightings = Red Kite, Willow Tit.

February 2011 weather records at Rope, Crewe, Cheshire

Lowest night temperature = - 0.3 degrees Centigrade.
Highest day temperature = + 13.7 degrees Centigrade.
Highest wind gust speed = 49 mph SSW on 7-2-11.
Rainfall = 64.8 mm / 2.6 inches.
Sunshine = 71.8 hours.
Average maximum temperature = 9.7 degrees Centigrade.
Average minimum temperature = 4.4 degrees Centigrade.

Latest Bird sightings in South Cheshire

Barn Owl - 12th Feb at Comber Mere.
Bittern - 13th Feb at Comber Mere.
2 Oystercatchers - 18th Feb at Doddington pool.
7 Whooper Swans on fields near Burleydam on 22th Feb.
2 Scaup - 24th Feb at Doddington Pool.
2 Pintail - 24th Feb at Woolfall Pool, Hankelow.

Cheshire Swan Study News Letter Feb 2011

Cheshire Swan Study Group News Sheet No 6 February 2011.

Since my last report the Swan Study Group has ringed a total of 61 swans, including 15 adults, 4 second year, 35 cygnets and 7 retraps.

The maximum counts of flocks of (Mute) swans since June are as follows.

Acre Dell Pools, Congleton: 76 on 4^th October, 77 on 17th November, 96 on 9^th December and 103 on 3^rd January.

Comber Mere, Nantwich: 17 on 10^th October.

Doddington Mere, Nantwich: 8 on 25^th October, 11 on 19^th November, 23 on 16^th December and 27 on 6^th January.

Middlewich canal: 17 on 9^th October, 31 on 25^th November, 32 on 14 December and 25 on 13^th January.

Nantwich Boating Lake: 12 on 12^th October, 15 on 30^th November, 24 on 27^th December and 18 on 18^th January.

Redes Mere, Macclesfield: 13 on 7^th October, 14 on 28^th November, 12 on 6^th December and 20 on 1^st January.

River Dee, Chester: 4 on 21^st October, 4 on 5^th November, 8 on 24^th December and 4 on 15^th January.

Interesting Movements: No significant movements were reported, but we have “lost” one of our more interesting records. I reported in March 2010 that a swan ringed near Congleton in March 2007 had been seen in Kensington Gardens, London, in March 2009, before re-appearing in Congleton in May of the same year. This was based on a report from BTO, who have now informed me that the (BTO) ring number had been mis-read in London – it wasn’t “our” bird after all. Pity – it seemed a very good record at the time.

Sightings of all Swans should be sent to:- Email = Cheshireswans@aol.com  giving details of place (6 fig map ref) , colour/character combination of ring and, if with other swans, total number present in flock. All sightings will receive a printout of the history for the relevant bird.(s)

January 2011 weather records at Rope, Crewe, Cheshire

January 2011 Weather Records

Lowest night temperature = - 4.5 degrees Centigrade on 28th.

Highest daytime temperature = + 12.3degrees Centigrade on 16th.

Highest Gust speed = 37 MPH SSW on 15th.

Rainfall for month = 47mm or 1.8 in. 

Total sunshine = 31.5 hours.

Average maximum temperature = 6.45 degrees Centigrade.

Average minimum temperature = 0.5 degrees Centigrade.

Swan ringing at RSPCA, Nantwich on 23-1-11

13 swans were ringed on 23-1-11 at RSPCA prior to their release over the next few days. These comprised of 10 of last years cygnets and 3 adults. All of these swans will be released at various sites in Cheshire except for 3 which will be released in North Wales.

All swans ringed in Cheshire are ringed with two rings. One is a metal BTO ring which should last the swans lifetime and the other a plastic green Darvic ring with a number/letter combination so that it can be read in the field.
Any one reporting any rings to me giving me the colour and character combination, site, date and number of swans in the flock will receive a full history of the bird/s. Many thanks from David.

Email - Cheshireswans@aol.com

Weather Records for 2010 recorded at Rope, Crewe, Cheshire.

Weather Records for 2010

Minimum average temperature 2010 = 4.83 Centigrade.
Maximum average temperature 2010 = 13.41 Centigrade.
Lowest recorded temperature 2010 = - 13.2 Centigrade in January.
Total rainfall for 2010 = 27.61 inches.(25.7 inches in 2009)
Total number of frosted recorded on and below 0 C = 82.