On
Saturday 3rd December we were joined by volunteers from
other Earth Trust sites for a Bird Walk around Thrupp
and Bullfield Lakes led by local naturalist and birder,
Ben Carpenter, who pointed out and identified many of
the birds, and Alison Vallance of the Earth Trust, who
kept a record of observations and provided the promised
mince pies (to the walkers, not the birds).
The
weather started cloudy and dull, with a light breeze,
good visibility and thankfully not too cold. Later it
brightened up with some sunshine. In the space of just
two hours, 38 different bird species had been collectively
observed - including most notably Green Sandpiper, small
flocks of Redwing and Lapwing, displaying Great Crested
Grebes in winter plumage (see above)
singing Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Redpoll
, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck,
and Pochard.
The
full list is as follows
| Common name |
Scientific name |
Notes |
| Skylark |
Alauda arvensis |
|
| Kingfisher |
Alcedo atthis |
|
| Shoveler |
Anas clypeata |
on Thrupp Lake |
| Teal |
Anas crecca |
on Thrupp Lake |
| Wigeon |
Anas penelope |
On Thrupp Lake |
| Mallard |
Anas platyrhynchos |
Several pairs, on both lakes. |
| Gadwall |
Anas strepera |
On Thrupp Lake |
| Grey Heron |
Ardea cinerea |
Thrupp Lake |
| Pochard |
Aythya ferina |
On Thrupp Lake |
| Tufted Duck |
Aythya fuligula |
Many, on both lakes. |
| Canada Goose |
Branta canadensis |
|
| Goldfinch |
Carduelis carduelis |
|
| Redpoll |
Carduelis flammea |
Small flocks |
| Wood pigeon |
Columba palumbus |
|
| Carrion Crow |
Corvus corone |
|
| Mute swan |
Cygnus olor |
|
| Great spotted Woodpecker |
Dendrocopos major |
Single sighting |
| Robin |
Erithacus rubecula |
|
| Chaffinch |
Fringilla coelebs |
|
| Coot |
Fuliga atra |
Many, on both lakes. |
| Moorhen |
Gallinula chloropus |
|
| Jay |
Garrulus glanderius |
|
| Herring Gull |
Larus argentatus |
|
| Common Gull |
Larus canus |
Several on Thrupp Lake |
| Black-headed Gull |
Larus ridibundus |
Large flock on Thrupp Lake and larger islands |
| Red Kite |
Milvus milvus |
seen overhead |
| Blue Tit |
Parus caeruleus |
|
| Great Tit |
Parus major |
|
| Cormorant |
phalacrocorax carbo |
Many on Thrupp Lake |
| Green Woodpecker |
Picus viridis |
In trees at NE corner of Thrupp Lake. |
| Great Crested Grebe |
Podiceps cristatus |
Several on Thrupp Lake. One pair seen displaying. |
| Bullfinch |
Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
|
| Green Sandpiper |
Tringa ochropus |
|
| Wren |
Troglodytes
troglodytes |
|
| Redwing |
Turdus iliacus |
Small flock, W. Bullfield |
| Blackbird |
Turdus merula |
|
| Song Thrush |
Turdus philomelos |
singing |
| Lapwing |
Vanellus vanellus |
Some on islands in Thrupp Lake |
|
