Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve: Wednesday August 19th to Friday August 28th

Wednesday August 19th

Keith Kerr, and his young son Archie, made a much welcomed visit to Tice's Meadow today. Keith managed to record 6 new species for Tice's Meadow:

Turnip Sawfly (Chrysomela populi), a Snail-killing Fly (Coremacera marginata), Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus), a Plant Bug (Phytocoris tiliae), a Planthopper (Dicranotropis hamata) and Ornate Tailed Digger Wasp (Cerceris rybyensis).

Keith also spotted a Ruddy Darter dragonfly on the path through the Woods - the first recorded at Tice's Meadow in the past few years.

Archie is an impressive young naturalist, following closely in his Dad's footsteps, and has written an excellent blog of his visit which can be found here. Please check it out.

Richard Seargent reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present this afternoon, hunkered down in the south-eastern corner of the Workings, near the Plant Yard. Also present were 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper and 8 Swifts.

Richard also found a Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris) - a new species for Tice's Meadow.

Carey Lodge reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present later in the afternoon, along with a Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 18 Egyptian Geese (a new site record count) and 550+ Canada Geese.

Thursday August 20th

Dave Baker reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present this morning. Also present were 3 Common Sandpipers, 7 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plovers, a Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Egyptian Geese, a dozen Swifts, and a juvenile Willow Warbler and a juvenile Reed Warbler in the Reed Bed.

Dave found Wasp Spiders spread across the site, from the Plant Yard to almost the Pea Bridge.

Dave also found a Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami) and White-Point moth (Mythimna albipuncta) on site - both new species for Tice's Meadow.

Mark Elsoffer & Steve Minhinnick spent the afternoon and evening on site and reported a Black-necked Grebe (eastern end of the Workings), 7 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, 11 Egyptian Geese, 3 Kestrels, a Red Kite, 6 Swifts, 3 juvenile Willow Warblers, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls and 343 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (a new site record count).

Mark found a Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavipalpis), Matt Bolete mushrooms (Boletus pruinatus) and Butter Cap mushrooms (Rhodocollybia butyracea) - all new species for Tice's Meadow.

Friday August 21st

John Hunt reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present this morning in the eastern end of the Workings. Also present were 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Swifts, 10 Egyptian Geese and 17 Teal.

Matt Phelps reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present at lunchtime. Also present were 4 Common Sandpipers, at least 1 Yellow-legged Gull and a Red Kite.

Matt shot this video of the Black-necked Grebe:

Kev Campbell took these excellent photos on site today:

Dave Baker, Richard Horton & Richard Seargent spent the day at Bird Fair in Rutland and took a copy of the Tice's Meadow 2014 Annual Report with them. Richard Horton did some sterling PR work, and got to meet a few of his fellow celebrity birders!

Saturday August 22nd

Dave Baker reported that the Black-necked Grebe was still present, in the Plant Yard, this morning.

Dave also found a a Spotted Flycatcher in a mixed warbler flock in the Plant Yard. This is only the 6th recorded sighting for the site, and the 132nd bird species recorded on site in 2015.

Dave also reported 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Shovelers, 10 Teal, a juvenile Hobby (over the Silt Pond) and 15 Egyptian Geese.

In addition, Richard Horton reported 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Buzzards and a Kestrel.

Sunday August 23rd

John Hunt reported that a juvenile Garganey was in the Bike Pool first thing this morning. This is only the 4th recorded sighting for the site, and the 133rd bird species recorded on site in 2015.

John also reported 4 Common Sandpipers, 7 Green Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, 20 Swifts, 10 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Teal, 25 Lapwing, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, a Red Kite and a Hobby.

Richard Horton reported the juvenile Garganey was still present later in the morning.

Richard also reported that a Whimbrel flew over the site, heading southwest. This is only the 5th recorded sighting for the site.

Richard also reported an Arctic Tern, a Ringed Plover, 2 Sparrowhawks,15 Egyptian Geese, 3 Greylag Geese and 500 Canada Geese.

Dave Baker reported that the juvenile Garganey was still present this afternoon, and had been joined by a Wood Sandpiper.

In addition to the above, Kevin Duncan reported 4 Canada x Greylag Goose hybrids (a new site record count), 4 Greylag Geese, 888 Canda Geese (a new site record count) and 2 Great Crested Grebes (scarce on site recently).

In addition to the above, Graham King reported a 2nd Ringed Plover and 2 Kestrels.

Jim Dunaway was again doing sterling work on site cutting and burning invasive willow in the Reed Bed.

Monday August 24th

Kevin Duncan reported that the juvenile Garganey and Wood Sandpiper were still present this morning. Also present was an Oystercatcher and a juvenile Little Egret.

A "probable" Temminck's Stint was reported by Chris Gent. News of this bird reached us the following day via Bob Warden. If accepted, this would be only the 2nd recorded sighting for the site and the 134th bird species recorded on site in 2015.

Ed Stubbs reported that there was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper this evening, but he did relocate the Black-necked Grebe and also reported an Arctic Tern fly over northwest, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Egyptian Geese, a Great Black-backed Gull & 3 Swifts.

Tony Cummins also reported the Black-necked Grebe, 7 Egyptian Geese and 2 Swifts this evening.

Tuesday August 25th

Kevin Duncan reported that the juvenile Garganey was still present in the Bike Pool this evening.

Grim Styles found Common Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare) and Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) growing on site - both new species for Tice's Meadow.

Wednesday August 26th

John Hunt reported that the Wood Sandpiper was still present this morning, along with 5 Common Sandpipers and 3 Green Sandpipers.

Richard Horton reported that the Wood Sandpiper was still present this afternoon, along with 5 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers and circa 600 Canada Geese.

Richard Seargent and Phil Hughes reported that the Wood Sandpiper was still there this evening.

Graham King reported a Wheatear sat on a fence post in the Wheatear Field this evening, along with 3 Common Sandpipers, 12 Green Sandpipers (a new site record count), a Ringed Plover, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Swifts.

Thursday August 27th

Mark Elsoffer spent 10 hours on site today. 52 species of bird were recorded, including 9 Common Sandpipers (a new site record count), 7 Green Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 35 Lapwing, 2 Shovelers, 17 Teal, a Little Grebe, a Yellow-legged Gull, 1000+ Canada Geese (a new site record), 2 Egyptian Geese, 11 Greylag Geese, 4 Canada x Greylag Goose hyrbids, 2 Kestrels, a Peregrine, 2 Buzzards and 14 Swifts.

Kevin Duncan spotted 2 Ruff who dropped into the Workings after a rain shower and then quickly disappeared again. This is only the 8th recorded sighting for the site.

Jim Dunaway was again doing sterling work on site cutting and burning invasive willow in the Reed Bed, ably assisted by Richard Horton.