Birding Group Visit to Neumann’s Flash and Haydn’s Pool 17th April 2012
Birding Group Visit to Neumann’s Flash and Haydn’s Pool 17th April 2012
The weather for the first morning of the new “term” for the birding group did not seem that auspicious to start with as it was raining from early morning. However, by the time we got to Neumann’s Flash entrance lay-by it was starting to get quite nice and this is how it progressed until the moment we finished when the rain started up again. So we were lucky with the weather but we were also lucky with the birding as we managed to log forty one species in a couple of hours.
We started out by walking the path that runs right ways around the back of Ashton’s Flash and along the side of Neumann’s Flash. We stopped at the Flash before coming round it and crossing at Butterfinch Bridge to take a look at Haydn’s Pool. It was particularly noticeable that the Sand Martin bank that has been there for some time was being used for the first time and we saw a dozen or more going in and out of the nesting holes. We had a brilliant day for raptors as well as we saw at least two Kestrels, a male and a female, a Peregrine Falcon and a Buzzard. Firsts for the year included Willow Warbler and Linnet but we also saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and a Song Thrush was in full flow next to one of the hides and lots of other birds. We also had Wrens and Chiffchaffs singing loudly and all the usual suspects. It really was an exceptional day.
Bird Sightings : Neumann’s Flash Environs
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Pheasant | 1 |
| Grey Heron | 1 |
| Kestrel | 2 |
| Peregrine | 1 |
| Woodpigeon | 6 |
| Collared Dove | 2 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Magpie | 6 |
| Jay | 1 |
| Jackdaw | 5 |
| Rook | 12 |
| Carrion Crow | 8 |
| Blue Tit | 4 |
| Great Tit | 4 |
| Chiffchaff | 1 |
| Willow Warbler | 1 |
| Treecreeper | 1 |
| Wren | 2 |
| Blackbird | 1 |
| Song Thrush | 1 |
| Mistle Thrush | 1 |
| Robin | 2 |
| Dunnock | 1 |
| Chaffinch | 1 |
| Goldfinch | 2 |
| Linnet | 1 |
| Bullfinch | 1 |
| Reed Bunting | 2 |
Bird Sightings : Neumann’s Flash
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Mute Swan | 20 |
| Shelduck | 8 |
| Gadwall | 4 |
| Coot | 30 |
| Oystercatcher | 2 |
| Lapwing | 4 |
| Black-headed Gull | 20 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 2 |
Bird Sightings : Haydn’s Pool
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Mute Swan | 6 |
| Black Swan | 1 |
| Shelduck | 6 |
| Gadwall | 6 |
| Teal | 10 |
| Mallard | 12 |
| Buzzard | 1 |
| Coot | 10 |
| Lapwing | 2 |
| Black-headed Gull | 2 |
| Sand Martin | 14 |