Archives: January 2007
Wed Jan 31, 2007
Pinkies going home
Yesterday morning 30th January at 08:50 I was shaving when my wife called me to look out of the window. The sky was full of skeins of geese heading north west. For almost half an hour Pink-footed geese passed overhead at Cogglesford Mill and we guessed that some 7000 birds were involved. What a sight! I wonder how many people in Sleaford had the good fortune to see this spectacle of migrating geese.
Colin J.
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Garden Marauder
This male (Eurasian)Sparrowhawk is a frequent visitor to my garden opposite Cogglesford Mill. He often fails to find something for lunch and sits around just looking mean. A female also visits and has much the same luck but they do carry away victims from time to time. I have personally seen the female kill and pluck a Collared Dove but the male takes smaller prey including House Sparrows. This male was photographed on 12th January using a Nikon Coolpix 4500 and my birdwatching telescope.
Colin J.
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Tue Jan 23, 2007
Swans come and go...
The 2 swans seem to come and go, they were on the Slea first thing, had a fly around and 1 landed right in front of me, then they were gone this afternoon ? I would love to know where they go to ?
I fed 'one foot' and 'one eye' but didnt see 'stiff legs' at all today. The RCP is still around as can be seen here...
... but I only saw 4 Dabchicks today, I didnt even see the 1 on the pond ?
Terry
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Sat Jan 20, 2007
Just a quickie...
I saw 2 Dabchicks giving another one a very hard time by chasing it today, I think it was the 2 parents of this years brood giving one of there offspring the message that it wasnt wanted in their territory anymore. I also saw the other 2 adults near Cogglesford corner so it wasnt anything to do with them. So I am coming to the conclusion that Dabchick parents do chase away their offspring before the next mating season if they havnt left on their own accord (similar to Swans) which may be the reason Dabchick numbers on the Slea seem to decrease at this time of year, also may be why 1 Dabchick is at present on the pond in Lollycocks field (also seen today)
Just my thoughts.
No sign of the Swans today when I went for my walk.
Terry
COMMENT
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Hi Terry - Monday afternoon. I do not know if you have been to the river today but it is possible there are 7 dabchicks.
Around 1315 I definately saw one up near the bridge between the church and Sainsbury's. I did not get down to the main river until around 1430 but saw 5 on the river from around the swimming pool to the mill. I had a tentative sighting of another one on the pond but only saw it dive near the reeds and did not see it again (may have been one of the timid Moorhens). If the one is still on the pond then I believe there may still be 7 around.
Regards Graham
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Hi Graham, now that is interesting :) I dont normally look in town, but I will now and hope also to see that one. We both know there was one a little while ago up near the Hub, perhaps he has now gone further into town ? Moorhens dont normally dive so I think you are right that there is still one on the pond, I havnt been down today (22 jan) but you can be sure I will tomorrow and hope I have as much luck as you have had in seeing all 7 :)
Terry
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Fri Jan 19, 2007
One on the pond...
I met Graham along the Slea and we both said that lately we had only seen 4 dabchicks, but today I saw 4 on the Slea and 1 on the pond in Lollycocks field. I do not know much about the lifecycle/habits of Dabchicks but would love to know if they chase off their youngsters before they are ready to breed again as it was also about this time last year that the number of Dabchicks were reducing.
I saw the RCP today after a few days of not seeing her and I also fed 'one leg' and 'one eye' but I hadnt seen 'stiff legs' for about a week, but I saw and fed him today and also realise why I hadnt noticed him for a while, he was with a gang of other male Mallards following a female, so his hormones must be rising. He was trying to impress the Female with his 'grunt whistle' as were the other males also :)
The 2 swans were also still around :)
Terry
COMMENT
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Hi Terry - just to let you know I saw 6 dabchicks (5 on river) and 1 on the pond after I had spoken to you - there is definately 6 around unless the pond dabchick flew back on to the river while I walked around Cogglesford mill area.
Regards Graham
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Thanks for the update Graham, I wonder where the 7th Dabchick is ???
Terry
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Sun Jan 14, 2007
4 winged monster...
A 4 winged 'monster' was on the pond in Lollycocks field today, this is a shot of it (them) just after take off...
Actually I can identify the male from the markings on the beak and can confirm the male was seen earlier in the year on the Slea, see http://www.lifeontheslea.co.uk/archives.php?id=A2006051
http://www.lifeontheslea.co.uk/archives.php?id=A2006021
http://www.lifeontheslea.co.uk/archives.php?id=A2006011
I knew that if they were going to take off they would need a run up into wind, so I stood in the position I thought they would run/fly towards and waited for the best part of an hour before they decided it was time to go. I like it when my planning pays off (which it doesnt always).
Terry
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Fri Jan 12, 2007
A while ago...
A while ago I said that there may be problems with the number of Moorhens when they start chasing away last years youngsters prior to mating. This has now begun and there are a lot of fights especially where a pair of Moorhens reared 7 youngsters. There are just too many Moorhens for the amount of available bank for every male to get a teritory, so what will happen to the losers I dont know ? I do know that 1 of the above 7 youngsters now has a bad leg and is limping quite badly, when I was there this morning he was firstly being chased by another Moorhen to get him out of its territory, but all it could do was go into the next Moorhens territory and was then set on by that incumbant. I placed myself between the 2 waring parties to give the injured Moorhen a rest (and fed him) but we are all powerless to stop the fighting which will go on until the youngsters are either killed or are chased far away, but where can they go to where all territories are not already taken - this just shows how hard wildlife have it because it probably is a 'life or death' situation :(
I saw the RCP today which was good news but only 6 Dabchicks again.
Terry
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Wed Jan 10, 2007
I have not seen...
I have not seen the RCP for a few days again, if she has moved on I hope she finds other RCP's to 'play' with. I have also only seen 6 dabchicks for quite a few days also so I am just starting to think the there is a chance one has moved on ?
Terry
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Fri Jan 05, 2007
I saw the...
I saw the RCP today so she is still around, that doesnt necessarilly mean that she has been on the Slea for the last few days as I do think she may have been 'away' but its good to see her again.
I also saw 6 Dabchicks and saw and fed 'one foot' and 'one eye' the 2 Mallards I always look out for :)
Terry
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Tue Jan 02, 2007
I am convinced...
Going through town today I am convinced that I saw 2 cygnets upstream from the town centre, I even went around the one way system to have another look and. although only a fleeting glance, I am convinced they were there. When I had a look later on they had disappeared ?
I saw 6 Dabchicks today but I havnt seen the RCP for a few days and wonder if she is still around ?
Terry
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