BIRDS RECORDED IN THE MEDINA VALLEY IN 2004 KEY TO STATUS IN THE MEDINA VALLEY LOCALITY KEY R Resident MVC Medina Valley Centre OW Overwintering DC Dodnor Creek PM Passage migrant DCopse Dickson's Copse BM Breeding migrant FL Folly Lake WV Winter visitor IH Island Harbour OV Occasional visitor NH Newport Harbour WS Werrar saltmarsh MP Mooring platforms SEC The Shrape, E. Cowes CH Cowes Harbour RECORDERS Dr D T Biggs (DTB); Mr M. Cammack; Mr J Edwards (JE); Mr G Gaylor (GG); Dr R Herbert (RH); Mr D Hunnybun (DH); Mr M. James (MJ); Mr B Ransom (BR); Mr B Shepard (BS); Mr R Smout (RS); Mr & Mrs Warke (GPW) Birds below recorded by Mr K Marston unless indicated by initials: BIRDS RECORDED IN THE MEDINA VALLEY IN 2004 SPECIES STATUS LOCALITY NUMBER DATE REMARKS (Max recorded) Little Grebe R Length of estuary 21 12.2 (MJ); 14 along upper estuary on 1.2(GPW), 14.1,15.3, 30.3 & 10.12 (DH); 1 at DC with breeding patch & calling on 15.2; 8 at MVC on 14.3; 2 adults feeding 2 young at DC on 24.10 (JE) Slavonian Grebe OV FL 1 1.2 (GPW) Cormorant R FL 10 7.1 (DH); 6 on upper estuary on 14.2 (DH); 2 at entrance to NH on 19.1 (RS) Little Egret R WS 10 30.4 (DH); 6 at FL on 8.8 (JS); 5 along estuary on 12.2 (MJ); 2 at entrance to NH on 30.6 and 5.7 (RS) 1 perched at DC on 1.9 Grey Heron R Medham 3 11.1 (GPW); 1 over NH on 3.3 (RS); 1 at MVC on 6.10 (DH) Mute Swan R Upper estuary 53 18.7 (GPW); pair with 7 small cygnets at NH on 2.6 (RS); 36 kept out of NH by cob with family on 18.6; on nest at DC on 17.3; 8 cygnets at DC on 2.5 (JS); pair with 7 cygnets St Mary s pond on 9.7 (BS) Canada Goose R Upper estuary 86 29.9 85 on 5.9 (JS); 76 in upper estuary on 26.9 (MJ); 20 flying north over NH on 29.9; 13 flew out & landed on the Solent on 29.9; 6 at Dodnor on 22.4 & 7 on 17.5; 2 pairs at Heathfield Farm on 20.3 & 28.4 (DTB); 2 at DC on 4.3; 1 on swan s nest at DC on 18.5
Dark-bellied Brent Goose OW FL 46 8.2 (GPW); 32 at SEC on 20.1 & 10 on 18.2; last 2 at FL on 21.3 (GPW); 3 at WS on 29.10; 19 at ECS on 24.11; 20 at ECS on 11.12 Egyptian goose OV DC 1 1.9 (Photo 2) Domestic goose R Pinkmead/WS 4 seen regularly throughout the year Bar-headed goose Escape? DC 1 22.4 Associating with Canada geese (photo1) Shelduck R Length of estuary 11 12.2 (MJ); 10 on upper estuary on 21.3 (GPW); 6 on Kingston fields on 24.1; pair in noisy courtship at Werrar on 28.1 Pair searching for nest at Stag Lane landfill Wigeon OW Length of estuary 79 12.2 (MJ); 10 below Ryde Queen on 21.2 & 4 on 20.3; 9 at Dodnor on 12.3; last on 21.3 (GPW); first returning bird on 24.10 (GPW); 2 at IH on 29.10; 2 at MVC on 20.11 (DH); 30 feeding north of Folly Inn on 6.12 (DH) Teal OW Pinkmead Creek 44 29.2 (GPW); 29 at Pinkmead on 17.1; 26 at Pinkmead on 28.1; 8 on FL on 28.1; 12 at WS on 29.10; 10 at WS on 13.12 Mallard R NH 73 20.8 Pair mating at DC on 23.1; adult with 2 young at DC on 19.4 (DTB); pair with 6 duckling at DC on 10.5; pair with 4 newly hatched duckling at NH on 27.5 (RS); 85 in central estuary on 24.11 (DH) Pintail OV Medham 2 12.9 (GPW) Tufted Duck OW DC 2 8.2 Pair (JS); Male with injured wing at NH from 21.2, remained until at least 12 July (RS); 1 male at DC on 16.2 & 13.5 Common scoter OV Werrar 1 22.3 Flying low along estuary (DTB) Goldeneye OW FL 4 8.2 (JS); 2 at MVC on 29.1 (DH); 1 on FL on 24.1 & 24.2 (DTB); last seen 22.2 (GPW) Red-breasted Merganser WV FL 12 22.3 (DTB), 6 on 28.3 (JS); 2 on FL on 20.3 & Dodnor on 22.3; 4 at Kingston on 9.11 (DH) Sparrowhawk R 1 at Medham on 17.2 & 4.3; 1 hunting at DC on 19.5 (MJ) & 10.12 Buzzard R Little Werrar Wood 4 30.5 (GPW); 1 over Kingston Copse on 19 1; 1 in thermal with 10 herring gulls high over DC on 22.4; 2 over Werrar woods on 7.6 (RS); 2 over IH on 18.6; 1 over NH mobbed by Herring gulls on 22.7(RS); 2 eating a rabbit at Heathfield Farm on 14.11
Kestrel R Werrar Farm 2 12.2 (MJ) Hobby PM Werrar 1 23.5 (JE) & at Werrar on 6.6 (JS) Merlin OW/PM Upper estuary 1 23.1 Flew west to east across estuary; 1 landed on ploughed field on Heathfield Farm Peregrine OV Kingston Power station Pair at Kingston on 14.6, arrived on crane from Southampton complete with nest (photo4) ; pair hunting over Kingston onto pylon with prey on 25.11; pair at Kingston pylon on 10.12 Pheasant R Werrar 18 21.3 (GPW); 2 at Pinkmead on 12.2; 1 at MVC on 27.1; 2 at Medham on 4.3; 1 at Medham on 10.12 Water Rail R DC 4 10.12 all calling ; 2 calling at DC on 15.2 Moorhen R Length of estuary 20 12.2 17 at DC on 19.1(GPW); 1 on nest DC on 13.4 (DTB); young on DCopse pond on 7.6 & at DC on 5.7 (DTB); 8 in NH on 13.12 Coot R Upper estuary 53 19.11 (DH); 1 on nest at DC on 5.4; 2 pairs with young on 20.5 Oystercatcher R MP 132 13.12 126 at FL on 13.10; 16 on MVC pontoon on 21.1; pair in field at Werrar on 28.4 (DTB); I roosting/breeding at Little London from 15.5 to 7.7 (BS,RS); 95 roosting in field at Kingston on 29.10 Ringed Plover OW FL 37 21.9 15 along estuary on 12.2 (MJ) Golden Plover OV Werrar 11 31.10 (GPW) Grey Plover OW Werrar 14 29.2 (GPW);14 at FL on 10.12 (DH); 2 in upper estuary on 30.1 (DH); 8 at WS on 14.3 (JS); last on 7.3 & first on 19.9 (GPW) Lapwing R WS 232 21.12 (DH);160 on ploughed field at Heathfield Farm on 21.2; 114 along estuary on 12.2 (MJ); pair defending territory on ploughed field alongside estuary at Werrar on 6.5, 21.5 & 18:6; 7 calling at field SE of IH on 6.5; pair over Stag Lane tip on 13.5; 84 on MP on 26.11 Dunlin OW FL 336 10.12 250 on MP on 10.12; 25 along estuary on 12.2 (MJ); 160 on MP on 21.2; last 7.3 & first on 5.9 (GPW); 2 at MVC on 18.12 (DH) Snipe OW WS 24 26.11 Disturbed out of saltmarsh; 5 at DC on 18.1 (GPW);3 at Werrar on 24.2 (DTB); 3 at WS on 8.3 (JS) Black-tailed Godwit OW WS 34 30.11 (DTB,DH); 28 in WS on 24.1; last 13 on 22.3 (DTB); 1 on MP on 26.11 ringed in
Iceland as breeding female on 4.6; 29 at WS on 13.12 (photo 3) Whimbrel PM Upper estuary 17 10.5 1 seen on 15.2 (JE/GPW); 1 at FL on 4.3 (DH); 3 adjacent to IH 14.4 (DTB); first returning bird at MVC on 18.6; 8 on 11.7 (GPW); last at FL on 25.10 (DH) Curlew R Werrar 75 29.10 HW roost on field at Kingston; 68 at FL on 13.10; 32 at HW roost in field at Kingston on 13.12 Redshank R WS/MP 78 29.10 26 on MVC pontoon on 6.1; 31 near MVC on7.1 (DH); 3 in NH on 2.3 (RS); 58 at Werrar on 24.10 (GPW); 27 on MVC pontoon on 13.12 Green sandpiper OW Lower St Cross 1 18.7 (JE/GPW) Greenshank PM Upper estuary 1 29.1 With Little egret at Vestas Blades jetty (DH) Common Sandpiper PM Upper estuary 5 9.11 (DH);1 overwintering on 28.1 (DTB); first at DC on 22.4; 1 at Dodnor on 20.5; 2 at Fairlee on 8.8 (JE/GPW); 1 at FL on 20.8; 3 at Medham on 4.10 (RH); 4 at Medham on 25.10; 4 at Medham on 6.12 (DH) Turnstone OW MP 27 10.12 25 on MP on 14.11; 24 on 29.1 (DTB); 24 on concrete block sheltering from gale at FL on 20.3; 22 at Werrar on 24.10 (GPW); 17 on 18.12 (DH) Mediterranean Gull OV SEC 12 18.2 2 at Dodnor on 15.2 (JE, DH); 1 at SEC on 5.3; 6 at Dodnor Farm on 14.3 (JE); 6 at MVC on 21.3 (GPW); 1 at Pinkmead on15.9 (DH); 1 near MVC on 2.11 (DH); 1 on ECS on 24.11 Black-headed Gull R Upper estuary 680 15.3 (DH); 1 in summer plumage at NH on 19.1 Common Gull OW Upper estuary 38 15.3 (DH);18 at SEC on 18.2;10 on MVC pontoon on 21.1; 12 on upper estuary on 21.3 (GPW); 9 on upper estuary on 3.11 & 7 on 18.12 (DH) Lesser black-backed. Gull OV/OW? MVC 1 15.3 (DH); 1 at MVC on 15.2 (JE/GPW); 1 at Dodnor on 14.4 (DTB); 2 at Werrar on 27.6 (JE); 1 at ESC on 24.11 & 11.12 Herring Gull R Medham 40 30.3 (DH); 35 at Medham on 20.6;10 at MVC on 17.1; 10 in thermal over MVC on 22.4; 14 at MVC on 18.5; 25 over lower estuary on 21.9 (DTB) Great black-backed Gull OV Heathfield Farm 13 20.3 Sheltering from SW gale; 3 at FL on 1.2 (JE); 3 at Werrar on 15.2 (GPW) Sandwich Tern PM CH 5 1.8 2 at FL on 25.4 (GPW); 2 at FL on 23.4,
perched on pile & 2.5 (JE); 3 fishing at MVC on 14.7; 2 at FL on 20.8; 1 at Medham on 15.9 (DH); 4 fishing at MVC on 4.10 (1 resting on the MVC pontoon); 2 at Medham on 5.10 (RH/DH); last on 31.10 at FL (JE) Common Tern PM CH 50 1.8 4 at FL on 6.6 (GPW); 1 at CH on 1.8 (DTB); 4 in upper estuary on 20.8; 4 at FL on 17.10 (JE/GPW); 1 at CH on 18.10 (DTB); 3 at Werrar on 20.10 (DH); 1 at MVC on 21.10 & 3 on 25.10 (DH); 2 in CH on 29.10; 1 fishing in FL on 2.11; last on 7.11 (JE/GPW) Feral Pigeon R Cowes grain silos 237 21.12 (DH); 181 on 30.11 (DTB) Stock Dove R Werrar 5 25.7 (GPW) Wood Pigeon R Werrar 160 26.1 (GPW); 66 in valley on 12.2 (MJ); 33 at Kingston on 19.1 Collared Dove R Lw St Cross 24 15.9 2 pairs at Dodnor on 5.4; 16 at Dodnor on 7.11 (GPW) Cuckoo BM Medham 2 18.4 (GPW); first heard at DCopse on 12.4; 1 at Werrar, 1 at Fairlee & 1 at Dodnor on 13.5; last on 6.6 (JE/GPW) Barn Owl R DCopse 1 24.2 at nest box (DTB); 1hunting mid-morning over Heathfield Farm on 17.4 (JE); 14 young raised at 4 nest boxes in Valley (GG) Little Owl R Dodnor House 2 7.12 Calling during day Swift BM Werrar 8 18.7 (GPW); first on 23.5, last on 18.7 (GPW) Kingfisher R Upper estuary 3 21.2 2 near MVC on 7.11 (DH); on MVC pontoon on 29.1, 1 at Dodnor on 28.1, 1at Werrar on 28.1; 2 at Dodnor on 15.2 (JE); last on 21.3 (GPW); first on 18.7 (JE/GPW); 1 in Cowes Harbour on 15.9 (DH); upper estuary on 15.9; 1 at IH on 21.9; 1 on Vestas Blades jetty on 3.11 (DH) Green Woodpecker R Werrar 3 17.10 (GPW); 2 in DCopse on 12.2 (MJ); young at Northwood Cemetary on 13.5 (DTB); 2 at Hurstake on 5.10 (DH) Gt. Sp. Woodpecker R DCopse 2 12.2 (MJ); 1 at Lw St Cross on 4.1(GPW) Skylark R Werrar 12 11.7 (GPW); 5 at Dodnor on 19.5 (MJ); I in song at Werrar on 28.1 (DTB) Sand Martin PM DC First 3 at DC on 5.4
Swallow BM Werrar 90 24.10 (GPW); first at MVC at 2.4 House Martin BM Dodnor 20 24.10 (GPW); first 11.4 (JE), last 24.10 (GPW) Meadow Pipit R Medham 15 13.4 (DTB); 12 at Werrar on 11.1 (JE/GPW) Rock Pipit OV Werrar 1 15.2 (GPW) Pied Wagtail R Werrar 6 11.1 (GPW); pair with family at Ryde Queen on 18.6 Grey Wagtail R Newport Rowing Club 1 15.1 1 at NRC on 5.10 (DH);1 at Dodnor on 17.10(GPW); 1 at Werrar on 9.11 (DH) Wren R Dodnor 20 males 15.4 all in song Hedge Accentor R DC 9 13.6 (GPW) Robin R Dodnor 17 males 1.5 all in song; 18 along cycleway on 1.2 Nightingale PM DC 1 1.5 In song until 1.5 to 13.6 Blackbird R Cycleway hedgerows 16 26.1 (GPW); 3 in full song on 5.2 Fieldfare R Werrar 52 1.2 (GPW); last 22.2, first 10.10 (GPW); 12 near MVC on 18.12 (DH) Song Thrush R Cycleway hedgerows 10 29.2 3 all in song at Dodnor on 9.2; 2 at Stag Lane on 19.5 (MJ); 2 in song at Hurstake on 10.12; 1 in song on 11.12 in lights of SP factory Redwing WV Dodnor 150 7.12 Last 7.3. first 10.10; 38 feeding on haws near MVC on 18.12 (DH) Mistle Thrush R Werrar Farm 19 11.7 (JE/GPW); 2 at Werrar on 17.1 Sedge Warbler BM Dodnor 2 4.7 (JE); first in song at MVC on 22.4; 1 at Stag Lane landfill on 13.5; 2 at DC on 19.5 (MJ); 1 at MVC & Hurstake on 14.5; adult taking food to nest at DC on 5.7 (DTB) Reed Warbler BM DC 6 males 20.5 all in song; first at DC on 25.4 (GPW); 2 in song at DC on 1.5; family at DC on 14.6; 1 in song in reedbed at Fairlee on 18.6; last 8.8 (GPW) Lr. Whitethroat BM Medham 2 6.6 (GPW); First at Fairlee on 23.4 Whitethroat BM Cycleway hedgerows 20 16.5 First at Farlee on 17.4 (JE) Garden Warbler BM Medham 3 23.5 (GPW); 1 at Medham on 9.5 Blackcap BM Hurstake 8 30.5 (GPW); First sub song at Medham on 13.2 (DTB); 2 in song at DCopse on 5.4 & pair in DCopse on13.4 (DTB); 5 in DCopse in 19.5 (MJ);1 female near MVC on 6.10 (DH); last on 24.10 (GPW)
Chiffchaff BM Dodnor 14 11.4 (GPW); 1 overwintering in DCopse on 29.1 (DTB); first in song at DC on 17.3; 8 singing males at DC on 22.3 (DTB); 5 south of MVC on 5.10 & 2 on 3.11 (DH); last on 21.11 (GPW) Willow Warbler BM Dodnor 8 18.4 (GPW); First 3 in song on 29.3 (DTB); last on 1.8 (GPW) Whinchat PM Werrar Stonechat OW Werrar 3 26.9 (JS); 3 at Pinkmead on 31.10(GPW); 1 at Werrar on 28.1 & 24.2 (DTB) 1 male on Heathfield Farm on 21.2; 1 near MVC on 5.10 (DH) Wheatear PM Werrar 4 18.4 (GPW); 2 at NH entrance on 23.4 Redstart PM Werrar 1 5.9 (GPW); 1 at Medham on 1.9 Goldcrest R Werrar 17 14.11 (GPW); 5 near MVC on 5.10 (DH); 1 male washing in MVC bird bath on 14.12 Firecrest OV Hurstake 1 18.12 Near Vestas Blades jetty (DH) Spotted Flycatcher PM DCopse 1 1.5 1 at Dodnor on 20.9 (GPW); 1 at Werrar on 26.9 (JE) Long-tailed Tit R Medham 21 17.10 (GPW) Blue Tit R In Valley 26 7.3 (GPW); in song at MVC by 16.1, inspecting box at at MVC on 27.1 Great Tit R Medham 14 15.2 (GPW); 10 males in song at Dodnor on 15.4 Treecreeper R Medham 1 7.3 (GPW); also in DCopse and Shamblers Copse (DTB) Raven OV Over IH 2 Mobbed by jackdaws (NC) Jay R Dodnor 4 16.10 (GPW); 2 in DCopse on 12.2 (MJ); bred in DCopse (DTB) Magpie R Lw St Cross 19 21.3 (GPW); bred at Werrar Farm (DTB); 6 at Heathfield Farm attending buzzard kill on 14.11 Jackdaw R Cowes grain cooperative Rook R Cowes grain cooperative 300 11.12 gathering at dusk 200 11.12 gathering at dusk; 120 on Dodnor Farm on 15.2 Carrion Crow R Old tip, Cowes 58 21.12 (DH); 18 at Lw St Cross on 19.9(GPW); 1 nest building at Dodnor on 29.3 (DTB) & 1 with nest material on Dodnor Lane on 27.11 (DTB)
Starling R Fairlee 70 11.12 Flock roosting in Cowes Harbour on 11.12; 32 at Dodnor on 19.9 House Sparrow R IH 80 20.8 40 at Lw St Cross on 20.8; 3 pairs at Dodnor on 20.5; 35 at Hurststake on 5.9 (GPW); 20 at Hurstake on 4.11 (DH) Chaffinch R Cowes grain silo 55 19.10 (DH); 30 at Cowes grain silo on 12.1; 1 in song at Dodnor on 9.2; 28 along cycleway on 12.2 (MJ) Greenfinch R Dodnor 14 25.7 (GPW) Goldfinch R Werrar 70 4.10 Flying over; 16 at Pinkmead on 12.2 (MJ); 8 feeding on teasels at MVC on 21.9, with juveniles; 42 at Werrar on 26.9 (GPW) Siskin OV DC 1 25.1 Feeding in alders (JE) Linnet R Werrar 21 15.8 (GPW); 20 at Pinkmead on 12.2 (MJ); 20 at Werrar on 1.8 (JE) Redpoll OV Medham 2 9.2 Seen feeding on seeds of Rosebay willowherb Bullfinch R Dodnor 3 28.11 (JE) Yellowhammer R Heathfield Farm 2 21.9.04 1at Somerton on 2.3 (DTB) Reed Bunting R Werrar 3 15.2 (JE/GPW); Pair at DC on 5.4; 1 in song at Werrar Creek on 20.5; in song at DC on 5.7 (DTB) Total 117 species If you would like to contribute to the Bird Report for 2004, please send your observations to: Keith Marston at the Medina Valley Centre by 10th January 2005
Photo 1. Bar-headed goose with Canada goose at Dodnor on 22 nd April, 2004
Photo 2. Egyptian goose at Dodnor Creek Local Nature Reserve on 1 st September, 2004
Photo 3. Black-tailed godwit on a mooring platform on the Medina Estuary on 16 th November,2004, colour-ringed in Iceland. Photo 4. Crane in Cowes Harbour on 14 th June, 2004, on which a pair of Peregrines nested successfully