Month: September 2021

West End:- 1 Coot, 3 adult Mute Swans, 1 Mandarin.
Dam End:- 2 Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 40 House Martins.
Ringing in Whillet’s started briskly with a number of Blackcaps; but slowed as the morning progressed. Other species of note Chiffchaff and a juvenile Kingfisher.
It was good to see all the spiders’ webs in the meadow with the morning dew highlighting their intricate patterns.

Dam End:- 2 Common Sandpipers. In the bushes quite a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. The Whinchat was still around the far end of the dam and a Spotted Flycatcher was in the paddock.

Meadow Pond was productive.
Dragonflies ~ At least 1 Ruddy Darter, several Common Darter, 2 Brown Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers.
Damselflies ~ Up to 3 pairs of ovipositing Willow Emerald, 1 Emerald, 1 Blue-tailed, 2 Azure, 1 probable White Legged.
Another Willow Emerald Damselfly was seen along the river.
In Meadow 3 a new plant for the reserve was seen Small Balsam. It is related to Himalayan Balsam but is not invasive. Photos by Bob Johnson

 

 

Dam End:- 2 Common Sandpipers flew E, 3 more on dam. 1 Tufted Duck flew E, 272 Black-headed Gulls, 10 House Martin, 6 Swallow, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bullfinch.
West End:- 323 Greylags, 5 Moorhen, 2 Mandarin.
Whillet’s:- 1 Whinchat, 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 30 Jackdaw flyovers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Bullfinch.
1 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, 6 Small Whites, 2 Common Blues, 1 Brown Argus.

Whillet’s:- ~ Butterflies:  1 Brown Hairstreak, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Peacock +  late caterpillars on stinging nettles, 4 Small White, 1 Large White. Hornets nesting in a bird box.
~ Dragonflies: 2 Southern Hawker, 2 Brown Hawker, 5 pairs of Common Darters egg-laying at meadow pond, 2 Azure Damselflies.
~ Birds: Male Blackcap feeding on berries.

Dam End:- 2 Curlews W at 07:24, 3 Common Sandpipers on dam, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Sand Martin, 32 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 1 Wigeon, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Bunting, 62 Goldfinch, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff, 9 Egyptian Geese, 124 Black-headed Gull.
Whillet’s:- 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Chiffchaffs.
2 Brown Hairstreaks, 2 Brimstone, 3 Brown Argus, 9 Willow Emeralds including 3 pairs.

Weir Wood from dawn – Whillett’s:- 2 Water Rails were vying for my attention in the reed bed.
West End:- Green Sandpiper, Teal and 3 Shovellers.
Dam End:- 2 Curlew flew over (good bird here), 2 Common Sandpipers. A trio of hirundines and a Yellow Wagtail. Also Wigeon, juvenile Green Woodpecker and 2 Kingfishers.

Ringing this morning in Whillet’s saw a movement of warblers showing migration is underway for them at least. One of the first birds caught was a Lesser Whitethroat along with very bright Willow Warblers. Other species of note: two juvenile Reed Buntings, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Blue Tit.
Other observations included: juvenile Buzzard and juvenile Kestrel, both calling throughout the morning. A Common Lizard was a nice surprise.