Month: April 2025

Dam End:- WeirWood from 6:30 was very productive today, at the dam 2 Common Sands and my first Little-ringed Plover this year. The first of the mornings Barn Swallows and Sand Martins were low over the water, a mix of 30 birds about with ca6 Sand Martins. A Grey Wagtail joined the 5 Pieds on the dam. On the grassy slope Mistle Thrush and a Jay. Nice to see an early Swift over the dam this morning, just looked like a Common to me. A look around the bushes by the overflow produced a non-singing Nightingale, a nice extra surprise, little else was noted though. In the c/pk Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs were in song.

West end:- here a Little Egret was still present plus 8 Mandarins, a pair of Teal and a Gadwall. A pair of Kingfishers were hanging out by the nesting bank and even a pair of Collared Dove showed up in the c/pk.

Whillett’s:- a Water Rail was heard, 2 Reed Buntings were seen and the Little Egret flew over. At the pumpkin field there were still 2 Yellowhammers present. No sign of an Osprey though sadly.

Mid afternoon 53 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 LBB Gulls, 1 Egyptian Goose, 5 Pied Wags, 12 Great Crested Grebes.

Dam End:- 3 Common Sands still here. Increased to 43 Barn Swallows on the aerator plus more and Sand Martins flying around.

Dam End:- 1 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpipers, 24 Swallows & 2 Sand Martins perching on the aerator, male and female Blackcaps, 4 Mandarin, 5 Buzzard, 0 Osprey.

West End:- 1 x Greylag Goose, 13 x Canada Goose, 3 x Mandarin Duck, 6 x Mallard, 3 x Eurasian Teal, 3 x Stock Dove, 2 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x European Herring Gull, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 1 x Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 x Red Kite, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Eurasian Jay, 5 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Barn Swallow, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Pied Wagtail, 7 x European Goldfinch

Dam End:- 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Green Sandpiper on dam, Greens just flown to overflow.

West End:-  All the usuals noted Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 25 Cormorant nests plus 45 Heron nests many with young now showing, 5 Mandarin, pair of Wigeon, 3 Teal, Red Kite & Sparrowhawk noted, 2 Common Snipe on Pintail, 1 Lesser Black Backed & 1 Herring Gull, several Stock Dove, 4 Swallows, 1 Pied Wagtail, Several Blackcap & Chiffchaff seen and heard including 1 Willow Warbler & Goldcrest heard, Marsh Tit & Coal Tit seen in study area, Great Tit & Goldfinch mainly on feeders,

Also seen were 2m+1f Orange Tip & 1 Peacock butterflies. Marsh Valerian & Marsh Marigold now in flower plus many spring flowers starting to show.    

Whillet’s:  2 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker heard. Also Comma, Peacock & Orange Tip butterflies noted. False Oxlip, Snakeshead fritillary & Cowslip now in flower.

Dam End:- 1 x Greylag Goose, 13 x Canada Goose, 3 x Mandarin Duck, 6 x Mallard, 3 x Eurasian Teal, 3 x Stock Dove, 2 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x European Herring Gull, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 1 x Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 x Red Kite, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Eurasian Jay, 5 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Barn Swallow, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Pied Wagtail, 7 x European Goldfinch

West End:- All I could add were a pair of Gadwall,2 pairs of Teal, also Green Woodpecker and Jay flew over Reed bed plus calling Water rail.3 male Blackcap and male. Orange Tip butterfly.2 LBB gulls went east. Swallow North.