Month: July 2025

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 21 x Canada Goose, 1 x Mute Swan, 1 x Egyptian Goose, 3 x Mallard, 4 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Swift, 3 x Common Sandpiper, 95 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x Great Black-backed Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 20 x Great Crested Grebe, 14 x Great Cormorant, 4 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Coal Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird

Narrows family of 5 noisy Reed Warblers,2 Little Egrets and a Mandarin.
On the rafts 2 Common Tern and 2 adult and 2 recently fledged Lesser black backed gulls.
At dam 3 more adult Lesser black backed gulls and 2 adult Great black backed gulls,22 Great crested grebes,4 Common Sandpipers and 2 Grey Wagtails.
A Juvenile Green Woodpecker was feeding on the grass slope and 2 Common Blue Butterfly’s noted.Family of 5 Swallows over usual Mute Swan and 5 Egyptian Geese.
Unfortunately couldn’t find any small birds but had a look at the lovely Wasp Spider the work party found yesterday.

Whillets- Hobby, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Bullfinches, 3 Whitethroats, Blackcap, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Essex Skipper.

WeirWood from 6:15hrs, it was flat overcast with light NW breeze. On the dam 9 Common Sands indulging in some rather aggressive display, 2 Little Egrets also and an ad’ Great Black-backed Gull. 114 Black-headed Gulls were present mostly on the overflow, only a few juv’s so far. A highlight for me was the flock of 11 Golden Plover flying SW at 6:45hrs calling nicely as they went on their way. I don’t see too many of these now. 3 Common Terns were noted and an ad’ Common Gull flew in. So far better than the last few days here. Another Little Egret was along the north shore plus 6 Mandarins at least. In the c/pk a surprise Reed Warbler, a rather fresh looking individual and a Goldcrest. Below the dam 3 Grey Wagtails in the overflow plus another Common Sandpiper and in the bushes 2 Willow Warblers, bright looking juv’s. A Green Woodpecker male was on the dam slope and a Mistle Thrush was noted. At the west end around 20 Barn Swallows were feeding around the platforms, also Lapwing present.

West End:- 3 x Mandarin Duck, 10 x Mallard, 6 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 1 x Northern Lapwing, 7 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 1 x Common Tern, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 5 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 3 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Magpie, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 5 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Eurasian Treecreeper, 1 x Eurasian Wren

Dam at Midday, Honey Buzzard over south bank flew west,Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and 6 Common Buzzards noted.
Not much on reservoir 1 Common Sandpiper,2 Common Terns,1 GBB gull,135 BH gull,8 Herring gull,1 Mute Swan.12 Swallows around.

Hobby over sailing club car park

Dam end-lovely bright looking juvenile Sedge warbler in the meadow sweet behind the dam, my first of the autumn. Chiffchaffs, Garden warbler, Coal tits, Nuthatch and lT tits in car park Much the same as the last few visits on the water with 5 Egyptian Geese,2 Common Sandpipers,3 Common Terns,2 Little Egrets,Moorhen,Mute swa,18 Great Crested grebes,138 BH Gulls,1 GBB gull.
Both Great spotted and Green Woodpeckers seen,3 Starlings flew NW.
Several each of House Martin and Swallows but no raptors noted.

West end- just a single Lapwing,4 Mandarins,Kingfisher and Little Egret.

Whillets-3 + Spotted Flycatchers by first meadow bridge in Alders including fledged young,2 Bullfinch,10+ Goldfinch,Common Blue butterfly.Song thrush. Also pair of Reed warblers feeding fledged young in meadow two strangely it’s more then 100yrds from Reed bed, plus Reed Bunting.

WeirWood mid-late morning arrival today. On the dam ca110 Black-headed Gulls were joined by 3 Common Sands and an ad’ Lesser Black-backed Gull. Highlight of the day for me was the 2 Honey Buzzards over the c/pk at 11;07hrs, one was very gingery bellied plus its underwing coverts, whilst the other was very pale in the same areas. Beautiful birds showing for a couple of minutes. Don’t think I’ll better that today. At the west end 8 Common Terns and a lone Lapwing again. 4 Mandarins were about plus a single Little Egret. If it wasn’t for the HB’s it would be what you call quiet.