Month: October 2025

Was hoping for some Vis- Mig this morning so walked up to the field opposite the hide on north bank.
Straight away it appears nothing much was going on so walked across the road to the set aside fields Wow they looked good.
Around here 10 Goldfinch, 14 Linnets, 35 Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings sat in an Ash tree. Here too 3 Mistle Thrushes landed.
On the way back just above the road/ river on Whillet’s NE boundary hedge I heard a Yellow Browned Warbler calling, I’d just located which bush it was in then it flew to larger trees at top of the field calling several more times then vanished.
A Tawny Owl was calling in trees near Reed bed, and 30 or so Redwings were here feeding on berries.
By the lay-by 5 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Bullfinches, 2 Marsh Tits, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Greenfinches flew around newly cut maize field.
Also here 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests and 14 Magpies sat up in an Ash.Red Kite noted.
On the water 202 Greylags Geese, 6 Egyptian Geese, 1 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 4 Coots, 1 Little Egret.
At dam just 6 Meadow Pipits, 20 Goldfinches, 20 Siskins in Alders, 3 Pied Wags, 15 Starlings, 2 Ravens, 2 Buzzards, Red Kite, Goldcrest and 42 Great crested grebes.

West end (late PM):- Peregrine flew towards the dam and flock of 25 Redwings north. 22 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 12 Mandarins, 46 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 3 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Jay.

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 2 x Canada Goose, 3 x Greylag Goose, 6 x Egyptian Goose, 1 x Mandarin Duck, 27 x Mallard, 1 x Domestic Mallard, 9 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 24 x Great Crested Grebe, 44 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Herring Gull, 45 x Cormorant, 5 x Grey Heron, 1 x Green Woodpecker, 1 x Magpie, 5 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Blue Tit, 1 x Robin, 2 x Grey Wagtail, 3 x Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 3 x Meadow Pipit, 11 x Goldfinch

WeirWood from 7:30hrs. Started at the west end here the normal selection of duck inc’ 2 Shoveller and 2 Wigeon. Also of note 4 Redpolls, 4 Fieldfare and a Marsh Tit. At Whillett’s a Water Rail was present, seen and heard. At the dam 2 Jays, male Green Woodpecker, 12 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtail on the dam crest. Overhead several Siskins were noted whilst mid-reservoir 4 Common Scoters all females was a nice sight. But that was the highlight of my morning so far. A Buzzard showed really well in the c/pk down to 20ft or so. A walk along the north bank bought a new selection inc’ 3 Treecreepers, more Meadow Pipits and Coal Tit. At the picnic site a late Lesser Whitethroat added another nice sighting. The walk back produced 2 Great spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatches, Greenfinch and a male Bullfinch.

Whillets with the work party, 9 Fieldfares.

West End:- 6 x Canada Goose, 1 x Greylag Goose, 3 x Mute Swan, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 4 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Shoveler, 1 x Gadwall, 27 x Mallard, 1 x Domestic Mallard, 17 x Teal, 1 x Pochard, 3 x Woodpigeon, 2 x Coot, 4 x Great Crested Grebe, 1 x Black-headed Gull, 4 x Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Kingfisher, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 x Green Woodpecker, 1 x Jay, 2 x Magpie, 34 x Jackdaw, 1 x Coal Tit, 5 x Blue Tit, 4 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Goldcrest, 2 x Wren, 2 x Blackbird, 2 x Robin, 1 x Dunnock, 4 x Meadow Pipit

WeBS – All reservoir totals – 61 GC Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 9 Grey heron, 3 Mute Swan, 26 Greylag, 5 Canada G, 7 Egyptian G, 2 White feral G, 1 White feral duck, 18 Mandarin, 2 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 81 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 2 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Moorhen, 4 Coot, but no waders seen, 33 BH Gull, 3 Kingfisher, Green&GS Woodpecker, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey & Pied Wagtail, 3 Stonechat & 30+ flyover Starling were at Whillet’s, several chiffchaffs only warbler, 4 Jays, 1 Raven.

Whillets:- 3 Stonechats in second meadow, 1 Blackcap, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Goldcrest and 4 Chiffchaffs.
West end:- 17 Teal, 3 Mandarins, 2 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck & 1 Shoveler, 2 Kingfishers, 4 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 24 Great Crested Grebes & 3 Mute Swans.

West End:- 14 x Canada Goose, 14 x Greylag Goose, 3 x Mute Swan, 11 x Mandarin Duck, 9 x Mallard, 15 x Teal, 2 x Pheasant, 4 x Woodpigeon, 2 x Coot, 3 x Little Grebe, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 33 x Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Kingfisher, 3 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 5 x Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 7 x Long-tailed Tit, 2 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Wren, 2 x Robin, 2 x Dunnock

I did a visit to Whillet’s late morning and 3 Redpolls were feeding at meadow pond giving good views, Water Rail, Green Woodpecker. Bullfinch and Jay all heard Speckled Wood and Small Copper butterflies seen and 2 Common Darter pairs ovipositing at meadow pond also 3 Southern Hawkers seen.