Month: January 2026

WeirWood on a cold but lovely sunny mid morning. There were 16 Tufted Duck plus 35 Pochard, Wigeon, the pair of Goosanders and a few Gadwall. A Little Egret adult was around plus a Snipe all from the c/pk. The usual crowd on the feeders inc’ Coal, Marsh and Long-tailed Tits. At Whillett’s 2 more Water Rails seen in the channel and in the nearby fields 3 Brambling, 4 Yellowhammers and quite a few Chaffinches. Along the north bank Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper and another Marsh Tit. Back at the west end a Chiffchaff was seen in the wood between the hide and 1st lay-by. From the dam a pair of Goshawk, also a Great Egret was along the north bank. A Kestrel male was hunting along the dam plus several Herring Gulls with 2 Common Gulls amongst them, all ad’s. 15 Great-crested and 4 Little Grebes were mid reservoir. 74 Fieldfare were also noted with ca100 Redwings plus 3 Linnets were seen. Below the dam another Chiffchaff also Red Kite, female Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzards. A very bird filled time here today. I left at 12:00hrs.

Afternoon at west end with Edward and Nigel.
2 Goosander (redheads) Great white Egret, 28 Pochards, 13 Wigeon, 11 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Teal, 1 Little Grebe.
2 Goshawks including female chasing a Woodpigeon low along Pintail bank,

West End:- 2 x Canada Goose, 4 x Gadwall, 8 x Wigeon, 27 x Mallard, 3 x Teal, 27 x Pochard, 3 x Tufted Duck, 2 x Goosander, 1 x Pheasant, 13 x Woodpigeon, 2 x Coot, 2 x Snipe, 1 x Black-headed Gull, 7 x Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 1 x Great White Egret, 3 x Grey Heron, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 x Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 1 x Long-tailed Tit, 12 x Starling, 2 x Blackbird, 2 x Robin, 1 x Dunnock

After leaving Alastair I went back to West End for a short while before leaving and a recount of wildfowl gave an increase to 9 Gadwall and 15 Wigeon.
Wishing a Happy New Year to you all.

3.5 hours at the east end produced 38 species. 25 GC Grebes, 180 BH Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 2 Canadas, 4 Egyptian Geese. Behind the dam, 9 Redwings, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, 4 Siskins, 3 Bullfinches, 2 Chaffinches, 3 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, Kestrel, various other woodland species etc.

At the west end partly with Bob, 32 Pochards, 27 Mallards, 11 Teal, 11 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 6 Mandarins,5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Coots, 2 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes, 3 GC Grebes, 4 Canada’s, 4 Egyptians, 3 Grey Herons.
2 Buzzards, male Sparrowhawk around feeders and Goshawk flew across reservoir putting the Woodpigeons up.
Chiffchaff from 2nd lay-by, in stubble field 2 House Sparrows, 26 Linnets, 22 Goldfinch with numbers of both Fieldfares and Redwings .
A Common Snipe flew west as did a Common Gull and Lesser- black backed gull and group of 14 Lapwings flew east maybe start of cold weather movement.
Whillet’s added 2 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Jay, Bullfinch is 2 lovely Green Woodpeckers, I missed the Kingfisher at the bridge.
In north bank fields 50 Chaffinches, 25 Goldfinches, 8 Lesser Redpolls, 3 each of Linnet, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer and finally 2 female Bramblings all feeding on seed heads. 2 Fallow Deer and a nice Red Fox noted.

Oh 2 Collard Doves flew over west end towards house at T- junction too.