Month: February 2026

West End:- 8 x Canada Goose, 5 x Greylag Goose, 14 x Mallard, 1 x Tufted Duck, 1 x Pheasant, 4 x Stock Dove, 50+ x Woodpigeon, 1 x Coot, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 33 x Cormorant, 25 x Grey Heron, 2 x Buzzard, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 x Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Coal Tit, 2 x Marsh Tit, 4 x Great Tit, 1 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Goldcrest, 1 x Wren, 2 x Blackbird, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Chaffinch

Hawfinch! Only ever seen one – that’s really special

WeirWood late morning and early afternoon, I’ve not seen a lot of note here in several days so it was nice to see a few bits today plus something I always think of as special. Spring was seemingly on its way. Firstly the heronry was impressively busy as were the Cormorants with lots of comings and goings. A Water Rail was seen at Whillett’s where 18 Lesser Redpolls were seen plus 2 Greenfinches and 5 Reed Buntings. From the c/pk a male Goshawk was again seen putting up all the Wood Pigeons and various others. 5 Fieldfares were in the trees opposite the hide. I then decided to look around the stubble field area where 2 Wood Larks were noted, one of which was singing those beautiful notes, the other was perched up on a dead branch. Hopefully they’ll breed again. Along the north bank male Green Woodpecker and Treecreeper were in the first little wooded area and further on Marsh Tit, more Fieldfare and 3 Redwings. A nice charm of 30 Goldfinches added a bit of colour. Near the picnic area a Hawfinch was seen and that made it all worthwhile. Special birds. Always fantastic to see and rounded off a great time at the west end and mid reservoir. Then to the dam. Here in contrast to the west end it remained very quiet, the only bird of note was on the c/pk and that was a Chiffchaff. So I returned to the west end to see what else I could dig out. To add a Buzzard and male Sparrowhawk were seen, Little Grebe amongst the geese and Marsh Tit on the feeders. Nice to see Kingfisher again, zooming past the near shore and male Great spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch also on the feeders. A few Stock Doves were seen along the north bank from the c/pk and that just about wraps up a few hours of enjoyment here.

West End:- 7 x Canada Goose, 3 x Egyptian Goose, 16 x Mandarin Duck, 5 x Wigeon, 13 x Mallard, 2 x Teal, 4 x Pochard, 2 x Stock Dove, 50+ x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 3 x Coot, 2 x Little Grebe, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 6 x Black-headed Gull, 23 x Cormorant, 28 x Grey Heron, 1 x Buzzard, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Coal Tit, 2 x Marsh Tit, 8 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Goldcrest, 1 x Nuthatch, 1 x Song Thrush, 1 x Blackbird, 2 x Robin, 3 x Dunnock, 1 x Chaffinch

Not much going on this morning but a Chiffchaff was flitting around in front of the hide, 3 Siskin flew over the car park.
Later a Mute Swan landed at the west end, just 4 Teal, 3 Mandarin, Little Grebe, Coot and 39 Greylags noted.
30+ Grey Herons were in the Heronry a tailless Fieldfare in a tree opposite.
Only raptors were couple each of Buzzard & Sparrowhawk.

West End:- 13 x Canada Goose, 37 x Greylag Goose, 1 x Mute Swan, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 9 x Mallard, 4 x Teal, 1 x Pheasant, 3 x Stock Dove, 1 x Coot, 1 x Little Grebe, 4 x Great Crested Grebe, 22 x Cormorant, 27 x Grey Heron, 2 x Sparrowhawk, 1 x Buzzard, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 x Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Coal Tit, 2 x Marsh Tit, 9 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 2 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Nuthatch, 1 x Fieldfare, 2 x Robin, 1 x Dunnock

Not much of note at the East End this afternoon. 12 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Siskins, Mistle Thrush, 4 Redwings.

Rainy afternoon in the hide with David and not much to add. Mute Swan, 4 Teal, Little Egret, Mandarin and 100s of gulls heading in.

WeirWood in light rain produced Great Egret at the west end. A Water Rail was feeding under the feeders with a male Pheasant. Don’t think I’ve seen those two feeding together before. On the water Little Grebe and 7 Wigeon plus 7 Great-crested Grebes. On the feeders the usual crowd were entertaining with their squabblings and the heronry was very busy.

WeirWood mid afternoon nice to see female Goshawk today again. An interesting sighting was 5 Red Kites perched up near the rocks at Whillett’s.