Month: April 2026

West end-6 Common Terns,Pochard,Willow warbler,Kingfisher,2 GBB gulls,3 Mandarin.

WeirWood was visited briefly and well worth the stop with a high White Stork over headed NE. presumably one of the introduced birds. Other birds inc’ Common Terns, 3 of which were on show, also the Black-headed Gulls were still in situ. Willow Warbler was noted as were Blackcaps, and a Garden Warbler. Then I had to leave, it does make you wonder what turns up when you’re absent.

Weir Wood Reservoir – Below the Dam:- 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Grey Heron, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Garden Warbler, 3 x Common Whitethroat, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Grey Wagtail, 3 x Pied Wagtail

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 2 x Greylag Goose, 2 x Barnacle Goose, 5 x Canada Goose, 12 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mallard, 1 x Common Pochard, 1 x Common Pheasant, 2 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Common Sandpiper, 2 x European Herring Gull, 2 x Common Tern, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 2 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 2 x Grey Heron, 6 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Eurasian Green Woodpecker, 2 x Common Magpie, 4 x Rook, 3 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 8 x Barn Swallow, 5 x Western House Martin, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Mistle Thrush, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x European Robin, 4 x Pied Wagtail

Afternoon at the dam,5 Common Sandpipers,2 LRP,3 Common Tern,6 Herring gulls,Red Kite & 2 Swallows.
West end,singing Willow Warbler still,1 GBB Gull,4 Black head gulls on rafts, 1 Swallow,17 GCG.
Whillets,3 Mistle Thrush,Song Thrush & 2 Reed Warblers.
Butterfly’s-6 Orange Tips,3 Green veined Whites,2 Peacocks,2 Speckled Woods & 1 Brimstone.
1 Downy Emerald Dragonfly.

Very quiet this afternoon but encouraging to see the pair of LRP mating several times on the dam,just one Com Sandpiper.
2 House Martin,1 Swallow & 5 pied Wags was it.
Good news all the vehicle s/Diggers and fences now cleared from top of dam.
West end, Willow warbler still singing between hide and first lay-by,2 LBb gulls & 2 BH gulls on rafts.

WeirWood from dawn on a lovely sunny morning, only 3oC though. At the dam still 2 Little-ringed Plovers and 3 Common Sands, these were joined by 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, I’d hoped of seeing these yesterday, they remained until 7:05hrs when they disappeared. I must have missed them moving on. Several Great-crested Grebes were present this end, some of which engaged in weed dancing. Blackcaps seemed to be singing from everywhere this morning, also Common Whitethroat heard from the area below the dam. 6 Pied Wagtails were seen plus a male Grey Wagtail. In the paddock a female Common Redstart was a nice surprise and showed well in the fence line bushes. Walking back to the c/pk more Blackcaps were heard whilst in the c/pk 2 Goldcrests were noted plus a Chiffchaff and a Coal Tit. Moving on to the west end here 2 Common Terns and 2 Black-headed Gulls were on the nesting platforms. In the c/pk Marsh Tit was seen but the feeders were pretty quiet. 2 Kingfishers were present, mostly zooming about in front of the hide.

West End:- 2 x Greylag Goose, 11 x Canada Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 9 x Mandarin Duck, 3 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 7 x Black-headed Gull, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 32 x Great Cormorant, 27 x Grey Heron, 1 x Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 x Common Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Coal Tit, 3 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 1 x Willow Warbler, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Dunnock, 2 x Pied Wagtail, 1 x Common Chaffinch

1pm dam end – 3 common sands and 2 LRPs on the Dam – egyptions with goslings – quiet otherwise.

5pm no sign of Shelducks, probably moved on when sun came out,2 LRP & 3 Com Sands on dam.
West end 1 pair of Common Terns 2 pairs Black headed gulls back on rafts,1 Mandarin,1 Coot.