Month: April 2026

Late at around 17:00hrs I visited WeirWood on this beautiful afternoon. Here a Common Tern was my first this year, at the west end. 2 Kingfishers were present around the nest holes and a couple of Buzzards were enjoying the sunshine. 7 Great-crested Grebes were around some of which were weed dancing. Several Stock Doves were noted as a male Goshawk appeared, is caused mayhem with birds everywhere. Around the feeders Marsh Tit and Blackcap were noted but the feeders were quiet generally. The Grey Herons and Cormorants were busy with lots of coming and going. 2 Snipe were seen along Pintail bank whilst at Whillett’s my first Reed Warbler of the year was singing briefly plus 2 Reed Buntigs, Greenfinch and 4 Goldfinches.

Just 4 Tufted Duck & 2 Mandarins at dam end.

Heronry count today confirmed 20 heron nests & 4 cormorant nests held young. Also noted a pair of Greenfinch at feeders.

West End:- 5 x Greylag Goose, 4 x Canada Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 5 x Mandarin Duck, 2 x Mallard, 3 x Common Pheasant, 6 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Common Tern, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 27 x Great Cormorant, 34 x Grey Heron, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 x Common Magpie, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Marsh Tit, 5 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Willow Warbler, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Song Thrush, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 3 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Pied Wagtail, 2 x Common Chaffinch

Arrived at the West End at 3.00pm and could hear the Chiffallow singing the moment I stepped out of the car. Short walk down the lane and there was what looks very much like a Willow Warbler to me banging out variations of Chiffchaff and Willow, very much like the one I encountered at Pulborough a few years ago.
The rest of the birds seen there were 2 Buzzards 1 Kestrel 3 Swallows 3 Gcg and all the usual members around the feeders.
The Dam end , quite a bit of noise from the work being done on the Dam, so only 2 Pied Wagtails and nowhere to hide on the Dam now as the vegetation has been removed from the concrete. 2 Sand Martins 6 House Martins and numerous Swallows . 2 Mediterranean Gulls 2 Bh gulls 1 Herring gull 5 Buzzards 1 Red Kite 5Gcg. Sadly no sign of the earlier Firecrest. Then the wind and rain arrived , time to go.

West end-1 Willow Warbler,1 Coot,1 Mandarin,2 Black headed Gulls back on raft.

Dam End 4+ adult Mediterranean Gulls,1 Herring Gull,2 Lesser black backed Gulls,Mandarin,2 Swallows,8 House Martins.
Also loads of Diggers and Vans on dam digging big holes.

West End:- 6 x Canada Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 5 x Mallard, 2 x Eurasian Teal, 1 x Stock Dove, 2 x Eurasian Coot, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x Great Black-backed Gull, 9 x Great Crested Grebe, 22 x Great Cormorant, 35 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 6 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Willow Warbler, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Dunnock, 1 x Pied Wagtail, 1 x European Goldfinch

Dam end

3 LRP,2 GBB Gull,Goshawk,Red Kite,Black headed gull,2 Swallow,2 House Martin,1 Sand Martin.Egyptians with 0 you h.

North bank

Common Whitethroat,4 Bullfinch,Marsh Tit and loads of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Dam

Common Sandpiper,2 GBB Gulls,2 Grey Wagtails, another Common Whitethroat below dam.10.+ House Martins,5 Swallows and Goshawk over reservoir.50+ immature Herring Gulls flew SW. Also 18 Great Crested Grebes,1 Mandarin,1 Coot & Moorhen.