Month: May 2026

Kingfisher – 4 x Egyptian Geese, 1 x Common Tern, Greylag & Canada Geese, 2 x Mandarin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, at West End – Dam End no waders, 1 x Swift, 2 x Commin Tern, and numerous Pied Wagtails.

Went to the dam today but it was very quiet. Common Terns and Common Sand plus Hobby and a few Buzzards.

Whillets,Little Egret,Grey Wagtail,Bullfinch,5 Reed Warblers.
Butterfly counts 2 Common Blue,2 Small Heath,3 Small Copper,5 Green Veined Whites.Also 3 Large Red eyed Damselflies.
Dam end,1 Common Sandpiper,2 Hobby.
Nearby on Ashdown (Priory Lane) Lovely dark morph male HB flying towards crossroads, plus 2 Redstarts,Cuckoo & family of fledged Stonechats.

WeirWood on a bright calm morning at 7:15hrs. It was already 15oC. From the dam 5 Common Terns were present plus 9 Great-crested Grebes. On the dam 2 Ringed Plovers and a Sanderling were a surprise, they all seemed to disappear at ca7:45hrs. 8 Hobbies was nice, that’s the most I’ve seen this year. Lots of variously aged Pied Wagtails, suggesting a successful breeding season so far, 3 Grey Wagtails too. Overhead 4 Buzzards were up early plus of course a Red Kite. From this end a Great Egret could be seen distantly along the north bank, gleaming in the bright sunshine. Others inc’ Kingfisher and 4 Swifts early on. In the c/pk Goldcrest, Coal Tit and male and female Bullfinches. Moving to the west end a Little Egret was noted under the heronry. In the c/pk Marsh Tit again plus Reed Warbler from here. On the nesting platforms still Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls nesting. Another Kingfisher was seen and 4 Stock Doves. 10 more Great-created Grebes were seen plus 4 male Mandarins. At Whillett’s it was much as usual with 2 Reed Warblers and a male Reed Bunting.

West End:- 9 x Greylag Goose, 9 x Canada Goose, 7 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 10 x Mallard, 7 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 20 x Great Cormorant, 25 x Grey Heron, 1 x Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Common Kestrel, 9 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 1 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Treecreeper, 2 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x Dunnock

15+ terns at the dam in a blustery wind. I think a few are Arctic.

West End:- 3 x Greylag Goose, 3 x Canada Goose, 3 x Mallard, 4 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Black-headed Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 9 x Great Crested Grebe, 27 x Great Cormorant, 11 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 3 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 7 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x European Robin

4 hobbies at the dam this afternoon – nothing on the dam today
Little egret at the west end.

Ringed Plover on dam
2 Hobbies 2 Little Egrets now.