Month: May 2026

West End:- 5 x Greylag Goose, 6 x Canada Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 4 x Mallard, 2 x Common Pheasant, 1 x Stock Dove, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 5 x Common Tern, 10 x Great Crested Grebe, 32 x Great Cormorant, 26 x Grey Heron, 4 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 12 x Rook, 2 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 1 x Willow Warbler, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Long-tailed Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 2 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin

WeirWood early morning, bright but quite cloudy and 4oC. Started at the dam where 2 Little-ringed Plovers were still about but no other waders. Over the water 6 Common Terns and ca200 hirundines, mainly Barn Swallows but several House Martins and 3 Swifts too. A Tufted Duck male and Little Egret were along the north bank where no less than 6 Hobbies were out early as the sun peaked through, some of which were perched up. 6 Great-crested Grebes were noted mainly in pairs. The only gulls were ad’ Herring and Black-headed, just a single of each. 2 Buzzards, male Sparrowhawk and male Kestrel were noted. Moving on to the west end the Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns were all present. 2 Mandarins were noted, 4 Great-crested Grebes and a Kingfisher too. 2 Reed Warblers were in song as were 2 Garden Warblers whilst in the c/pk again a Marsh Tit was present plus several Blackcaps still. At Whillett’s 2 Reed Warblers were in song plus Reed Bunting male, Garden Warbler and Kingfisher. A Red Kite flew over here as well. Moving on to the north bank where Green Woodpecker male and female were noted, also 2 Jays, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, 1st year Herring Gull and one of the Hobbies. I left the area at 9:00hrs.

West End:- 20 x Greylag Goose, 9 x Canada Goose, 3 x Mallard, 1 x Common Pheasant, 3 x Stock Dove, 4 x Black-headed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 22 x Grey Heron, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 3 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x Dunnock

2pm dam end – sunny but coming over very grey with lightning

Lesser black back enjoying a fish on the dam
6 individual hobbies very active over the north bank – lovely to see them so low in good light
Little egret on north bank
4 grebes
6 c terns.

Dam still 2 LRP and Dunlin this afternoon,1 Swift.

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 7 x Canada Goose, 10 x Egyptian Goose, 4 x Mallard, 1 x Little Ringed Plover, 3 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x European Herring Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 4 x Great Crested Grebe, 2 x Great Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 4 x Eurasian Hobby, 2 x Common Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 2 x European Robin, 3 x Pied Wagtail

WeirWood from another beautiful dawn at the dam. Only 1oC though with a light frost. Here still 2 Little-ringed Plover flying around the water tower, a Common Sandpiper, also a nice summer Dunlin. On the slope plenty of birds such as Mistle Thrush and 2 Grey Wagtails, Great spotted Woodpecker and Buzzard to name a few. On the water 5 Great-crested Grebes and 6 Herring Gulls. 5 Common Terns flew up from the west end and a Goshawk male was up early hunting along the south bank at 7:00hrs. Also later a Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, female Peregrine and 3 Hobbies. Several Swifts and House Martins but no Barn Swallows today. In the c/pk Garden Warbler and 2 Coal Tits. Below the dam still 2 Common Whitethroats and another Garden Warbler. At the west end still Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns present with all the nesting platforms occupied. In the various reedbeds at least 3 Reed Warblers were noted and 5 Great-crested Grebes were present plus a Kingfisher. At Whillett’s another 2 Reed Warblers and a male Reed Bunting. A nice surprise was a Great Egret that flew in from high up to land at the back of the heronry. Along the north bank a Marsh Tit, Green Woodpecker, 4 Jays in total, Garden Warbler, male Bullfinch, plus at last a Lesser Whitethroat near the picnic area, not in song though and Treecreeper. I left the area at 9;45hrs

West End:- 20 x Greylag Goose, 8 x Canada Goose, 1 x Egyptian Goose, 3 x Mandarin Duck, 7 x Mallard, 1 x Common Pheasant, 1 x Stock Dove, 6 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 27 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 23 x Grey Heron, 2 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 2 x Common Magpie, 7 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 1 x Willow Warbler, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Garden Warbler, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 3 x Eurasian Blackbird

Beautiful evening at the dam – 2 common sands, 1 LRP, plentiful swifts and swallows, 1 hobby and 1 buzard up.

Afternoon at the Dam

2 Little ringed Plovers,1 Grey Wagtail,3 Common Terns,2 Black headed Gulls,8 Herring Gulls,1 GBB Gull,1 Hobby,4 Buzzards,brief male Goshawk,4 Swifts,25 House Martins,70 Swallows,12 GCG & 1 Mandarin.