Month: July 2026

WeirWood from a bright early morning at the west end. Here the 3 Black-headed Gull chicks are growing fast and the Common Terns look to be doing okay. Also of note 14 Great-crested Grebes so far and the Mute Swan. 2 Great Egrets flew over the heronry and a Little Egret was seen there, also a Kingfisher was opposite the hide. On the canoeist beach a Greenshank was a distant addition whilst on Pintail bank 2 Lapwings were present plus a male Goshawk over here briefly, chasing something. A sing juv’ Mandarin was about plus 4 Buzzards over the rocks. At the dam fewer Herring Gulls with 21 only but 150+ Black-headed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull. 6 Common Sands along the north shore, none on the dam. A Hobby was a nice bonus and 5 Swifts were noted, 4 House Martins were over the dam but it was generally quiet here today.

Dam End (19:00):- 19:00

Can see just 5 Common Sandpipers on dam no other waders.

West End (19:30) – 1 fledged common Tern seen flying,3+ more Tern chicks and BH Gull chicks hatching 1+ seen.
Little Egret,Mute Swan & 4 Mandarins noted.

At Dam
end , 1 x Green Woopecker, 3 Common Sanpipers, plus two taller Sanipers disguised by heat haze far end of Dam, 2 x Swift, usual gulls wagtails plus 2 Grey Heron & 1 swallow

WeirWood on another hot day. At the west end still much activity on the nesting platforms plus 4 Lapwings, Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper noted. Still Mute Swan and 10 Great-crested Grebes. Others inc’ 2 Kingfishers, Garden Warbler and several Chiffchaffs around. A male Blackcap was seen still singing and a Reed Warbler. Moving on to the dam here still 200+ Herring Gulls also 2 Lesser Black-backed and the 2 Common Gulls again. On the dam Common Sandpiper and 3 Grey Wagtails. Overhead 3 Crossbills flew calling as they headed SW, a bit surprised to see them, also 2 Buzzards over the north ridge.

Dam end – similar to yesterday, 3 Common Sands, still 2 imm Common Gulls, good numbers of Herring and BH Gulls, 1 GBB and 3 LBBs, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Buzzard, 2 Swallows, Marsh Tit, a large Grass Snake swam across the reservoir. Very low water level in the lagoon but lots of dragons and damsels, and plenty of nice fresh Gatekeepers and other common butterflies behind the dam.

WeirWood another hot day at the west end where the terns and gulls were still in attendance. Other than that it was rather quiet with 10 Great-crested Grebes noted and a Mute Swan. At Whillett’s still 3 fresh Reed Warbler juv’s about plus a Garden Warbler seen, Kingfisher female and 3 Greenfinches. Along the north bank a Marsh Tit, Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, Nuthatch and 2 Treecreepers. Later at the dam the usual crowd of gulls about where there were 210+ Herring Gulls and 2 2nd year Common Gulls noted, also 2 Common Sands and 16 Pied and a Grey Wagtail on the dam. 3 Black-tailed Godwits flew over headed to the west end at 15:30hrs. The Great Egret was along the north shore and raptors inc’ 4 Buzzards, male Kestrel and along the south bank a massive female Goshawk.

Dam end-242 Herring Gulls,64 Black headed Gulls,17 Lesser black backed Gulls,2 Great black backed Gulls,3 Sandwich Terns,1 Common Tern,1 Common Sandpiper,8 Pied Wagtails,3 Swift,1 Swallow.
West end 1 Great Egret,1 Mute Swan,2 Mandarin 1 Moorhen seems more Tern chicks beginning to hatch.

WeirWood from 6:40hrs on a lovely morning. At the west end the usual crowd on the nesting platforms plus a very young tern chick on the right hand platform. The Great Egret was again in the narrows just right of the heronry plus 5 Little Egrets and a Lapwing on Pintail bank. 2 Mute Swans and 15 Great-crested Grebes were present. In the c/pk area Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker and Reed Warbler were noted. 2 Kingfishers were seen zooming around in front of the hide. At Whillett’s 3 juv’ Reed Warblers, Great spotted Woodpecker and 2 Reed Buntings plus the Little Egrets flew over too. At the dam 3 Common Sands on the dam plus 75 Black-headed, 13 Herring and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls. A Red Kite yet again plus 2 Buzzards and a male Sparrowhawk. Little else however. I left at 8:30hrs.

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 1 x Bar-headed Goose, 28 x Greylag Goose, 54 x Canada Goose, 5 x Greylag x Canada Goose (hybrid), 9 x Egyptian Goose, 8 x Common Woodpigeon, 3 x Common Swift, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 77 x Black-headed Gull, 5 x European Herring Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 x Common Tern, 4 x Great Crested Grebe, 6 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 4 x Grey Heron, 1 x Red Kite, 1 x Eurasian Green Woodpecker, 1 x Common Kestrel, 2 x Common Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 5 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 6 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Western House Martin, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 4 x Song Thrush, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 2 x Grey Wagtail, 6 x Pied Wagtail, 5 x European Goldfinch

West end mid morning

1 Common Sandpiper
1 Lapwing
1 Mute Swan
Also second pair of Grebes have at least 1 young behind island.
Other young still in bay near lay-by.