Author: Linsey Gooding

West End:- 35 x Greylag Goose, 23 x Canada Goose, 9 x Egyptian Goose, 4 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 3 x Black-headed Gull, 5 x Common Tern, 12 x Great Crested Grebe, 30 x Great Cormorant, 15 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 2 x Common Kingfisher, 3 x Common Magpie, 7 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Marsh Tit, 1 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 7 x Great Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Dunnock, 1 x Common Chaffinch

WeirWood from the dam from 7:30hrs. Lovely sunny day again. Good numbers of hirundines inc’ 30+ House Martins, 50+ Barn Swallows, also about 20 Swifts. Gulls inc’ Lesser and Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Herring in very small numbers, just ones and twos plus 4 Common Terns. 6 Great-crested Grebes were noted plus a male Mandarin. A single Hobby flew over, 3 Buzzards and a male Goshawk was the first showing by this species for a while. Generally still quiet as in recent days. The only birds on the dam were Grey and 5 Pied Wagtails whilst in the c/pk the usual Coal Tit and a Goldcrest plus a Jay. Along the north bank Marsh Tit, 4 Nuthatches, 2 pairs, Greenfinch and 2 Treecreepers. I left at 10:00hrs.

Small nest box survey- 7 Marsh Tits, 5 Nuthatches and numerous Blue and Great Tits have fledged. I disturbed a Tawny Owl on my walk to the north bank boxes.

New Reed bed on south bank work party had 2 pairs of Reed Warblers and pair of Reed Buntings.

West End:- 12 x Greylag Goose, 14 x Canada Goose, 3 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 1 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x Great Black-backed Gull, 7 x Common Tern, 13 x Great Crested Grebe, 25 x Great Cormorant, 18 x Grey Heron, 2 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 3 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x European Robin, 1 x Common Chaffinch

All quiet at dam just 4 Swift,3 Swallow & 2 House Martins.
No waders,1 GBB Gull,Egyptians with 8 young,Canadas with 6 young .
Small movement of Herring Gulls SW.
Usual warblers singing in car park (Blackcap, Chiffchaff,Garden).Plus 2 Com Terns.

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.