Author: Linsey Gooding

West End:- 2 Chiffchaffs calling and feeding in the reeds in front of the hide late afternoon (my latest record on patch).
Dam End:- 6 Canada Geese,1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

West End:- (car park 11:20-12:23) 281 Greylag Geese, 3 White Geese and 1 hybrid goose, with Greylags, 2 Egyptian Geese, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Goosander m+f, 8 Mallard 5m+3f, 5 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 3 Snipe,31 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Kingfisher.
Around feeders:- 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Blackbird m, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch 1m+1f, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper.

West End:- (midday from car park) m&f Goosander off the north bank then moved past the rafts to the inlet to the east. Very good views for an hour.

South Bank:- 31 Cormorant in the roost trees.
West End:- mid afternoon 31 Mandarin flew in, also 5 Egyptian Geese, 1 Wigeon, 1 Moorhen, 2 Kingfisher.
Feeders:- 2 Marsh Tit,  Treecreeper,  Nuthatch.
Whillet’s:- 1m Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, Bullfinch heard. Reed-bed roost 15:15 to 16:15 – 83 Reed Buntings and c.1340 Starlings.

WeBS

It was a windy, showery day. There were a lot of gas-gun and shooting noises around the reservoir, so the results were a little disappointing.
All Reservoir:-  12 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 24 Mallard, 2 Buzzard, 5 Moorhen, 5 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Bullfinch.
Dam End:- 2 Canada Geese, 4 Wigeon, c 330 Black-headed Gull were seen at the roost early morning, 7 Stock Dove flyover, 3 Meadow Pipit flyover, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 30 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 33 Rook, 5 Carrion Crow.
West End:-  176 Greylag Geese, 3 white feral/Greylag hybrid and 1 Canada/Greylag hybrid Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Mandarin, 1f Tufted Duck. c 3600 Black-headed Gull flew off from the West End roost at dawn, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 6+ Blue and Great Tits at feeders.
Whillet’s:-  2 Teal, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay.

Whillet’s:- (Between 14:45-16:15) 123 Reed Buntings and 1,480 Starlings came in to roost.
2 Water Rails squealing,1 Kingfisher.

North Bank:- 10+ Marsh Tits.
Dam End:- 14 Tufted Duck, 5 Teal, Wigeon and Gadwall.

Dam End:-  1 Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail,  adult +2 immature Mute Swans, Gull roost up to 15:45 –  c.850 Black-headed Gulls, a few Common and Herring Gulls were with them but fading light made reliable ID impossible.

Whillet’s:- immature male Goshawk spooking local Woodpigeons circling above northern ridge then flying of south over hide. Barn Owl hunting in meadows at dusk.
140 Reed Buntings and 2,050 Starlings roosted in reed-bed between 14:00-16:15. 2 Water Rails and 2 Tawny Owls calling.
7 Mandarins flew upriver, 1 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Jay, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Stock Dove, 4 Wren, 4 Magpie, 1 Bullfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 1 Fieldfare, 24 Redwing, Green Woodpecker.