Author: Linsey Gooding

The bluebells are looking good. Don’t forget our Members Spring Walk on Saturday 28th April at 09:15. See Events and items on this web site for full details.  Bluebells 24-04-18

West End:- 10 Cormorant nests, 26 Mallard, 3 Mandarin, 2m Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 8 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Tit, 6 Herring Gulls.

WeBS for The Reserve
Overall counts:- 47 Great Crested Grebe (2 nests being built),  36 Cormorant (9 active nests), 40 Grey Herons (40 active nests – 18 young noted), 12 Canada Geese, 2m Mandarin Duck, 17m+1f+(1f with 5 chicks) Mallard, 2 Stock Dove, 5+ Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Dam End:-  4 Common Sandpiper on dam wall, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Garden Warbler heard, Whitethroat heard, 2 Pied Wagtail, 7 Rook nests in the rookery, Song Thrush heard, Goldcrest heard, 4 Goldfinch.
West End:-  pair of Tufted Duck, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coot, 4 Common Tern (at rafts), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch heard, 2 Treecreeper.
North Bank:- 1 Green Woodpecker.
Whillet’s:- 2 Reed Warblers heard at reed bed.

Dam End:- 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 4 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Redstart, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Mandarin.
NorthBank:- 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Common Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Tit, 4 Blackcap, 1 Speckled Wood butterfly.
West End:-  4 Common Tern, 42 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red Kite, 1m Kestrel, 4 Buzzards, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 8 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 Kingfisher.
Whillet’s:- At least one Reed Warbler singing in reed bed, 4 Mallards, 1 Mandarin, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff. Under the tins were: the first Grass Snake of the year, 12 Toads and a Mole.
Meadow Pond:- 2 Palmate Newts and 3 Smooth Newts. Butterflies seen: 5 Orange Tips, 1 Green-Veined White, 2 Small Tortoishell, 1 Peacock, 5 Comma.

Also – Barn Owl seen by Bob Johnson.

West End:- 14 Buzzards, 1 Little Egret.
North Bank:- Lesser Whitethroat.
Dam End:- 2 Common Tern.

Whillet’s:- 2 Common Whitethroats, 3 Mandarins, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Mole under tin, in meadow pond 30 Smooth Newts and 3 Palmate Newts,1 Large Red Damselfly.
West End:- 1 Little Egret, 4 Lapwing, 4 Swallows, 2 Pied Wagtails, 4 Mandarin, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Blackcap.

Wheatear on the Dam Wall this afternoon.

The first of our Common Terns have arrived. 3 came in this morning and immediately started fishing half way down the reservoir. As the fish are still deep generally hopefully they will soon find some opposite the hide.

West End, car park (10.44- 11.42) 14 Grey Heron, 17 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Cormorant, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese overflying, 15 Mallard, 2m Mandarin, 1 Coot, 3 Swallows, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit,  2 Wren, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Buzzard, 2 Blackbird, 1f  Blackcap, 1 Terrapin.

Dam End:- 2 Raven, 1 Skylark, 1 Blackcap, 1 Swallow.
West End:- 9 Cormorants on nests, 6 Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Mandarin.