Friends of Weir Wood Society

Author: Linsey Gooding

  • 12th December 2017 from Bob Johnson

    Continuing the clearance of an area on the South Bank preparing to plant a new reed bed and a view at The Dam End at sunset; photos by Bob Johnson.

    Dam End at Dusk 12-12-17
    South Bank clearing an area for planting a new reed bed 12-12-17

  • 12th December 2017 from The Ringers

    Ringing late this morning for a few hours saw mostly Blue Tit and the odd Coal Tit, Great Tit and Wren. A bird of particular note was a Great Spotted Woodpecker – a first year female. I am always intrigued by their ‘stiff’ tails that they use to hold themselves on the tree. I have attached a close up photo of the bird’s tail.
    Other sightings of note:- Marsh Tit, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Nuthatch, Kestrel and Bullfinch.

    Great Spotted Woodpecker 12-12-17

  • 12th December 2017 seen by Bob Johnson

    West End of note:- 2 pairs of Wigeon, 2 Egyptian Geese.
    Dam End including Gull roost count:- c1200 Black-headed Gull, 20+ Common Gull, c40 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 70 Great Crested Grebe, 66 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 145 Greylag, 94 Canada Geese, 1 Moorhen, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail.

  • 11th December 2017 from The Committee

    A pair of Specsaver reading glasses was found in the hide today. To claim them please send an email to “sightings” here or contact a member of The Committee.

  • 10th December 2017 seen by The Ringers

    Ringing this morning – another pair of new Bullfinch (first year) indicate that this species may have had a good breeding season.
    A single Brambling calling from a tree was an unexpected surprise and worthy of comment regarding sightings.

  • 8th December 2017 seen by Alastair Gray

    Whillet’s:- 171 Reed Buntings came in to roost this evening, 2 Chaffinch, 10 Redwings.
    West End:- 1 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 9 Snipe, 83 Lapwing, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Coot, 207 Greylag Geese, 4 Grey Heron, 6m+5f Gadwall, 17 Teal, 1m Tufted Duck, 1 Mandarin, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Marsh Tit, 13 Starlings, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard.
    Along Grinstead Lane by Blackland Farm:- 200 Linnet and 2 Bramblings along with 24 Stock Doves and a Kestrel.

  • 6th December 2017 from The Ringers

    Ringing in the study area this morning – 47 birds in total as follows:-
    Coal Tit – 3
    Blue Tit – 29 (including 4 retraps)
    Great Tit – 4 (including 1 retrap)
    Marsh Tit – 1 (11th new bird this year)
    Long-tailed Tit – 4 (including 2 retraps)
    Goldcrest – 2 (both retraps)
    Blackbird – 1
    Bullfinch – 2 (1 male and 1 female)
    Goldfinch – 1
    Other sightings of note – 24 Jackdaw, 5 Redwings, Buzzard and Kingfisher.

  • 6th December 2017 seen by Bob Johnson

    West End:- 2 Green Sandpiper, 12 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 56 Lapwing, 4 Little Grebe, 150+ Greylag, 25 Mandarin, 8 Gadwall, 1M Pintail, 27 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 1 Pied Wagtail. The usual at feeders.
    Whillet’s:- 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Fieldfare.

  • 3rd December 2017 seen by BJ, AG and BT

    From Bob Johnson, Alastair Gray & Bill Truckle this morning.
    West End:- 35 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 164 + 1 hybrid Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Shelduck, 6 Mandarin, 9 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 30+ Teal, 1 Coot, 60 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull flyover, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay.
    Then Bob Johnson & Alastair Gray saw on fields & bushes opposite lay-by looking towards Step School:- 2 Collared Dove, 2 Song Thrush, 10 House Sparrows, 1m+2f Bullfinch, 2m+1f Yellowhammer. Also Redwing & Fieldfare plus quite a few Brambling, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Linnet seen further along Grinstead Lane just beyond Blacklands Farm main entrance.

  • 3rd December 2017 seen by Alastair Gray

    Whillet’s:- 8 Hawfinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Snipe, 60 Redwings, 40 Fieldfares, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Song Thrush,100+ Reed Buntings roosted.