Author: Linsey Gooding

WeirWood mid morning at the west end. Still 10 Lapwings, 4 Teal and 2 Snipe. Also ca120 hirundines mostly House Martins but also at least 40 Barn Swallows and at least 2 Sand Martins. 18 Black-headed Gulls were feeding on the narrows plus 2 Mute Swans and 16 Great-crested Grebes. At the dam a further 400 hirundines at least, mostly Barn Swallows this time with around 120 House Martins. 2 Common Sands were on the dam with 64 Black-headed and a Common Gull. Still 2 Great Black-backed Gulls on the aerator. Still a few Chiffchaffs in the c/pk. Then as the rain continued I packed it in.

Just to let you know this morning we towed 2 Tern rafts onto Pintail bank for maintenance.
A quick look at West end birds – 10 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 GBB & 2 LBB Gulls, 2 Mandarin, 36 Mallard, 82 Canada & 34 Greylag minimum. 13 Egyptian Geese, 5 Grey heron.
I understand from Brendan the last white farmyard goose which had been relentlessly attacked by Egyptian Geese was found with a broken neck. Apparently it did mate with a Canada Goose earlier this year and had 1 young before its demise interesting if anyone sees it!!!!

West End:- 2 x Mute Swan, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 16 x Mallard, 1 x Eurasian Teal, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 5 x Common Moorhen, 2 x Eurasian Coot, 2 x Northern Lapwing, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 10 x Great Crested Grebe, 3 x Great Cormorant, 10 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 2 x Carrion Crow, 51 x Barn Swallow

WeirWood from 16:00hrs at the west end was fairly quiet with the 4 Mute Swans still 2 small young Great-crested Grebes and a half grown one also, 16 ad’s were also around. 4 Teal and 4 Mandarins were in the narrows where 2 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper were seen. 4 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper and Stock Dove were on the small left hand point. A Grey Wagtail was on Pintail bank as was another Teal. Loads of Canada and Grey Lag Geese today plus Egyptian for good measure. Only a single Lesser Black-backed and 3 Black-headed Gulls today. Overhead 2 Buzzards, a female Sparrowhawk and a surprise Hobby flying south. Along the north bank a Green Woodpecker adult male was seen also several Chiffchaffs noted. That was about it sadly. I left at 17:15hrs.

Seems to be lots of birds around today unfortunately not at Weir Wood.
Dam end-1 Common Sandpiper,usual juvenile Green Woodpecker on grass slope,2 GBB Gulls & 37 Herring Gulls.Also a Clouded Yellow Butterfly on slope.
West end-4 Lapwings,1 Common Sandpiper 1 Common Snipe,4 Mute Swans.

2 Snipe & 3 Green Sandpipers in narrows this morning,seen by work party.

West End:- 49 x Greylag Goose, 13 x Canada Goose, 2 x Mute Swan, 8 x Egyptian Goose, 8 x Mandarin Duck, 3 x Northern Shoveler, 11 x Mallard, 2 x Eurasian Teal, 2 x Eurasian Coot, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 3 x Green Sandpiper, 8 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 8 x Great Crested Grebe, 7 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 7 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 8 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 11 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Western House Martin, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Goldcrest, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Grey Wagtail, 1 x Pied Wagtail

WeirWood mid afternoon at the west end. 3 Snipe were in the narrows plus 8 Lapwing and 2 Mute Swans. 15 Great-crested Grebes inc’ a half grown chick. 4 Teal and a Mandarin were also in the narrows plus Common Sandpiper and a whole load of Egyptian Geese 15 of them. The platforms were now all but abandoned just a Black-headed Gull around them. 2 more Mute Swans were along Pintail bank but nothing else of note. Overhead a nice fresh and clean Red Kite was always a pleasure plus a single Buzzard. At the dam 2 Common Sands and 2 ad’ Common Gulls on the dam with ca30 Black-headed Gulls and 16 Herring Gulls. 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were on the aerator with a further 32 Black-headed Gulls along the north bank. The juv’ Green Woodpecker must like the slope as it was still there today feeding well with 5 Pied and a Grey Wagtail. In the c/pk after some time spent here Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were seen plus a calling Coal Tit.