Author: Linsey Gooding

WeirWood from 7:15hrs was damp and slightly misty. At the west end a Little Egret, 6 Teal, 7 Mandarins and the Bar-headed Goose with its mates. A smart redhead Goosander was nice to see and for me the first of the season. In front of the hide a Kingfisher flew in and landed on the sticks. On the feeders Coal and Marsh Tit. At the dam little of note, 10 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtails on the dam, whilst in the c/pk a male Bullfinch and 3 Goldcrests. Lastly by the entrance a Red-legged Partridge.

West End:- 24 x Canada Goose, 1 x Bar-headed Goose, 63 x Greylag Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 3 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Wigeon, 6 x Mallard, 1 x Pheasant, 3 x Stock Dove, 31 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 1 x Coot, 1 x Little Grebe, 12 x Great Crested Grebe, 9 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Herring Gull, 30 x Cormorant, 1 x Grey Heron, 1 x Magpie, 100+ x Jackdaw, c20 x Rook, 1 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Marsh Tit, 7 x Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, Present x House Martin, 5 x Long-tailed Tit, Present x Chiffchaff, 2 x Wren, 2 x Nuthatch, 2 x Robin, 2 x Dunnock

Only bits to add this morning was 9 Teal, 3 Mandarin, Little Grebe and the Bar- headed goose agin.

Later in the afternoon at WeirWood west end a Little and 2 Great Egrets with Grey Herons making a good comparison of size. Other than geese and grebes though very little else was noted. In the area away from the water 2 Siskins and 24 Redpolls were noted, also 3 Fieldfare through and a Raven over again. Moving on to the dam, here there was nothing of note on the dam or the water. In the c/pk 2 Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. Below the dam in the overflow there were 3 Grey Wagtaiks whilst in the bushes another Goldcrest and that was about it.

WeiirWood again was slightly better this bright, sunny morning. At the dam at 8:00hrs a Great Egret was in the fields by the entrance. Nothing of note on the dam, just a few Black-headed Gulls and good numbers of Great-crested Grebes. Fieldfares were in the bushes below the dam with ca20 and a couple of Redwings, plus a Stonechat male. 2 Grey Wagtails were also noted in the overflow. At the west end it was mostly Grey Lag Geese although they were very mobile, but ca200 were here. At Whillett’s a Stonechat was still present, a Greenfinch, 3 Reed Buntings and 3 Marsh Tits. Along the north bank from this end produced a Raven over mixed in with Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. A male Sparrowhawk was on the hunt and 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen. A Red Kite perched up was a chance to get some good ’scope views and lastly a couple of vocal Nuthatches were seen at close range.

West End:- 5 x Canada Goose, 102 x Greylag Goose, 5 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Gadwall, 9 x Mallard, 1 x Pheasant, 11 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 3 x Coot, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 3 x Black-headed Gull, 9 x Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 2 x Kingfisher, 1 x Magpie, c75 x Jackdaw, 30+ x Rook, 4 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Raven, 1 x Marsh Tit, 6 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Wren, 1 x Blackbird, 5 x Fieldfare, 2 x Robin, 2 x Chaffinch

WeirWood late morning and back to normal in the rain. Little if anything new noted. 2 Great Egret still at the west end, albeit briefly in view only, a few Fieldfare, a Redwing and the usual selection of ducks. At Whillett’s Water Rail again heard, 2 Reed Buntings, Kingfisher and Marsh Tit. A Stonechat could be seen from the gate and quite a few Stock Doves about.

Quick trip to the west end after work, the Bar- headed goose was with 167 Greylags. 2 Great white Egrets were flying around, 2 Kingfishers perched up in a dead tree were nice. Not many ducks seen just 3 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 1 Mandarin & 4 Coot most probably hiding under over hanging trees now the waters back up.
Few flys overs just 1 Common Gull, 12 Black headed Gulls, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Redwings & 1 Mistle Thrush.
Lots of corvids plus 30+ Stock Doves feeding in the recently cut maize field by the lay-by attracted a lovely female Goshawk in, which twice put everything up. Last a Marsh kept me company in the car park for most of my visit.

East end – GW Egret, 40 GC Grebes, 109+ BH Gulls, 37 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, Stonechat, 7 Siskins, Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher, 2 Mandarins, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Marsh Tits.

Not much at the west end this afternoon just 19 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 2 Mandarins, 150+ Greylags, 3 Chiffchaffs. Plus 51 Great Crested Grebes all res.