Author: Linsey Gooding

WeirWood from 7:45hrs was calm and still. At the dam 21 Meadow Pipits on the top of the dam plus 3 Jays and a Mistle Thrush. Along the north bank I was surprised to see a Turnstone in with 3 Common Gulls and 35 Black-headed Gulls it flew further down the north bank and I lost it. The 2 Great Egrets were also noted plus 2 Kingfishers and 6 Mistle Thrushes on the north bank. Still small numbers of Siskins and 2 Redpolls, no winter thrushes though this end. Nice to have 2 Brambling over calling their distinctive notes, they were with ca25 Chaffinches. At the west end little had changed since yesterday. Still loads of Grey Lag Geese about and Mandarins plus a Shoveller, Teal, a Wigeon and a Gadwall. However 2 Snipe on Pintail bank was a nice sight. Around the c/pk a Chiffchaff was seen, Great spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, 3 Redpolls and a Siskin. At 8:30hrs an imm’ male Marsh Harrier flew over heading SW. Nice bird to see. So not a bad morning so far. I went along the north bank from the west end and this produced Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, another Matsh Tit and 3 Goldcrests. I left at 9:20.

WeirWood started at 8:30hts at the calm sunny west end where a smart Bar-headed Goose, from who knows where was with the 200 or so Grey-lag Geese. 7 Mandarin males added a splash of colour. Little Grebe was a bonus. Then 2 Great Egrets flew in from the dam and promptly flew into the bushes near the canoeist beach. At the dam a Stonechat male, Jay, 17 Meadow Pipits, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and Buzzard all on top of the dam. Little other than Great-crested Grebes on the water, but 6 Common Gulls were on the aerator. Winter thrushes were still around with 22 Fieldfares and 3 Redwings plus still a few Siskins and Redpolls about mostly calling as they went over.

West End:- c50 x Canada Goose, 1 x Bar-headed Goose, 250+ x Greylag Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 6 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Shoveler, 15 x Mallard, 3 x Teal, 3 x Pheasant, 7 x Woodpigeon, 2 x Moorhen, 3 x Coot, 1 x Little Grebe, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 8 x Black-headed Gull, 18 x Cormorant, 2 x Great White Egret, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Kingfisher, 1 x Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 2 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 2 x Goldcrest

WeirWood on a day of mixed weather, gloom and rain eventually clearing a bit at ca11:00 hrs after 3hrs. 28 Fieldfares were in the bushes below the dam, viewed from the dam, 4 Redwings over. 2 male Stonechats on top of the dam today. Then out of nowhere and at speed a male Merlin flew north over the dam towards the pumping station, a real beauty what I saw of it. Seemingly it was after a Meadow Pipit that got away. I then lost sight of it. Others noted included 40 Redpolls over the c/pk-dam area, a few Siskins, maybe 5. At the west end 1 each of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveller, 8 Teal and 9 Mandarin males. Common Gulls had increased to double figures oddly I saw none at the dam. That was about it for me, hard work today I felt, but worthwhile.

Started at the dam this morning with a male Stonechat sat up on top of the dam with three Meadow Pipits. Grey Wagtail along waters edge, 3 Egyptian Geese and 51 Great crested Grebes noted. 33 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Siskins, 1 Chaffinch, 13 Goldfinch and 19 Redwings flyovers. A very high flying Heron came over the dam circling high up for 10 mins, watching it scope hard to get any colour but did look purple on jizz but guess its another which was just to distant to be 100%. It eventually went off high NW.
At the west end 1 Wigeon, 1 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, 6 Mandarin and 10 Teal plus the 3 Mute Swans. Still 1 Little Grebe,some Coots and 2 more Great crested Grebes (53 Total). 344 Greylags were present the most I’ve seen this year, 3 Lapwings flew in then back of south, 13 Common Gulls flew west in small groups and 6 Chiffchaffs were feeding by the lay-by with 2 House Sparrows and Chaffinch in the maize field.Marsh tit calling in the car park and 4 Buzzards over the northern ridge.
At Whillet’s with Bob a female Stonechat was in the second meadow, 2 Reed Buntings at the Reed bed.
Other bits noted were 2 Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrests, 2Goldfinch, 2 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Nuthatch, 25 Lesser Redpolls, 50 Redwings, 50 Starlings and 2 Wrens.

Only had an hour at the west end this morning as a to go out,again even though there was ESE winds nothing was really on the move, but there were a few highlights including a flock of 33 Fieldfare which flew in from the north landing briefly then flew over the west end.
Hearing a Parakeet eyes to the sky but it took several minutes before I can’t sight of it flying off south over the car park,our 140th bird of 2025. Then i caught sight of a small falcon flying fast high north,my gut said Merlin but i can’t really count it as wasn’t 100% one which got away. On the water just 1 Pochard, 10 Teal, 8 Mandarins and the 3 Mute Swans. 200-250 Greylags took off as I arrived, another 3 Teal were at the Reed bed.
From the lay- by watching the cut maize field on the left of the field 10 Chaffinches, 5 House Sparrows and a Greenfinch were feeding. A Chiffchaff was in the reeds by the waters edge, around 35 Chaffinch and 30 Redwings noted a Bullfinch, 4 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Goldfinch, Marsh tit and a Mistle Thrush.

Was hoping for some Vis- Mig this morning so walked up to the field opposite the hide on north bank.
Straight away it appears nothing much was going on so walked across the road to the set aside fields Wow they looked good.
Around here 10 Goldfinch, 14 Linnets, 35 Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings sat in an Ash tree. Here too 3 Mistle Thrushes landed.
On the way back just above the road/ river on Whillet’s NE boundary hedge I heard a Yellow Browned Warbler calling, I’d just located which bush it was in then it flew to larger trees at top of the field calling several more times then vanished.
A Tawny Owl was calling in trees near Reed bed, and 30 or so Redwings were here feeding on berries.
By the lay-by 5 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Bullfinches, 2 Marsh Tits, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Greenfinches flew around newly cut maize field.
Also here 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests and 14 Magpies sat up in an Ash.Red Kite noted.
On the water 202 Greylags Geese, 6 Egyptian Geese, 1 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 4 Coots, 1 Little Egret.
At dam just 6 Meadow Pipits, 20 Goldfinches, 20 Siskins in Alders, 3 Pied Wags, 15 Starlings, 2 Ravens, 2 Buzzards, Red Kite, Goldcrest and 42 Great crested grebes.

West end (late PM):- Peregrine flew towards the dam and flock of 25 Redwings north. 22 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 12 Mandarins, 46 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 3 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 3 Mute Swans, 1 Jay.

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 2 x Canada Goose, 3 x Greylag Goose, 6 x Egyptian Goose, 1 x Mandarin Duck, 27 x Mallard, 1 x Domestic Mallard, 9 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 24 x Great Crested Grebe, 44 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Herring Gull, 45 x Cormorant, 5 x Grey Heron, 1 x Green Woodpecker, 1 x Magpie, 5 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Blue Tit, 1 x Robin, 2 x Grey Wagtail, 3 x Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 3 x Meadow Pipit, 11 x Goldfinch

WeirWood from 7:30hrs. Started at the west end here the normal selection of duck inc’ 2 Shoveller and 2 Wigeon. Also of note 4 Redpolls, 4 Fieldfare and a Marsh Tit. At Whillett’s a Water Rail was present, seen and heard. At the dam 2 Jays, male Green Woodpecker, 12 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtail on the dam crest. Overhead several Siskins were noted whilst mid-reservoir 4 Common Scoters all females was a nice sight. But that was the highlight of my morning so far. A Buzzard showed really well in the c/pk down to 20ft or so. A walk along the north bank bought a new selection inc’ 3 Treecreepers, more Meadow Pipits and Coal Tit. At the picnic site a late Lesser Whitethroat added another nice sighting. The walk back produced 2 Great spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatches, Greenfinch and a male Bullfinch.