Author: Linsey Gooding

Dam End:- 16:15 1 Osprey fishing along the north bank; it dived from a great height catching a fish.
West End:- 2 Ravens displaying high up over the reservoir, 6 Swallows hawking low over the water, 2 Tufted Duck, Barn Owl reported from Pintail Bank, 6 Mandarins, 1 Marsh Tit, 3 Chiffchaffs.

West End:- 3+ Blue Tit; 1 Chaffinch; 1 Coot; 2 Goldfinch; 2 Great Tit; 2 Mandarin Duck; 1 Woodpigeon; 2 Buzzard; 1 Chiffchaff; 6+ Cormorant; 12+ Great Crested Grebe; 9 Grey Heron on nests; 1 Pheasant.

Dam End:- 1 Osprey over NE corner of Dam heading west – reported again at 16:50, 1 Little Ringed Plover on dam, 3 Swallows, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Skylark, 14 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and 2 Tufted Ducks. 2 Comma butterflies,1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly and 1 Black Rabbit.

Seen from the water Little Ringed Plover at the dam wall. Barn Owl on a tree guard in front of the picnic site on the north bank. Kestrel in the next small field.

Dam End:-  2 Red Kites, 5 Buzzards, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Skylark,1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

West End:- 8 Blue Tit; 2 Coal Tit; 1 Dunnock; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 13 Grey Heron; 5 Mallard; 1 Moorhen; 1 Pheasant; 1 Robin; 3 Chaffinch; 3 Cormorant; 5 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Great Tit; 1 Long-tailed Tit; 1 Marsh Tit; 1 Nuthatch; 1 Redpoll; 2 Woodpigeon.

West End:- 1 Red Kite (11:10), 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Buzzards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 1 Coot, 5 Mandarins, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Siskin, 1 Chiffchaff.

West End: 1 Osprey showing at 8am/9:30/11:40/12:40/15:30/16:30, 1 Red Kite 10:30, 5 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Buzzards, 2 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 Mandarins, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Reed Buntings, 90 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 1Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Coot, 2 Moorhens. See “Photos” tab for more pictures.

West End:- This morning there were two pairs of Mandarins right in front of the hide. Then five of us watched an Osprey for about 15 minutes across the far side of the lake.  It was mobbed by crows then reappeared giving good views on two more occasions. Hopefully it will stick around for a few days allowing others to see it.

West End – evening:- To my surprise, a small group of Barn Swallows (3 or 4) came swooping in and spent about 5 minutes catching insects over the water before moving on. I think that’s about the earliest I’ve ever seen myself. (This is the first reported sighting for Weir Wood this year; Ed)