Author: Linsey Gooding

West end:- this morning sadly the 2 pairs of Terns on the right raft have failed I reckon the young hatched yesterday and died during the heavy rain yesterday, these pairs were slightly ahead of the 2 pairs on the back raft which started hatching this morning, 2 tiny chicks spotted with more hopefully today.
Black Headed gulls still with 3 chicks which are growing quickly, other pair seen changing over sitting duties on eggs.
Great crested Grebes still have 4 young in front of the hide,2 pairs of Coots noted.
2 Reed warblers seen carrying food to nest in front of hide, another singing in first lay-by with pair of Common Whitethroats.
7 Swifts, 3 Buzzards, 1 Red Kite and 1 Lesser Black Backed gull ( flyovers), Kingfisher and 18+ Grey Herons but no Egrets seen.
Whillets:- pair of Reed warblers taking food to nest plus another singing, pair of Reed Buntings and a Common Whitethroat family with 3+ fledged young.

Dam end:- 19 x Canada Goose, 5 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mallard, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 26 x European Herring Gull, 5 x Common Tern, 3 x Great Crested Grebe, 5 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Eurasian Green Woodpecker, 1 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Barn Swallow, 4 x Western House Martin, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Grey Wagtail, 7 x Pied Wagtail

WeirWood from 6:00 was bright and clear with a light SW breeze. On the dam 2 ad’ Little Egrets was a little unusual, also a 2nd summer Herring Gull, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Terns and around 20 Swifts present. In the c/pk a Garden Warbler seen and a pair of Wrens feeding at least 6 fledglings was nice to see. At the west end it was much as expected, although I could see no Little Egrets here. Along the north bank from the west end, 3 Green Woodpeckers were seen plus 4 Mistle Thrush and Marsh Tit. Back at the west end the Great-crested Grebes still have 3 chicks as do the Black-headed Gulls. By the feeding station a juv’ Stock Dove was noted and in the c/pk Great spotted Woodpecker.

West End:- 6 x Greylag Goose, 10 x Canada Goose, 10 x Mallard, 4 x Common Woodpigeon, 3 x Common Swift, 1 x Common Moorhen, 1 x Eurasian Coot, 7 x Black-headed Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 8 x Great Crested Grebe, 34 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Great White Egret, 18 x Grey Heron, 1 x Eurasian Jay, 2 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Barn Swallow, 4 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Song Thrush, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x European Robin, 2 x Dunnock, 1 x Pied Wagtail

Dam End:- WeirWood during a midday visit was quiet at the dam except for 50+ Swifts, 4 Barn Swallows and 6 House Martins. 8 Common Terns were about plus 6 Black-headed and an ad’ Lesser Black-backed Gull.

West End:- much as usual today with possibly a 2nd Black-headed Gull nest on the left hand platform. At 13:00hrs a male Honey Buzzard appeared again over Admirals wood for a minute or so before disappearing again. Nice clean looking bird. The Little Egrets were still about, the ad’ I saw looked superb. In front of the hide a Kingfisher landed on one of the newly erected sticks. An odd record was of a Lesser Redpoll in the c/pk showing nicely and calling as it flew off.

West End:- 36 x Greylag Goose, 3 x Canada Goose, 2 x Mute Swan, 7 x Mallard, 2 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Eurasian Coot, 4 x Black-headed Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 2 x Great Crested Grebe, 30 x Great Cormorant, 9 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Magpie, 4 x Rook, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 7 x Barn Swallow, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Song Thrush, 2 x European Robin, 1 x Pied Wagtail

Dam End:- 1 summer plumage Dunlin, 13 Pied Wags, 1 Grey wagtail on dam. male House Sparrow singing by fishing lodge, 3 Hobbies, 2 Buzzards, 9 Common Terns, 4 Black Headed gulls, 1 Great Black Backed gull, 1 Herring gull, 30+ Swifts, 2 House martins & 1 Swallow. 2 Egyptian geese with 4 goslings, female mallard + 4 young, 1 Little Egret.
West end:- still 4 sitting Common Terns, Black headed gulls with 3 chicks, looks like second pair nesting on blue raft. 2 Mute Swans,1 Swallow,1 Jay.

WeirWood from 6:00hrs, starting at the dam. Here the Little-ringed Plover was still present plus a smart Greenshank amongst the Pied and a Grey Wagtail, over the dam 20 Swifts at least plus a few House Martins. Over the water Black-headed Gull and a Common Tern, an ad’ Great Black-backed Gull flew in also. Along the north bank an early Hobby was seen at least twice as it dashed in and out of the bushes. The Greenshank flew off NE at 6:35. On the dam slope a Green Woodpecker male again and 7 Mistle Thrushes inc’ 4 juv’s. In the c/pk a smart male Bullfinch, crazy views of a handsome Jay and a Garden Warbler.

Moving on to the west end here the terns and gulls seem to be doing okay with the 3 Black-headed Gull chicks already growing fast. A pair of Kingfishers showed well on the newly erected stick in front of the viewing area and the Little Egrets were thankfully still around. To round off nicely a couple of Red Kites passed over, always a pleasure to see.

Work Party reported a Moorhen with 5 young at Whillet’s reed-bed. West End – 2 Mute Swan , 42 Greylag., 1 kingfisher on new sticks we had only just put out today near water edge in front of car park viewing area.

Dam End (PM) in rain and wind :-still 1 Little ringed Plover, 25+ Swifts 2 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail,1 Great Black Backed gull, 2 Black headed Gulls, 3 Herring gulls, 4 Common Terns.