Author: Linsey Gooding

West end

Moulting Adult Mediterranean Gull with 48 Black headed gulls,4 Mandarin.
Still 3 BH Gull chicks,1 fledged Common Tern & 5 chicks.

Whillets-1 Sedge Warbler,1 Reed Warbler by meadow pond,2 Bullfinch and Red Lite,Raven & Sparrowhawk flyovers.

Whillets butterflys
1 Comma
6 Common Blue
19 Gatekeeper
10 GV Whites
2 Holly Blue
1 Marbled White
40 Meadow Browns
1 Painted Lady
2 Red Admiral
7 Small Copper
6 Small Heath
1 Small Skipper
3 Speckled Wood
Us Southern Hawker and pair of Willow Emerald Damselfly

WeirWood from 6:30hrs at the west end. Still plenty of activity around the nesting platforms with young chicks growing fast. 12 more Black-headed Gulls were here as well. A Great Egret was present at the base of the heronry and 10 Great-crested Grebes were scattered about. 2 Kingfishers were opposite the hide and a Reed Warbler was in front of the hide. In the c/pk area Nuthatch and Treecreeper were present. A Little Tern was a surprise seen until 7:00hrs when it flew off south, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one here. Moving on to the dam 329 Black-headed, 42 Herring and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted plus a Hobby and another Kingfisher. A Swift and 5 House Martins were seen over the dam where Green Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves were also seen. A further 8 Great-crested Grebes were scattered about. In the c/pk Great spotted Woodpecker and 3 Jays were seen and below the dam a Whitethroat was added plus a few Chiffchaffs. On the lagoon 2 Mandarins but very little water. I was well chuffed with my haul today, making up for a few dull days previously.

West End:- 29 x Greylag Goose, 30 x Canada Goose, 8 x Mandarin Duck, 3 x Mallard, 4 x Stock Dove, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 13 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x European Herring Gull, 8 x Common Tern, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 9 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Great White Egret, 6 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Great Tit, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Treecreeper, 1 x European Robin

3rd Sedge Warbler of the autumn this one found at Meadow pond at Whillets, another on Sunday ringed during open day at Reed bed.

Dam end with Bob this morning,Hobby over dam then overhead,2 Sparrowhawks m/f,20 Swifts,2 Swallows,5 House Martins,4 GBB Gulls,3 LBB Gulls 215 BH Gulls,6 Herring Gulls,Grey Wagtail,Bullfinch & Green Woodpecker heard only.
Common Sandpiper NorthBank.
West end,1 Teal,6 Mandarin Mute Swan,5 Common Tern chicks 6th bird has fledged 3 BH Gull chicks still,Kingfisher,Reed Warblers,Bullfinch & another Sparrowhawk.

WeirWood from dawn. A bright day again started at the west end where the terns and gulls all seem to be doing well with chicks growing fast. A Kingfisher was perched up near the hide and a Garden Warbler was seen here too. 16 Great-crested Grebes were noted plus a Little Egret at the base of the heronry. At the dam in the c/pk several Chiffchaffs plus 2 Willow Warblers seen well. On the dam 250+ Black-headed Gulls inc’ some fresh juv’s plus a few Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Several Sand Martins were in today with ca35 counted plus a Swift, 5 House Martins and 4 Barn Swallows. A Hobby flew south at 7:20hrs and 2 Buzzards were seen over the north bank. A Grey Wagtail male was on the dam but no waders today. Below the dam Whitethroat and another Willow Warbler were seen plus a Goldcrest here. A male Goshawk flew over carrying prey whilst in the drying lagoon a Green Sandpiper was flushed, flying off calling frantically as it went. I left at 8:00hrs.

West End:- 75 x Greylag Goose, 14 x Canada Goose, 1 x Mute Swan, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 8 x Mandarin Duck, 11 x Mallard, 1 x Common Pheasant, 2 x Stock Dove, 14 x Common Woodpigeon, 8 x Common Swift, 2 x Common Moorhen, 8 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x European Herring Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 x Common Tern, 19 x Great Crested Grebe, 15 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Great White Egret, 11 x Grey Heron, 1 x Red Kite, 2 x Common Buzzard, 2 x Common Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Common Raven, 1 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin

3 Ad Med Gulls at dam end
willow warbler in scrub near outflow.

West End:- 14 x Greylag Goose, 3 x Canada Goose, 1 x Mute Swan, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 5 x Mandarin Duck, 15 x Mallard, 2 x Common Pheasant, 3 x Stock Dove, 7 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 4 x Black-headed Gull, 10 x Common Tern, 8 x Great Crested Grebe, 20 x Great Cormorant, 13 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 5 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 3 x Carrion Crow, 3 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Dunnock

WeirWood late morning to early afternoon and there was still plenty of activity around the nesting platforms with chicks being fed regularly. A Great Egret was present in the heronry and 15 Great-crested Grebes were present. 2 Kingfishers were around opposite the hide plus a Reed Warbler in front of the hide. Raptors inc’ 3 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards and a female Sparrowhawk. Little else was noted.