Author: Linsey Gooding

63 Pochards at west end this afternoon, my highest ever count at the res.

WeirWood was visited yet again at dawn, I missed a day yesterday. Today on a bright morning 58 Pochards, Wigeon, Gadwall and Teal. The 3 gorgeous Goosanders were a tad furtive sticking under the bushes most of the time. The Great Egret flew from Whillett’s where a Water Rail was noted. As the morning went on raptors were noted with a female Goshawk being the best of the bunch. The feeders were busy with all the usual suspects plus a male Great spotted Woodpecker. 17 Stock Doves was a nice count plus a Kingfisher was noted. Little Egret appeared by the heronry then at 8:22 the Goosanders flew off SW. At the dam it was a lot less exciting with little noted at all other than a Red Kite over and a rather vocal Raven. There were 47 Great-crested Grebes here however. In the c/pk 2 Goldcrests and a Coal Tit plus 2 Nuthatches. Really enjoyable early morning.

Afternoon at west end-50 Pochards,1 Gadwall,1 Teal,1 Little Grebe,2 Collard Doves.

GWE over Whillets.

West End:- 4 x Canada Goose, 56 x Greylag Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 8 x Wigeon, 15 x Mallard, 46 x Pochard, 3 x Goosander, 2 x Pheasant, 1 x Stock Dove, 100+ x Woodpigeon, 3 x Coot, 13 x Great Crested Grebe, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 6 x Cormorant, 3 x Grey Heron, 1 x Sparrowhawk, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 x Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Coal Tit, 1 x Marsh Tit, 7 x Blue Tit, 4 x Great Tit, 2 x Nuthatch, 1 x Treecreeper, 4 x Starling, 12 x Redwing, 1 x Blackbird, 2 x Robin, 1 x Chaffinch

34 Pochards,5 Tufted Duck,37 Mallards,4 Mandarins,4 Coots,Great white Egret,Little Egret & 2 Ravens.

West End: 52 Pochard, 1 x Great White Egret.

Reed bed at dusk with Bob and Johnathan
2,300+ Starlings and 25 Reed Buntings in to roost, Great white Egret flew over twice, 2 Water rails calling, Peregrine and Goshawk over.
Then 2 Woodcock, 4 Snipe, 3 Teal flew over finally 3-4 Tawny Owls calling.

West End with Alastair. Goosander, 25 Pochards, 8 Wigeon, 2 Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, 3 Mandarins, 2 Coots, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 2 Canada Geese, Water Rail, Marsh Tit, hundreds of Starlings and Woodpigeons, 50+ Redwings, 10 Fieldfares.

14:30-15:30

Great Egret still, 22 Pochards, 4 Wigeon, 2 Mandarin, 1 Tufted Duck. Female Goshawk showed well looked a near adult.

Arrived at West end car park at 11.00am , bit grey and murky to start but gradually brightened up. 28 Gc grebes 2 Egyptian geese 18 Pochard and a few mallard only ducks showing 2 coot 1 Kingfisher 3 Little Egret 1 GW Egret 1 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 5 very vocal Buzzards together, all the usual Tit species including 2 Marsh 50+Fieldfares flew across from North bank and landed in the trees around carpark to be joined by a steady flow of Redwings 30+ Linnets in stubble field along the road . Left at 1.00pm.

A few bits I forgot to put on my list from this morning, 2 Goldcrests in the c/pk that came so close I could almost touch them , 1 Nuthatch searching through the lichen just above me and a Chiffchaff .