Osprey still at west end.
Other bits at west end included 1 Snipe,1 Common Sandpiper,48 Mallard,5 Chiffchaffs also Sedge Warbler opposite lay-by in bushes beside road.
Whillets
Distant Osprey high to the south at 9am,Hobby and immature female Goshawk and a calling Raven.
Not much in the hedges apart from 3+ Greenfinch, a Blackcap,Nuthatch and several Chiffchaffs.
Butterfly’s
13 Small Copper
1 Small Heath
1 Common Blue
4 Speckled Woods
8 GVW
Plus 2 Grass Snakes.
1 x Osprey at west End
West end 4pm
1 Snipe 1 Common Sandpiper in the Narrows,130 House Martins,40 Swallows & 2 Sand Martins.
Plenty of Chiffchaffs heard in trees,6 Coots,6 Moorhens,1 LBB gull.
WeirWood from a misty dawn at the west end. Here 10 Lapwings were on the small left hand point, also still 4 Mute Swans. 3 Teal were in the narrows plus a Green and Common Sandpiper. 14 variously aged Great-crested Grebes were noted, plus a Kingfisher and 2 Reed Warblers were in front of the hide. A few Barn Swallows were moving through this morning. 4 Snipe were along Pintail bank feeding then a Little Egret flew in landing in the narrows. At Whillett’s 3 Reed Buntings, Reed Warbler and Marsh Tit. Moving on to the dam, here 7 Great-crested Grebes, 55 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Sands and a Great Egret that flew over. 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were still present on the aerator and an Osprey flew in from the south caught a fish then promptly flew towards Ashdown. A Grey Wagtail was on the slope with 6 Pied. In the c/pk several Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers showing well. Not a bad morning, I left at 9:30hrs.
WeirWood from dawn at the west end. All the terns and gulls seem to be doing well still, some close to fledging. 12 Mandarins were in the narrows plus the Mute Swan and 9 Great-crested Grebes. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on the small patch of mud on the left point and a Common Sand was present on Pintail bank. At the dam end fewer Black-headed Gulls today with maybe 130 birds seen plus an ad’ Great Black-backed Gull and 16 Herring Gulls of various ages. With the geese was a strange Bar-headed hybrid and of course the Egyptians. A Hobby was along the north shore as were 4 Common Sands with another on the dam. The only other raptor was the first returning Osprey of the summer, an ad’ over the dam at 6:55hrs. Always a pleasure to see. In the c/pk a few Chiffchaffs and a Coal Tit. Below the dam more Chiffchaffs with 4 seen and a Whitethroat. In the overflow a nice male Grey Wagtails with 2 Pied. Not a bad morning. I left at 8:05hrs.
WeirWood from 7:00hrs on a cold overcast morning. From the dam 6 Common Terns, an ad’ Great Black-backed, ad’ Lesser Black-backed and ad’ Herring Gull plus 15 Great-crested Grebes. At 7:21hrs an Osprey appeared, caught a fish and flew off towards the west end. A single Hobby was noted perched up along the south bank. However that was about it this end. The west end, the Common Terns were on the platform 2nd from left. 4 birds and 2 nests by the looks of it. 2 Kingfishers were about and 2 Little Egrets. In the c/pk 2 Marsh Tits, Nuthatch and from here Reed Warbler. 4 more Great-crested Grebes were seen a couple of which were displaying. At Whillett’s still 2 Reed Warblers at least and a couple of Reed Buntings, 2 Gatden Warblers and 3 Greenfinches. Overhead a Red Kite again and one of the Little Egrets flew over towards the meadows.
WeirWood mid to late morning in beautiful weather. At the dam 2 Common Sands and 2 Little-ringed Plovers still, no sign of Oystercatcher though. The only gulls of note were an ad’ Great Black-backed and ad’ Herring, 4 Common Terns were also present. Song from Garden Warbler, Bullfinch and several Blackcaps was heard. At 10:30hrs an Osprey appeared high over the dam drifting north. 2 Hobbies were along the north bank and 6 Great-crested Grebes were seen. On the dam slope Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Buzzard and a rather flighty Wheatear female, my first here this year. Below the dam in the overflow a pair of Grey Wagtails and in the surrounding bushes Common Whitethroat. I left at ca11:30hrs.
No wimbrel this morning – but did have a very low ospray over the dam.
Others seen this morning were 2 commons and a LRP on the dam – 2 common terns and 2 GCGs
WeirWood midday to early afternoon. Disappointed however, there was only one Little-ringed Plover on the dam, 3 Pied and a Grey Wagtail. Not surprising though as there was a lot of activity on top of the dam and vegetation clearing. Over the water a collection of ca40 House and Sand Martins plus 4 Barn Swallows. Just one Black-headed Gull but 2 Goshawks a male and huge female along the south bank. Another Osprey was noted over the dam at 13:05hrs for a few minutes eventually disappearing towards Ashdown. Below the dam Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps and a Red Kite over whilst in the c/pk a lovely Firecrest was bird of the day, in trees by the entrance gate, very mobile though and silent, 2 Goldcrests as well. A better visit than recent ones for me.
WeirWood all morning, where it was breezy and overcast, however the birds were good with Yellow Wagtail over the fishing lodge, seen later on the dam and my first Osprey this year flew north over the dam at 10:25hrs. There were also 12 or so Sand Martins, amongst which was my first Barn Swallow of the year they all disappeared after about half an hour at 10:00hrs. The only gulls were a couple of Herring and 2 Lesser Black-backed, 4 Great-crested Grebes were noted but little else of note on the water. In the c/pk Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcap, Goldcrest and Marsh Tit. There was an obvious feeling of migration today with other species inc’ 2 Sky Lark, 2 Redwing and a small number of Chaffinches all headed north. I noted very little at the west end today, Kingfisher being the highlight. I left at 11:10hrs well pleased.
WeirWood on a slightly misty but calm early morning at the west end. Here a good number of Mandarins, at least 25, also Little Egret and a Snipe again on Pintail bank. Several phyllosc’s, presumably all Chiffchaffs about plus Marsh Tit and 2 Siskins. At the dam 2 Common Sands an ad’ and juv’, also 3 Jays noted on top of the dam. The usual collection of gulls were still hanging out, then as all was quiet and the mist cleared at 8:10 an Osprey appeared towards the west end. Back on the dam a third Common Sandpiper was seen also ca20 Pied Wagtails were joined by 2 Greys. There were 33 Great-crested Grebes scattered around plus a Little Grebe. 4 Teal were seen from this end plus a Gadwall and nice impressive female Goshawk. In the c/pk 4 Goldcrest were seen plus Marsh Tit with more Chiffchaffs noted. Below the dam around the overflow a nice Lesser Whitethroat and overhead a Sky Lark. Things are on the move.
