Category: Sighting

WeirWood late afternoon at the dam produced 2 Great Egrets flying west, both non breeding plumaged birds. On the dam 2 Common Terns, Grey Wagtail and several Herring Gulls. Lots of Swifts about too. It’s been a bit samey the last few days, at least the egrets were somewhat different. In the c/pk Goldcrest and a Jay. The west end was visited and produced 4 Common Terns and 2 Black-headed Gulls plus Kingfisher, Little Egret, 2 Mandarins and 2 Reed Warblers. At Whillett’s 3 more Reed Warblers at least plus Garden Warbler and 4 Reed Buntings.

West End:- 31 x Greylag Goose, 7 x Canada Goose, 3 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 13 x Mallard, 2 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 31 x Great Cormorant, 17 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Magpie, 4 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 12 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Dunnock

West end at lay-by this afternoon-30 Great Crested Grebes,34 Greylags,2 Egyptians,6 Common Terns,2 Black headed Gulls,2 LBB Gulls,4 Herring Gulls,3 singing Reed Warblers,Chiffchaff,Blackcap & female Whitethroat.
10 Swallows,3 Swifts,3 Buzzards & 3 Reed Kites.Pair of House Sparrows nesting on School,plus loads of fledged Blue and Great Tits.
Kingfisher seen twice and several GCG on nests.

West End:- 15 x Greylag Goose, 16 x Canada Goose, 3 x Egyptian Goose, 1 x Gadwall, 4 x Mallard, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 61 x European Herring Gull, 2 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 16 x Great Crested Grebe, 35 x Great Cormorant, 14 x Grey Heron, 3 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 x Great Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Common Chiffchaff

Whillets-8+ Reed warblers at Reed bed,Kingfisher,2 Red Kites,1 Kestrel and 2 Fledged GS Woodpeckers.
Butterflies-1 Meadow Brown,4 Large Skippers,2 Common Blues,2 Small Heaths,3 Small Coppers,2 Comma,1 Painted Lady,1 Speckled Wood & 2 Green Veined whites.Moths 1 Silver Y,2 Burnett Campanions.1 Grass Snake,1 Common Lizard &1 Young fallow fawn hiding in meadow two.
Dragonfly’s-3 Emperor Dragonfly,2 Hairy Dragonfly,1 Downy Emerald,2 Broad bodied Chaser.300 Azure Damselfly,7 Red eyed Damselfly including 3 pairs,7 White legged Damselfly,4 Blue tailed damselfly & 1 large Red Damselfly.

West End:- 28 x Greylag Goose, 19 x Canada Goose, 5 x Egyptian Goose, 5 x Mallard, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Black-headed Gull, 38 x European Herring Gull, 8 x Common Tern, 8 x Great Crested Grebe, 47 x Great Cormorant, 10 x Grey Heron, 5 x Common Buzzard, 2 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 1 x Carrion Crow, 5 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 1 x Common Chaffinch

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 15 x Canada Goose, 11 x Egyptian Goose, 4 x Mallard, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 3 x European Herring Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 x Common Tern, 9 x Great Crested Grebe, 4 x Great Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Red Kite, 5 x Common Buzzard, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Barn Swallow, 3 x Western House Martin, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Song Thrush, 1 x European Robin, 5 x Pied Wagtail

West End:- 35 x Greylag Goose, 23 x Canada Goose, 9 x Egyptian Goose, 4 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 3 x Black-headed Gull, 5 x Common Tern, 12 x Great Crested Grebe, 30 x Great Cormorant, 15 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 2 x Common Kingfisher, 3 x Common Magpie, 7 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Marsh Tit, 1 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 7 x Great Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Dunnock, 1 x Common Chaffinch

WeirWood from the dam from 7:30hrs. Lovely sunny day again. Good numbers of hirundines inc’ 30+ House Martins, 50+ Barn Swallows, also about 20 Swifts. Gulls inc’ Lesser and Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Herring in very small numbers, just ones and twos plus 4 Common Terns. 6 Great-crested Grebes were noted plus a male Mandarin. A single Hobby flew over, 3 Buzzards and a male Goshawk was the first showing by this species for a while. Generally still quiet as in recent days. The only birds on the dam were Grey and 5 Pied Wagtails whilst in the c/pk the usual Coal Tit and a Goldcrest plus a Jay. Along the north bank Marsh Tit, 4 Nuthatches, 2 pairs, Greenfinch and 2 Treecreepers. I left at 10:00hrs.

Small nest box survey- 7 Marsh Tits, 5 Nuthatches and numerous Blue and Great Tits have fledged. I disturbed a Tawny Owl on my walk to the north bank boxes.