Sighting

Dam End:- This morning 40 Grebe Crested Grebes, 8 Grey Wagtails of which 7 were on the dam with 2 Common Sandpipers. 2 Siskins flew west over water tower.
At west end 5 Teal, Kingfisher, 15 Canada geese, 3 Coot, 8 Mandarin and around 40 Mallards. Both a Lesser black backed gull and Grest black backed were present. 5 Chiffchaffs in bushes, 20 House Martins south and 2 Buzzards and Sparrowhawk noted.
Whillet’s:- 5 Greenfinch, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Siskins, 1 Marsh Tit, Kingfisher, 1 Jay, 2 Ravens, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs and 5 Ivy Bees.

Plus 7 … Read the rest

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 … Read the rest

Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 14 x Canada Goose, 4 x Greylag x Canada Goose (hybrid), 5 x Mallard, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 56 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 38 x Great Crested Grebe, 4 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Buzzard, 1 x Common Magpie, 6 x Western House Martin, 3 x Pied Wagtail

West End:- 14 x Mandarin Duck, 9 x Mallard, 6 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 2 x Eurasian Coot, 9 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 1 x Common Tern, 12 x Great Crested Grebe, 10 x Great Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Osprey, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Common Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 3 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 4 x Great Tit, 5 x Western House Martin, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 5 x Common Starling, 1 x Song Thrush, 1 x European Robin

WeirWood was visited on a drizzly midday, it’s been quiet the last few days but here amongst the scattered gulls a juv’/1st winter Kittiwake was brilliant to see, also 50+ House Martins and fewer Barn Swallows. At the west end Kingfisher, more hirundines and 3 Snipe on Pintail bank. Plenty of phyllosc’s calling here and 2 Greenfinches in Legsheath Lane.

West End:- 31 x Mandarin Duck, 11 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 9 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Little Grebe, 6 x Great Crested Grebe, 12 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Grey Heron, 1 x Coal Tit, 2 x Marsh Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 12 x Barn Swallow, 3 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x European Robin

WeirWood mid-late morning. At the west end Little Egret, ca20 Barn Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and a House Martin. 2 Snipe were on Pintail bank and a Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull, both ad’s. At the dam more hirundines mostly Barn Swallows but also Sand and House Martins too. Probably 100+ birds involved. On the north bank a Common Sandpiper, also Hobby and a rather bedraggled male Sparrowhawk flew in and landed on the dam fence. Among the 30 or so gulls was an ad’ Common Gull plus 2 beautiful 2nd year Mediterranean Gulls. A surprise was the 5 Crossbills … Read the rest