Category: Sighting

This morning 3 Pintail, 8 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 2 Mandarin, 1 Teal, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, Water Rail under the feeders, 1 Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit, 80 Linnets in stubble field and Woodlark singing.
4 Egyptian Geese, 10 Greylag Geese, 11 Canada Geese, 3 Buzzards, Goshawk, Kestrel.
Dam end just 2 Grey Wagtails, 15 Rooks & 4 Redwings.
Whillet’s couple of Water rail calling at Reed bed plus a flyover Siskin.

Goshawk over the south bank dam end.

3 Pintails at west end (1 Drake,2 ducks).

At WeirWood from midday it was very much status quo. All the duck were present and the feeders were as usual busy with the same species as yesterday. There were a few more Black-headed Gulls and 6 Great-crested Grebes at the west end. Even the Water Rail was still present by the hide. Marsh Tit was in song as were 2 Nuthatches calling. The only things new were a Wood Lark was seen by the stubble field where there were 2 Yellowhammers and 29 Goldfinches and 2 Snipe flushed from Pintail bank during my wanderings. From the dam gulls inc’ 4 Herring, 2 Lesser Black-backed and 25 Black-headed and on the dam 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Linnets, Green Woodpecker and 2 Mistle Thrushes. Overhead Red Kite and 2 Ravens were seen. Then the drizzle started so I left at 13:30hrs.

WeirWood again from midday was pleasant at the west end. 11 Wigeon today plus 2 Tufted Duck, 17 Mandarins and 4 Teal. On the feeders 2 Siskins joined the usual tits and finches which again inc’ Marsh, Long-tailed and Coal Tit. Several Black-headed Gulls were joined by a 1st winter Common Gull. In the c/pk 5 Lesser Redpolls and a Goldcrest were seen plus a Buzzard overhead. The male Goshawk put in an appearance along Pintail bank scaring all and sundry, with the female showing 10 minutes later putting in an amazing show. A Water Rail was under the feeders near the hide in the company of Coot and Moorhen. The heronry was busy as expected with lots of activity. The dam end was quiet with just a few gulls, grebes and Grey Wagtail male.

WeirWood from a damp dawn at the dam where it was quiet. Here 5 Great-crested Grebes, a 1st winter Common Gull, 15 Black-headed and 4 Herring Gulls was about it on the water. On the dam Buzzard was looking very bedraggled and a Mistle Thrush. In the c/pk a Goldcrest, Coal Tit and nice male Bullfinch. Below the dam a Chiffchaff was noted in the bushes by the overflow. At the west end 10 Wigeon, 4 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck. On the feeders the usual crowd inc’ Marsh Tit one of which was singing nearby. Stock Doves were evident again with 20+ noted 2 of which were under the feeders again. In the heronry area a Great Egret was a bonus flyover but little else of note.

East End. A Curlew flew over calling loudly, heading NE. Not much on the water, 4 GC Grebes, 2 Mandarins, 2 Egyptian Geese, 11 Canadas, 2 Mistle Thrushes behind the dam, 5 Jays, Raven, Bullfinch, Marsh Tit.

West End:- 2 x Canada Goose, 11 x Mandarin Duck, 4 x Mallard, 1 x Teal, 1 x Pheasant, 1 x Stock Dove, 17 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Coot, 3 x Great Crested Grebe, 17 x Cormorant, 21 x Grey Heron, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 x Magpie, 1 x Raven, 1 x Coal Tit, 1 x Marsh Tit, 9 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 2 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Nuthatch, 1 x Blackbird, 1 x Robin, 3 x Dunnock, 3 x Chaffinch

West End:- 8 x Canada Goose, 20 x Greylag Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 7 x Mandarin Duck, 10 x Wigeon, 11 x Mallard, 6 x Teal, 1 x Pheasant, 2 x Stock Dove, 7 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Water Rail, 2 x Coot, 1 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Common Gull, 26 x Cormorant, 19 x Grey Heron, 2 x Sparrowhawk, 1 x Buzzard, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 x Magpie, 1 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Coal Tit, 1 x Marsh Tit, 7 x Blue Tit, 1 x Great Tit, 2 x Long-tailed Tit, 1 x Nuthatch, 2 x Blackbird, 2 x Robin, 3 x Dunnock, 2 x Chaffinch, 3 x Goldfinch

West end:- 13 Mandarins, 11 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 3 GC Grebes & 7 Snipe.
Few raptors around included male Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 2 Ravens & 3 Buzzards.
In the stubble field at least 119 Linnets and 10 Goldfinches.
2 Marsh Tit and Nuthatch around the feeders.
Whillets:- 2 Water rails heard calling, 3 Redwings and Goldcrest.
Under tins 19 Wood Mouse,9 Field Voles,1 Common Shrew,2 Toads,1 Smooth Newt & 4 Palmate Newts.