Category: Sighting

West End:- 1 Little Grebe, 3 Mandarin flyover, 2m+1f Gadwall, 3m Pochard, 1m Tufted Duck, 1 Moorhen, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh & Coal Tit seen at feeders.

W E B S
All reservoir:- 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe (2 at Dam End Lagoon + 1 at West end), 27 Cormorant, 7 Grey Heron (5 at west end),  10 Mallard,  7 Moorhen, 2 Kingfisher,  2 Mistle Thrush (1 at Dam, 1 at West End),  8 Long-tailed Tit, 8+ Crows, 10 Goldfinch, 5 Bullfinch.
Dam End:-  22 Canada Geese, 1 Peregrine, 1 Pied Wagtail,  59 Fieldfare, 60+ Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Jay.
West End:- 185 Greylag + 1 Canada/Greylag hybrid, 2 Egyptian Geese, 15 Mandarin, 2m+1f Gadwall, 3m Pochard, 6 Teal, 2 Buzzard, 43 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 50+ Jackdaw flyover, 1 Raven flyover.      Feeders-: 3 Marsh Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 8+ Blue Tit, 8+ Great Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1m+1f Bullfinch nearby.
Whillets:- 1f Sparrowhawk, Water Rail heard, Tawny Owl heard, 1f Stonechat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Jay, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Bullfinch.
Reed-bed Roost between 15:00 & 16:40:  67 Reed Bunting came in to roost. The recent very large Starling roost flocks measured in 1000’s failed to materialize with only 25 birds roosting.
The large numbers of Starlings roosting in recent weeks have noticeably flattened the reed bed. It is not as tall as it was and may not be so desirable to the Starlings. They can be fickle and move to different sites so they may not be back?

West End:- Car Park (13,14-14,18) 205 Grelag Geese, 6 Canada Geese, 6 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck 1m+1f, 2 Pochard both m, 4 Mandarin 3m+1f, 16 Cormorant, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 25 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 1 juv Herring Gull, 1 Buzzard overhead, 2 Jackdaw. At Feeders:12 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Blackbird 2m+1f, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Chaffinch 5m+2f, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Pheasant f, 2 Mallard, numerous Carrion Crow overflying.

Whillet’s Reed Bed (15:00 to 16:30):- 2 Water Rail & 1 Moorhen heard, 59 Reed Buntings came in to roost over the period. The Starlings carried out some nice murmuration flights a little after 4pm. There could have been nearly 3000 at one point; but the flock broke up and I estimated that about 2000 came in to roost in various sized flocks.
Also 4 Fallow Deer were out feeding in the meadows.

West End:- 1 male Merlin over the Northern Ridge circling before stooping over farm land then lost to view, 6 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Marsh Tits.

Over 4000 Starlings came into the roost at Whillet’s reed bed this evening. Count estimate by Alastair Gray from photos by Sue Greig.

Dam End:- 15:10 to 16:30 1 Little Grebe, only a few Great Crested Grebe,  33 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 185 Greylag + 2 white feral/Greylag hybrids, 1 Canada Goose, 10+ Mallard + 1 feral domestic Mallard hybrid, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Song Thrush.
Dam End Gull Roost:  c1500 Black-headed Gull, 25+ Common Gull, 15+ Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Whillet’s:- 3,000 Starlings & 82 Reed Buntings roosted in Reed Bed, 2 sqealing Water Rails, 1 Stonechat, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Stock Doves.
West End:- 15 Mandarin, 5 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Egyptian Geese, 1 Marsh Tit, 5 Chaffinch.
Dam End:- 1 Little Grebe, 6 Treecreepers, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Redwings, 1 Buzzard, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Common Gull.

West End:- 2m Tufted Duck.
Whillet’s:- 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 57 Fieldfares, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Rook, 1 Water Rail squealing.

Ringing in the Study Area saw a varied mix of species including: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Redwing and Chaffinch (2 male). A total of 25 birds. Other observations included: approximately 250 Woodpigeon flying over, 2 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Raven, 1 Buzzard, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Chaffinch (1 male and 1 female) and 6 Mandarin.