Category: Sighting

WeBS count & general bird sightings
All reservoir counts:-  35 Great Crested Grebe, 37 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 7 Canada Geese, 5 Mandarin, 55 Mallard + 1 feral hybrid, 3 Buzzard, 6 Moorhen, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Swallow, 56 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff.
Dam End & North Bank:-  2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Kestrel, 6 Lapwing, 32 Black-headed Gull, 35 Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker heard, 12 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldcrest, 18 Chaffinch, 50 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Roe Deer.
West End:-  52 Greylag, pair of Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 54 Redwing, 1 Rook, 2 Reed Bunting.
Whillet’s:-  1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, 10 Jay, 12 Starling, 1 Greenfinch.
There was some general migration of Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Redwing & hirundines. The above counts represent the largest flocks noted.

Whillet’s:- 102 House Martins, 3 Swallows, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest.

West End Vis-Mig:- 108 Redwing, 36 Song Thrush, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Lapwing, 1 Swallow, 4 Pied Wagtail, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Grey Wagtail, 22 Stock Dove, 44 Meadow Pipits. Also 8 Mandarin, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Marsh Tit.
Whillet’s:- 1 Firecrest, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 35 Siskin, 14 Bullfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Greenfinch, 2 Kingfisher, 1 juv Common Gull over, 1 Jay, 2 Marsh Tit, 40+ Blue Tits.

This morning started with an amazing ‘red dawn’. There was impressive visible migration until early afternoon. Mostly species of thrushes, finches and Meadow Pipits.  Also a number of tit flocks passed through Whillet’s.
Just under 50 birds were ringed with Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits being the majority. First bird was a 1cy male Firecrest. Later in the day a 1cy Goldcrest. Other species included 2 x 1cy Kingfishers, Marsh Tit, Goldfinches, Dunnock, Robin, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. One of the Chiffchaffs was a control and we await an update as to when and where it was originally ringed. Some of the Chiffchaffs were carrying a lot of fat and weighed just under 9g. What a cracking morning.
(See photos).

West End:- (Vis-Mig 08:30-09:45) 179 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 18 Chaffinch,6 Meadow Pipit – all flew west. 16 House Martin, 11 Swallow – flew south.
3 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 3 Snipe, 2 Jay,1 Coot, 330 Greylag Geese,3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher.
Whillet’s:- 2 Raven, 34 House Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, 2 Chaffinch.
49 Common Darter, 6 Southern Hawker.

There was a movement of birds through Whillet’s on an overcast, still morning. In particular several Blue Tits and Chiffchaff. One of the Blue Tits had very bleached tips to its wing and tail. Other birds passing through included: Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Goldcrest. In total about 40 birds ringed.
Other sightings of note: 3 Grey Wagtail, approx 40 Starlings, and a Tawny Owl first thing.

Talk on The Weir Wood Nature Reserve by Peter Erridge at Weir Wood Sailing Club – in the Clubhouse RH18 5HT; Friday 4th October 2019 starts at 7:30 pm (£5 to Sailing Club).

West End (13:31-14:24):- 361 Greylag Geese, 10 hybrid Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 8 Mallard, 7 Teal, 5 Mandarin, 1 Gadwall, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 10 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Black-headed Gull, 2 Pheasant f, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Pied Wagtail f, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Carrion Crow.

Whillet’s:- 6 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Jay, 1 Pied Wagtail (seen by Work Party).
West End:- 5 Grey Heron, 3 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 5 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch heard (Bob Johnson).

Dam End:- 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails.
West End:- 3 Gadwall,2 Green Sandpipers.
Whillet’s:- 2 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 65 House Martins, 1 Swallow, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Siskins, 5 Chiffchaffs.