Category: Sighting

West End Study area: A very productive morning ringing session with 42 Blue Tit, 6 Coal Tit, 10 Great Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Robin, 1 Blackbird (possibly a continental migrant bird), 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest.

West End:- 2 Egyptian Geese plus 2 more flew high east, 3 Moorhen, 1 Common Gull, 8 Redwings, 2 Marsh Tits.

Reed-bed Roosts:- 155 Reed Buntings and 615 Starlings entered the reed bed in small flocks between 14:40 & 16:30. The large numbers seen yesterday by Alastair failed to appear. Also 1 Moorhen, Water Rail heard, flocks of Wood Pigeons and Redwings were flying over,  many of which were coming in to roost in trees within the meadows. 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush flyover.

A great day in the sunshine. Lots of birds with the best being: 2 Brent Geese over the West End headed SW. Also 16
Redpolls, Water Rail near the hide and Stonechat below the dam.

Whillet’s:- 1500-1800 Starlings roosted 3,000 more flew NW towards Hedgecourt, 176 Reed Buntings roosted, 2 Water Rails heard plus a Tawny Owl, 17 Lesser Redpolls flew over as did around 200 Redwings.

West End:-  1m Pochard, 1m+1f Tufted Duck, 2m+1f Mandarin, 150+ Greylag, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Buzzard, 52 Black-headed Gull, 100+ Wood Pigeon.
At feeders:- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 10+ Blue Tit, 3+ Great Tit, Nuthatch heard.

Dam End:- 1 very late House Martin flew west at 11:05, 22 Meadow Pipits in Horse Paddock, 2 Common Gulls.

West End (13,20-14,15):- 84 Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Mallard, 6 Mandarin 5m 1f, 23 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhen, 4 Pheasants, 63 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Stock Dove, 120-140 Woodpigeon overflew, On feeders, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Marsh Tit one ringed, 1 Robin.

West End:- 20 Mallard, 3 Mandarin, 2 Egyptian Geese, 149 Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Raven, 3 Buzzard,1m & 1f Sparrowhawks, 300 Woodpigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 71 Starlings flew west, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Fieldfare, 7 Chaffinch.

It is rare to get an overseas recovery on ringed birds. Today we received a recovery on a Chiffchaff that was ringed here on 25/08/18 within the study area. The bird was 1cy. It was found freshly dead on 25/03/19 at Les Vallées, Digulleville, Manche, France a distance of 202 km. Manche is in the Normandy area of France.