Category: Sighting

Whillet’s:-  2 Kingfishers together and a Goldcrest.
West End:-  270 Greylag, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Snipe, 3 Coot, 8 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Tit, ! Nuthatch, 2 Raven.

In the study area during the morning the following were ringed:- 2 Chiffchaff, male Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Marsh Tit and a number Blue Tits and Great Tits.
Other birds of note seen a further Chiffchaff, 2 Egyptian Geese and a single Raven.

West End:- 1 Little Grebe, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 178 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 17 Gadwall, pair of Pochard, 7 Mallard plus a female type hybrid that was slightly smaller with brighter markings, smaller bill with dark tip and a notable face eyestripe, 2 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 1 Raven flyover.
Bird Feeders:-  Much activity today with the cold weather, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Tit, 10+ Blue Tit, 5+ Great Tit, 7+ Goldfinch, 5+ Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush.

(AG) WestEnd:- 257 Greylag Geese, 3 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck.
(BJ) West End:- 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Tree Creeper.
(BJ) Whillet’s:- 1 Stonechat

WeBS Sightings plus some others – jointly by Bob Johnson & Alastair Gray.
All reservoir counts:-  20 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Grey Heron, 23 Mallard + 2 feral Mallard hybrids, 3 Moorhen, 3 Kingfisher, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Bullfinch.
Dam End:- 2 Mute Swan, 35 Canada Geese,  2 Buzzard, 3 Herring Gull, 19 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 24 Rook, 9 Starling.
South Bank:- 1 Woodcock.
West End:-  1 Little Grebe, 48 Cormorant, 251 Greylag Geese + 1 Canada/Greylag hybrid, 1 white Feral Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Coot, 20 flyover Lapwing, 80 Black-headed Gull (400+ flying at dusk towards the Dam End gull roost), 13 Stock Dove, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Coal Tit,  10+ Blue Tit, 5+ Great Tit, 1 Jay, 5 Chaffinch.
Whillet’s:-  3 Teal, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 150 Reed Buntings coming in to the reed-bed roost between 14:15 & 15:45.

West End: 09.29-10.22: Car Park – Shooting to the south could have had an impact on low numbers today.17 Greylag Geese, 17 Mallard, 15 Cormorant, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 1Feral Duck, 1 Kingfisher. On or around the feeders: 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, m&f Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch, Pheasant, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Robin.

West End:- 34 Canada Geese flew east.
Dam End:- 21 Gadwall.

Ringing in the study area late morning (2/12) until the drizzle arrived, a wintering Chiffchaff was caught. The wing length indicated that it was a male. A number of Blue Tits were caught. They included several re-traps that were full adult birds. They were all of good weight. The heaviest weighed 12g.  Clearly winter feeding is having a positive impact on the birds. Other birds included Great Tit, Coal Tit, Treecreeper and Goldfinch.
Other sighting of note:–  another Chiffchaff and a low-flying, ‘cronking’ Raven over the study area, which was also seen in the hide car park.

A possible Short-eared Owl was seen on the ground along the Dam End of South bank yesterday (1/12/18).
A photographer reported a red-head female type Goosander at the West End (30/11/18).
West End:-  211+1 hybrid Greylag, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Coot, 33 Cormorant, 3 Common Gull, 1 Raven, 10+ Blue Tit & 5+ Great Tit on feeders with Goldfinches, Coal Tit & Nuthatch.
Whillets:-  3 Grey Heron, 5 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Moorhen, 1 Kingfisher,  4 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Redwing, 2 Jay, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Bullfinch, 9 Siskin.

Dam End:- 1 Skylark flew south, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Kestrel, 8 Starlings, 2 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, 20 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jay, 1 Treecreeper.
West End:- 45 Lapwings flew West, 20 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 29 Mallard, 2 Pied Wagtail,10 Chaffinch, 20 Stock Dove,1 Mistle Thrush.