Category: Sighting

Dam End:- 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Grey Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff, 14 Blue Tit, 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 210 Black-headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 16 Grey Heron, 4 Lapwing, 8 Sand Martin, 25 House Martin.
West End:- 220 Greylag Geese, 1 Little Egret, 6 Lapwing, 40 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 20 Swallows, 5 Mandarin.
Whillets:-1 juv Stonechat, 4 Common Whitethroat, 55 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Kingfisher, 9 Grass Snakes, 3 Toads.

This morning in the study area we ringed a number of Chiffchaff and Blackcap – as would be expected at this time of year. A couple of juvenile Goldcrests showed different stages of juvenile moult. One had only the very beginning of a crest; the other had sufficient crest to be able to sex (photo).  Other species included: Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Wren and Dunnock. All were juveniles.
A fly-over by a single cronking Raven was nice first thing. A Kingfisher flew along the edge of the reservoir several times.

West End:- 1 Coot + 2 well grown Juveniles, 2 Ravens, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Lapwing, 105 Greylag Geese, 66 Canada Geese, 92 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sand Martin, 22 House Martin, 1 Swallow, 3 Buzzards.

West End, Car Park, 10.09-11.38:- 153 Greylag Geese. 92 Canada Geese. 2 Feral Geese. 81 Great Crested Grebe. 24 Mallard. 3 Mandarin. 4 Grey Heron.1 Little Egret. 2 Moorhen. 25 Black-headed Gulls. 27 Cormorant.  3 Lapwing. 10 House Martin. 1 Swallow. 1 Sand Martin. 1 Stock Dove. 1 Kingfisher. 1 Blue Tit. 1 Terrapin basking on tree.

Our work parties replaced the picnic bench in the car park area and improved the dipping pond in Whillet’s Meadow.

3 Ospreys – adult plus 2 young – at The Dam.

West End:- 72 Mallard, 1 Great Egret, 3 Teal, 158 Greylag Geese, 8 Lapwing.
Dam End:- 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Swift, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 35 Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest.
Whillets:- 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 2 Reed Buntings, 65 Goldfinch, 1 Kingfisher, 70 House Martins, 1 Kestrel.

Dam End:- 1 Mute Swan, 66 Canada Geese + 1 Canada/Greylag hybrid, 1 Mandarin, 4 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron,  16 Mallard, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Moorhen, 3 Common Sandpiper, 110 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 3 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker,  2 Grey Wagtail.
West End:-  99 Great Crested Grebe, 130 Greylag + 2 Feral White/Greylag hybrids, 21 Mandarin,  7 Grey Heron, 18 Cormorant, 3 Teal,  47 Mallard, 2 Moorhen,  8 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sand Martin, c50 House Martin, c60 Jackdaw flyover. Also adult+young Fallow Deer.
Whillet’s:- 5 Mallard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Bullfinch. Also 4 Common Lizards and 3 Grass Snakes.
Butterfly highlights:- 1 Painted Lady (pic),  8 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Copper.
Dragonfly highlights:– 2 Emerald damselfly at the pond, 1 Southern Hawker (pic), 1 Brown Hawker, 2 Migrant hawkers. Also 1 Squash Bug & 1 Leafhopper  (pics).

Whillet’s Pool:– Brown Hawker, Green Sandpiper.
Meadow Pond:– Common Darter – at least 3 pairs ovipositing plus 4 males and 1 female. Photo of pair. Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Meadow:- Common Blue and Meadow Brown butterflies.

This evening the Great Egret was still at the West End with a Little Egret.
At the Dam 1 Common Sandpiper and the Mute Swan.