Category: Sighting

The ringing session this morning, before the rain arrived, was slow. There were a number of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler around. Birds of note:– Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.
Other birds observed:– Sand Martin and Swallow in numbers passing through, Marsh Tit which appear to have had a good breeding season.

Whillet’s:- 1 Garden Warbler, 14 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Bullfinch including 2 juvs & 4 Chiffchaffs feeding on black and elder berries, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 40 Goldfinch, 25 Swallows, 50 House Martins, 18 Speckled Woods, 2 Holly Blues, 12 Migrant Hawkers, 3 Southern Hawkers, 2 Common Darters, 2 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Toad, 1 Pygmy Shrew.
West End:- 1 Great White Egret.

Whillet’s:- Water Rail in Reed Bed, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Bullfinch including 2 juvs, 35 House Martins, 55 Goldfinch, 15 Mistle Thrush flew east, 3 Reed Buntings, 9 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Jay, 1 Goldcrest.
West End:- 1 Great White Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Swallows.
Dam End:- 1 Little Egret, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Chiffchaff.

Work on the Dipping Pond in Whillet’s Meadow – creating a new inlet silt trap.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the Dam End.

Dam End:- 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls + 1 juvenile, 1 Lapwing, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Mandarin, 1 Kestrel.
West End:- 1 Great Egret, 2 Ravens, 1f Tufted Duck, 75 Great Crested Grebes, 60 House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Bullfinch, 5 Lapwing, 187 Greylag Geese, 2 Kingfisher, 6 Swallows, 52 Mallard, 3 Mandarin.
Whillets:- 4 Bullfinch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Holly Blues, 2 Small Coppers, 8 Common Blues, 5 Migrant Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers, 1 female Beautiful Demoiselle, 3 Common Darters, 1 Blue-Tail Damselfly.

Please see the note HERE about access and no-go areas at the Dam End.

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.