Dam End:- Still at least 4 Hobbies along the north bank and 1 over the sailing club. 2 Little Ringed Plovers on the dam, 20+ Swifts, 10+ Swallows, 1 Red Kite, 50 Canada Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese with the 3 youngsters, 2 Mistle Thrushes, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Garden Warblers but singing has declined.
Sighting
WeirWood early on again was misty, so I had a look along the north bank. Here a Whitethroat was seen, a bird that’s been strangely missing for me recently. Others inc’ Marsh Tit, a pair of Jays and 3 Green Woodpeckers. Back at the dam end it was still misty. I did however manage to see a Conmon Sand close up in. Moving to the west end it was clearer here. The Black-headed Gulls and 6 Common Terns were all settled on their nests. In the heronry still 2 Little Egrets present and in front of the hide the Reed … Read the rest
West End (Late morning visit):- 6 Common Terns. Seem to be nesting on two separate rafts. Reed Warbler singing in the sallow on the edge. The pair of Black Headed Gull, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mallard. No Little Egrets. No raptors. Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush and Blackbird all happily singing away.
Dam End (afternoon):- 9 Hobbies, 2 Swifts, 3 Swallows, 10 Herring Gulls, 1 Little Egret, 1 Egyptian Goose.
West end:- 2 Little Egrets still on nest deep in middle of Heronry, Black Headed gulls still on eggs, 4 Common Terns sitting 8 birds in total, 3 Coots, 13 Mandarins 1 female with 4 ducklings, Reed warbler still singing, Kingfisher heard, 17 Great Crested Grebes.
Dam End:- WeirWood early morning with light rain and a very light breeze. First of all 6 Common Terns, 12 variously aged Herring Gulls, a male Grey Wagtail, Little-ringed Plover and 2 Common Sands. On the dam slope a male Green Woodpecker plus 2 Jays. As the rain eased a very early Hobby appeared along the north bank. At 6:14 an Osprey showed up from the west end being harassed by the gulls and then made its way along the north bank, then returning to the west end much to the annoyance of the gulls. Superb bird appearing to be … Read the rest
At West End: pair of Black-headed Gull & up to 4 pairs of Common Terns nesting on rafts. Little Egret pair are in heronry.
2 Lesser Black Back Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Reed Warbler singing near car park, 2 Garden Warbler. 3 Speckled Wood & 1 Common blue butterflies were seen. Also 1 Hairy Dragonfly.
At Whillet’s: Green Woodpecker & 1 male Reed Bunting.
Butterflies – 2m Orange Tip, 1 Small Copper. 1 Common Carpet moth.
Dragonflies: A nice sighting was a Red-eyed Damselfly at meadow pond, a species last seen in 2022 at the pond, also at pond both … Read the rest
West end:- adult male Peregrine over west end, Kestrel, 2 Little Egrets deep in Heronry, 1 Coot, 1 Swallow, Reed Warbler singing in front of hide, Black headed gulls still nesting on rafts with 3 or 4 pairs of Common Terns. 6 Great crested grebes.
Whillets:-
- 2 singing male Reed Buntings, several Reed Warblers and 2 Water rail chasing each other all at Reed bed. 3 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Bullfinch.
- Butterfly’s: -1 Small Copper, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock, 4 Orange Tips, 2 Green veined Whites, 1 Speckled Wood & 2 Burnett Campion.
- reptiles:- 3 Grass Snakes
- Dragonfly’s:-
West End (evening):- Still 3 Little Egrets in the heronry, 1 Lapwing on Pintail, 12 Mandarins, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Common Terns, 1 Black Headed Gull on the nest, still a Reed Warbler singing in front of the car park.
Dam end:- A bar-headedxBarnacle goose (hybrid) with Canada Geese and at least 3 Hobbies but no sign of RFF, 1 Little Ringed Plover on dam wall.
West End:- 1 x Greylag Goose, 2 x Canada Goose, 2 x Mallard, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Eurasian Coot, 8 x Common Tern, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 37 x Great Cormorant, 2 x Little Egret, 9 x Grey Heron, 2 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Eurasian Hobby, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 3 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Song Thrush, 1 x Dunnock