Category: Sighting

Ringing in the study area today saw a mixed bag of woodland / garden birds through out a bright but cold day. Species recorded – Blue Tits, Great Tits, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbird and Robins. A number of new Robins were a surprise.  Just under 30 birds.
Other sightings of note in / from the Study area included:- a flock of Lapwing (10 -15), approximately 10 Mandarins,  3 Buzzard, Siskin and Goldcrest. Plenty of Great Tit in song.
A number of small rodent seen in various areas.
Bluebells are starting to break through. Spring is just around the corner!

West End:- Grey Heron – 16 nests are now occupied. 36 Cormorant including 1 pair on a nest. 2 Moorhen, 1 Coot, pair of Gadwall, pair of Mandarin, pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying, 1 Buzzard, 3 Stock Dove, 20 flyover Lapwing, Song Thrush heard.
Feeders:- 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1m Siskin in Alder, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper plus the usual Blue & Great Tits, Robins, Blackbird and Chaffinches.

West End:- 2 Mute Swan, 1 Coot, 1f Brambling, 1 Marsh Tit, 1m Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard.

An interesting Chiffchaff recovery that was rung on 8/8/17 as a juvenile at Weir Wood, has been re-trapped in La Quintanilla, La Puebla del Rio, Sevilla, Spain on 19/11/17 having traveled 1628km over 103 days.

Dam End:- 1 1st Winter Mediterranean Gull.
North Bank:- 1 Hawfinch.
West End:- 1 Water Rail, 2 Bramblings, 2 Redpolls.

West End:- 2 Lesser Redpolls, Marsh Tit & female Bullfinch around the feeders.

West End Car Park:-  Partly frozen (13.46-14.40) 7 Canada Geese, 12 Mallard, 3 (1m & 2f) Tufted, 2 (1m & 1f) Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Coot, 14 Grey Heron, 9 Cormorants, 22 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Stock Dove. Feeders area:- 8 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 1f Brambling, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1m Pheasant, 1  Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, Magpie and Woodpigeon.

West End:- 1 male Brambling around the feeders today.

Dam End:- 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 400 Starling, 49 Fieldfares and 2 Mistle Thrush in horse paddock.
North Bank:- 1 Hawfinch in Hornbeam wood behind the picnic area, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Buzzards.