Category: Sighting

Dam end:- 4 Grey Heron, 70 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag + 1 Canada/Greylag hybrid Goose, 22 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 2 Common Sandpiper, 145 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Swift, 4 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail.
Whillet’s:- 3 first-year Kingfishers were ringed in the morning.

West End (hide):- 2 Kingfishers about 7.30pm, sounded like juveniles, seen sparring and fishing. Also 3 Little Egrets plus Barn Swallows and House Martins. On 9th August I saw another Kingfisher about 8pm which looked like an adult.

Dam End:- 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Common Gull, 8 Lapwing, 5 Common Terns, 146 Black–headed Gulls, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Swallows,1 Sparrowhawk.

Dam End:- 2 Little Egrets, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Common Terns, 14 Lapwings, 3 Common Buzzards, 82 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Buntings.

Dam End:- 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Swifts, 86 Goldfinch, 7 Herring Gulls, 82 Black–headed Gulls, 5 Common Terns, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat.

Moth box sightings:- A new species for the reserve a “Small Rufous”, a species which likes damp habitats with rushes. An interesting sighting was a Ringed China-mark, a species that is water based, their caterpillars feed on pond weed. Also a rather fresh “Silver Y” moth, a meadow species. 23 different species in all were recorded. See Photos tab.
West end:- 59 + 7 Juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 4 Lapwing, 3 Moorhen, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest. A passage of Willow Warblers was noted by our bird ringer during the morning. Something different – a Roach was seen from  Whillet’s road bridge.
Whillet’s:-  A Juvenile Buzzard was seen and a Green Woodpecker was heard. Juvenile Frog & Common Lizard seen. See Photos tab.

Dam End:- 63 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 Common Tern, 4 Lapwings, 2 Tufted Ducks, 39 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 35 Goldfinch, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Jay.

West End:- Purple Emperor butterfly seen in oak tree to right of viewing area. 9 Common Terns, 1 Little Egret, 3 Mandarin, 2 Buzzards.

West End:- We watched an Osprey from about 2.30 until 5.00 pm It didn’t catch a fish but gave some lovely views. There were 2 Red Admirals and a beautiful PURPLE EMPEROR butterfly feeding on an oak tree, for at least 10 mins. They were on the oak behind the metal feed station pole. It was a first for myself and for most of the 6 people with me.

West End:- These are both noteworthy species at this site.
An (unringed) Osprey in flight and perched at the end of Admiral’s
Wood.
A Purple Emperor butterfly feeding on a liquid on the oak tree by
the right hand bird feeder.