Category: Sighting

Whillets- Hobby, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Bullfinches, 3 Whitethroats, Blackcap, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Essex Skipper.

WeirWood from 6:15hrs, it was flat overcast with light NW breeze. On the dam 9 Common Sands indulging in some rather aggressive display, 2 Little Egrets also and an ad’ Great Black-backed Gull. 114 Black-headed Gulls were present mostly on the overflow, only a few juv’s so far. A highlight for me was the flock of 11 Golden Plover flying SW at 6:45hrs calling nicely as they went on their way. I don’t see too many of these now. 3 Common Terns were noted and an ad’ Common Gull flew in. So far better than the last few days here. Another Little Egret was along the north shore plus 6 Mandarins at least. In the c/pk a surprise Reed Warbler, a rather fresh looking individual and a Goldcrest. Below the dam 3 Grey Wagtails in the overflow plus another Common Sandpiper and in the bushes 2 Willow Warblers, bright looking juv’s. A Green Woodpecker male was on the dam slope and a Mistle Thrush was noted. At the west end around 20 Barn Swallows were feeding around the platforms, also Lapwing present.

West End:- 3 x Mandarin Duck, 10 x Mallard, 6 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Moorhen, 1 x Northern Lapwing, 7 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Great Black-backed Gull, 1 x Common Tern, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 5 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 3 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Magpie, 3 x Carrion Crow, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 2 x Great Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 5 x Barn Swallow, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Nuthatch, 1 x Eurasian Treecreeper, 1 x Eurasian Wren

Dam at Midday, Honey Buzzard over south bank flew west,Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and 6 Common Buzzards noted.
Not much on reservoir 1 Common Sandpiper,2 Common Terns,1 GBB gull,135 BH gull,8 Herring gull,1 Mute Swan.12 Swallows around.

Hobby over sailing club car park

Dam end-lovely bright looking juvenile Sedge warbler in the meadow sweet behind the dam, my first of the autumn. Chiffchaffs, Garden warbler, Coal tits, Nuthatch and lT tits in car park Much the same as the last few visits on the water with 5 Egyptian Geese,2 Common Sandpipers,3 Common Terns,2 Little Egrets,Moorhen,Mute swa,18 Great Crested grebes,138 BH Gulls,1 GBB gull.
Both Great spotted and Green Woodpeckers seen,3 Starlings flew NW.
Several each of House Martin and Swallows but no raptors noted.

West end- just a single Lapwing,4 Mandarins,Kingfisher and Little Egret.

Whillets-3 + Spotted Flycatchers by first meadow bridge in Alders including fledged young,2 Bullfinch,10+ Goldfinch,Common Blue butterfly.Song thrush. Also pair of Reed warblers feeding fledged young in meadow two strangely it’s more then 100yrds from Reed bed, plus Reed Bunting.

WeirWood mid-late morning arrival today. On the dam ca110 Black-headed Gulls were joined by 3 Common Sands and an ad’ Lesser Black-backed Gull. Highlight of the day for me was the 2 Honey Buzzards over the c/pk at 11;07hrs, one was very gingery bellied plus its underwing coverts, whilst the other was very pale in the same areas. Beautiful birds showing for a couple of minutes. Don’t think I’ll better that today. At the west end 8 Common Terns and a lone Lapwing again. 4 Mandarins were about plus a single Little Egret. If it wasn’t for the HB’s it would be what you call quiet.

4 Mute Swans at west end this afternoon, at Whillet’s 3 Greenfinch and a lovely fresh Brown Hairstreak.

WeirWood again from 6:30hrs starting at a mill pond like dam. Here just 2 Common Sands and a Stock Dove on the dam. Another Common Sandpiper was along the north shore. Mid reservoir an imm’ Tufted Duck? Has got me thinking, is it one or not. An ad’ Great Black-backed Gull was present too. Generally it’s pretty quiet though. Moving to the west end on the small patch of mud opposite the hide, a Little Egret, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove, imm’ Mandarin and imm’ Teal. It’s always nice to see Red Kite, so a single bird that flew over the west end was most welcome. Still a few young Great-crested Grebes were about plus a Kingfisher.

West End:- 2 x Mute Swan, 5 x Mandarin Duck, 13 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Northern Lapwing, 15 x Black-headed Gull, 2 x Common Tern, 13 x Great Crested Grebe, 6 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 3 x Grey Heron, 2 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 x Rook, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Blackcap, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 2 x European Robin

WeirWood again at 6:30hrs on a beautiful morning, very light SW breeze. Still a minimum of 7 Common Sandpipers today plus an ad’ Mediterranean Gull with the 90 or so Black-headed, bit of an odd record. 3 Common Terns were also noted plus 2 half grown Great-crested Grebes with an ad’. No Little Egrets or Ringed Plover so far but among the small collection of Pied Wagtails 2 Greys were present. At the west end a single Little Egret, 3 Common Terns and 2 Kingfishers. On the small muddy area opposite the hide 3 Common Sandpipers, Stock Dove and a juv’ Black-headed Gull. 2 juv’ Mandarins were present plus 2 Teal. Little else noted however.