Jonathon Ross: 9 Common Sandpipers below heronry at west end.
Alastair Gray: Only found 5 Common Sandpipers and the Lapwing mid afternoon
Work Party: A Ringed Plover and they thought up to 11 Common Sandpipers on the mud to the road side of heronry when walking down the road circa. 9:40 Also 7 Grass Snakes seen on refugia survey around the reserve.
WeirWood from 6:30hrs on an overcast day that cleared as the morning progressed. At the dam 6 Common Sands, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, a Common Tern on the aerator with 48 Black-headed Gulls, also ad’ Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. On the slope Mistle Thrush, 2 Jays and a showy Buzzard. In the c/pk a nice close view of Garden Warbler and a singing Goldcrest. At the west end juv’ Common Tern with 5 ad’s, another 2 Little Egrets, several juv’ Great-crested Grebes and 4 Mandarins. On the canoeist beach a distant but superbly plumaged Black-tailed Godwit was noted plus another 2 Common Sandpipers and a Mandarin on the small muddy patch opposite the hide. The 2 Mute Swans remain here and as the skies cleared 2 Red Kites flew over. The Little Egrets flew off SW at 7:25hrs. On Whillett’s 3 Reed Buntings and a Reed Warbler. Then out of nowhere a Green Sandpiper excitedly appeared flying towards the river and a Lapwing flew over.
West End:- 2 x Mute Swan, 6 x Mandarin Duck, 11 x Mallard, 1 x Tufted Duck, 4 x Stock Dove, 7 x Common Woodpigeon, 2 x Common Moorhen, 5 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x European Herring Gull, 4 x Common Tern, 8 x Great Crested Grebe, 15 x Great Cormorant, 3 x Little Egret, 4 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Common Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Coal Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Chiffchaff, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin
WeirWood from 10:30hrs was gloomy but dry. Still 4 Common Sands on the dam plus Redshank and a summer Dunlin that dropped in. 2 Little Egrets were present plus around 25 Barn Swallows. The usual collection of Black-headed Gulls were still here but no large gulls, however 4 Common Terns were settled on the buoys. On the slope 2 Mistle Thrushes and a Linnet male.
At the west end it was fairly quiet, the Lapwing was still present and a juv’ Black-headed Gull was seen. 9 Common Terns were present but no youngsters. A Teal was noted with Mallards, then the rain set in. It chucked it down.
Weir Wood Reservoir – Dam end:- 5 x Greylag Goose, 59 x Canada Goose, 4 x Egyptian Goose, 6 x Mandarin Duck, 19 x Mallard, 2 x Mallard (Domestic type), 1 x Common Pheasant, 3 x Common Woodpigeon, 1 x Common Ringed Plover, 3 x Common Sandpiper, 105 x Black-headed Gull, 6 x European Herring Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 x Common Tern, 11 x Great Crested Grebe, 7 x Great Cormorant, 4 x Little Egret, 1 x Great White Egret, 4 x Grey Heron, 2 x Common Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Common Raven, 2 x Barn Swallow, 1 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x Pied Wagtail
Dam End:- WeirWood early morning 6:30hrs onwards in flat overcast conditions. At the dam end a lovely Wood Sandpiper along the north shore, also 5 Little Egrets in various scattered areas around this end, 4 Common Sands on the dam, 104 Black-headed and just 2 Herring Gulls. 2 female Mandarin were present plus a male Teal. 25 Barn Swallows were feeding mid reservoir, 3 Common Terns were this end too. On the dam slope Green Woodpecker again and a Great spotted flew over. In the c/pk Goldcrest and still Blackcap singing.
West end:- there were 2 juv’ Black-headed Gulls noted but no juv’ Common Tern seen only 4 ad’s. A couple of Little Egret were this end too plus more Mandarins with 6 seen. 2 Kingfishers were present and in the narrows a Green Sandpiper was flying around, eventually landing on Martin’s island. Lastly a Hobby flew over the west end heading over the heronry.
Tuesday Work Party had 4+ Sand Martin at West End. Whillet’s Tawny Owl was seen, also Kingfisher and Red Kite.
West End:- 2 x Greylag Goose, 4 x Canada Goose, 9 x Mandarin Duck, 11 x Mallard, 1 x Stock Dove, 1 x Eurasian Coot, 1 x Northern Lapwing, 7 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 x Common Tern, 24 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 5 x Grey Heron, 1 x Common Kingfisher, 1 x Common Magpie, 2 x Common Reed Warbler, 6 x Sand Martin, 4 x Barn Swallow, 7 x Western House Martin, 2 x Eurasian Wren, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Eurasian Bullfinch
WeBS highlights with Bob J today included lovely views of a stunning female Honey Buzzard over Whillets Reed bed, which eventually went off north.
Very light fawn colour individual with dark knuckles on wings, bird in perfect condition. Not one I recognise from Ashdown.
31 adult Great Crested Grebe + 10+ juveniles, 1 Teal, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Little Egrets, 5 Mandarin, 3 Coot, 4 Moorhen, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Sandpipers, several Swifts, Swallows moving East, and small groups of Starlings South.
Sadly looks like chicks have disappeared of the left raft, probably a Great Black Backed Gull which seems to be daily seen now.
So just 1 Common Tern & 3 Black Headed gulls fledged this year.
2 Nuthatch, 2 Green Woodpeckers & Sparrowhawk noted.
Finally we saw a Hummingbird Hawk moth first I’ve seen here.
Dam End:- WeirWood early morning, 6:00hrs. Black-headed Gull numbers are increasing with 71 today at the overflow alone, also 2 Common Sands on the dam. 23 Herring Gulls were scattered around the reservoir. Along the north shore 4 Little Egrets and a Great Egret before the mist took over. On the dam slope 3 Mistle Thrushes and a Jay were noted, in the c/pk 2 Willow Warblers were seen well. Long winged and pale legged, very bright young birds too. In the overflow a pair of Grey Wagtails were seen.
West end:- the mist didn’t allow for proper viewing of the platforms but some activity could be seen with tern chicks noted. Several Great-crested Grebe chicks were noted though, however viewing was difficult with the increasing mist. One thing that struck me was the numbers of Blackbirds about. They’ve seemingly had a good spring, they were everywhere today. Along the north bank 2 Yellowhammers were seen plus a family of Treecreepers 2 ad’s with 3 juv’s. Marsh Tit and Nuthatch were noted plus male Green Woodpecker and 5 Stock Doves.
