Category: Sighting

West End: The heronry is now moving into full swing. 29 Herons with 22 nests noted, some birds are actually sitting on nests. But later arrivals are still building and can be seen flying in with sticks. Of interest was the return of the leucistic (white) heron which was standing at a nest, so possibly paired and nesting.
The water bird numbers are still low, with only 4 Coot, 6 Gadwall and 9 Mallard noted plus a couple of pairs of Great Crested Grebes which are starting to display.
The feeders are busy with mainly Blue & Great Tits, but also Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and occasional Siskin with Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Robins, Moorhens, Mallards and Pheasants on the ground mopping up any spillage. We also have singing Song Thrushes these are more obvious at Whillet’s Pool area.

West End: 3 Coots, 2F & 2M Gadwall, 3M & 1F Tufted Ducks, 10 Mallard, 12 Common Gulls, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Coal Tit.

Seen by work party: 3 Common Buzzards displaying over Admiral’s Woods.

Seen by Bob Johnson: West End: Singing Song Thrush, Nuthatch heard; on the feeders; 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Siskin. 1 Tree Creeper seen on North bank. At the dam end 47 Cormorants and at the gull roost c.3000 Black-headed Gulls and 30+ Common Gulls.

Whillet’s: 1 Kingfisher, 5 Redpoll in Alder trees.

West End:  17 Grey Heron at heronry – 14 nests now fully active with some  birds sitting. 1F Goldeneye, 8 flyover Fieldfare.   Around feeder area: 1M Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Tree Creeper, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, a pair of Marsh Tits (giving song and pairing display), 4 Goldfinch and 1 Siskin.

North Bank: 1 Mute Swan, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15+ Grey Heron. 11 nests are now occupied in the heronry.

Whillet’s: 2 Snipe and 2 Kingfishers.

West End: 1 Buzzard, 13 Lapwing and 5 Coot.

West End: 50+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mallard,1 Pheasant, 2 Rook, 2 Tufted Duck, 6+ Blue Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Great Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Common Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 3 Woodpigeon.

Dam End: 1 Great Northern Diver, 32 Siskin, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch.

West End: 66 Lapwing, 2 Coot, 3 Siskin, 6 Goldfinch. 9 Grey Herons of which 8 were on their nests in the heronry.

Sightings from 14:30 to 17:00. West End; Whillets and The North Bank from canoeist’s car park area. 1 Great Northern Diver seen from The North Bank by the Ted Lecomber seat. 3 Reed Bunting at Whillets Pool. 1F Goldeneye at the Plawhatch Stream entrance. 2M & 2F Gadwall, 3M & 1F Mandarin, 18 Mallard, 5 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 7 Lapwing, 15+ Cormorant, 25+ Common Gull, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Canada Goose, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Tit, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1F Siskin, 3+ Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 15+ Fieldfare, 5          Starling, 1 Stock Dove, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Dunnock, 1H Treecreeper, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Activity has started in the heronry with at around 4 pairs of Grey Herons standing on nests.

The Great Northern Diver still present this afternoon.