Category: Sighting

Dam end:  On dam wall 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Swift, 4 House Martin, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay

Whillet’s: 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Mandarin, 1 Buzzard.

West End:  A mid morning visit gave the following highlights. A lone male Pochard, 2 Egyptian Geese on Pintail Point, Pair of Mandarin with six ducklings.

West End:  A late afternoon visit gave nice views of the White plumage Grey Heron standing with several Cormorants on Martins Island plus a Little Egret was on Pintail bank.  The Heronry is still very active although some nests are becoming vacant as young start to fledge and any unsuccessful nesting pairs decide to abandon. A Kingfisher was seen flying carrying a small fish. A Buzzard was being mobbed by Terns. A pair of Swallows were feeding close on an increasing swarm of mosquitoes hovering just above the water surface, whilst a duet from Song Thrush and Blackcap was coming from the Car Park.

Whillet’s Meadows:   Whilst working in the meadows a Barn Owl was seen,  a Sedge Warbler heard singing behind Whillet’s Pool + Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Garden Warbler also heard within meadows, also noted were 2 Slow Worms, 2 Grass Snakes, 1 Common Newt, 2 Cinnabar Moth, 2 Drinker Moth caterpillars.

West End: 2 pairs of Common Tern, one pair seen carrying out bonding display and food passing whilst on the nesting raft –  A good sign this pair will attempt to nest on the rafts.

West End: 1 Hobby seen hawking, 5 Buzzard, The white plumage Grey Heron visited again, Mallard seen with 4 young, 3 Swallow, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Fox, 1 Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.

Dam end:  A morning visit produced 1 summer plumage Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper plus 2 Grey Wagtails, also pair of Canada Geese with 3 young all on dam wall. Calling Cuckoo, 2 Blackcap & 2 Whitethroat, 2 Swift, 2 Common Tern, 6 House Martins, 2 Swallow, 2 winter plumage marked Black-headed Gull. Also Green-veined White butterfly.

North bank:  1 Lesser Whitethroat head singing along footpath approx  50 metres east of picnic area, 3 Blackcap & 1 Whitethroat & 1 Song Thrush also heard.  Some Early Purple Orchids still showing along the footpath.

At the West End: 4 Common Terns and 2 Tufted Ducks.

At the West End in the evening:  6 Swallows, Garden Warbler singing in the car park and a Sparrowhawk flying over. 4 Common Terns roosted and at least 2 Pipistrelle bats were flying in front of the viewing area around 9pm.

Whillet’s: Singing Song Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting.

At the Dam: 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Swifts, 8 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins, 4 Swallows, 3 Common Terns, a pair of Grey Wagtails and two Goldcrests. Mid-afternoon: 70 Swifts, 200 Swallows, 25 Sand Martins plus a pair of Buzzards.

At the West End: Common Tern, Garden Warbler, Common Buzzard, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Blackcaps and a Bullfinch.

Adult COMMON CRANE circling over Weir Wood Reservoir at13.30 seen well from National Trust Standen House; it headed East.