Category: Sighting

WeiirWood again was slightly better this bright, sunny morning. At the dam at 8:00hrs a Great Egret was in the fields by the entrance. Nothing of note on the dam, just a few Black-headed Gulls and good numbers of Great-crested Grebes. Fieldfares were in the bushes below the dam with ca20 and a couple of Redwings, plus a Stonechat male. 2 Grey Wagtails were also noted in the overflow. At the west end it was mostly Grey Lag Geese although they were very mobile, but ca200 were here. At Whillett’s a Stonechat was still present, a Greenfinch, 3 Reed Buntings and 3 Marsh Tits. Along the north bank from this end produced a Raven over mixed in with Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. A male Sparrowhawk was on the hunt and 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen. A Red Kite perched up was a chance to get some good ’scope views and lastly a couple of vocal Nuthatches were seen at close range.

West End:- 5 x Canada Goose, 102 x Greylag Goose, 5 x Egyptian Goose, 2 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Gadwall, 9 x Mallard, 1 x Pheasant, 11 x Woodpigeon, 1 x Moorhen, 3 x Coot, 5 x Great Crested Grebe, 3 x Black-headed Gull, 9 x Cormorant, 2 x Grey Heron, 2 x Kingfisher, 1 x Magpie, c75 x Jackdaw, 30+ x Rook, 4 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Raven, 1 x Marsh Tit, 6 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 1 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Wren, 1 x Blackbird, 5 x Fieldfare, 2 x Robin, 2 x Chaffinch

WeirWood late morning and back to normal in the rain. Little if anything new noted. 2 Great Egret still at the west end, albeit briefly in view only, a few Fieldfare, a Redwing and the usual selection of ducks. At Whillett’s Water Rail again heard, 2 Reed Buntings, Kingfisher and Marsh Tit. A Stonechat could be seen from the gate and quite a few Stock Doves about.

Quick trip to the west end after work, the Bar- headed goose was with 167 Greylags. 2 Great white Egrets were flying around, 2 Kingfishers perched up in a dead tree were nice. Not many ducks seen just 3 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 1 Mandarin & 4 Coot most probably hiding under over hanging trees now the waters back up.
Few flys overs just 1 Common Gull, 12 Black headed Gulls, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Redwings & 1 Mistle Thrush.
Lots of corvids plus 30+ Stock Doves feeding in the recently cut maize field by the lay-by attracted a lovely female Goshawk in, which twice put everything up. Last a Marsh kept me company in the car park for most of my visit.

East end – GW Egret, 40 GC Grebes, 109+ BH Gulls, 37 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, Stonechat, 7 Siskins, Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher, 2 Mandarins, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Marsh Tits.

Not much at the west end this afternoon just 19 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 2 Mandarins, 150+ Greylags, 3 Chiffchaffs. Plus 51 Great Crested Grebes all res.

WeirWood from 7:45hrs was calm and still. At the dam 21 Meadow Pipits on the top of the dam plus 3 Jays and a Mistle Thrush. Along the north bank I was surprised to see a Turnstone in with 3 Common Gulls and 35 Black-headed Gulls it flew further down the north bank and I lost it. The 2 Great Egrets were also noted plus 2 Kingfishers and 6 Mistle Thrushes on the north bank. Still small numbers of Siskins and 2 Redpolls, no winter thrushes though this end. Nice to have 2 Brambling over calling their distinctive notes, they were with ca25 Chaffinches. At the west end little had changed since yesterday. Still loads of Grey Lag Geese about and Mandarins plus a Shoveller, Teal, a Wigeon and a Gadwall. However 2 Snipe on Pintail bank was a nice sight. Around the c/pk a Chiffchaff was seen, Great spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, 3 Redpolls and a Siskin. At 8:30hrs an imm’ male Marsh Harrier flew over heading SW. Nice bird to see. So not a bad morning so far. I went along the north bank from the west end and this produced Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, another Matsh Tit and 3 Goldcrests. I left at 9:20.

WeirWood started at 8:30hts at the calm sunny west end where a smart Bar-headed Goose, from who knows where was with the 200 or so Grey-lag Geese. 7 Mandarin males added a splash of colour. Little Grebe was a bonus. Then 2 Great Egrets flew in from the dam and promptly flew into the bushes near the canoeist beach. At the dam a Stonechat male, Jay, 17 Meadow Pipits, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and Buzzard all on top of the dam. Little other than Great-crested Grebes on the water, but 6 Common Gulls were on the aerator. Winter thrushes were still around with 22 Fieldfares and 3 Redwings plus still a few Siskins and Redpolls about mostly calling as they went over.

West End:- c50 x Canada Goose, 1 x Bar-headed Goose, 250+ x Greylag Goose, 2 x Egyptian Goose, 6 x Mandarin Duck, 1 x Shoveler, 15 x Mallard, 3 x Teal, 3 x Pheasant, 7 x Woodpigeon, 2 x Moorhen, 3 x Coot, 1 x Little Grebe, 7 x Great Crested Grebe, 8 x Black-headed Gull, 18 x Cormorant, 2 x Great White Egret, 2 x Grey Heron, 1 x Kingfisher, 1 x Magpie, 2 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 2 x Blue Tit, 3 x Great Tit, 2 x Goldcrest

WeirWood on a day of mixed weather, gloom and rain eventually clearing a bit at ca11:00 hrs after 3hrs. 28 Fieldfares were in the bushes below the dam, viewed from the dam, 4 Redwings over. 2 male Stonechats on top of the dam today. Then out of nowhere and at speed a male Merlin flew north over the dam towards the pumping station, a real beauty what I saw of it. Seemingly it was after a Meadow Pipit that got away. I then lost sight of it. Others noted included 40 Redpolls over the c/pk-dam area, a few Siskins, maybe 5. At the west end 1 each of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveller, 8 Teal and 9 Mandarin males. Common Gulls had increased to double figures oddly I saw none at the dam. That was about it for me, hard work today I felt, but worthwhile.