12th Sep 2021

John and I were out this morning. There was a Common Sandpiper at the reservoir and John had seen a Kingfisher before I arrived. Three Wheatears were around this morning, John had had one along the western path early on, we then we saw one in the cattle field and almost immediately after two along the western path and then two in the cattle field. Whilst we didn't see more than two together it seemed very likely there was a minimum of three.

There was a pick up on Meadow Pipit passage with a steady trickle of individuals and small groups going over throughout, as well as at least two Yellow Wagtails and several hirundines. A Peregrine also flew over heading towards town.

11th Sep 2021

Quiet today, but there was two Wheatears along the ditch in the cattle field.

10th Sep 2021

This afternoon John had a Dunlin drop in prior to a rain shower, it unfortunately didn't stay till the evening though. He also had two individual Hobbies fly over and two Peregrines fly over together and there was a Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Common Sandpiper.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

9th Sep 2021

Early this morning there were three Yellow-legged Gulls amongst the Lesser Black-backs. A Common Sandpiper and Teal were on the reservoir and there was a Redstart and a Wheatear along the western path.

6th Sep 2021

Much quieter again this morning. A Yellow-legged Gull was amongst the early morning gathering of gulls, there was two Little Grebes and three Yellow Wagtails around.

5th Sep 2021

Mike was out early this morning and had two Wheatear on the west side, the Ringed Plover flying around calling (and it wasn't seen later so must have left then), a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. Clive and Jim also saw a Whinchat in the cattle field.

4th Sep 2021

Mike Pollard and a few more of us were out this morning. It was a pleasant morning but much quieter than the previous week or so and unfortunately no Redstarts or Whinchats today. 

The Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were still here and a Teal on the water. A Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail, with at least two more flying over. Several flocks of Hirundines flying over, generally south, with some at a great height but when the cloud rolled in they were much lower.

John also had a Wigeon this afternoon.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

3rd Sep 2021

This morning the Ringed Plover was still present and there were three Teal on the reservoir. A Redstart was showing well on the western side near the bench. A Whinchat was around the reservoir before flushing over to the cattle field and then another around the reservoir, I later confirmed two in the cattle field. There was also a Wheatear, two or three Yellow Wagtails and four Swift.

Teal and Whinchat courtesy and copyright of JFT

Redstart, Ringed Plover and Wheatear courtesy and copyright of Kyle Smith

2nd Sep 2021: Ringed Plover

Mike Pollard was out this morning and found a juvenile Ringed Plover, our first of the year. There was also a Redstart (new bird?), Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and three Mistle Thrushes over. 

Later Mike C and Kyle were around and had Common Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Mike Pollard

1st Sep 2021

John and I were both out early this morning. I went up the east side and had a juvenile Med Gull shortly before he arrived and he went up the west side and had a Redstart. We met up near the top end and had a Whinchat and Wheatear along the ditch in the cattle field.

30th Aug 2021: the August Bank Holiday

A very good few days birding around the reservoir!

27th - the weekend got off to a fine start when John found another Redstart in the afternoon, a male this time. I went up for a look and we saw a male again, but John thought it may have been a different bird, and there were two (plus) Yellow Wagtails in amongst the cattle.

28th - I went around in the morning and there was definitely two male Redstarts, both seen together and one a lot brighter than the other. Also three Spotted Flycatchers, two Yellow Wagtails over, a Garden Warbler and twelve Swifts.

29th - Clive and I were out this morning and there was three Redstarts today, two males and a female type, and a Spotted Flycatcher still. We also had a Greenshank fly in, fly around a few times trying to land and then carry on south after being harassed by Pied Wagtails!

Today - Mike Pollard had, what I assume were the same, three Redstarts again and Kev found a Wheatear. Clive had two Mistle Thrush over. A little later I had two Wheatears in the cattle field with a Whinchat and in the evening a Yellow-legged Gull.

Courtesy and copyright of Mike Pollard

23rd Aug 2021

John was out today and recorded a Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher (our firsts for the Autumn). Also a Peregrine over, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Sandpiper.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

21st Aug 2021: Teal

Things picked up a bit this week. On the 20th Mike Pollard had five Yellow Wagtails, eight Swift, a Common Sandpiper and two Willow Warblers. The same evening I had our first Teal of the year year and two Yellow-legged Gulls. Yesterday morning Adrian T also had a Teal and a Yellow-legged Gull.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Dave Fuller

15th Aug 2021

It's been a fairly quiet week with little change or movement. I saw our first Common Gull (a juv) of the Autumn on the 12th, John had a Common Sandpiper and Willow Warbler on the 13th and there was two (possibly three) Yellow-legged Gulls this evening.

8th Aug 2021: Med Gull

There's been at least one Common Sandpiper around most of the end of the week.

This morning John was out and saw our first Mediterranean Gull of the year. Also, a Little Egret, a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper.

This evening there were two Common Gulls, an adult and a juvenile.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT