31st Mar 2021: Willow Warbler

On Monday I was a bit later up to the resevoir and on arrival mid morning there was a big group (big for here) of Common Gulls fly-catching over the water. Constantly wheeling around and altering height they were hard to count with any accuracy but I estimated 150. There had obviously been a good fly emergence in the morning and they were making the most of it. Smaller flocks passed through later too, so they were well and truly on the move that day. Other bits of note were a single Sand Martin, two singing Blackcaps and a Mistle Thrush. I also spotted two Brimstone butterflies and six Small Tortoiseshells. 

Tuesday Morning John had a Little Ringed Plover, but again it left fairly early. There had been an arrival of Blackcaps with at least seven and possibly nine singing birds around the patch. The only other bird of note was a drake Gadwall on the Borrow Pit pool.

This morning John had our first Willow Warbler of the year and a flyover Lesser Redpoll. 

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

28th Mar 2021: Little Plover and Blackcap

On Monday Adrian T had two Mistle Thrushes singing near the Water Treatment Works. I was out late up the valley looking for owls but with no joy, although there was several Snipe that I heard coming out of their roosts at dusk.

On Thursday Adrian T found our first Little Ringed Plover of the year. A highly anticipated sighting, but unfortunately it didn't stay very long.

Friday morning John recorded our first Blackcap of the year with a singing male along the river.

The Marsh Tit was recorded singing on a few days but ranged widely aross the site from the wood, to scrub east of the river and at the Water Treatment Works.

Sand Martins passed through in small numbers most days this week, with a group of 20 seen by Mike P on Friday during a rain shower.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Kyle Smith

21st Mar 2021: Marsh Tit

After a possible Marsh or Willow Tit was reported by Sue Veitch on 21st January, it was nice to see photos today from Edwin that confirms that at least one Marsh Tit is around and likely to have been the bird Sue saw.

There was also two Mistle Thrushes seen this week by Ian Rowe on the grass near the Water Treatment Works.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Edwin Barson
https://www.facebook.com/EBarsonphotography

19th Mar 2021: Sand Martins

I spotted our first Sand Martins of the year this morning, with three lingering for c.10 mins before carrying on with their migration north.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Dave Fuller

16th Mar 2021: Oystercatcher

Yesterday, Steve had a Peregrine flyover. Although they have been regularly present in town for several weeks there has been surprisingly few sightings from the reservoir. 

This morning Ian Rowe found an Oystercatcher on pontoon at the reservoir.

6th Mar 2021: Redshank

John was lucky to see a Redshank pass through this morning, albeit briefly.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

2nd Mar 2021: Shoveler

Adrian B found a Shoveler and three Gadwall on the reservoir today. A pair of the Gadwall stayed around for a few days. Adrian T also had another two Raven over the Borrow Pit on the 4th.

Courtesy and copyright of Mike Curnow