18th May 2025: Cuckoo!

Not many visits/reports atm as it's generally quite quiet. On Thursday JFT had the drake Mandarin Duck again, as well as a Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

This morning there were 54+ Swifts when I arrived, which is by far the most I've seen here so far this year. A Little Ringed Plover was calling but I couldn't see it so maybe just a fly over. Another, or maybe the same, Reed Warbler was singing in the scrub along the river and couple of Mistle Thrushes made a brief appearance by the wood. The star bird of the day, spring, and maybe even the year for me, then made an appearance - a female Cuckoo flew over the reservoir and appeared to drop in to trees/scrub near the railway but there was no further sign of it. 

It is the first Cuckoo for me in nearly 20 years of birding at the reservoir and a bird I wondered if I'd ever get here. There have been a few records in that time but all fly throughs or brief visits seen by a lucky few.  

11th May 2025: Common Tern

Late addendum - JFT had our first Reed Warbler of the year on the 4th, singing in scrub along the river.

This week the pair of Mandarin Ducks were seen Monday and Tuesday and just the drake seen on Saturday. 

Our first Common Tern of the year was seen on Thursday by JFT. Another Reed Warbler in a regular spot, the reedy stretch of river just north of the M40. Otherwise it was pretty quiet.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

4th May 2025: Ringed Plover

This week the more notable records seemed to mostly involve waders, coinciding with a lot recorded migrating through the country generally.

On Tuesday Steve H had 2-3 Common Sandpipers and on Thursday I had 11 (of which 10 flew off north together just before 7am), and today there was 2 again. Also on Thursday, I had 2 (a pair of) Mandarin Ducks on the river.

On Friday John Beak saw our first Lapwing of the year, and today we had a Ringed Plover that appeared to come in with a Little Ringed Plover. The latter birds stayed less than 10 mins before flying west.