15th Mar 2026: Oystercatcher

The pair of Goldeneye stayed into this week, up until Tuesday, which is quite unusual for here. On Wednesday morning Clive found an Oystercatcher at the reservoir that also spent some time in the cattle field. Also unusually, that decided to stay around for a while and was last seen yesterday.

Friday morning Clive saw our first Sand Martins of the year, with 6 (but possibly up to 10) present in the morning and 1 lingering in the evening. Friday afternoon in the U.C.V. I found a Little Egret and a good flock of 45 Linnets in one of the fields.

This morning there was a lot of activity, with highlights of 1 Sand Martin, 2 singing Blackcaps, at least 14 Chiffchaff (inc. 12 singing birds), 21 Redpoll and a Yellowhammer. 

Courtesy and copyright of Kyle Smith

8th Mar 2026: Goldeneyes and Wheatear

There's clearly a bit of movement for spring happening now which is increasing the general interest and has provided a couple of good birds this week. 

Grenerally 4-5 Chiffchaffs have been present but I would say closer to, if not, double figures were around today. There's also clearly a more frequent turnover of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. The Cetti's Warbler is still present and 2 Mistle Thrushes were seen on Thursday.

A mobile (but very noisey) flock of finches is in the area feeding mostly on the Alders along the river, which today had 15-20 Redpolls, 15 Siskin and several Goldfinch.

Yesterday JFT found a pair of Goldeneye on the reservoir, which were still present today with 2 Shovelers also. 

This morning there was a very early Wheatear in the cattle field. It was distant from the reservoir and closer to the canal, feeding in the wet cattle poached area and not easy to see.

Fantastic Goldeneye pics, courtesy and copyright of JFT

1st Mar 2026

There are signs of spring being close and birds on the move already.

Two Stonechat were seen again at the reservoir on the 17th, which I assume are the same two that overwintered but were either hiding or had moved up to the valley and back.

Redpolls (and more Siskins) have moved into the area, with a few individuals sporadically and 10 seen by Clive on the 24th.

Three Peregrines were over the reservoir on 25th, seen by Clive, which were probably the local pair and a wondering bird.

On the 26th Ian had a Cetti's Warbler again at the reservoir, which is a different bird to the one further downriver in town (seen on the same day). Yesterday there was Chiffchaff singing at the reservoir and today Clive had 4, includng a singing bird.