31st Oct 2021

Yesterday morning John had a Teal on the reservoir, a Yellowhammer fly over and a Dunlin fly through south.

This afternoon he had a very late Swallow fly through!

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

24th Oct 2021

Adrian Tysoe and I were out this morning and whilst it was less exciting than yesterday there was a few bits of interest moving. We had two Redpoll over and at least one Brambling in a flock of five Chaffinch/Bramblings. So after not having one recorded on site for three years, that is three in the last eight days!

There were several flocks of 20 to 50 Starlings flying west to south-west and some Redwings. Later in the morning several Redwings had dropped into the wood.

23rd Oct 2021: Hawfinch and CATTLE EGRET

John and I were both out early today and what started off as a fairly standard morning turned into to something special. I arrived just as it was getting light and c.20 Tufted Ducks that had roosted on the reservoir flew off north (probably to the Borrow Pit pool), there was also three Wigeon with the Mallards before they departed and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

We spotted a 1st winter Black-headed Gull that had a white darvic ring with the code EMK1. It appears to have been ringed in the Netherlands and I have sent off details to the ringer.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

As we were stood chatting a Hawfinch flew from over the wood, called pretty much right over our heads and carried on south. It was low and we thought it may have landed in the large willows by the river but we couldn't see it anywhere. As we were scanning the tree tops looking for it a Brambling and at least one Redpoll also flew over. There was very little else moving with only two Redwings and several Skylarks really, so it was definitely quality over quantity.

As we were stood chatting again, two egrets flew over north - which turned out to be a Little Egret and a Cattle Egret! This was a much anticipated first record for the site and luckily John managed to rattle off a few record shots before we lost sight of it.

16th Oct 2021: Rock Pipit and Brambling

John had a very nice morning with a Rock Pipit along the north-western shore of the reservoir and three Wigeon on the reservoir. Best of all though, he had a Brambling fly over which is a rather scarce bird for here with the last one in Autumn 2018 and the previous one being approximately 10 years before that.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

10th Oct 2021

Clive was out this morning and had six Wigeon in the U.C.V. at the Borrow Pit pool. Also, a group of ten Jays flew north over the woodland which is a rather unusual number for the local area and reflects other similar movements people are observing across the country currently.

8th Oct 2021

Wednesday morning John and I were out. A (the regular?) Wigeon as on the reservoir early and there was a few Siskins around with birds heard along the river and in the woodland. There was also a little bit of movement overhead with several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

Yesterday morning John was out early and had the Wigeon and a Teal. I was a little later and had a good number of Meadow Pipits over with numerous 1s and 2s and several groups of 5 to 15 birds. Five Swallows also went through and there were two Siskins in the Goldfinch flock along the river.

3rd Oct 2021

A very quiet week! The 'highlights' being a Wigeon amongst the Mallard on Wednesday morning and this morning, a few hirundines (mainly House Martin) passing through on a few days and this morning a Skylark and a fairly good passage of Meadow Pipits.

26th Sep 2021: Caspian Gull

Friday morning John had a juv Caspian Gull in the early morning gathering of Gulls. 

I couldn't pick it out yesterday morning, if it was present, but most gulls left before it was light enough to see properly. There was an adult Yellow-legged Gull though.

This morning John had a Wigeon drop in briefly and 97 Meadow Pipits over.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

12th Sep 2021

Fairly quiet this week, but there were a few bits of interest. A Common Sandpiper was around most of the week. 

On Monday there was a Wheatear along the west bank and a Yellow Wagtail over.

Tuesday Ian Rowe had a Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail.

Wednesday there were eight Yellow Wagtails.

This morning a Little Egret flew over, also singles of Skylark and Yellow Wagtail.

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.