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.

27th Apr 2025: Swift

The only new bird of the year this week was Swift, with 2 seen by John Beak yesterday. At least 4 Lesser Whitethroats were also recorded yesterday, but otherwise it was very much the same as the previous week in terms of species and numbers.

20th Apr 2025: more warblers

A few more arrivals this week with Grasshopper Warbler yesterday and Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler today. We just need Reed Warbler now for our set of 10 warblers, excluding anything rarer that might be recorded.

The rest of the week continued in to be nice and steady birding with the, or possibly another, Redstart on Tuesday. Which is actually pretty notable locally for this spring as there has been so few. There has also been up to 3 Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, and a very noticeable increase in Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats.

13th Apr 2025: Common Sandpiper and Redstart

It's been another steady week with a few more new additions, either taking up territory for this season or passing through.

On Monday Ian had 3 Yellow Wagtails and there has been small numbers (up to three) seen most days. On Wednesday we had 2 Little Ringed Plovers and at least 3 Willow Warblers. A little later on the Wednesday Kev had a Peregrine through.

Our first 2 Sedge Warblers of the year were singing Thursday morning and Ian found our first Common Sandpiper on Friday afternoon.

Yesterday and this morning, at least two Sedge Warblers around the Borrow Pit pool in the U.C.V., with another and at least one Willow Warbler still along the river by the reservoir. This morning there was also our first Whitethroat of the year in the bramble scrub and a male Redstart along the ditch in the cattle field. The change in the weather also meant a notable increase in hirundine numbers feeding over the reservoir.

6th Apr 2025: Great Egrets

It's been a fairly good week with a few new species recorded.

On Wednesday morning I had 4 Great White Egrets fly over south, quite high and clearly moving rather than just flying from a roost to a feeding location. Later in the day Sandra also had 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

Thursday we had our first Great Crested Grebe of the year, which is oddly very late in the year, and JFT had 3 Little Ringed Plovers.

Ian found our first White Wagtail of the year on Friday morning and in the afternoon I had an Oystercatcher and a Little Ringed Plover fly over.

The same, or possibly another, White Wagtail was around Saturday morning and today Clive found our first Yellow Wagtail of the year.

30th Mar 2025: Willow Warbler

This week was a continuation last week, with more early migrants arriving. On Monday Ian had a Little Ringed Plover again but it wasn't seen for the rest of the week. Hirundines continued to arrive, with numbers building up to double figures towards the end of the week.

There was a group of 28 Fieldfare that flew over on Friday, that I think are new for the year, and a few Redwings still hanging around. 

Our first Willow Warbler was recorded on Saturday, with at least two today. Two Egyptian Geese dropped in on Saturday too, but were soon chased off by the swans. There was also a few more Blackcaps at the end of the week and numerous Chiffchaffs today.

23rd Mar 2025: early Spring arrivals

Some good conditions this week brought us a flurry of early migrants and added several species to the year list.

Wednesday morning was great for raptor watching, which included two Peregrines over town. Today I found out that John Beak had seen our first Little Ringed Plover of the year earlier in the morning. In the afternoon Ian found a Rock Pipit too, but it didn't hang around long.

I had our first 2 Sand Martins and single House Martin of the year on Friday afternoon, lingering briefly before carrying on north.

Sunday morning we had a singing Blackcap (possibly 2), a flyover Curlew, and singles of both Sand and House Martin through. There was also the Cetti's Warbler and several Chiffchaffs. In the afternoon, JFT had our first 4 Swallows of the year and another Little Ringed Plover.

16th Mar 2025

On Monday morning Sandra had an Oystercatcher flying around, possibly the same bird seen earlier at Blascote Quarry. 

This morning JFT added Skylark to the year list and also had 2 Peregrine over, the Cetti's Warbler and 4 Chiffchaffs.

9th Mar 2025

New in this week were the first Chiffchaffs of the year and a Cetti's Warbler singing along the river in the same territory as last year. I also saw my first Brimstone of the the year on Monday. Otherwise, a Lesser Redpoll again and a pair of Ravens were seen.

2nd Mar 2025

There wasn't much to report over the last couple of weeks, but on the 28th Feb and today two Otters have been seen. They have also recently been seen along the river in Spiceball Park too. I assume it is a adult female and a cub.

Also today, JFT added Jack Snipe (amongst 35 Snipe) and Lesser Redpoll to the year list.

16th Feb 2025

A very quiet week but Clive did add Jay to the year list today and there was also 2 Gadwall and a Siskin.

9th Feb 2025: Egyptian Goose

Very little has been reported at the start of February, but JFT was out on the 6th and had an Egyptian Goose fly over, a Gadwall and there was 8 Siskin too.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

31st Jan 2025: Happy New Year

Happy New Year and good birding everyone!

The year has started fairly quietly, with some of the regular patch birders saying it has been poor so far. However, the Barnacle Goose seen at the end of last year lingered and was seen on and off up to the 14th at least. Some other fairly good birds so far have been Goosander, Peregrine, and Yellow-legged Gull. Most of the expected dabbling ducks have been seen, with Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, and Teal all on the year list and a Snipe has been seen in the cattle field.