HIGHLIGHTS: Spotted Flycatcher, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard and Osprey.
The Breeding season is now in full swing with busy adults and fledged young seen both on the water and in the woods around the reservoir.
Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 20th, unless dated otherwise. 24 Mute Swan 26th, 290 Greylag Goose 24th, 1187 Canada Goose, 4 Barnacle Goose 13th, 1 Ruddy Shelduck reported on 5 dates, 47 Gadwall 10th, 5 Teal 25th and 26th,136 Mallard, 1 Shoveler 12th and 14th, 1 Red-crested Pochard (Drake) reported on 16 Dates within the Month, 4 Pochard 14th, 123 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe 24th, 60 Great Crested Grebe 10th, 25 Cormorant 25th, 1 Little Egret reported on 9 dates, 11 Grey Heron, 11 Moorhen, 308 Coot, 2 Kingfisher 12th reported with young.
Raptor sightings included a single Red Kite noted on 8 dates, 1 Sparrowhawk 6th, 8th, 20th, 22nd and 26th, 6 Buzzards 26th and 5 noted 3 times, 1 Osprey reported in a hide diary 18th above Hall Wood, 1 Kestrel 6 occasions, 1 Hobby 5th, 1 Peregrine 14th reported by the Wildlife Centre Volunteers.
Nine species of waders through this month with 14 Oystercatcher 25th, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover 4th, 55 Lapwing 26th, 5 Sanderlings 5th, 1 Dunlin reported on 7 dates, 2 Curlew 26th, 7 Redshank 4th, 3 Common Sandpiper 5th, 6th and 28th.
Maximum Gull numbers were 630 Black-headed Gull 16th, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 13th, 3 Herring Gulls 11th, 1 Yellow-legged Gull 16th, 20th, 25th and 26th, 2 Great black-backed Gulls 4th and 22nd.
Two reports of single birds this month for Common Tern 11th and 16th.
Among other species were, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 10th, 13th and 15th, 1 Tawny Owl 11th, 30 Swift 6th, 2 Skylark 16th, 230 Sand Martin 25th, 10 Swallow 22nd, 26 House Martins 25th, 5 Grey Wagtails 25th, 32 Pied Wagtail 25th, 7 Redstart 26th, 6 Sedge Warbler 8th, 6 Reed Warbler 16th, 2 Lesser Whitethroat 8th, 16th and 22nd, 2 Whitethroat 4th, 5 Garden Warbler 25th, 7 Blackcap 16th, 6 Chiffchaff 12th, 5 Willow Warbler 10th, 2 Spotted Flycatcher 6th, 7 Willow Tit 6th,
A total 94 species for this month compared to 99 in 2021, 101 in 2020, 94 in 2019, 91 in 2018, 97 in 2017.