Recent Sightings

NameSightingDate
Simon RoddisA flock of 7 Little Egrets flew in early morning, joining the 5 already present. Great Egret still too. Off Horseshoe island, 7 Pochard (plus duckling), female Red-crested Pochard and 7 Teal. 2+ Common Sandpiper. Fully grown juvenile Redshank at WLC and then in Brown Ale Bay (per Clive). Adult Yellow-legged Gull still. 3 Redstarts and 17 Mistle Thrushes in WLC fields/Shiningford.04/07/2025
Simon Roddis2 adult Black-tailed Godwits off Stones this morning. 3 Shelduck flew in early morning. 11 Teal, female Red-crested Pochard and at least 9 Pochard (plus 1 duckling) around Horseshoe island/WLC. Adult Yellow-legged Gull among 150 Lesser Black-backs on Sheepwash spit late morning. 1 Peregrine. Two pairs of Sedge Warblers with food on Stones island, presumably feeding second broods. Female and at least 1 juvenile Redstart in WLC fields.03/07/2025
Simon RoddisYesterday's Black-tailed Godwit was still on Stones this morning, although last seen in flight. A juvenile Stonechat in the overflow carpark is the first of the year, I believe. Another flock of Crossbills, 23 in the top of Hall Wood. A very tatty first-summer Common Gull flew past Stones. 367 Greylags. Female Pochard still with one duckling (and another 5 adults). Adult Yellow-legged Gull, the Great Egret and 6 Little Egrets still. Redstart in WLC fields.02/07/2025
Simon RoddisEarly-ish morning visit: a Black-tailed Godwit and female Teal off Stones, and a fly-over Yellow Wagtail. Great Egret at the north end. Ringed Plover at Sheepwash. Common Sandpiper at sailing club. Adult Yellow-legged Gull still. Spotted Flycatcher family still in Brown Ale Bay and c100 Linnets in the Sheepwash wildflower meadows.01/07/2025
Simon Roddis, Alan StewardsonA Greenshank, presumably yesterday's bird, was on Stones/sailing club islands this morning. The Great Egret still, at least 6 Little Egrets and 10 Grey Herons. Female Red-crested Pochard still. 5 Common Sandpipers on Horseshoe island. Adult Yellow-legged Gull among 65 Lesser Black-backs. 2 Redstarts (female and juvenile) and a Lesser Whitethroat in WLC fields. Spotted Flycatcher in Hall Wood. Alan had a Peregrine take a duckling off the water.30/06/2025
Simon RoddisA bit of a waderfest this morning, with 8 species in total. Highlights were 6 Black-tailed Godwits initially on sailing club island and later on Watersports island before flying W; a Green Sandpiper off the dam wall, a Greenshank circling Stones island and 2 Common Sandpipers on Horseshoe island, while a very small Oystercatcher chick on Watersports island was a surprise - many of the birds which bred or hatched here have already left. In addition, a Common Tern, 5 Shoveler, the female Red-crested Pochard still, adult Yellow-legged Gull, Great Egret, 5 Little Egrets, family of Willow Tits near WLC, Whitethroat still singing in Tail Bay, female Redstart again in WLC fields, and 80 Pied Wagtails on the dam wall early morning.29/06/2025
Simon RoddisA little bit quiet this morning (call it summer if you like) but still a few birds: 3 Shoveler from WLC, 420 Coot, 3 Little Egrets (5 yesterday evening), 9 Grey Heron, adult Spotted Flycatcher with recently fledged young at Brown Ale Bay, female Redstart in WLC fields, 5 Linnets in the wildflower meadows S of Sheepwash.28/06/2025
Simon Roddis6 Crossbills (a male and 5 female/juvs) flew through WLC creek mid morning, landing in a holly for a minute and giving great views before heading off SW. Adult Yellow-legged Gull off Stones. The Great Egret still, plus 2 Little Egrets. 17 Mute Swans plus the 4 cygnets. 3 Shoveler and the female Red-crested Pochard still from WLC. 65 Gadwall. 137 Tufted. Common Sandpiper on Watersports island. Total of c100 juv Black-headed Gulls doesn't seem like a particularly good return from 200+ nests.26/06/2025
Simon RoddisThe Black-tailed Godwit was still by the WLC this morning. Both egrets still and a very similar collection of duck to the last few days. Barnacle Geese pair still with 3 goslings. 2 Common Sandpipers at sailing club. Whitethroat still singing in Tail Bay. Spotted Flycatcher at Hopton end. Juvenile Redstart in WLC fields (another first of the autumn) and a Siskin over. And scores of tiny froglets on the path in Tail Bay.25/06/2025
Simon RoddisAn adult Black-tailed Godwit on Horseshoe island is the first of the autumn. Great and Little Egrets still. 19 adult Mute Swan. Just 3 Shoveler this morning, and the Red-crested Pochard from WLC. Black-headed Gulls seem to be having a poor breeding season: Millfields island appears deserted and the number of juveniles seems to be going down rather than up. Shame. 3 Sedge Warblers still singing in WLC creek and 2 near Millfields island, Reed Warbler singing at WLC, 4 Garden Warblers singing on/around Stones and another 2 in WLC creek.24/06/2025
Simon RoddisThe Great and Little Egrets still present this morning. 6 Shoveler from WLC. 7 Pochard, plus a single duckling with one of the females. Female Red-crested Pochard again from Stones. Peregrine over. 25 Sand Martins. Fledged Reed Warblers in Hopton reedbed.23/06/2025
Simon Roddis, Jon BradleyMonthly wildfowl count: 1,111 Canada Geese, 4 Barnacle (plus 3 goslings), 344 Greylags, 12 Mute Swan (plus 4 cygnets), 63 Gadwall (plus 6 broods), 267 Mallard, 1 RcPochard, 7 Pochard, 120 Tufted (plus 6 broods), 11 Moorhen, 333 Coot, 16 Oystercatcher, 7 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 8 Little Grebe, 63 Great Crested, 8 Cormorant, single Little and Great Egrets, 8 Grey Heron. Pair of Peregrines over the WLC, upsetting the Black-headed Gulls.22/06/2025
Simon RoddisBack after a few days away, the water level has dropped quite a bit further! Pair of Mute Swans with 4 cygnets off Sheepwash, presumably from the Hopton nest. Pair of Barnacle Geese still with 3 young at WLC, plus another pair. Canada Geese and Greylags look to have increased significantly. Drake Teal on Horseshoe island. Female Pochard now with 2 chicks off Stones. 5 Lapwing. 3 Redshank. 1 Little Egret. 4 Grey Herons, including 3 juveniles at Sheepwash. 2 adult Willow Tits calling and singing on Stones and in WLC creek. House Martins collecting mud from sailing club shore but then flying off towards Hognaston. Fledged Garden Warbler on Stones and an adult with food in WLC creek. Reed Buntings with food on Stones.21/06/2025
Dave Armitt and Clive Ashton4 Chiffchaff , 3 LRP, 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Little grebe, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Bunting,6 Juv Blue tits, 3 pied wagtail, 2 Common Turn, 4 Redshank, 5 Drake Pochard WLC, 2 Barnacle goose with 3 Juv ,20 Gadwall, RC Pochard female WLC, Buzzard predating BH Gull chick WLC island , 2 Sedge warbler,2 Willow Warbler ,1 Willow Tit, 1 Treecreeper13/06/2025
Simon RoddisThe first brood of 7 Tufted ducklings were off Horseshoe island this morning, but soon trumped by Laura's brood of 14! The two Gadwall broods, 4 in each, appear to have merged under just one female. Kingfisher at Hopton end. 3 Redshank and 2 Lapwing, and a Little Egret off Stones causeway.08/06/2025
Simon RoddisTotal of 8 Willow Tits in Tail Bay this morning, a pair with at least 4 fledged young, plus 2 singles. 16 Crossbills over Millfields, 2 or 3 of them landing in the top of Blackwall Plantation. 2 Egyptian Geese past Stones island. 37 Gadwall and single Common and Red-crested Pochard. 2 Ringed Plover. 1 Lapwing. 150 Lesser Black-backs. Kingfisher and Whitethroat in Tail Bay. Reed Warblers at WLC and Brown Ale Bay. Male Redstart at top of WLC creek.07/06/2025
Simon RoddisA Carsi mega this morning in the shape of a Green Woodpecker on Stones, first calling in the wildlife classroom and then seen by Mike Redfern to fly onto sailing club island,but no further sign in the time we were there. Barnacle Geese still with 3 young on Horseshoe island. Male Shoveler. 29 Gadwall plus 2 broods of 4 still. 1 Ringed Plover. 2 Lapwing. 1 Little Egret. Reed Warbler singing at WLC and Sedge in Hopton reedbed. Garden Warbler with food at Hopton end and Blackcap in WLC creek.06/06/2025
SJR, CA, RPJ, AMD, MWAn excellent morning, although difficult to tell what time of year it is. A female Garganey was on Watersports island, a summer-plumage Black-necked Grebe at the WLC (credit to Roger), a Sanderling flew over Stones island, and Crossbill and Hobby over Hall Wood. 13 Mute Swans. 95 Greylags (plus goslings). 3 male Shoveler. Red-crested Pochard still. 3 Ringed Plover. 300 loafing Lesser Black-backs. Reed Warbler singing on Stones. Redstart and 2 Spotted Flycatchers in Hall Wood.04/06/2025
Simon RoddisA brood of 4 small Gadwall ducklings were in Shiningford creek this morning, my first of the year. 4 Ringed Plover on Watersports island and 3 Redshank around Stones. Female Red-crested Pochard loafing among the moulting Gadwall. Geese numbers seem to be on the rise, including 73 Gadwall (plus goslings).03/06/2025
Amanda PalethorpeBird Walk for beginners. Sand Martin, house sparrow, sedge warbler, Canada goose, oystercatcher, mallard, gt cr grebe, coot, mute swan, tufted duck, garden warbler, carrion crow, pied wagtail, BH gull, LR Plover, Red-crested pochard(fem), pochard, swift, greylag goose, blackbird, goldfinch, robin, house martin, blackcap, LBB gull, chiffchaff, blue tit, great tit, song thrush, cormorant, redshank, gadwall, woodpigeon, swallow, wren.01/06/2025
Simon Roddis10 Sanderling (9 at sailing club, 1 on Watersports island) is the equal highest count ever here. 2 Dunlin. Pair of Shoveler and the female Red-crested Pochard still. 25 Gadwall. Pair of Kestrels over the main centre buzzed by a Sparrowhawk. Reed Warbler singing at WLC and Whitethroat at Hopton end.30/05/2025
Simon Roddis5 Dunlin and 2 Sanderling flew NW at 09:27 and another Dunlin flew in past Stones island at 10:15. A pair of Egyptian Geese at Millfields were new for the year here, I believe, and the first ever in May. Otherwise, it was mainly long-stayers: pair of Barnacle Geese with young, pair of Shoveler, drake Pochard, Little Egret, 2 Redshank, Reed Warbler on Stones causeway. A male Bullfinch was feeding a female at Millfields, presumably courtship behaviour.29/05/2025
Simon Roddis3 Sanderling this morning, one on Watersports island and 2 found by Jon Lowes on the dam wall. 3 Dunlin. 2 Shelduck. Male and female Shoveler (separately) and female Red-crested Pochard still. Little Egret. 4 singing Reed Warblers in the Stones/sailing club area, clearly still arriving.28/05/2025
Simon Roddis, Jon BradleyMonthly wildfowl count: 203 Canada Geese, 54 Greylag, 9 Mute Swan, 12 Gadwall, 106 Mallard, 52 Tufted, 1 Red-crested Pochard, 9 Moorhen, 191 Coot, 6 Little Grebe, 86 GCGrebe, 10 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 21 Cormorant, 1 Heron, 1 Little Egret. Broods (all minima) included 12 Mallard, 5 Greylag, 2 GCGrebe, 2 Coot. A pair of Canadas at Sheepwash had 38 goslings in tow! Who knows how many broods they came from?!25/05/2025
Simon Roddis450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Sheepwash late morning is my highest ever May total here - not even had a three-figure count before. 2 immature Herring Gulls among them. Female Teal and Red-crested Pochard still. Lapwing displaying over Watersports island. Redstart and Chiffchaff with food at Hopton end. 1 Pied and 3 Spotted Flycatchers singing in Hall Wood, and Reed Warbler on Stones causeway.23/05/2025
Simon Roddis2 Sanderling flew between Stones island and the dam wall early morning but not seen again. 3 Ringed Plover still at sailing club. Little Egret on Stones causeway. Pair of Shoveler at WLC and a Reed Warbler singing in the creek. Single immature Yellow-legged, Great Black-backed and Common Gulls. 300+ Lesser Black-backs at Sheepwash late morning. Willow Tit singing on Stones.21/05/2025
Simon Roddis, Clive AshtonA Sanderling approaching summer plumage was on sailing club shore, with 3 Ringed Plovers there too. An Osprey from Stones island at 09:20, mobbed by Black-headed Gulls as it flew over Millfields. Female Teal in Shiningford Creek. Two more Oystercatcher chicks off Stones causeway (fourth brood so far). 2 Redshank on Horseshoe island. Fledged Great Tits at Watersports.20/05/2025
Simon RoddisThe pair of Barnacle Geese on Millfields island now have 4 chicks, last seen heading over towards sailing club. Pair of Moorhens with 5 chicks at PS hide. Pair of Little Grebe with 2 young in Shiningford creek. A few waders early on: 2 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper around Stones/sailing club. Common Tern at Millfields. 130 Lesser Black-backs loafing at Sheepwash late morning. 1 immature Common Gull. Reed Warbler singing on Watersports island, plus 3 in Hopton reedbed. Redstart at Hopton end. And Clive had a Little Egret off Stones causeway.19/05/2025
Simon RoddisMost frustrating sighting of the morning was a tern, possibly Roseate, which flew up the res but didn't stop, kept heading NNE. Couldn't get enough on it to be sure. 4 Common Terns were at the WLC briefly. 2 pairs of Mediterranean Gulls flew over Stones, the first one consisting of an adult and a second-summer, the other 2 adults; the first pair later flew back past Stones after being seen at the WLC by Roger and Alison. A Whimbrel flew N early on. Female Red-crested Pochard back off Stones causeway. Another Oystercatcher chick, this one on Shiningford shore. Great Egret on the shore at Sheepwash. 25 House Martins. Chiffchaff with food on Stones.17/05/2025
Simon RoddisAnother brood of Oystercatchers this morning, 2 small chicks on Millfields island. Common Sandpiper and Redshank on Stones. 75 Lesser Black-backs. A gathering of c100 Carrion Crows in/over Hall Wood. 4 Reed Warblers (3 singing) in Hopton reedbed, and 2 Linnet over. Fledged Long-tailed Tits on Stones and at Hopton end. Clive had Grey Wagtail with food at Sheepwash.16/05/2025
Simon RoddisJust bits and bobs this morning: at Sheepwash, pair of Oystercatchers with 2 chicks, drake Mandarin, Little Egret, singing Sedge Warbler. Redstart and Whitethroat at Hopton end. Single Curlew, Redshank and Lapwing from Stones, and Clive had 2 Common Sandpipers. Total of 50 Lesser Black-backs through/loafing, virtually all immatures of various ages. Hirundines moving through, c35 Sand Martins, 20 House, 12 Swallows.15/05/2025
Simon RoddisThe highlight this morning was a Black Tern around Watersports island 10:20-10:30 at least, and a Ringed Plover was on the sailing club shoreline. 4 immature Common Gulls. 2 Little Egret. Pair of Redstart at the top of WLC creek.14/05/2025
Simon RoddisPerimeter count this morning (not helped by a fairly strong breeze which will have drowned out some birdsong): 16 Pheasant, 1 Cuckoo just N of Millfields, 13 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret, 1 GSWoodpecker, 25 Magpie, 5 Coal Tit, 56 Blue, 31 Great, 23 Long-tailed, 7 Swallow, 10 Willow Warbler, 86 Chiffchaff, 15 Sedge, 3 Reed, 57 Blackcap, 12 Garden, 2 Whitethroat (Oldfield Lane and Tail Bay), 7 Goldcrest, 139 Wren, 2 Nuthatch, 12 Treecreeper, 22 Song Thrush, 6 Mistle, 84 Blackbird, 1 Spotted and 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 105 Robin, 25 Dunnock, 1 Grey and 5 Pied Wagtail, 22 Chaffinch, 5 Bullfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 21 Goldfinch, 7 Reed Bunting. Quite a bit of breeding activity, including fledged Robin and Treecreeper, plus birds with food: Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Mistle Thrush, Robin.13/05/2025
Simon RoddisEarly cloud and a spot of rain may have brought in the 5 adult Sandwich Terns which sat on buoys off Stones island, 05:50-06:05, before being hassled by a Lesser Black-back and weren't seen again. 2 Shelduck past Stones. 6 Pochard (4m,2f). Several broods of Greylag included a mega-brood of 20+ small goslings crossing the res with 2 adults. 2 adult Dunlin and a Curlew on sailing club shore. A sub-adult Herring Gull flew through with c30 Lesser Black-backs during the morning, and a sub-adult Great Black-back. Little Egret again on Horseshoe island/sailing club. Barn Owl on the main road early morning. 5 Ravens over the east side may have been a family party. 3 Reed Warblers singing in Hopton reedbed and 1 on sailing club island. 3 Spotted Flycatchers singing in Hall and Middle Woods, and the Pied Fly and a Redstart still in Hall Wood.12/05/2025
Simon RoddisWaders this morning included single Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew and Whimbrel. 2 Arctic Terns briefly. 5 Pochard (3f,2m). Immature Yellow-legged Gull again. Little Egret. A distant Peregrine. Willow Tit singing at Lane End and Reed Warbler singing on Stones. Fledged Treecreepers in WLC creek and Goldfinch at Lane End (seems quite early?).10/05/2025
D COATESTHE FIRST SWIFT ARRIVED AT DARLEY DALE APPROX { 11 }09/05/2025
Simon Roddis, Clive AshtonA pretty decent morning, with 2 Sanderling (approaching summer plumage) on sailing club shore and an Osprey later (but not for very long) over the Lane End area. Female Goldeneye off Stones still, single Little Egret and Common Tern. Pied Wagtails with food on the dam wall.09/05/2025
SJR, CA, RPJ, AMDA Bar-tailed Godwit was on Horseshoe island late morning. A Whimbrel flew NE early morning and it or another was in WLC fields later. A Yellow Wagtail flew SE over Stones island. The female Goldeneye off Stones again early morning and a Little Egret from the causeway. c75 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins and 10 Swallows. Treecreeper with food in WLC creek.08/05/2025
Simon RoddisA Whimbrel was on the dam wall early morning and departed NE at 07:45. Second-calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull again at Watersports. Female Goldeneye again off Stones island. Redstarts at Hopton end and WLC fields (per Clive). Grey Wagtail with food at Millfields.07/05/2025
Simon Roddis, Clive AshtonClive found a Spotted Flycatcher at the Lane End bombing tower this morning, first of the year we believe. Female Goldeneye and Red-crested Pochard still off Stones, the latter again hanging out with a male Common Pochard. 2 Shelduck. Curlew at sailing club and 2+ Redshank.06/05/2025
SJR, AHS, CA, KR5 Arctic Terns (4+1) through this morning (AHS,CA). Female Goldeneye still off Stones and male Mandarin at Sheepwash (KR). 20 Swifts, 100+ Sand Martins and single figures of House Martin and Swallow. Immature Common Gull again. Whitethroat singing in Tail Bay (a real scarcity here these days).05/05/2025
Amanda PalethorpeBirdwatching for beginners walk. house sparrow, BH gull, blackbird, robin, willow warbler, chiffchaff, sedge warbler, blackcap, garden warbler, swallow, swift, redshank, house Martin, sand Martin, mallard, tufted duck, gadwall, pochard, mute swan, Canada goose, greylag goose, moorhen, little grebe, gt Cr grebe, oystercatcher, coot, buzzard, crow, magpie, long-tailed tit, cormorant, goldfinch, pied wagtail, woodpigeon, wren, common sandpiper. 36 species.04/05/2025
Simon Roddis, Clive AshtonHighlights this morning were a Whimbrel and 2 fly-through Bar-tailed Godwits (only Clive saw the latter). 22 Swifts included 15 going N and 7 loitering. Female Goldeneye, female Red-crested and a pair of Common Pochard off Stones. 1 immature Common Gull. 4+ Sparrowhawks. Immature Peregrine past Stones. 3 Reed Warblers singing in Hopton reedbed, and Pied Flycatcher and Redstart in Hall Wood. 1 Siskin over Hopton end.04/05/2025
Christina KennedyThis afternoon in a field across from WLC, I saw a godwit. I'm just not 100 percent sure which one but I have photos.30/04/2025
Simon RoddisPerimeter counts this morning: 40 Pheasant, 4 singing Stock Dove, 3 Collared Dove, 2 GSWoodpecker, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Willow, 124 Blue, 47 Great, 5 Long-tailed, 50 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 10 Willow Warbler, 150 Chiffchaff, 14 Sedge, 3 Reed, 56 Blackcap, 9 Garden, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Goldcrest, 164 Wren, 1 Pied Flycatcher, only 1 Redstart (very disappointing), 115 Robin, 34 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle, 103 Blackbird, 37 Dunnock, 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 Chaffinch, 12 Bullfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 32 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Bunting. Clive's 3 Common Scoters still present mid-morning.26/04/2025
Dave Armitt8 Sedge Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe with two young, 1 Male Pochard, 1 Heron , 4 Goldfinch,2 Garden Warbler, 2 Long tailed tit, 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Reed Warbler WLC Reed bed25/04/2025
Simon RoddisClive saw the GNDiver early doors but I couldn't find it later (probably my eyes 😉). 4 Pochard. Female Red-crested Pochard still. New brood of 4 Greylag goslings in Shiningford Creek. Immature Yellow-legged Gull again. 1 House Martin among the Sand Martins. Reed Warbler singing on Stones and Redstart calling in WLC creek. (And I see that someone has had an Osprey over Stones island at 12:21.)24/04/2025
SJR, CA, AHSThe GNDiver still this morning. 2 Pink-footed Geese over Stones were a bit of a surprise. 2 Shelduck off Watersports island. c6 Pochard (at least 2 pairs). Drake Goosander flew N. Immature GBbGull. A Great Egret did pretty much a whole circuit of the res, while a Little Egret flew past Stones. After very few early in the morning, Sand Martins built up to c100 when the rain came later. 2 Dunlin past Stones (CA,AHS).21/04/2025
Simon RoddisThe GNDiver still this morning. A Yellow Wagtail flew over Stones. Female Red-crested Pochard at Sheepwash. Red-legged Partridge at Hopton end. The second-calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull again. 100+ Sand Martins. 2 Reed Warblers singing in Hopton reedbed and another on Stones causeway, and Sedge Warblers in WLC Creek and at Millfields as well as on Stones. Song Thrush with fledged young at Hopton and Pied Flycatcher still singing in Hall Wood. And a female Roe Deer eating gorse flowers.20/04/2025
Simon Roddis, Clive AshtonA few terns appeared early on: 10 Arctics flew through while 2 Commons were harassed briefly by 2 more Arctic. The GNDiver still, again coming pretty close to Stones island. Female Red-crested Pochard. Second-calendar-year Yellow-legged Gull hanging around the buoys. 1 Little Egret. First Greylag brood, c5 below Middle Wood.19/04/2025


Historic Sightings

DateSightingName
2010-03-15Of note: Pink-footed Goose (1), Barnacle Goose (41), Wigeon (pr), Oystercatcher (3), Lapwing (11), Redshank (1), Song Thrush (1) and Goldfinch (10).Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-03-15Ring-billed Gull, first winter. A little smaller than the Lesser Black-backeds and a paler mantle than the obviously smaller Commons. Very heavily blotched underparts and back of the neck, heavily streaked head. Bill, eye, legs and upper wing good for the species. I am sure of the identification , but would like confirmation. Also an adult Great Northern Diver. Paul Mollatt
2010-03-142 Snipe,2 Oystercatchers,1 Redshank,1 G.N.Diver from Wildlife Centre Reed bunting and Willow tit on feeding station Pete Furniss
2010-03-14WeBS count for March: Mute Swan 7, Pink-foot Goose 1, Canada Goose 102, Barnacle Goose 46, Wigeon 23, Gadwall 3, Teal 9, Mallard 59, Pintail 1, Tufted Duck 325, Goldeneye 14, Great Northern Diver 1, Little Grebe 25, Great Crested Grebe 35, Cormorant 14, Grey Heron 3, Sparrowhawk 2, Buzzard 8 (6 at once over Hall Wood), Kestrel 1, Moorhen 8, Coot 247, Oystercatcher 7, Lapwing 8, Curlew 10, Redshank 4Peter Gibbon and John Bradley
2010-03-14All from Sheepwash hide 10:50 - 11:50, 7 oystercatchers, 5 curlew, 7 goldeneye, 1 Great Northern Diver off Fishtail Creek Martin Kaye
2010-03-143 Oystercatcher in field between water and footpath close to Sheepwash Car Park. Early afternoon.David Meredith
2010-03-10Of note: Pink-footed Goose (1) - feeding with Canadas on Stones Island, Barnacle Goose (39) - on the Sailing Club Island, Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Pheasant (a pr), Oystercatcher (4), Dunlin (2) - Horseshoe Island, Redshank (1), Yellow-legged Gull (1) - seen from the Wildlife Centre, Pied Wagtail (~10), Song Thrush (1) and an over-wintering Blackcap in trees near the Wildlife Centre.Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-03-10Sheepwash.. 1 GN Diver,48 Wigeon and 18 Goldeneye. Wildlife centre.. adult Mediterranean Gull at 16:20 until 17:05 when flushed to middle of res.Clive Ashton
2010-03-08Oystercatcher 1each from Paul Stanley, Sheepwash and Wildlife Centre Hides. G N Diver, 4 Curlew, 24 Whooper Swan, Raven(heard),Redshank seen from Sheepwash Hide. Willow Tit,Tree Sparrow,Bullfinch & Reed Bunting at Feeding Station between Sheepwash and Wildlife Centre. Water Rail & @ 50 Barnacle Goose from Wildlife Centre. Little Owl seen in field to right of track from Wildlife Centre to Car ParKPhilip Burnham c/o Netherfield wildlife Group, Nottingham
2010-03-0824 Whooper swans 1 Pink footed goose I Snipe 3 Redshank from wildlife centre swans still there at 4-00pmPete Furniss
2010-03-086 Snipe in flight Warrington Knob 1 Redshank just Sth of Oldfield Lane holiday letsdave williams
2010-03-08One kingfisher along stream leading into Brownale Bay.dave williams
2010-03-0724 Whooper Swans flew in at 09:30 and were still present when I left site at 10:30. Also present 1 Dunlin on Stones Island,1 GN Diver and 4 Curlew.Clive Ashton
2010-03-03GarganeyDermot Smyth
2010-03-02Large area of the reservoir frozen over today, but an interesting day all the same.3 Curlew on Sheepwash spit, 2 More flew east and later a flock of 7-8 flew over middle wood.2 GN Divers beyond Fishtail creek.Pintail(f) at Sheepwash. Scaup(f) at Wildlife centre.Clive Ashton
2010-03-01Fairly quiet on site today. Very few birders and walkers. We only managed 29 species from Stones Island to the end of Wildlife Centre Creek around midday. Weather was good, sunny and quite mild. Of note: Barnacle Goose (46) - Horseshoe Island (HI), Pheasant (1,m) - calling near the Wildlife centre (WC), Oystercatcher (2) - Stones Island, Lapwing (~120) - HI, Curlew (3) - overflying WC creek, Redshank (1) -HI, Robin - many singing. Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-02-2810 Oystercatchers this morning - 2 on Big Island, 5 on Stones Is, 1 in front of Sailing Club and a pair mating on Millfields Is. 13 Goldeneye near dam wall. 2 Pochard at Millfields. 1 Skylark flying north. 2 Curlew flew east and 3 landed at Sheepwash. At Sheepwash - drake Shoveler, drake Pintail, 48 Wigeon, juv Great Northern Diver. In the air - 5 Buzzard, 2 Raven, Sparrow Hawk, Peregrine. 4 Song Thrush singing.Roger Carrington
2010-02-252 Great Northern Divers together from Sheepwash. 5 Shelduck flew north at Hopton end before returning a few minutes later,(with another or one of the same from Sheepwash later.) 2 Goosander towards Millfields, with probably several more on Millfields island. No sign of Red necked Grebes at Hopton end. 2 Raven from Sheepwsh and an Oystercatcher on Big island.Clive Ashton
2010-02-23Since submitting WeBS count figures I am adding the following as seen by Roger Carrington later in the day. Great Crested Grebe will be 14, an extra 3 Moorhen makes a total of 5 and he also saw 6 Wigeon. Thank you Roger.Peter Gibbon
2010-02-23February WeBS count : 2 Great Northern Diver,4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 22 Little Grebe, 6 Mute Swan,60 Canada Goose, 29 Cormorant, 6 Gadwall, 42 Teal,141 Mallard, 442 Tufted Duck, 19 Goldeneye, 2 Moorhen, 401 Coot, 4 Oystercatcher, 36 Lapwing,1 Woodcock(seen by Roger Carrington), 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine(seen by RC),1 Kestrel.Peter Gibbon
2010-02-23One Red-necked Grebe just south of Big Island watched between 16.00 and 16.30 on Sunday. It was viewed from the lower track at the bottom of Hall Wood and occasionally drifted round to the eastern side of the island. Paul Bennett
2010-02-23On arrival at Carsington yesterday I was shocked to see so much ice. I reckon around 80% of the water was frozen over. In all my years of going I have never seen it so bad. There was still several large pockets of water where the wildfowl had gathered and one such area was sheepwash. From here I had 11 Goldeneye, 6 Gadwall and many Teal, Wigeon and Tufted Ducks. Also seen was 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 2 Grey Heros, 3 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. As the day went on I eventually picked out the 2 Great Northern Divers towards Fishtail Creek. I also possibly had the 2 Red-necked Grebes briefly towards Hopton End.Dave Newcombe
2010-02-202 Red necked Grebes (Between Big and Flat Islands) 2 Great Northern Divers(Sheepwash) 5 Shoveler (4m 1f Sheepwash) Oystercatcher (returning bird with bar code ring on Sheepwash spit)Clive Ashton
2010-02-191 Red-necked Grebe Hopton Arm. 1 Jack Snipe Hopton Arm near Reedbed area on mud at waters edge. Also sev' Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard and 2 plus Buzzard in the top end area.Steph Hicking
2010-02-17Very foggy on site around midday. Visibility at best 100m, therefore birding difficult. Low species count at 24. Of note: Lapwing (1), Redwing (1), Lesser Redpoll (10) - next to wildlife centre, and a pair of Bullfinches.Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-02-16Goldeneyes close in at Sheepwash 2 male 5 female. Courting calls and male displays very advanced!Dave Farrer
2010-02-16Red-necked Grebe at extreme end of Hopton arm. 50+ Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing,3 GS Woodpecker,2 Reed Bunting. A Grey Heron was struggling to swallow the carcase of a gull at Sheepwash.Clive Ashton
2010-02-15Red-necked Grebe at Sheepwash at c13.20 heading towards Lane End. I went to Lane End and had quite good views before it then headed back towards Sheepwash. I then went back to Sheepwash only to watch it disappear behind the spit. Unfortunatley it couldn't be re-located despite several birders looking. After a bit of perseverance some birders located 2 adults in Hopton Arm at 17.00. Also on site today was 2 Great Northern Divers, 8 Goldeneye, female Goosander, Oystercatcher, Yellow-legged Gull, Sparrowhawk, 45 Cormorants and 2 Grey Herons. Dave Newcombe
2010-02-151 Redshankin creek left of Wildlife centre 1 M Goldeneye Shining Ford Creek 1 Red Necked Grebe off Lane end hide.Bob and Gill Smith
2010-02-11It was cold on site today with few visitors. We just worked from Stones Island to the Wildlife Centre. Nothing very unusual seen except for a high number of Magpies (15). We only found 23 species, all quite common but just as important and interesting to us. It was good to see various catkins and Daffodil shoots pushing up. Maybe Spring is on the way. Let's hope so.Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-02-113m + 1f Goldeneye, 1m Goosander and 1 Redshank. Between Millfields and Holiday cottages.Bob and Gill Smith
2010-02-102 Great Northern Divers, 6 Buzzards, 2 Ravens, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Snipe, 2 Grey Herons and 43 Barnacle Geese. Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton
2010-02-022 Great Northern Divers present, a juvenile off Stones Island and an adult behind Millfields Island. 3 Shoveler at WLC. Clive Ashton
2010-02-011 Great Northern Diver off Stones Island. 46 feral Barnacle Geese on Stones Island. 1 drake Goosander on Millfields Island. 149 Lapwing on Sailing Club foreshore. 55 Teal and 1 female Shoveler from Sheepwash.Roger Carrington
2010-01-29WeBS count for January: Mute Swan 28,Canada Goose 107,Wigeon 23(compared with 210 last Jan),Gadwal 36,Teal 49,Mallard 122,Pochard 134,Tufted Duck 596,Scaup 1, Goldeneye 12, Goosander 3,Great Northern Diver 1,Little Grebe 46,Great Crested Grebe 45,Cormorant 31,Grey Heron 3,Moorhen 11,Coot 1424,Lapwing 7,Snipe 2,Black-headed Gull 7,Common Gull 19,Lesser Black-backed Gull 27,Yellow-legged Gull 1.Peter Gibbon and John Bradley
2010-01-25Of note: Great Northern Diver (1) - off Horseshoe Island, Grey Heron (1) by Wildlife Centre Creek, Barnacle Goose (10) - flying with Canadas, Yellow-legged Gull (1) - by Wildlife Centre Creek eating a dead fish! Bullfinch (4; 3 males & one female) - near ranger base.Ray and Margaret Perry
2010-01-20Great Northern Diver, female Scaup, female Peregrine, male Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens, drake Goosander, Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Greylag Geese, 45 Barnacle Geese. Dave Newcombe
2010-01-194 Goosanders, 8 Goldeneye, 4 Snipe, Peregrine, Raven, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 6 Siskin and Skylark. Dave Newcombe/Clive Ashton
2010-01-193m + 1f Goldeneye Dam wall 4m Goosander Millfields island 2 small egrets Horseshoe IslandBob and Gill Smith
2010-01-19Great Northern Diver, juv, near Millfields, 1200hrs. Little Egret near Wildlife Centre. Adult Yellow-legged Gull eating a Little Grebe on shoreline in front of Sailing Club, left the carcase and skin with feathers floating on the water. 2 Skylark flying east.Roger Carrington
2010-01-11Female Scaup, female Pintail, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Egret, Raven, c40 Siskin, 7 Goldeneye, 3 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 6 Bullfinch and 2 Grey Heron. Dave Newcombe
2010-01-07Juvenile Great Northern Diver off Stones Island, Yellow-legged Gull at Sheepwash, 8 Goldeneye, 18 Gadwall, Skylark, 10 Siskin, female Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Raven.Dave Newcombe
2010-01-04Juv Great Northern Diver near Watersports Island. Little Egret near Wildlife Centre until 1100hrs when it flew over dam and probably landed. 25 Barnacle Geese on Horseshoe Island. 35 Siskin by path to P S Hide.Roger Carrington
2010-01-011 Little Egret-Wildlife Centre near the fence that runs to the water on the left. 1 male Bullfinch-Wildlife Centre FeedersSam Pedley
2009-12-312 Redshank from Stones Island. 3 Willow tits Millfields.Richard and Frances Pittam
2009-12-27Little Egret at Sheepwash at 3pm then went into the small creek to right of hide. Adult Caspian Gull in roost from Sheepwash from 3:15pm. Adult Great Northern Diver off Stones Island. 9 Goosander (5 males) on Millfields Island.Roger Carrington
2009-12-23Great Northern Diver, adult Yellow-legged Gull, female Pintail, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 31 Gadwall, 6 Goldeneye, Redshank, Snipe, 12 Song Thrush, Buzzard and Raven. Dave Newcombe
2009-12-16Of note: Scaup (female) - from wildlife centre. Also seen yesterday by another observer. Lapwing (~80) and Redshank (2).Ray and Margaret Perry
2009-12-14A quiet morning from the Wildlife Centre. Highlight was a visit from the Yellow-legged Gull.Richard, Frances and Ken Pittam
2009-12-102 Great Northern Divers, adult winter + juvenile. 44 Pinkfeet going northwest at 1205hrs. 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull in roost from Sheepwash from 1430hrs.Roger Carrington

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