07/09/2024 | Highlights this morning were a Green Woodpecker in Tail Bay, a Wheatear past Stones island and juvenile Water Rail on Horseshoe island. 2 adults Yellow-legged and juvenile Caspian Gull. 44 Teal. 4 Wigeon and 49 Pochard from WLC. 46 Swallows over Millfields. | Simon Roddis |
06/09/2024 | Forgot to say, a count of 55 Cormorants, although dwarfed by recent counts at Ogston, suggests an increase in line with theirs, some of which have been shown by colour rings to have come from Germany. | Simon Roddis |
06/09/2024 | Not a bad morning, difficult to know how much part the wind played in that. Clive picked up a juvenile Arctic Tern off Stones (still there to 11:00 at least) and then a juvenile Black Tern appeared off the Lane End area from 10:00. A flock of 11 Wigeon and a Pintail flew up the res, then a male Common Scoter from Lane End. Another Wigeon and the drake Red-crested Pochard were off Stones causeway. | Simon Roddis |
05/09/2024 | A Redshank which dropped onto Sheepwash spit late morning was the only new bird of note. Wildfowl still increasing: 97 Pochard, 36 Teal, 1 Wigeon and the drake Red-crested Pochard still. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults, 1 juv). 50 Goldfinches again on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
04/09/2024 | 900 Canada Geese and 72 Greylags flew out over the dam wall early morning. Drake Red-crested Pochard still from Stones island. Ringed Plover over Millfields early morning. Juvenile Caspian Gull and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls off Stones. At least 2 Kingfishers in the Stones/WLC area and perhaps another at Millfields. Totals of 50 Swallows and 35 House Martins. Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 3+ Sedge on Stones, plus another Willow Warbler in WLC creek. 2 Redstarts still in WLC fields. | SJR, CA, RPJ, AMD |
03/09/2024 | 3 Greenshank flew high SW over Stones island at 09:00 - difficult to know if these were the same as 2 or more over Sheepwash an hour earlier. 2 Snipe and a Curlew also from Stones. Adult Yellow-legged Gull and Common Tern. 2 Shoveler. 1 drake Wigeon. The drake Red-crested Pochard still. Kingfisher off Stones causeway. c30 House Martins over the dam wall. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
02/09/2024 | A female-type Pied Flycatcher at Hopton end early morning looks like the first September record here. Drake Common Scoter off Stones. 18 Teal. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Kingfishers at WLC. 2 Sedge Warblers and 2 Lesser Whitethroats on/around Stones. 3+ Reed Warblers in Hopton reedbed. | Simon Roddis |
01/09/2024 | BwB walk. Canada goose, goldfinch, wood pigeon, gt cr grebe, mute swan, cormorant, house sparrow, pied wagtail, coot, moorhen, tufted duck, little grebe, kestrel, grey heron, lapwing, crow, robin, swallow, magpie, gadwall, mallard, greylag goose, pochard, BH gull, herring gull, LBB gull, teal, great tit, blue tit, chiffchaff, wren | Amanda Palethorpe |
01/09/2024 | A Ringed Plover flew over WLC early morning. Single Shoveler over Stones causeway and the male Red-crested Pochard from the mound. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, adult and juv. Kingfisher at WLC and Redstart still in the creek. | Simon Roddis |
30/08/2024 | 6 Pied wagtail, 4 Gadwall, 6 Little grebe, 14 Mute swan, 9 Lapwing, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Chiffchaff, three flocks of Goldfinch 20,30 and 10 mixer of mature and young birds, 1 Lesser Whitethroat , 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Sparrow hawk , 10 Buzzard, 4 Red Kite same group that Simon saw. 6 Swallow , 6 Pochard | Dave Armitt |
30/08/2024 | The Cattle Egret was roosting with Cormorants between Sheepwash and Lane End early morning, then flew SW over Stones at 08:35. More wildfowl have arrived, with Pochard up to 76, 24 Teal and single Wigeon and Shoveler. 520 Coot. 2 Little Egret. Adult Yellow-legged Gull. Spiral of 10 Buzzards and 4 Red Kites. 3 Kingfishers. 7 Jays between Hopton end and Middle Wood. Lesser Whitethroat still on Stones and 2 Redstarts in WLC fields. 1 Yellow Wagtail over WLC. | Simon Roddis |
29/08/2024 | 4 Wigeon in Brown Ale Bay were the first of the autumn. At least 11 Teal also indicates a small arrival. 30 Lapwing. Adult and juv Yellow-legged Gulls. 1 Little Egret at Lane End. Kingfishers at Millfields and in BABay. Pair of adult Hobbies were chasing Swallows around the draw-off tower at Millfields early morning. Lesser Whitethroat on Stones. 2 Redstarts (male and female/juv) in WLC fields. | Simon Roddis, Ken Rome |
28/08/2024 | A light breeze which picked up late morning made all the difference as far as large raptors were concerned: a cream-crown Marsh Harrier flew S at 11:00, an Osprey flew around at 11:10 and several buzzards and kites circled over the woods. The eclipse male Red-crested Pochard was off Stones and a male Aythya hybrid, presumably the same one as has appeared before, was off Millfields early morning. c100 Greylags flew out early on, the most I've seen for a while. Juv Oystercatcher still. 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults, 3 juvs). Redstart still calling in WLC fields. Kingfisher and Lesser Whitethroat on Stones (per AHS/RPJ/AMD). | Simon Roddis |
27/08/2024 | Osprey again from Stones early morning, plus a juvenile Arctic Tern and a fly-over Yellow Wagtail. Adult Caspian Gull still and 2 Yellow-legged (adult and juv). Totals of at least 7 Teal, 50 Pochard and 29 Stock Doves. Redstart still in WLC fields. 9 Mistle Thrushes over the east side (flushed by the Osprey!). | Simon Roddis |
26/08/2024 | An Osprey again from Stones island this morning, 09:05 to 09:45 at least. Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls, Peregrine and Kingfisher also from Stones. 31 Pochard at WLC and Water Rail calling in the creek. Juvenile Oystercatcher still at sailing club. Little Egret over the dam wall. 2 Redstarts (1 male) in WLC fields. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
25/08/2024 | An Osprey was around from 07:55 to 09:55 at least, perched in a dead pine eating a fish for a while. An Arctic Tern flew NE at 08:40. 3 Ringed Plovers through and 4 Swifts from Stones. | Simon Roddis, Clive Ashton |
23/08/2024 | Highlight this morning was 2 Ospreys: 1 from 08:10-09:00 from Stones; presumed same at WLC 10:00 then down east side; second bird with a fish down east side 11:00 immediately after first bird and again about 10 minutes later. 2 Hobbies seen 3 times, presumed to be the same birds each time. 5+ Swifts. 1 Oystercatcher. Common Sandpiper at Sheepwash. Adult and 2 juv Yellow-legged Gulls. Clive had a possible Arctic Tern past Sheepwash. 10 Sand Martins. | SJR, CA, AHS |
18/08/2024 | Monthly wildfowl count: 227 Canada Geese, 2 Barnacles (plus one juv), 6 Greylag, 21 Mute Swan, 56 Gadwall, 160 Mallard, 5 Teal, 1 Red-crested Pochard, 38 Pochard, 210 Tufted, 26 Moorhen, 466 Coot, 1 Water Rail (Shiningford), 24 Little Grebe, 63 GCGrebe, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Lapwing, 1 Common Sand, 38 Cormorant, 6 Heron, 2 Kingfisher. 4 Arctic Terns (ad and 3 juvs) from Stones late morning, adult Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legs (adult and juv), 2 Swifts, 2 Hobby, 1 juv Peregrine, 2 Yellow Wagtails. | Simon Roddis, Jon Bradley |
16/08/2024 | Evening visit: 2,400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls came in to roost, with single Caspian (a juvenile) and Yellow-legs. 8 Teal. 1 Swift. c500 Swallows over Watersports island before going to roost on there. | Simon Roddis |
17/08/2024 | 3 Sandwich Terns were off the Sheepwash/Lane End area from 07:55 to 08:30 at least, an eclipse male Red-crested Pochard from the WLC and the adult Caspian Gull still. 20 Common Pochard. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls. 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 60 Goldfinch and the juvenile Yellow Wagtail still on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
15/08/2024 | Adult Caspian and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls again. A Tree Pipit flew S over Millfields at 07:25 and a Greenshank later over WLC. 20 Pochard. 4 Swift. 1 juv Oystercatcher. 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Kingfishers (Millfields and WLC). Total of 38 House Martins, 100+ Swallows and 6 Sand Martins. Lesser Whitethroat at the mound on Stones. Redstart calling in WLC fields. Juv Yellow Wagtail still on Stones, 4 Grey Wag and 2 Meadow Pipits at Millfields. | Simon Roddis, Ken Rome |
14/08/2024 | An immature drake Common Scoter was off Stones island early morning. The adult Caspian Gull again, and adult and juvenile Yellow-legged. 2 Shoveler, 18 Pochard and a KIngfisher at WLC. Common Sandpiper at sailing club. Little Egret at Sheepwash. c150 Swallows at Millfields early morning. Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat again on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
13/08/2024 | Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls still. 4 Teal. 20 Pochard. 6 Common Sandpipers. 1 Snipe on Horseshoe island. 2 Kingfishers (Tail Bay and the dam wall). 3 Willow Tit, including a brief burst of song in WLC creek. 120 Swallows. 1 Swift. In WLC fields, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, male Redstart, 30 Linnet, Yellow Wagtail flew S, and Hobby. Another Yellow Wag on Stones, along with Lesser Whitethroat and 50+ Goldfinches. Reed Warblers on Stones causeway and at WLC. | Simon Roddis |
12/08/2024 | Single adult Caspian, Yellow-legged, Common and GBbGulls this morning. Reed Warbler at WLC and Redstart up the creek. | Simon Roddis |
09/08/2024 | A moulting adult Sanderling was on sailing club shore this morning. Adult Caspian, Yellow-legged and GBbGull still. 38 Cormorants. Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat on Stones. Spotted Flycatcher at Lane End. c120 Linnets feeding in the wildflower meadow just south of Sheepwash. | Simon Roddis |
08/08/2024 | A bit quieter than the last couple of mornings. Adult Yellow-legged and GBbGulls still. 140 Woodpigeons N and 22 S in an hour - strange birds! 1 Common Sandpiper. 14 Pochard, including the 2 fully grown juvs. 29 Cormorant. 3 Redstarts (male and 2 female/juvs) in WLC fields. Painted Lady on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
07/08/2024 | Adult Arctic Tern, Caspian, Yellow-legged and GBbGulls this morning. A Great Egret flew down the res at 09:25 and landed for a short time at Millfields, and a Green Sandpiper flew S over Stones causeway at 09:30 (first of the year). 28 Mute Swan. Around Millfields and the dam wall early morning, 150 Swallows, 135 Pied and 3 Grey Wagtails. New brood of 3 Little Grebes off Stones island, and now 4 young at the WLC. Kingfisher in Tail Bay. Hobby at the top of WLC creek. Lesser Whitethroat on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
06/08/2024 | A decent morning: a Tree Pipit flew S over WLC creek at 09:30 and a Greenshank S over the dam wall at 10:30. Adult Caspian, 2 Yellow-legged and Great Black-backed Gull around Stones. 19 Pochard. 3 Teal. Kingfisher at WLC. A Hobby was chasing Swallows over the east side and Peregrine circling over the west. Total of 9 Ravens. 40 House Martins. Sedge Warblers still feeding young on Stones, and Garden Warbler still too. Male Redstart in WLC fields. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
05/08/2024 | Just the adult Yellow-legged Gull this morning. New brood of 2 small Little Grebes at WLC. 28 Mute Swans. Increase in hirundines: c35 House, 15 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows. Sedge Warbler possibly still feeding young on Stones island, and Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat there. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
04/08/2024 | Species seen during the monthly Birdwatching for Beginners walk (10am-noon; Stones Island to Wildlife Centre): House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Swift, Cormorant, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Canada Goose, Coot, Common Gull, Gt Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Greylag Goose, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Chiffchaff, Willow Tit, Wren, Goldfinch, Tufted Duck, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Mallard, House Martin, Swallow, Linnet, Bullfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe, Great Tit, Dunnock, Pochard and Buzzard | Gary Atkins |
04/08/2024 | Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls again off Stones early morning. 22 Pochard. 8 Swifts. 111 Woodpigeons S (and 8N) in one hour. 4 Common Sandpipers (3 Millfields, 1 WLC creek). 8 Swifts. 1 Skylark over Stones. | Simon Roddis |
03/08/2024 | Adult Caspian Gull again at sailing club early morning and adult Yellow-leg from Sheepwash. 17 Pochard. 27 Mute Swans. Kingfisher from Sheepwash hide. 3+ Spotted Flycatchers at Lane End. | Simon Roddis |
02/08/2024 | 1 Coal Tit,8 Moorhen, 12 Mute Swan, 2 little Grebe, 1 Bullfinch, 14 Cormorant, 14 Greylag goose, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Chaffinch, 8 Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Redstart, 3 Swallow,4 Swift | David Armitt |
01/08/2024 | A drake Common Scoter was off Stones island this morning. 5 adult Black-tailed Godwits on Horseshoe island flew off at 09:30 and 2 Snipe flew W over the WLC. Adult Caspian and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls again. Garden Warbler on Stones and Reed Warbler still singing at WLC. 16 Linnets over WLC creek. | SJR, KR, AHS |
31/07/2024 | Adult Caspian and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls again from Stones early morning. 19 Pochard. 4 Kestrels. 2 Willow Warblers singing in WLC creek. 1 Garden Warbler on Stones. 3 Meadow Pipits (highlight of the morning!) on the dam wall, first here since early April. A Muntjac crossed the road near the main entrance, only my third here. | Simon Roddis |
30/07/2024 | A Yellow Wagtail over Millfields early am was the first since the spring. Adult Yellow-legged Gull still. Adult female Peregrine eating a juvenile Black-headed Gull on the pylon at the top of WLC creek, with a noisy juvenile male flying around. Pair of Common Terns off Stones. Kingfisher again at WLC and female-type Redstart in the fields. A Banded Demoiselle on Stones island was my first at Carsi. | Simon Roddis |
29/07/2024 | Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged again sitting on buoys early morning. Adult Common Tern. 17 Pochard. Kingfisher in WLC creek and male Redstart in the fields. 50 Swallows over Millfields early morning. | Simon Roddis |
28/07/2024 | Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls again off Stones/Watersports. 1 Curlew flew up the res. Only 1 Oystercatcher, seems most of them left a couple of days ago. 2+ Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat in WLC fields. No sign of yesterday's Whinchat. | Simon Roddis, Clive Ashton |
27/07/2024 | The major highlight this morning was a Honey Buzzard which flew very slowly W over the res between 09:55 and 10:15, finally disappearing behind Carsington Pastures. It was mobbed for a time by a Peregrine, with Common Buzzard and Red Kite in view with it at other times. A male Whinchat was in the dam wall fields and 2 juv Spotted Flycatchers on the Tail Bay path. Female/juv Redstart in WLC fields. Adult Common Tern and Yellow-legged Gull off Stones/Watersports. Kingfisher in WLC creek. | Simon Roddis |
26/07/2024 | Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls again this morning. 18 Pochard. c20 Swifts drifting around. First hints of Woodpigeon movement this week, 96 S in an hour early(ish) morning. Reed, Sedge and Willow Warblers still singing, seems late, I'm wondering if they have failed to attract mates but feel compelled to keep on trying. | Simon Roddis |
25/07/2024 | An adult Turnstone was in flight off the dam wall at 06:20 this morning and the adult Caspian Gull again at Watersports. 80 Pied and 2 Grey Wagtails on the dam wall early morning. 6+ Spotted Flycatchers (at least 3 at Sheepwash and 3 at Lane End, adults and juvs). Redstart at Lane End and Reed Bunting feeding fledged young at Sheepwash. | Simon Roddis |
23/07/2024 | A Sanderling flew S past Stones island at 06:50 but not seen again. Adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls still. 1 redhead Goosander flew down the res. 47 Woodpigeons flew S and 4 N 06:15-06:50. 2 Common Sandpiper at sailing club. Juv Lesser Whitethroat in WLC creek. | Simon Roddis |
22/07/2024 | A handful of waders in the drizzle this morning: 2 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 7 Common Sandpipers, 20 Lapwing. Adult Caspian Gull still, plus 2 Yellow-legs and a Great Black-back. Peregrine over Hall Wood. | Simon Roddis |
21/07/2024 | Monthly wildfowl count (some figures include full-grown young): 405 Canada Geese, 2 Barnacle, 48 Greylag, 25 Mute Swan, 38 Gadwall, 120 Mallard, 19 Pochard, 179 Tufted, 11 Moorhen, 179 Coot, 8 Little Grebe, 67 GCGrebe, 13 Oystercatcher, 5 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 28 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron. Adult Caspian Gull again and 2 Yellow-legs (adult and sub-adult). 5 singing Reed Warblers. Juv Redstart in WLC fields. | Simon Roddis, Jon Bradley |
20/07/2024 | Forgot to mention a brood of 16(!) Tufted Ducklings from WLC this morning. | Simon Roddis |
20/07/2024 | A surprise this morning was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well for a few minutes in WLC creek mid-morning. 1 Redstart there too. 2 Shoveler at Millfields. 14+ Pochard. 2 Curlew and a Redshank on the dam wall. Adult Yellow-legged Gull still. 35 Pied Wagtails and 30 Swallows around the dam wall early morning. | Simon Roddis |
19/07/2024 | 1,500 Lesser Black-backs came into roost during the evening, with 1 Great Black-back and 2 Yellow-legs. 2 redhead Goosander also flew in and c100 Swallows past Sheepwash may have been going to roost in Hopton reedbed. | Simon Roddis |
19/07/2024 | This morning, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 15 Pochard, 4 Common Sandpiper, young male Kingfisher at WLC, family of Spotted Flycatchers still near Lane End. | Simon Roddis |
18/07/2024 | Quieter than yesterday but the adult Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls are still here. Adult Common Tern. 1 Shoveler. Adult and 2 juvenile LRPlover. In WLC creek, 2 singing Reed Warblers, singing Lesser Whitethroat and juvenile Redstart. | Simon Roddis |
17/07/2024 | Much better than I'd expected on a sunny morning in July. A drake Scaup was just off Stones island early morning before flying up to Sheepwash. 3 Common Scoter (1m,2f) also from Stones. 14 Pochard. A Black-tailed Godwit flew S over the main centre at 06:50. 3 Common Sandpipers on Stones. Adult Yellow-legged Gull at sailing club early morning, then sitting on various buoys, and an adult Caspian Gull at Watersports late morning. A Great Egret flew W up WLC creek at 07:15 and a Little Egret flew into Brown Ale Bay. Juvenile GSWoodecker at Millfields. At least 3 Skylarks in the dam wall fields. 72 species, my highest total since late April. | Simon Roddis |