| 2017-04-20 | Sedge warbler singing on Sailing club island. | Clive Ashton |
| 2017-04-19 | This morning the GN Diver, drake Red crested Pochard off Stones, 6 Whimbrel on Sailing Club Island until flew off at 08:05hr, 6 LRP, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, male Wheatear at Sheepwash, 4 White Wagtail. | CA,RC,AHS. |
| 2017-04-18 | Hopton end 3 Goldeneye, GBb Gull with missing foot, Grey Wagtail, Jay.
From Stones Island GN Diver, Bar tailed Godwit on the back of Sailing Club Island, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 6 LR Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, Raven.
WLC 3 Common Sandpiper. | CA,JB,AHS |
| 2017-04-17 | Great Northern Diver, Pink footed Goose, 3 Gadwall, still at least 5 Ringed Plover present, 4 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel through, 2 White Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1st summer Yellow legged Gull and Mediterranean Gull. | CA,JB,RC,AHS |
| 2017-04-16 | Hopton end to Flat Island, pair of Mandarin, pair of Goldeneye, 2 Common Sandpiper, pair of Little Ringed Plover around Flat Island, Lapwing sitting on Big Island also 5 Redshank and 3 pairs of Greylag there.
From Stones Island GN Diver occasionally flying around, 2 Shelduck, 1 Pink footed Goose, 7 Ringed Plover, 5+ LRP, 1 Dunlin, GBbG, 3 Herring Gull, adult Kittiwake at 09:35hr until 10:45hr, 3rd summer Yellow legged Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 5+ Buzzard, Raven, male Redstart, 3 pairs of Song Thrush, 2 White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit over.
Sheepwash 1 Dunlin. Millfields 4 pairs Barnacle Geese and 1st summer Mediterranean Gull. | CA,RC,JB,AHS |
| 2017-04-15 | GN Diver, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Gadwall, Mallard brood of 4, 7 Ringed Plover, 4 Little ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Wheatear on Watersports Island, 5 White Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Skylark over, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 1st summer Mediterranean Gull at Millfields, 10 Linnet on Stones Island. | Clive Ashton/Jon Bradley |
| 2017-04-14 | Osprey at Carsington water 13:00 made a failed attempt dive near shiningford creek then circled high and drifted north at 13:17. | Adrian Siddall |
| 2017-04-14 | Arctic Tern mid AM, Yellow Wagtail over Stones, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, Great Northern Diver and a leucistic Black-headed Gull on Millfields Island. | JB, AHS |
| 2017-04-14 | WeBS count for April - Great Northern Diver 1, Little Grebe 6, Great Crested Grebe 37, Cormorant 12, Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 5, Greylag Goose 9, Canada Goose 128, Barnacle Goose 14, Gadwall 3, Teal 11, Mallard 41, Tufted Duck 58, Goldeneye 4, Moorhen 8, Coot 72, Oystercatcher 12, Little Ringed Plover 4, Lapwing 8, Snipe 1, Redshank 11, Common Sandpiper 2, Turnstone 1. | JB, SJR |
| 2017-04-14 | morning between 10.00 and 12.00. Red Necked Grebe identified from photo at RSPB Coombe Valley reserve by warden who suggested I submit my sighting. It was near the osprey platforms. | Pam Harwood |
| 2017-04-13 | GN Diver still present,15 Barnacle Geese around site,3 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper around Stones Island,1 Snipe at WLC,1 Yellow Wagtail on Watersports Island. | Clive Ashton |
| 2017-04-10 | This morning from Stones Island 2 Little ringed Plovers, Great Northern Diver still present, 100 plus hirudines mainly Sand Martins but including 30 Swallows and 1 House Martin, Curlews heard as was Yellow Wagtail but unfortunately not seen. | Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-04-09 | Yellow Wagtail on Horseshoe Island this evening. Turnstone still on Stones Island plus 2 Willow Warblers. | Dave Newcombe |
| 2017-04-09 | Sandwich Tern briefly at 9:10am off Stones Island plus 2 on Horseshoe Island at 10:40am with at least 1 still present at 11:00. Mallard with a brood of 11 in Shiningford Creek, Turnstone on Watersports Island. | JB, CA |
| 2017-04-08 | Green Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Stock Dove & Blackcap at Tailbay. Also fox around Tailbay ponds. | John, Matkin |
| 2017-04-07 | An Osprey flew NW over Brown Ale Bay at 12:08, flushing a few ducks and gulls as it did so, but didn't stop. 1 Turnstone on Horseshoe island. The GNDiver still. 3 Gadwall. 1m Shoveler in BA Bay. 3 Golden Plover flew through. 2 LRP. 1 sum plum Dunlin at Sheepwash. 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull. 150 Sand Martins with 5+ Swallows and at least 1 House Martin. 10+ Linnets around Stones island. | SJR, CA, AHS, KR |
| 2017-04-06 | 1 House Martin among 100 Sand Martins and 5 Swallows in Sailing Club Bay this morning. The GNDiver still. 2 Gadwall. 2 female Goldeneye from Sheepwash. 24 Barnacle Geese in WLC fields. 2 Fieldfare north over WLC creek. 2 Mistle Thrush at Sheepwash. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-04-05 | This morning from Stones Island, Great Northern Diver still present, 50+ Sand Martins, 3 Swallows, 2 Shellduck, 1 Skylark plus the now good numbers of chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. | Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-04-04 | A Little Egret dropped in at 0845 and appeared to land in Brown Ale Bay but not seen again to 11:00. GNDiver still present. 7+ Swallows and 12+ Sand Martins. Male Mandarin in Fishtail and at least 3 Gadwall around. 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 1 LRP. | SJR, CA, AHS |
| 2017-04-01 | The GNDiver still. 8 Swallows and 50 Sand Martins on Stones. Whooper Swan briefly. 2 Wigeon. 2 LRP and 1 Ringed Plover. | SJR, JB, AHS |
| 2017-04-01 | Common Sandpiper - Millfields 12.10 | A and G Hattersley |
| 2017-03-31 | A Swallow briefly from Stones island this morning. The GNDiver still, 2 LRP, Ringed Plover, Willow Warbler on Stones, Blackcap at Millfields, 20+ Sand Martins, pair Gadwall, female Goosander. | SHR, RC, AHS |
| 2017-03-30 | 0620-1125: the GNDiver still, off Stones. 2 Willow Warblers (WLC and Stones) and a Common Sandpiper (Stones) were the first of the year. 20 Sand Martins arrived during a rain shower mid-morning. 1 Herring Gull. 2 GBbG. 1 Redwing at Hopton. 5 Grey Wags out of Hopton reedbed early morning. 3 Linnet and 2 Lesser Redpoll on Stones. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-29 | The GNDiver still, 2 drake Common Scoter, 7 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall (Brown Ale Bay), 18 Barnacles, 11 Greylags, 1 LRP display flighting on Stones, 1 Dunlin, 32 Carrion Crows on the dam wall early morning, 1 Raven, 3 Skylark, 5+ Sand Martin and male Wheatear on Stones. | Simon Roddis, Clive Ashton |
| 2017-03-28 | Misty AM, 2 Curlew, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Lapwing, 6 Snipe at Sheepwash, also 2 Shoveler and 1 Grey Wagtail at Lane End
WLC: 8 Snipe, 8 Sand Martin through, Great Northern Diver, 10 Barnacle Geese, 1 Greylag, 8 Tree Sparrow, 2 Willow Tit, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 6 Teal, c.300 Jackdaw over Carsington pastures
No sign of yesterday's Grey Plover. | James Owen |
| 2017-03-28 | Very foggy this morning so I decided to do another Tree Sparrow survey, I managed to count 23 Tree Sparrows and also found a singing male Blackcap. | Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-03-27 | Stones island, 1730-1915: this must be the best time of day to see the GNDiver, quite close and in great light from Stones. 2 LRP, 3 Curlew and 1 Dunlin. 600 Common Gulls roosting, 150 LBbGs, 1 GBbG, 1 Herring Gull and 1 1st-winter Yellow-legged. 33 Pied Wags. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-27 | 0800-1100: Alan and I did a count of singing birds this morning, taking one side of the reservoir each. Totals were: 93 Chiffchaffs, 104 Wrens, 104 Robins (yes, identical numbers of Wren and Robin), 14 Blackbirds, 20 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 31 Dunnock, 11 Chaffinch, 1 Skylark. Also: The GNDiver still present, a winter plumage Grey Plover on Horseshoe island, pair of Gadwall in Brown Ale Bay, pair of Mandarin, 13 Oystercatcher, 6 Redshank, 1st-w GBBG, 11 GS Woodpecker, 4 Redwing, 31 Bullfinch. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-03-26 | 0615-1000: the GNDiver still from Stones. 1 LRP on Watersports island. 14 Curlew. 8 GBbGulls. 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Mandarins at Hopton reedbed early morning. 12 Greylags. 24 Lesser Redpolls. | SJR, CA, RC |
| 2017-03-24 | Black-necked Grebe off Dam Wall at 6:00pm, 2 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull in roost. | John Bradley |
| 2017-03-24 | Yesterday's possible Red-necked Grebe was looked for but not seen this morning. The GNDiver was still present, and LRP again on Watersports island. 3 Greylags. 1 Mandarin. Pair of Goosander. 8 Goldeneye at Sheepwash. 11 Buzzards. 3 Curlew. 2 Jack Snipe in Hopton reedbed early morning. 'One-foot' the juv GBbG still there. 2 Raven at Lane End. 5 Willow Tits. 2 Skylark. | SJR, AHS, CA |
| 2017-03-23 | I had a visitor at Coombes Valley today who'd just been to Carsington. They showed me a photo that they'd taken (today) of a 'strange' grebe. It was slightly blurred, but it look rather like a winter Red-necked Grebe. From what they told me, it sounds like they saw it from Lane Ends Hide.
Worth checking out?
Regards,
Paul | Paul Bennett |
| 2017-03-23 | 1 Little Ringed Plover this morning, first on Watersports island then later on Horseshoe island with a Ringed Plover. The GNDiver still. 4 Shoveler (3m,1f) and male Gadwall, at first at Millfields then at the WLC. 1f Goosander, 1f Mandarin and 1 Kingfisher at Millfields. 19 Cormorant. 1 Grey Heron. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-03-22 | The GNDiver still present. 3 Dunlin on the Stones causeway were new. There's a one-footed 1st-winter GBbG around at the moment, it was at Sheepwash around 10:00. And also in the last few days I've seen Common Gulls sitting on the water, stretching their heads up and braying, just like Herrings and LBbGs do, though not quite as loud! I've not seen Commons doing that before. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-21 | Afternoon visit full curcuit of the res great northern diver from lane end hide.8 little grebes.2 grey herons.11 cormorants.7 mute swans.189 canada geese.16 barnacle geese.2 greylag geese (inc orange neck collar bird ppx).15 teal.drk shoveler.80 tufted ducks.17 goldeneyes (7 drakes).13 oystercatchers.12 curlew.9 redshank.2 lapwings.3 moorhens.male wheatear still on the dam wall late afternoon. | Chris brown |
| 2017-03-21 | The GNDiver still. 4 Mandarins (2 pairs) at Millfields. 3 Goosander. 6+ Redshank. 1 1st-winter Herring Gull. 1+ Peregrine. Skylark singing on the dam wall. 15 Starling E. 12 Redwing. Male Wheatear on the dam wall. 11 Bullfinch at Millfields including a party of 9 (5m,4f). | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-20 | 1130-1630: the highlight was an early Osprey which flew W over Stones island at 14:25, the earliest ever at Carsington by 6 days. The GNDiver was between Stones and Millfields. 21 Barnacle Geese on Horseshoe island. 4 Greylags. Maybe as many as 15 Buzzards in the air - 8 down the east side, 7 on the west. An immature, probably female, Peregrine. 3 sub-ad Herring Gull. 1 ad GBbG. 5 Stock Doves. 120 Starlings E. 2 Linnet and 3 Lesser Redpolls on Stones. | Simon Roddis, Roger Carrington |
| 2017-03-17 | 0550-1140: the GNDiver still. 4 Greylags including the neck-collar, 25 Barnacles, 4 Wigeon, 36 Curlew on Stones early morning, 1 imm GBbG, 3 Herring Gull, 2 Raven at Millfields, 20 Redwing, male Wheatear on the dam wall, 1 Lesser Redpoll on Stones, 12 Siskin. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-16 | Greylag Goose with red neck ring Hopton end island.
Unable to read the number | Ian Scrimshaw |
| 2017-03-16 | The GNDiver still this morning, and a male Wheatear on the dam wall. 3 Greylags. 12 Barnacle Geese. Pair of Mandarins. Female Goosander. 2 Grey Herons. The Ruff from Sheepwash. 1 imm Herring Gull. 5 Stock Dove. 1 Raven. 30 Redwing. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-15 | Highlights from circular walk (0815-1230): Ruff in Brown Ale Bay, 6 Goldeneye (4m,2f) off Big Island, Jack Snipe flushed from Hopton reedbed, Sparrowhawk in Hall Wood, Buzzard on ground in field just behind Hall Wood, Gt Northern Diver off Stones, Cetti's Warbler on Stones (51 species in all). Also 2 Comma and 2 Brimstone butterflies. | Gary Atkins |
| 2017-03-15 | The GNDiver still, from Stones. 3 Wigeon. 2 Shoveler. 5 Greylags. 3 Grey Heron. The Ruff still, at Sheepwash. 8+ Redshank. 3 Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcock at Hopton reedbed early morning. 13 Feral Pigeons in Tail Bay. Green Woodpecker calling in Tail Bay early morning. Cetti's Warbler singing on Stones. 150 Starlings through. Only 2 Grey Wags out of Hopton reedbed early morning. 3 Linnets. | SJR, AHS, CA |
| 2017-03-14 | This morning, the GNDiver still, 25 Barnacle Geese, 3 Greylags including one with an orange neck collar, 1 Ringed Plover on Watersports island, 1 Dunlin, Tawny Owl calling down the Tail Bay track, 1 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin through, Cetti's Warbler singing on Stones, 15 Chiffchaff between Sheepwash and Tail Bay, 7 Meadow Pipits on the dam wall, 27 Tree Sparrows. | Simon Roddis, Alan Stewardson |
| 2017-03-13 | Afternoon visit great northern diver.5 little grebe.grey heron.18 cormorants.5 mute swan.148 canada geese.7 greylag geese.25 barnacle geese.23 teal.21 wigeon.12 goldeneye.2 common scoter 1 male.ruff and dunlin(at sheepwash).9 lapwing.4 redshank.12 oystercatchers | Chris brown/dave newcombe |
| 2017-03-13 | This morning, the GNDiver still, pair of Common Scoter, pair of Goosander, 3 Wigeon, 7 Greylags, 1 Ringed Plover, the Ruff still, 1 Dunlin, ad GBbG, Kingfisher at Millfields, Cetti's Warbler singing on Stones, 12 Chiffchaff, 10 Bullfinch (8 at Millfields). | SJR, AHS, RC |
| 2017-03-12 | This morning, the GNDiver still, 2 Shelduck, 3 Mandarin, 7 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, the Ruff still, 2 Dunlin, 2 JackSnipe at Hopton reedbed early morning, ad GBbG, 2 Herring Gull, Cettis' Warbler on Stones island still, 18 Chiffchaff, 250 Starling E. | SJR, CA, AHS |
| 2017-03-11 | March WeBS count - Great Northern Diver 1, Little Grebe 7, Great Crested Grebe 56, Cormorant 25, Grey Heron 2, Mute Swan 8, Greylag Goose 5, Canada Goose 110, Barnacle Goose 21, Shelduck 1, Teal 50, Mallard 71, Pintail 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 63, Goldeneye 13, Goosander 2, Moorhen 7, Coot 242, Oystercatcher 19, Lapwing 5, Dunlin 1, Ruff 1, Snipe 35, Curlew 34, Redshank 8, Kingfisher 1. Plus Sand Martin thru N over Stones 0850hrs, Cetti's Warbler singing on Stones, 2+Chiffchaff and 10 Common Buzzards over Blackwall Plantation. | JB, SJR, AHS |
| 2017-03-10 | The main event this morning was a party of 7 AVOCETS, on Stones from 0725 to 0850 and then moving up to Sheepwash. They flew around a couple of times as if they wanted to leave but were put off by the murky weather. Still at Sheepwash to 1120 at least. Also: the GNDiver still, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Greylags, 23 Barnacle Geese, 4 Wigeon, 6 Goldeneye, 22 Curlew, the Ruff, 78 Common Snipe at WLC, ad GBbG, female Kingfisher at Millfields, 1 Skylark, Cetti's Warbler on Stones, 2 Chiffchaff (Stones and Sheepwash), 120 Redwing, 2 Linnet, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 15 Goldfinch. | SJR, CA, RC |
| 2017-03-09 | This afternoon, the GNDiver off Millfields, 21 Barnacle Geese at WLC, 2 Shelduck on Stones, 20 Cormorant, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, ad GBbG, 5 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 15 Common Snipe, Cetti's Warbler on Stones. Late pm at Hopton reedbed, Water Rail calling, 1 Woodcock, 1 Peregrine, 150 Starlings N. | Simon Roddis |
| 2017-03-07 | Very much the usual suspects this morning: GNDiver, Cetti's Warbler, 5 Curlew, ad GBbG etc. The main event was some extreme aggro between Mute Swans at PS hide, which started rather oddly when 2 birds flew in from the east and one of them hit a tree and crash-landed on the shore of the res. When it regained its composure it swam across towards PSH after the other bird of the two. A pair of swans were already at PSH and they took exception to the new arrivals: one of them repeatedly chased one of the new birds away (a female based on the slimness of its neck). I assume that the chasing bird was also a female but it did seem to have a rather stout neck so I'm not certain about that. The other birds, both males based on their thick necks and large knobs at the base of the bill, had a real set-to, a full-on fight, grabbing each other's wings with their bills amid lots of wing-flapping and splashing. One of them, I assume the male that had already been present, got the upper hand and repeatedly grabbed the other one's head and neck with its bill. They came out of the water and for some minutes the 'winning' bird actually stood on top of the other bird, holding its neck with its bill all the while. The 'losing'' bird broke free and ran towards the hide, the other one hot on its tail until they reached the bank behind the feeder to the right of the hide, when it again grabbed the losing bird's neck and held it down. This carried on for a while longer until I managed to catch their attention and they separated, the losing bird managing to escape over the water and the winner washing and preening itself after its exertions. I don't know how long this might have gone on had they not separated, but I suspect that the losing bird would have come out even worse than it did. I was surprised that the second bird of the initial pair didn't return, at least while I was there, so it will be interesting to see if there are any further developments there. | Simon Roddis |
