Thursday 18th September 2014

Of note 1530 - Sparrowhawk (1 over, see photo), Buzzard 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 31, Herring Gull 2, Yellow-legged Gull, Black-headed Gull 60+, Lapwing 64, Cormorant 5, Great Crested Grebe 3, Moorhen 4, Mute Swan 3.

Also seen - Red Admiral, Small White. (GWR)

Monday 15th September 2014

0830 - 0930, misty start : Common Sandpiper, Lapwing 81, Cormorant 10, L B B Gull 13, B H Gull 144, Mute Swan 3, Great Crested Grebe 2, Teal 4, Tufted 7, Mallard 50+, Coot 10+, Moorhen 4, Heron 2, Canada's 80+, Grey Wagtail 4, Pied Wagtail 1 + 1 at Westgate, Long-tailed Tit 8, Dunnock 2, Robin, Wren, Blue Tit 3, Starling 25, Magpie 4, C Crow 5, Wood Pigeon 8, House Martin 20 at Barns Lane. Photo = Black-headed Gulls feeding at elderberries, 14th Sept.2014.

Sunday 14th September 2014

1600 - 1730 : Sparrowhawk (seen 3 times), Buzzard, Lapwing 99, put up twice by Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Greylag, Canada's 100+, Heron 4, Mute Swan 2, Teal 2, Tufted 7, Mallard 50+, Coot 13, Moorhen 7, Great Crested Grebe 4, L B B Gull 4, B H Gull 90, some feeding at elderberry bush, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit 12, Blue Tit, Great Tit 3, Dunnock 2, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Starling 18, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit 4. Wood Pigeon 20+, Stock Dove 2, Feral Pigeon 2.

Also seen - Speckled Wood 2, Southern Hawker. Photo - Long-tailed Tit. (GWR)

Saturday 13th September 2014

0930 - 1030 : Grey Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 3, Willow Warbler, Swallow 5, Long-tailed Tit 4, Cormorant 4, Heron 4, Mute Swan 3, Teal 2, Mallard 50+, Tufted 7, Coot 15, Moorhen 5, Great Crested Grebe 4, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull 5, Black-headed Gull 98, Lapwing 14, Canada's 50+, Buzzard, Dunnock (photo), Robin 2, Wren, Great Tit 3, Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon 10, Jackdaw 5, Carrion Crow 3, Magpie 6, Starling 4.

Speckled Wood also seen.(GWR)

Friday 12th September 2014

0915 - 1015 : Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 3, Swallow 7, House Martin 4, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler, Lapwing 35, Cormorant 5, Mute Swan 3, Heron 3, Great Crested Grebe 4, L B B Gull 4, Black-headed Gull 102, Tufted 7, Mallard 50+, Coot 13, Moorhen 6, Canada's 55, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 3 , Greenfinch 2, Starling 35, Robin 2, Jackdaw 6, Carrion Crow 7, Magpie 10, Wood Pigeon 50.

Photo : Pied/White Wagtails 10/09/14. (GWR)

Thursday 11th September 2014

0915 - 1015 : Buzzard (juvenile bird being fed by adult at quarry), Jay, Jackdaw 4, Carrion Crow 5, Magpie 5, Greylag, Canada's 100+, Lapwing 100+, Teal 2, Tufted 14, Mallard 50+, Cormorant, Mute Swan 2 + juv, L B B Gull 3, Herring Gull, B H Gull 80+, Moorhen 3, Coot 12, Starling 7, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff 2, Meadow Pipit 2 over, Goldfinch 2, Greenfinch 2, Long-tailed Tit 8, Great Tit 5, Blue Tit 3, Wren, Dunnock 2, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon 20+.

Photo's - young Buzzard at the brickworks quarry. Also seen - Red Admiral, Speckled Wood 8, Southern Hawker, Common Darter 2. (GWR)

Wednesday 10th September 2014

0900 - 1000 light mist, becoming sunny 15c : Little Grebe (distant shots enclosed), Great Crested Grebe 2, Cormorant 5, Heron 3, Mute Swan 2 + juv., Canada Goose 2, Tufted 10, Teal, Mallard 40+, Coot 9, Moorhen 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Black-headed Gull 110, Lapwing 125, Meadow Pipit 3 over, Swallow, House Martin 8, Chiffchaff still in song, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Starling 7, Jackdaw 2, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 5, Long-tailed Tit 3, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Greenfinch 2, Wood Pigeon 20+

Also seen - Southern Hawker, Small White, Speckled Wood. (GWR)

Monday 8th September 2014

1530 - 1615 : Jay, Carrion Crow 3, Jackdaw 2, Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit 4, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Robin 3, Greenfinch 3, Goldfinch 2, Starling 4, Cormorant 4, Mute Swan 3, Lapwing 115, Herring Gull 4, Lesser Black-backed Gull 15, Black-headed Gull 80+, Tufted 13, Moorhen 3, Coot 15, Great Crested Grebe 2, plus usual Mallard/Canada's.

Also seen - Southern Hawker 2, Common Darter 4, Speckled Wood 7, Small White. Photo : Herring Gull and friends. (GWR)

Sunday 7th September 2014

Of note at 0800 - Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper (2 over).

Photo - Coot. (PPN)

Saturday 6th September 2014

0845 - 0915 : Grey Wagtail 2, 1 pictured, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing 133, Cormorant 8, Great Crested Grebe 6, Heron 3, Mute Swan 2 + juv, Lesser Black-backed Gull 21, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull 100+, Moorhen 4, Coot 15, Tufted 9, Mallard 50+, Canada Goose, only 1, then 32 flew in...,Teal 3, Jay in hedge then flew over Swag, Jackdaw 8, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 3, Blackbird, Robin 2, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Wood Pigeon 10+, Starling 31, Swallow 5. Buzzard seen later on.

(GWR)

Monday 1st September 2014

1400 - 1445 : Lapwing 115, L B B Gull 39, Herring Gull 1, B H Gull 70+, Cormorant 6, Mute Swan 3, Moorhen 4, Coot 8, Pied Wagtail 2, Swallow 5, Starling 42, Carrion Crow 2, Magpie 4, Robin, Dunnock.

Saturday 30th August 2014

1845 - 2000 : Swift 8, Swallow 35, L B B Gull 16, B H Gull 100+, some feeding on berries of Elder bush!, Lapwing 110, Jackdaw 225 to north-west in loose flocks, Mute Swan 3, Great Crested Grebe 2, Moorhen 6, Coot 10, Heron 2, Tufted Duck 6, Feral White duck, Mallard 50+, Canada's 100+, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch male, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Starling 10, Wood Pigeon 15, Feral Pigeon 4 at Westgate, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 3.

Friday 29th August 2014

1420 - 1520 strong SW winds - L B B Gull 111, B H Gull 150+, Herring Gull 8, Cormorant 7, Greylag 2, Heron, Mute Swan 3, Tufted 4, Coot 20+, Moorhen, Swift 3, Sand Martin 2, Swallow 10, Pied Wagtail 2, Jay, Starling 70+ feeding at elderberries, Lapwing 95, Canada's 150+, Mallard 50+, White Duck, Jackdaw 6, Carrion Crow 3, Magpie 2, Wood Pigeon 8. Also two Sparrowhawks were seen circling over at 1620 on 28th June.

Photo's show one of two Yellow-legged Gulls this afternoon. The mantle was certainly a paler shade of grey than the surrounding Lesser Black-backed's, but there was no red orbital ring. (GWR)

Tuesday 26th August 2014

Of note at 1120 - Swift 8, Lapwing 50+, Mute Swan 3, L B B Gull 2, Great Crested Grebe.

Friday 22nd August 2014.

1030 - Cormorant 6, Lapwing 7, L B B Gull 7, B H Gull 61, Pied Wagtail, Tufted 2, Moorhen 3, Coot 12+, Mute Swan 3, Heron 4, Greylag, Starling 6, Willow Warbler, Wren, Robin, Greenfinch, Swallow 8, House Martin 2, plus usual numbers of Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Mallard & Canada's.

Photo's - Lapwing flocks on 16th August. (GWR)

Tuesday 19th August 2014

0930 - 1000 cold north-westerly : Swift 2, House Martin 8, Swallow 5, Cormorant 10, Heron, Mute Swan 3, Lapwing 131, Teal, Moorhen 3, Coot 20+, Jackdaw 27 over, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 2, Starling 20, Buzzard, L B B Gull 17, B H Gull 40+, Wren, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail 3 at Westgate.

Photo - Swift in silhouette 17th August. (GWR)

Saturday 16th August 2014

Of note 1100 - Buzzard, Lapwing 54, Lesser Black-backed Gull 25, Cormorant 4, Heron, Greylag, Moorhen 4, Tufted 4, Mute Swan 3, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 3, Wren, Collared Dove. 8 Swifts seen flying around at 2030.

(GWR)

Friday 15th August 2014

0930 - 1000 (12c) : Kingfisher, Cormorant 7, Heron 2,, Greylag, Lapwing 38, L B B Gull 22, B H Gull 60, Mute Swan 3, Moorhen 4, Coot 15, Pied Wagtail 2, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin 2, Swift 2, Starling 10, Goldfinch 3, Magpie 6, Carrion Crow 3, Wood Pigeon 10+, Mallard 50+, Canada's 100+.

(GWR)

Monday 11th August 2014

1200 - 1220 (v.windy) - L B B Gull 20, Herring Gull 2, B H Gull 16, Heron, Mute Swan 3, Cormorant 4, Greylag, Moorhen 6, Lapwing 77, Pied Wagtail 3, Greenfinch, Jackdaw 2, Sand Martin etc.

Photo - juvenile Cormorant. (GWR)

Saturday 9th August 2014

Of note 0915 - Great Black-backed Gull 4, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Cormorant 8, Mute Swan 2 + juv., Heron 3, Greylag, Lapwing 100+, Canada's 100+, G C Grebe, Swallow 5, Sand Martin 3, Willow Warbler.

Photo - Swallow (probably a young bird) on lamp post today. (GWR)

Friday 8th August 2014

0945 - 1015 : Cormorant 2 juv, Heron 4, Mute Swan pair + cyg., Canada's 100+, Greylag, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 133, G C Grebe 2, Coot 12, Moorhen 5, White Duck, Mallard 50+, B H Gull 5, L B B Gull 4, Swift 6, Swallow 5, House Martin 5, Starling 8 juv,. Robin, Wren, Greenfich, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Jackdaw 6, Carrion Crow 7, Magpie 2, Wood Pigeon 12+, Buzzard 2 soaring over later.

Also seen - Vapourer, Comma (missing hindwing, see photo), Peacock 3, Small White, Meadow Brown.

Sunday 3rd August 2014

Fairly quiet again, all 3 hirundines seen + swifts.

Photo : Sand Martin. (PPN)

Friday 1st August 2014

Attention ! - visits to the site to be reduced to two or three per week from August, with perhaps a once-weekly bird count.. Little of interest today at 1430 - L B B Gull 18, Herring Gull 2, Heron 4, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing 100+.

Thursday 31st July 2014

Not much around at 1530, only Cormorant 2, L B B Gull 2, Swallow 5 & Mute Swan pair of any note.

Photo : Ringlet on 21/06/14.

Wednesday 30th July 2014

0900 - 0930 : Cormorant 2, G C Grebe 2, Mute Swan 2, Heron, Oystercatcher 2, Lapwing 118, L B B Gull 8, B H Gull 80+, Moorhen 2, Coot 12, Common Tern, Swallow 6, Swift 15, Sand Martin 20+, House Martin 8, Mistle Thrush 6 chasing Sparrowhawk across Swag, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 4, plus usuals.

Photo - Small Copper in meadow alongside the canal towards Park Lime Pits.

Tuesday 29th July 2014

1100 - Cormorant 7, Lapwing 128, G C Grebe 2 juvs, Moorhen 4, Coot 12, Common Tern 2, Swallow 2, L B B Gull 3, B H Gull 70, Greylag, Mute Swan pair + cyg., Heron 1 + 3 at brickworks field.

Photo - Lapwing in flight.

Monday 28th July 2014

1000 : Common Tern 2, L B B Gull 2, Cormorant 3, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 133, Heron, Moorhen 2, Coot 14, Mute Swan 2, White Feral duck, Greylag, Goldfinch 2, etc.

Photo - yet another shot of the Stubbers Green swan cygnet. (PPN / GWR)

Sunday 27th July 2014

0915 - 1030 (incl. footpath) : Lapwing 102, Cormorant 6, Common Tern 2, B H Gull 8, L B B Gull 2, Heron 2, G C Grebe 2, Coot 15, Moorhen 3, Canada's 150+, Mallard 50+, Tufted 4, Linnet 4, Goldfinch 3, Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow 8, Swift 4, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon 30, Magpie 2, Carrion Crow 4, Jackdaw 3, Song Thrush, Blackbird 3, Starling 8, Wren 2, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit 6, Great Tit 2 Blue Tit 5, Willow Warbler 4, Chiffchaff, Blackcap female,

Also seen - Peacock 6, Small Tortoiseshell, Hedge Brown 35, Meadow Brown 3, Speckled Wood 4, Green-veined White 3, Small White, Six Spot Burnet 4 (see photo). Common Hawker 2. (GWR)

Saturday 26th July 2014

1030 : Stock Dove, Lapwing 63, Oystercatcher, Common Tern 2, Swift 12, Heron 4, Greylag, Canada's 150+, Black-headed Gull 100+, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted 4, Moorhen 2, Coot 12+, Mallard 50+, Starling 8, Goldfinch.

Photo - Whitethroat in song (30/04/14). (GWR)

Friday 25th July 2014

Of note 1030 : Mute Swan 3 across road, Common Tern 3, Cormorant 3, Lapwing 41, Heron 3 at brickworks field, Tufted 4, Moorhen 2, Swift 4, Swallow, G C Grebe 2, B H Gull 100+.

Thursday 24th July 2014

0945 - 1030 : Great Crested Grebe 1 + 2 juvenile birds (see photo), Cormorant 3, Heron 2, Mute Swan 2 + cyg., Lapwing 41 + 14 on brickworks field, Black-headed Gull 101, Common Tern, Moorhen 2, Coot 10, Mallard 50+, Canada's 150+, Swift 2, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Linnet 2, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird 2, Robin, Long-tailed Tit 12+, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit, Starling 10, Jackdaw 6, Magpie 3, Carrion Crow 5.

Also seen - Hedge Brown 12, Ringlet 2, Speckled Wood 2, Meadow Brown 4, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock 2, Green-veined White 2, Brown Hawker. (GWR)

Wednesday 23rd July 2014

1015 - Cormorant 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair + cyg, B H Gull 150+, Canada's 200+, Lapwing 40+, Swallow, Swift 5, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackcap male, Blackbird female, Carrion Crow 6, Magpie 3 etc. Photo : Mute Swan cygnet on 19th July.

Tuesday 22nd July 2014

1630 - Black-headed Gull 322, Lapwing 101, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan pair + cygnet, Heron, Starling 15, Coot 20+, Mallard 50+, Canada's 180+.

Photo - worn Ringlet with male Hedge Brown (Gatekeeper) from 16th July 2014. (GWR)

Monday 21st July 2014

1930 - Lapwing 97, Heron 2, Coot 20, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Swift 2, Long-tailed Tit 11, Starling 12, Chaffinch, Song Thrush.

Pic : 3 Cormorants wing-drying on 16th July 2014.

Sunday 20th July 2014

1130 - 1215 : Kestrel, Cormorant, Heron, Greylag, Mute Swan pair + cygnet, Lapwing 3, Black-headed Gull 5, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Common Tern 2, Coot 21, Moorhen 2, Tufted 4. Mallard 35+, Canada's 150+, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Swift 2, Sand Martin 3, Goldfinch, Greenfinch 2, Wren, Blackbird, Magpie 6, Carrion Crow 4, Jackdaw 3, Wood Pigeon 6.

Also seen - Small Tortoiseshell 2, Meadow Brown, Hedge Brown, Small White. Photo - Heron and Lapwings.

Saturday 19th July 2014

1430 (water levels up after night rain) - Chiffchaff, Swift 4, Lapwing 7, Greylag, Pied Wagtail, B H Gull 3, Mute Swan, Moorhen 2, Mistle Thrush etc.

Photo - Wood Pigeon on nestbox, Veolia. (GWR)

Friday 18th July 2014

1350 - 1430 (scorching hot, to 30c) : Lapwing 94, Oystercatcher 3, Black-headed Gull 199, L B B Gull 6, Herring Gull, Common Tern 2, Cormorant, Heron 3, Mute Swan 2 + cyg., Moorhen 3, Coot 12+, Buzzard 2 over Swan Pool, poss. Hobby but only glimpsed momentarily, Swift 2, Sand Martin 2, Whitethroat pair, Sedge Warbler, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Starling 12 + usual crows & geese/ducks.

Also seen - Comma, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock (new brood), Latticed Heath, Ringlet 4, Green-veined White 2, Brown Hawker. Photo - Cinnabar larvae on Ragwort. (GWR)

Thursday 17th July 2014

Brief visit at 1430 : Cormorant, Oystercatcher 3, Lapwing 77, Heron 2, Black-headed Gull 120+, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Common Tern 2, Moorhen 3, Swift 3, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw 2, plus usual geese & ducks.

Photo : male Linnet on 16th July 2014. (GWR)

Wednesday 16th July 2014

0900 - 1000 : Cormorant 4, Heron 4, G C Grebe 2, Lapwing 57, B H Gull 61, L B B Gull 4, Common Tern 3, Mute Swan 2 + cyg., Coot 12+, Moorhen 4, Tufted 6, Mallard 30+, Canada's 200+, Swift 8, Sand Martin 4, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat pair, Skylark 2, Linnet 2, Goldfinch 5, Greenfinch 4, Robin 2, Wren 3, Starling 25, Blackbird 2, Jackdaw 9, Carrion Crow 5, Magpie 5, Wood Pigeon 6, Blue Tit 4, Mistle Thrush (at Westgate).

Also seen - Small Tortoiseshell 3, Small White 2, Large White, Ringlet 10, Hedge Brown 12, Meadow Brown 2, Latticed Heath, Cinnabar 20 larvae. Photo's show a male House Sparrow on 13th July with Peacock larva. (GWR)

Tuesday 15th July 2014

1000 - 1030 : Oystercatcher 3, Lapwing 35, B H Gull 105, L B B Gull 4, Common Tern, Heron 4, Mute Swan 2 + cyg, Cormorant, G C Grebe, Moorhen, Coot 12, Tufted 6, Mallard 50+, Canada's 200+, Swift 12, Swallow, Skylark, Robin, Wren, Starling 20, Blackbird 3, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Magpie 3, Carrion Crow 4, Wood Pigeon 7.

Photo - Sedge Warbler on 13th July 2014. (GWR)

Monday 14th July 2014

Of note at 1000 : Canada Geese 252, Black-headed Gull 110, Lapwing 66 + 11 at brickworks field, Cormorant 3, Mute Swan 2 + cygnet, Heron 2, G C Grebe, Greylag, Common Tern, Swift 2, Swallow 3, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard 2.

Photo : female Hedge Brown (or Gatekeeper). (GWR)

Sunday 13th July 2014

1000 - 1120 drizzly start : Skylark, Sand Martin 20, House Martin 12, Swift 15, Swallow, Cormorant 2 (1 pictured), Heron 2, Great Crested Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing 71, Teal, Tufted 14, Mallard 30+, White Feral Duck, Greylag, Canada's 150+ (incl. 2 birds with red rings), Mute Swan pair + cygnet, Coot 35, Moorhen 3, Common Tern, L B B Gull 2, Black-headed Gull 65, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 5, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet 5, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 3, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow 6, Magpie 6, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon 7, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow (with Peacock larva), Dunnock, Wren 2, Starling 25, Robin, Blackbird 2, Blue Tit, Buzzard 2. (44 species)

Also seen - Small Tortoiseshell, Small White 2, Meadow Brown. (GWR)

Saturday 12th July 2014

1000 - 1130 incl. footpath : Mute Swan pair, Cormorant, Heron 3, Greylag, Canada's 150+, Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Tufted 8, Mallard 50+, Coot 20+, Moorhen 5 incl juvs, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull 81, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Lapwing 51, Swift 12, Sand Martin 2, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler 2, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail 2, Linnet 6, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 3, Wren 2, Dunnock 2, Starling juv., Robin 2 + juv., Blackbird pair, Magpie 6, Carrion Crow 7, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon 7, Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon 2, Buzzard, Blue Tit 5, Great Tit 3. (41 species).

Also seen - Red Admiral (female laying on stinging nettle, pictured), Small Tortoiseshell 5, Small White 4, Green-veined White 2, Large White 3, Small Skipper 20+, Large Skipper 2, Ringlet 30+, Meadow Brown 25+, Hedge Brown 12, Latticed Heath 5, Yellow Shell 2, Cinnabar (2 + 20 larvae on ragwort), Narrow-bordered 5 Spot Burnet 3, Brown Hawker 2. (GWR)

Friday 11th July 2014

1600 - Cormorant, Common Tern 2, Herring Gull 4, Lesser Black-backed Gull 5, Black Headed Gull 22, Lapwing 64, Coot 14, Tufted Duck 12, Mallard 41, White Feral Duck, Canada Goose 150+, Heron, Jackdaw 2, Swift 5, Starling 8, Wood Pigeon 7, Buzzard. (PJR/LB/GWR)