Another Wood Sandpiper was a new arrival on the north shore, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 10 Common Sandpiper and 5 LRP were present. Our local Barn Owl chicks were ringed this morning with 3 present. Also 2 Little Owls including an adult and a fledged juvenile were in the same area. A Hobby and Red Kite flew over. 20 Shoveler were counted.
A brood of 4 Pochard ducklings were along the Gazebo bay continuing the important run of breeding records for several years now. 4 juvenile Shelduck flew in this morning. 7 Common Sandpiper were along the dam, also 6 LRP were on the north shore. A Goshawk and Red Kite were at the west end early afternoon. A pair of Common Tern are feeding young on the Tern raft.
The main item of news received today was a dark morph Honey Buzzard over the reservoir between 12.20-12.30pm when it spiralled high and lost to view. This is the first record since 2 birds in August 2014. A Goshawk was seen off the west track, also a Red Kite was noted.
A 1st summer Hobby (photo) was catching dragonflies at the west end this afternoon, also 2 Red Kite flew over. Teal continue to increase with 29 today. At least 2 Common Sandpiper were noted.
A returning adult Wood Sandpiper (photo) was a new arrival on the north shore, also 4 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. A juvenile Little Grebe at the west end was new. Teal have increased to 12. The first brood of 7 Tufted Duck chicks were at the west end, also 2 new Gadwall broods of 10 and 9. 3 Mute Swan cygnets from the Gazebo bay have appeared this afternoon. An imm Peregrine was noted.
The Grasshopper Warbler continues to reel in the west marsh. 9 Common Sandpiper and 4 LRP were present. 2 Red Kite were over the car park this afternoon. 1 Little Egret were noted.
The Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling in the west marsh but proving impossible to see. 2 Red Kite flew over this morning. 2 Yellow Wagtail were off the west track. 5 Common Sandpiper were along the dam wall, also 3 Little Egret were present. 581 Coot were counted. A single Shelduck was noted.
A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the west Marsh this morning. 2 juvenile Stonechat were off the west track. The pair of Oystercatcher on the Tern raft have fledged one chick this morning. 5 Common Sandpiper, 56 Lapwing and 5 LRP were present. 2 pairs of GC Grebe have hatched young with 1 and 2 chicks. A Red Kite and Peregrine flew over. 3 Goosander were present early morning.
4 Common Sandpiper were along the dam also 5 LRP were present. A Red Kite was east of the dam this afternoon. 14 Shoveler, 6 Teal and 65 Tufted Duck were counted. A Little Egret was noted.
2 Common Sandpiper were on the Chappell bund, also 7 LRP and 40 Lapwing were present. A juvenile Tawny Owl was seen in the reservoir plantation early morning. A Red Kite flew over late afternoon. A Little Egret was at the west end.
This evening, news came out that a Stone Curlew had been found at Wolverhampton Racecourse. The bird was still there thanks to Kevin Clements for arranging access. The bird was stood in the middle of the racecourse on the freshly mowed grass. It is only the 4th record for the Old Staffordshire county and the first twitchable bird. The bird was found by one of the groundsman this afternoon, who knew it was something unusual but didn't know what it was. Thankfully he showed initiative to post a photo he had taken on social media. A Video of the bird can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iJVQLzdy_o
Not much to report today other than 3 Common Sandpiper and 8 LRP including the first juvenile from elsewhere.
An Osprey was seen twice this afternoon. The first time between 1.20-1.30pm and again at 3.50-4pm when it drifted high east.2 Red Kite flew over this afternoon. A Common Sandpiper was along the dam. 8 Teal, 1 Little Egret and 17 Grey Heron were noted.
A 1st summer Little Gull dropped in briefly at 9.15am, also the 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull was present again. 2 Redshank were on the north shore, also 2 Common Sandpiper and 5 LRP were present. A Red Kite and adult Peregrine flew over. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing at the west end. 5 Teal and 46 Canada Geese goslings were counted.
The female Shoveler was at the west end with her 3 ducklings until a Grey Heron caught and ate one. This is the first breeding record since 2017 and only the 2nd this millennium. A Redshank dropped on the Chappell bund this morning, also 2 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. A 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull (photo) was present this afternoon. A Red Kite, Peregrine and Hobby were noted. A single Shelduck and 2 Teal were counted. 5 Kestrel chicks were ringed this afternoon.
4 LRP were on the north shore, also 36 Lapwing including 7 fledged juveniles from elsewhere. A Hobby flew over. A Little Egret was at the west end. At least 112 LBB Gull and 1 Herring Gull were gathered this afternoon. 3 Teal and a Kingfisher were noted.
The cool northerly wind persists, giving little hope of anything to get excited about. The Tree Sparrow was at the Gazebo feeders early afternoon. 4 LRP and 4 Common Tern were noted.
Not much to shout about today. 14 Shoveler and 3 Teal were counted. The Tree Sparrow was seen this morning at the Gazebo feeders. 4 Common Tern were noted.
A juvenile Redshank was a new arrival. Also new was a juvenile Little Grebe, which is only the 2nd record of the year. The Cuckoo was calling again in the north west corner this morning. Today's WeBS count produced 3 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 73 Gadwall, 57 Mallard, 4 Pochard, 34 Tufted Duck, 415 Coot,16 GC Grebe, 103 Mute Swan, 112 Canada Geese, 49 Greylag Geese, 3 Cormorant and 4 Grey Heron. 4 LRP, 8 Oystercatcher and 25 Lapwing were noted. A Red Kite and Hobby flew over. Another BH Gull chick has fledged off the raft.
A single Turnstone flew thru at 10.10am, also 2 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover were seen early morning. A Red Kite flew over this afternoon. A single Tree Sparrow was at the Gazebo feeders.
Single Peregrine, Hobby and Red Kite flew over. 3 Little Egret dropped in late morning. At least 1 Tree Sparrow coming to the Gazebo feeders. A Yellow Wagtail was on the north shore this morning. 103 Mute Swan were counted.
A Sanderling was a new arrival on the north shore, also 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 LRP and 25 Lapwing were present. At least 1 Tree Sparrow again on and off at the Gazebo feeders. 87 Greylag Geese, 147 Canada Geese + 34 goslings were counted.
A single Dunlin was on the north shore this afternoon, also a Ringed Plover flew thru. 2 Red Kite flew over. At least 1500 Swift attracting a single Hobby. 96 Mute Swan, 354 Coot, 1 Teal and 25 GC Grebe were counted. A pair of Pied Wagtail were feeding 4 chicks on the Chappell island. 4 Common Tern were noted.
4 drake Common Scoter were off the dam this afternoon. At least 1 Tree Sparrow was at the Gazebo feeders this morning. 2 Little Egret were at the west end. A pair of BH Gulls have at least 1 chick on the Tern rafts. At least 2000 Swift were feeding over the reservoir in the rain. A single Hobby was noted.
Back to normality today with no sign of the American Golden Plover. However the highlight today was the appearance of a pair of Tree Sparrows at the Gazebo feeders. This is the first sighting since July last year. They visited the feeders at 12.10pm, 2.30pm and 4.30pm. A Cuckoo was singing at the North west corner. A Curlew was present this morning, also a Ringed Plover. 2 Little Egret were at the west end. 58 Tufted Duck were counted.
The adult American Golden Plover remains on the north shore for a 5th day, also 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 1 Curlew were present. An Osprey drifted over south at 12.20pm. 4 Common Tern were present. 118 Gadwall were counted + plus the first brood of 5 noted.
The adult American Golden Plover continues to perform on the north shore. The first Spotted Flycatcher of the year was off the west lane briefly this morning. A Hobby was off the car park this morning. 2 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end, also 4 Grey Wagtail were along the spill weir. 7 Shoveler and 4 Pochard were counted. 3 Common Tern were noted.
