Chard reservoir sign

2002 sightings Sand Martin


December 30th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Little Egret 1
  • Cormorant 8
  • Teal 30
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Kingfisher 1

December 29th 2002 Sunday

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Shelduck 2
  • Teal 31
  • Tufted Duck 11
 

December 28th 2002 Saturday

  • Teal 45
  • Wigeon 5
  • Common Gull 1
 

December 27th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  • Little Egret 2
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Teal 25+
  • Tufted Duck 7
 

December 26th 2002

  • Teal 40
  • Snipe 3
 

Christmas Day 2002

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen by Dave Helliar, but did not call. Look out for it in the tops of the Oak Trees.

  • Mute Swan 1 imm
  • Teal 35
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
  • Green Woodpecker 1
 

December 24th 2002

  • Little Egret 2
  • Mute Swan 1 imm
  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Teal 15+
  • Common Gull 5
  • Siskin flock heard
 

December 22nd 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Pochard 2
  • Teal c.30
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 3

December 21st 2002 Saturday

  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Cormorant 15
  • Little Egret 1
  • Wigeon 4
  • Teal 42
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1
 

December 20th 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Water Rail heard
 

December 17th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Grey Heron 4
  • Teal 38
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 3
 

December 16th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Mute Swan 3 flying over
  • Pochard 2
  • Teal 24
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Coot 16
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
 

December 15th 2002 Sunday

  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Cormorant 10
  • Pochard 1
  • Teal 39
  • Coot 10
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Common Gull 3
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 4
  • Herring Gull 44
  • Black Headed Gull 560
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 drumming
  • Kingfisher 1
 

December 13th 2002

Records today and this description from Dave Helliar: 'Albino' B.H. Gull ( totally white wings, just small dark patch behind eye- as winter B.H. Gull....smart looking gull !)

  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 24
  • Teal 37
  • Common Gull 1
  • Black Headed Gull 1 Albino
 

December 8th 2002 Sunday

  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Teal 11
  • Common Gull 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 12
  • Herring Gull 19
  • Black Headed Gull 387
  • Water Rail 1 heard
  • Grey Wagtail 1
 

December 5th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Teal 7
  • Tufted Duck 16
  • Kingfisher 1
 

December 1st 2002 Sunday

  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Grey Heron 4
  • Teal 1
  • Tufted Duck 2 males
  • Kingfisher 1
Tufted duck

November 30th 2002 Saturday

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Teal 5
  • Snipe 5 (Jim's field)
  • Common Gull 2
  • Kingfisher 1
 

November 29th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Mute Swan 1
 

November 28th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Teal 1
  • Kestrel 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Raven 3
Teal restingTeal resting

November 24th 2002 Sunday

  • Cormorant 9
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Kingfisher in bushesTufted Duck in feeding area

November 23rd 2002 Saturday

  • Shoveler 1 pair
  • Herring Gull 62
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Buzzard 1
  • Stock Dove 2
  • Raven 1 in flight
 

November 22nd 2002

  • Tufted Duck 26
 

November 21st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Gadwall 3
  • Tufted Duck 15
  • Water Rail 1 heard
  • Kingfisher 1
 

November 20th 2002

  • Mute Swan 3 adults
 

November 19th 2002

6 Ravens reported flying over, confirmed now, they were seen by the warden.

  • Raven 6
 

November 18th 2002

  • Shoveler 1 pair
  • Pochard? 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
 

November 17th 2002 Sunday

Update on the Osprey report this autumn. It was apparently seen at Forton flying northwards towards Chard Reservoir and not actually seen at the reservoir.

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
 

November 14th 2002

The water level was very high today after torrential rain yesterday. The duck feeding area was flooded. but the hide just avoided it. High water seems to lead to a paucity of ducks and today unusually all the grebes were at the south end near the hide.

  • Great Crested Grebe 16
  • Little Egret 1
 

November 12th 2002

  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Goldeneye 1 female
  • Water Rail heard
 

November 11th 2002

  • Mute Swan 5 adults
  • Teal 2
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey wagtail 2
 

November 10th 2002 Sunday

Redshank are unusual at Chard

  • Redshank 1
  • Water Rail heard
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
  • Chiffchaff heard
  • Siskin heard
 

November 7th 2002

Some visitors to Chard are surprised to see Herons in trees, but they are very happy there as are the closely related Egrets.

  • Grey Heron 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 1 adult
  • Black Headed Gull c.200
  • Common Gull 1
  • Grey Wagtail 2
  • Raven 2 flying over
Little Egret in treeHeron in tree

November 5th 2002

2 Brent Geese reported by the warden this morning, but couldn't be found at midday. It's a good time to look for fungi in the woods.

  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 2 (1 imm.)
  • Brent Goose 2
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Black Headed Gull c.300
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 9
  • Water Rail 1 heard
  • Tawny Owl 1 heard

November 4th 2002

  • Mute Swan 6 (3 imm.)
  • Shoveler 2
  • Kingfisher 2

November 3rd 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 3
  • Teal 4
  • Tufted Duck c.20
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
Little Egret today

November 1st 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 imm.
  • Tufted Duck 20
  • Snipe 1
 

October 29th 2002

  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 15
  • Canada Goose 30
 

October 28th 2002

  • Wigeon 3
  • Shoveler 2
  • Teal 5
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Fieldfare 30
 

October 27th 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Shoveler 4
 

October 25th 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 3
  • Teal 6
  • Pochard 1
 

October 23rd 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Shoveler 1
  • Black Headed Gull c.500
 

October 22nd 2002

  • Tufted Duck 26
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Pied Wagtail 2
  • Grey Wagtail 3
 

 

October 21st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 30
  • Little Egret 3
  • Tufted Duck 21
  • Mute Swan 3
  • Greenshank 1
 

October 20th 2002 Sunday

  • Pochard 2
  • Redwing 20
 

October 19th 2002 Saturday

  • Shoveler 5
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 6+
 

October 18th 2002

  • Shoveler 5
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Teal 4
  • Kingfisher 2
 

October 17th 2002

  • Teal 2
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Pochard 1
  • Snipe 3
  • House Martin 10
  • Kingfisher 1
 

October 16th 2002

No Teal today. Water level rose after heavy rain.

  • Shoveler 1
  • House Martin 5
  • Long Tailed Tit 30
 

October 15th 2002

  • Teal 16
 

October 14th 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Mute Swan 1 adult
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Gull 3
  • Water Rail 1 heard
  • Goldcrest influx
 

October 13th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 imm.
  • Shoveler 11
  • Teal 21
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Gull 1
 

October 11th 2002

  • Shoveler 10
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 2
  • Coot 10
 

October 10th 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 1 imm.
  • Wigeon 1
  • Shoveler 10
  • Teal 24
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 6
 

October 9th 2002

Unconfirmed reports of an Osprey recently. please email me if you have any info:
kevin@chardres.totalserve.co.uk

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 6
  • Little Gull 1

October 5th 2002 Saturday

  • Green Sandpiper 3
  • Snipe 6
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Pied Wagtail 1
Green Sandpipers

October 4th 2002

An owl flew over the meadows after dark. Mainly seen in silhouette, but I caught a glimpse of a pale looking underwing.

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 6
  • Owl (probably Barn)
  • Meadow Pipit 2+ in flight
 

October 3rd 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 5
 

October 2nd 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Shoveler 2
  • Tufted Duck 16
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 7
 

October 1st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 28
  • Shoveler 2
  • Teal 30+
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

September 30th 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 8
  • Grey wagtail 1
  • Pied Wagtail 4
 

September 28th 2002 Saturday

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 28
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Swallows and House Martins c.150
The Shovelers tend to sit on the floating logs looking quite inconspicuous

September 27th 2002

  • Shoveler 4
  • Mallard 306
  • Tufted Duck 14
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

September 26th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 25
  • Grey Heron 6
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 5
  • Kingfisher 3
 

September 25th 2002

  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 28
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 3
 

September 23rd 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 5
  • Kingfisher 3
Green SandpiperGreen Sandpiper

September 22nd 2002 Sunday

  • Teal 16
  • Green Sandpiper 2
  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Snipe 4
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Grey Wagtail 2
Snipe 22nd September 2002One of 4 Snipe seen today.

September 21st 2002 Saturday

  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 16
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 6
 

September 20th 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 3
  • Black Tern 1
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Grey Wagtail 3
 

September 19th 2002

  • Teal 16
  • Gadwall 1
  • Shoveler 5
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 5
  • Black Tern 1
 

September 18th 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 6
 

September 17th 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Snipe 3
  • Black Tern 1
 

September 16th 2002

Black Tern to roost this evening.

  • Black Tern 1
 

September 15th 2002

As well as the birds below there were 2 Roe Deer at the water's edge and my first Brown Rat at Chard.

  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 2
  • Teal 16
  • Wigeon 1
  • Shoveler 5
  • Kingfisher 3
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Pied Wagtail 1
Young Roe Deer Young Roe Deer which was in the company of an adult.

September 14th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
 

September 13th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe c.20
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe1
  • Teal 8
  • Shoveler 4
 

September 12th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 3
  • Snipe 1
 

September 11th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 4
  • Green Sandpiper 3
  • Teal 3
  • Shoveler 2
 

September 10th 2002

  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 1
 

September 9th 2002

About 100 Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins feeding low over water during heavy rain
 

September 8th 2002

  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 7
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 1
 

September 7th 2002

  • Shoveler 6
  • Cormorant 11
  • Snipe 1
 

September 6th 2002

  • Shoveler 5
  • Teal 5
  • Snipe 1
  • Grey Wagtail 5
 

September 5th 2002

  • Shelduck 1
  • Shoveler 5
  • Teal 5
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

September 4th 2002

  • Wigeon 1
  • Shoveler 4
  • Teal 3
  • Tufted Duck 22
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Snipe 1
  • Grey Wagtail 5
 

September 3rd 2002

  • Tufted Duck 22
  • Snipe 1
  • Spotted Flycatcher 2
 

September 1st 2002

  • Grey Heron 4
  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 2
  • Tufted Duck 12
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • House Martin c.30
  • Grey Wagtail 2
 

August 31st 2002 Saturday

  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 2
Kingfisher Aug 31stPicture taken today from the hide at Chard. This has got to be one of the very best places to watch Kingfishers.

August 30th 2002

  • Shoveler 2
  • Teal 2
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1
 

August 29th 2002

  • Grey Heron 8
  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 6
  • Common Sandpiper 2
 

August 28th 2002

  • Shoveler 3
  • Teal 6
  • Common Sandpiper 2
 

August 27th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 2
 

August 26th 2002 Bank Holiday Monday

A good number of Common Sandpipers to greet the Bank Holiday visitors.

  • Grey Heron 6
  • Tufted Duck 22
  • Shoveler 4
  • Teal 3
  • Common Sandpiper 11
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1
 

August 25th 2002 Sunday

  • Grey Heron 7
  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 3
 

August 24th 2002 Saturday

Good views of most birds today including this Kingfisher as you can see.

  • Shoveler 1
  • Teal 2
  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Grey Wagtail 2
Kingfisher Wonderful views of Kingfisher today. This picture was taken from the hide.

August 23rd 2002

A toad in the car park today has doubled the number of amphibians that I've seen here.

  • Grey Heron 7
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 17
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Kingfisher 1
 

August 22nd 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Black Tern 2
  • Kingfisher 2
 

August 21st 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Kingfisher 1
 

August 20th 2002

Not only Greenshank, but good views of a Roe Deer and a Frog. No sign of yesterday's Black Necked Grebe though.

  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Greenshank 1
  • Kingfisher 2
  • Grey Wagtail 1
Frog

August 19th 2002


  • Black Necked Grebe 1 juv
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Green Sandpiper 1
 

August 18th 2002 Sunday


  • Tufted Duck 14
  • Teal 1
  • Hobby 1
 

August 17th 2002 Saturday

The young Grey Herons will approach the hide quite closely.

  • Cormorant 8
  • Grey Heron 4
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Young Heron

August 13th 2002

Not many Swifts around now.

  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Swift 1

August 11th 2002 Sunday

It was really good to see 4 Common Terns today. They came close to the hide as well. They left southwards at just before 8 pm.

  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Little Egret 1
  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Common Tern 4
  • Kingfisher 3
  • Grey Wagtail 1ad 2juv
Common Tern Aug 11th 2002
Common Tern photographed today at Chard

August 10th 2002 Saturday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Common Sandpiper 4
  • Kingfisher 3
  • Grey Wagtail 2
 

August 9th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Tufted Duck 23
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

August 6th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
  • Oystercatcher 1
 

August 5th 2002

  • Teal 3
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Green Sandpiper 1
 

August 4th 2002 Sunday

  • Teal 3
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Kingfisher 3
 

August 3rd 2002 Saturday

The 2 adult swans are still present, but the cygnet has disappeared unfortunately.
With a reasonable extent of mud now showing, waders are staying to feed.

  • Grey Heron 9
  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 17
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Green Sandpiper 3
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Green Woodpecker heard
 

August 2nd 2002

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Teal 2
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 24
  • Common Sandpiper 3
 

August 1st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Grey Heron 8
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

July 31st 2002

  • Cormorant 12
  • Great Crested Grebe 16
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 7
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Kingfisher 1
 

July 30th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Green Sandpiper 4
  • Common Tern 1
 

July 29th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 7
 

July 28th 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 2 and cygnet
  • Kingfisher 1
 


July 27th 2002 Saturday

  • Little Egret 2
  • Tufted Duck 14 inc young
  • Common Sandpiper 3
 

July 19th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 4
  • Tufted Duck 14
  • Kingfisher 1
 

July 17th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Tufted Duck 14
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Blak Headed Gull 50+
 

July 14th 2002 Sunday

  • Cormorant 7
  • Mute Swan 2 and cygnet
  • Tufted duck 7
 

July 13th 2002 Saturday

  • Mute Swan 2 and cygnet
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Kingfisher 3 seen together
 

June 22nd 2002 Saturday


  • Cormorant 4
  • Mute Swan Adult with 1 cygnet
  • Canada Goose 20 + 5 goslings
  • Kingfisher 2
 

June 16th 2002 Sunday

The three visiting swans were made unwelcome by the resident male and did not stay long.

  • Cormorant 3
  • Mute Swan 5
  • Canada Goose 26 + 5 goslings
 

June 14th 2002

  • Canada Goose 34 + 5 goslings
 

June 9th 2002 Sunday

  • Great Crested Grebe 5 pairs
  • Heron 1
  • Cormorant 5
  • Canada Goose 6
  • Tufted Duck 1 pair
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 5
  • Hirundines c.75
  • Reed Warbler 1 in south reedbed
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Blackcap 1
 

June 8th 2002 Saturday

  • Kingfisher 1
 

June 4th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 4 pairs
  • Heron 1
  • Canada Goose 26
  • Tufted Duck
  • Reed Warbler 1 in South reedbed
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Blackcap 1
 

May 28th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 3 pairs
  • Canada Goose Pair with 5 young
  • Coot 6 chicks
  • Kingfisher 1
 

May 26th 2002

  • Hirundines c.200
 

May 22nd 2002

  • Hirundines c.200
 

May 20th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
 

May 19th 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
 

May 18th 2002 Saturday

  • Heron 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Cormorant 5
  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 5 adults
  • Coot 3 chicks
  • Spotted Flycatcher 1
 

May 17th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2 adults, 5 goslings
  • Tufted Duck 1 pair
 

May 13th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Shelduck 1 pair
 

May 12th 2002 Sunday

The female Sparrowhawk chased and nearly caught a Feral Pigeon which landed on a protruding branch to drink. A Lesser Black-backed Gull deliberately flew between the pair of them as the Sparrowhawk took chase.

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 3 adults, 3+ goslings
  • Shelduck 1
  • Sparrowhawk 1
 

May 10th 2002

Duncan reports the following Butterflies today: Holly Blue, Comma, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Brimstone, Tortoiseshell, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip and Green Veined White.

  • Grey Heron 2
  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Kestrel 1
  • Buzzard 2
 

May 9th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair with 5 goslings
 

May 5th 2002 Sunday

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming, calling and finally seen

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Shelduck 1
  • Tawny Owl 2
  • Cuckoo 1
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Reed Warbler 5
 

May 4th 2002 Saturday

Lady's Smock is out in flower now, announcing the arrival of the Cuckoo according to folklore.

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Reed Warbler heard
  • Reed Bunting heard
Lady's Smock Lady's Smock

May 2nd 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Common Sandpiper 1
 

April 30th 2002

A pleasant evening after the heavy showers with Swallows and Martins easy to watch from the hide.

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Hirundines c.200
 

April 29th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Swift 10
  • Hirundines c.200
  • Bullfinch 1 pair
 

April 28th 2002 Sunday

Dramatic weather with very heavy showers interspersed with sun. Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins in abundance could be watched from the hide without binoculars as they swarmed around like gnats (but more graceful).

  • Great Crested Grebe 3 pairs
  • Heron 1
  • Cormorant 3
  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Cuckoo heard
  • Swift 1
  • Hirundines 400+
  • Grey Wagtail 2
  • Reed Warbler 1
  • Sedge Warbler 1 at Dam
Swift
Swallow
Sand Martin
House Martin
The full set today

House MartinSwallow

House Martin and Swallow today.


April 26th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • House Martin 20+
 

April 25th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Swift 5

April 24th 2002

The mist rolled in this evening on a pleasant but quiet day..

  • Great Crested Grebe 6
  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mallard brood of 11
  • Swallow 20
 

April 23rd 2002

  • Shelduck 1
 

April 21st 2002 Sunday

A nice warm day brought out a few butterflies including several Peacocks and a Comma.

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 11
  • Sand Martin 15
  • Swallow 15
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Chifchaff 3


Comma Butterfly

April 20th 2002 Saturday

One of the Chiffchaffs and one of the Bullfinches were seen collecting nesting material.

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 3 pairs
  • Sand Martin 30
  • Swallow 20
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Chifchaff 3
  • Bullfinch 1 pair


  Tufted Duck

April 18th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Shelduck 2
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • House Martin 3
  • Swallow 20
  • Willow Warbler 1

 


April 17th 2002

  • Common Sandpiper 8
  • Common Tern 2
  • Cuckoo 1 heard
  • Hirundines small influx

 


April 16th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Herring Gull 127

 


April 14th 2002

  • Teal 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing

 


April 13th 2002

  • Shelduck 2

 


April 12th 2002

  • Mute Swan 2 (pair)
  • Tufted Duck 3 pairs
  • Sand Martin 30
  • Swallow 10

SwallowSand Martin


April 11th 2002

  • House Martin 2

 


April 10th 2002

  • Little Grebe 1 adult

 


April 9th 2002

The first House Martin today.

  • Mute Swan 2 (pair)
  • Sand Martin 20
  • Swallow 4
  • House Martin 1

Swallow

Sand Martin


April 7th 2002 Sunday

The first Swallow today. No House Martins seen yet.

  • Mute Swan 2 (pair)
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Chiffchaff 3
  • Sand Martin 5
  • Swallow 1

Swallow

Sand Martin


April 6th 2002 Saturday

  • Mute Swan 2 (pair)
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Chiffchaff 5
  • Sand Martin 20

 


April 4th 2002

The Mute Swans are ringed with yellow rings on their right legs with the letters VAX and VCH

  • Cormorant 2
  • Mute Swan 2 (pair)
  • Buzzard 1
  • Chiffchaff 5
  • Blackcap 1


April 1st 2002

Only 20 birds of any species visible from the hide when I arrived. This number was more than doubled when the Sand Martins arrived.

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Cormorant 2
  • Mute Swan 3 (pair and imm.)
  • Buzzard 2
  • Sand Martin 25
  • Chiffchaff 4
  • Blackcap 1
  • Bullfinch 2

 


March 30th Saturday 2002

The blackthorn is looking great today.

  • Mute Swan 3 (pair and imm.)
  • Chiffchaff 2

Blackthorn


March 27th 2002

The moon is nearly full tonight, just right for migrants. Picture taken from the hide this evening.

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted duck 4
  • Chiffchaff 2

Moon


March 26th 2002

  • Chiffchaff 3
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Reed Bunting 1 male


March 24th 2002

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted duck 6
  • Sand Martin 6


March 23rd 2002

  • Sand Martin 23


March 22nd 2002

  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing


March 21st 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Gadwall 3
  • Little Gull 1
  • Stock Dove 7
  • Green Woodpecker
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker


March 17th 2002 Sunday

  • Little Egret 1
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Coot 15
  • Sand Martin 6
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing


March 16th 2002 Saturday

  • Little Egret 3
  • Cormorant 10
  • Buzzard 2

Three Little Egrets


March 14th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Cormorant 4
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Chiffchaff 1 heard

 


March 12th 2002

  • Teal 9
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Buzzard 4
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  • Common Gull 2
  • Bullfinch 3
  • Reed Bunting 2

 


March 10th 2002

  • Heron 2
  • Teal 9
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  • Common Gull 3

 


March 9th 2002

  • Little Egret 1
  • Teal 18
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 16
  • Siskin 10

 


March 7th 2002

  • Shelduck 1
  • Black Headed Gull 420
  • Reed Bunting 5

 


March 3rd 2002 Sunday

  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  • Tawny Owl 1
  • Redwing 1 (in song)
  • Siskin 1 (also in song)
  • Raven 2

 


March 2nd 2002 Saturday

The Carp were very obvious today. I counted 20 by the hide. No little Egrets at the reservoir today, but there were 3 on a nearby stream. Med Gull reported by Andy Grinter

  • Cormorant 13
  • Teal 3
  • Shoveler 2
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
  • Common Gull 1
  • Mediterranean Gull 1

Carp


March 1st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 24
  • Tufted duck 4
  • Coot 11
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 3

 


February 28th 2002

  • Little Egret 2
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Teal 9
  • Black Headed Gull 1000+
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 3

 


February 27th 2002

  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Coot 13
  • Buzzard 4
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 13
  • Raven 1

 


February 26th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Teal 7
  • Water Rail 1

 


February 24th 2002 Sunday

  • Teal 17
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 4
  • Grey Wagtail 1

 


February 22nd 2002

  • Little Egret 2
  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Peregrine 1
  • Bullfinch 7

 


February 21st 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 28
  • Little Egret 4
  • Water Rail 1

 


February 20th 2002

  • Little Egret 4

 


February 19th 2002

  • Little Egret 3
  • Teal 6

 


February 18th 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 32
  • Little Egret 3
  • Shoveler 2
  • Tufted duck 8

 


February 16th 2002

  • Little Egret 1

 


February 15th 2002

  • Kingfisher 1

 


February 14th 2002

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted duck 4

 


February 5th 2002

  • Black Necked Grebe 1

 


February 3rd 2002 Sunday

  • Cormorant 16
  • Tufted Duck 2

 


February 2nd 2002 Saturday

A Roe Deer was seen today, probably often present, but rarely seen during the day.

  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Long Tailed Tit 15
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Siskin 25+
  • Bullfinch 3

 


February 1st 2002

  • Cormorant 16
  • Shelduck 1
  • Tufted Duck 2

 


January 22nd 2002

  • Great Crested Grebe 28
  • Canada Goose 44
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Teal present

 


January 21st 2002

  • Teal 90+
  • Pochard 1

 


January 20th 2002

  • Teal 180

 


January 17th 2002

  • Cormorant 33

 


January 15th 2002

  • Black Headed Gull 700
  • Herring Gull 56

 


January 13th 2002 Sunday

  • Grey Heron 3
  • Cormorant 31
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Teal 80+
  • Shoveler 6
  • Tufted Duck 11


January 11th 2002

  • Little Egret 2
  • Cormorant 24
  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 58
  • Teal 130+
  • Shoveler 11
  • Pochard 5
  • Tufted Duck 9

 


January 8th 2002

  • Little Egret 2
  • Teal 196
  • Shoveler 2
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Coot 11

 


January 7th 2002

As well as those at the water's edge, another 300 lapwing overhead make for a very unusual sight at Chard

  • Cormorant 12
  • Teal 157
  • Pochard 7
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Lapwing 400+
  • Kingfisher 1

 


January 5th 2002 Saturday

Still frozen at the south end

  • Teal 190
  • Shoveler 5
  • Water Rail 1
  • Common Gull 1
  • Reed Bunting 1

 


January 1st 2002

The reservoir was more than 90% frozen today

  • Great Crested Grebe 12
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Teal 92
  • Shoveler 20
  • Gadwall 1
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Pochard 1
  • Coot 9
  • Grey Wagtail 2

 

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