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2004 sightings
The original site is at Totalserve An alternative site is at Claranet as a backup. If this page seems out of date, try the alternative link in this paragraph.
December 31st 2004
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No Little Egrets seen |
December 30th 2004
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December 27th 2004
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Lapwing on the ground are unusual at Chard |
December 26th 2004
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December 25th 2004
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December 24th 2004
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December 23rd 2004
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December 21st 2004
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December 20th 2004
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December 18th 2004 Saturday
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December 17th 2004
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December 15th 2004
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December 12th 2004 Sunday
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December 10th 2004
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December 3rd 2004
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November 30th 2004
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November 29th 2004
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The Goosander were seen to leave at 16:10 |
November 28th 2004 Sunday
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November 26th 2004
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November 24th 2004
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November 23rd 2004
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November 20th 2004
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November 19th 2004
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November 17th 2004
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Also a bat today feeding low over the water. |
November 16th 2004
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November 12th 2004
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November 10th 2004
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November 9th 2004
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November 6th 2004
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November 5th 2004
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November 4th 2004
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November 3rd 2004
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November 1st 2004
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October 29th 2004
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October 28th 2004
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October 26th 2004
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October 25th 2004
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October 23rd 2004 Saturday
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October 22nd 2004
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October 21st 2004
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October 20th 2004
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October 19th 2004
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October 18th 2004
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October 16th 2004 Saturday
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October 15th 2004
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October 14th 2004
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October 13th 2004
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October 12th 2004
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October 11th 2004
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October 10th 2004
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October 9th 2004
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October 8th 2004
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Redwing - the first one of the winter. I used the binocam to snap some birds, but this is about as good as it gets.
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October 7th 2004
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Common Gull has not been noted since March until today.
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October 6th 2004
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The Kingfisher was fishing from the roof of the hide today giving fantastic views. It has also been seen hovering quite a lot over the last few days.
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October 5th 2004
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Pied Wagtails are not as common on the reservoir as Grey Wagtails. |
October 4th 2004
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October 3rd 2004 Sunday
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October 2nd 2004 Saturday
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October 1st 2004
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September 30th 2004
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September 29th 2004
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September 28th 2004
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September 27th 2004
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September 25th 2004 Saturday
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September 24th 2004
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September 23rd 2004
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The Swallows today were over the reservoir. The cut grass was being turned by tractor leaving a strong smell of meadowsweet in the air.  |
September 22nd 2004
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The Swallows and Martins were over the recently cut meadows. |
September 21st 2004
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September 20th 2004
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September 19th 2004
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September 18th 2004 Saturday
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September 17th 2004
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September 16th 2004
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September 15th 2004
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September 14th 2004
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September 13th 2004
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September 12th 2004 Sunday
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September 7th 2004
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The Chiffchaff was giving a piping call quite unlike the normal 'hooeet' call. It was however a brownish rather than greyish colour. Maybe it was Scandinavian rather than Siberian? |
September 6th 2004
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The Sandwich Terns are the first since September 7th 1978 |
September 4th 2004 Saturday
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The hirundines appeared in the evening. Mainly Swallows, a good number of House Martins and a few Sand Martins. We also witnessed a serious scrap between two Robins. One was pinned to the ground and looked to be in serious danger as the other pecked mercilessly at its head. |
September 3rd 2004
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September 2nd 2004
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The Warbler from yesterday has not been seen today. It was associating with a flock of tits, nuthatches and goldcrests and at least 2 other warblers, one of which was a chiffchaff. |
September 1st 2004
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A bulky yellow/green warbler present today. Very yellow breast like young Willow Warbler yet larger and bulkier. My first thought was Melodious Warbler, but not good enough views for me to tell for sure. I ruled out Icterine Warbler on the basis of leg colour (brownish) and no pale wing panel. Update - James Packer suggests that this bird could be a Wood Warbler and I have to agree with this. I didn't consider the Phylloscs seriously due to the big size difference between this bird and Chiffchaff, but actually Wood Warbler is nearer in size to Melodious than it is to Willow/Chiff. I didn't see the white belly that usually gives a Wood Warbler away and the skulking in bushes behaviour is not typical for Wood Warblers, but not unknown on migration. I did notice very contrasty tertials and this is a feature of Wood Warblers, though not wrong for a young Melodious. As a Wood Warbler it would be the 3rd record for Chard Res (Whereas Melodious would be the 5th for Somerset and first inland record). In conclusion it is much more likely to be a Wood Warbler than a Melodious - Thanks James. |
August 30th 2004
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August 29th 2004 Sunday
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August 28th 2004 Saturday
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August 27th 2004
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August 26th 2004
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The Osprey circled over but unfortunately did not stay. |
August 25th 2004
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August 24th 2004
A few House Martins around today as well, but I didn't count them. There's still time to see the young Grebes being fed by their parents, however they will be catching their own food soon.
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August 23rd 2004
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August 22nd 2004 Sunday
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August 21st 2004 Saturday
Dunlin is certainly unusual here at the reservoir, attracted by the low water levels presumably. This is the first one seen since 1998. The Black Tern appeared in the evening and was not one of the two from yesterday.
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August 20th 2004
We had been expecting and hoping for Black Terns as many other reservoirs have had them lately.
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August 19th 2004
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August 18th 2004
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August 16th 2004
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August 15th 2004 Sunday
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August 14th 2004 Saturday
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August 13th 2004
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August 12th 2004
This is only the second record of Black-tailed Godwit at the reservoir. The first was in 1976. Hopefully this is the begining of more wader sightings with the extra mud exposed. When feeding in the water the bill showed a pink base, but this was often covered in mud.
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August 11th 2004
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August 10th 2004
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August 9th 2004
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August 8th 2004 Sunday
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August 7th 2004 Saturday
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August 6th 2004
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August 4th 2004
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August 3rd 2004
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August 2nd 2004
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August 1st 2004 Sunday
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July 31st 2004 Saturday
The water level has been lowered and there is a reasonable amount of mud now for the waders.
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July 30th 2004
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July 29th 2004
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July 28th 2004
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July 27th 2004
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July 26th 2004
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July 25th 2004 Sunday
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July 24th 2004 Saturday
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July 23rd 2004
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July 22nd 2004
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July 21st 2004
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July 20th 2004
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July 18th 2004 Sunday
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July 17th 2004 Saturday
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July 16th 2004
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July 15th 2004
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July 14th 2004
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July 13th 2004
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July 11th 2004 Sunday
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July 4th 2004
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July 2nd 2004
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June 30th 2004
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June 27th 2004
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June 25th 2004
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June 24th 2004
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June 23rd 2004
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June 21st 2004
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June 18th 2004
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June 7th 2004
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A
mass of small fish may be seen around the bird hide now in addition
to the usual large carp.June 3rd 2004
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Not
much bird movement going on, but plenty else to see like this Blood-vein
moth today.June 1st 2004
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May 27th 2004
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May 24th 2004
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May 23rd 2004 Sunday
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May 16th 2004 Sunday
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May 14th 2004
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May 13th 2004
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May 12th 2004
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May 10th 2004
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May 9th 2004
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May 8th 2004
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May 7th 2004
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May 6th 2004
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May 5th 2004
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May 4th 2004
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May 3rd 2004
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Orange Tip Butterflies can be seen in the fields now. The females do not share the obvious orange tipped wings. |
May 2nd 2004
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April 29th 2004
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April 27th 2004
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April 26th 2004
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April 24th 2004
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April 23rd 2004
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April 22nd 2004
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April 21st 2004
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April 20th 2004
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April 19th 2004
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April 18th 2004
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April 17th 2004
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April 16th 2004
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April 15th 2004
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April 14th 2004
No Little Egrets seen today even at dusk
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April 13th 2004
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April 12th 2004
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April 10th 2004 Saturday
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April 9th 2004
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April 8th 2004
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April 6th 2004
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April 4th 2004 Sunday
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April 3rd 2004 Saturday
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April 2nd 2004
A Mallard egg has been apparently abandoned after being laid in an unsuitable spot.
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March 31st 2004
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March 30th 2004
Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies seen today
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March 29th 2004
Also a Brimstone Butterfly near the car park
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March 28th 2004 Sunday
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March 27th 2004 Saturday
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March 25th 2004
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March 23rd 2004
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March 22nd 2004
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March 21st 2004 Sunday
This count of 17 Little Egrets equals the previous record set one month ago on February 21st.
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March 20th 2004 Saturday
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March 19th 2004
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March 18th 2004
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March 17th 2004
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March 16th 2004
The water level is being kept high now to provide breeding places for the Great Crested Grebes
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March 15th 2004
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March 14th 2004 Sunday
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March 13th 2004 Saturday
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March 12th 2004
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March 9th 2004
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March 8th 2004
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March 7th 2004 Sunday
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The Egrets gather at dusk to preen before flying off to roost. |
March 6th 2004 Saturday
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March 5th 2004
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March 4th 2004
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March 2nd 2004
A pair of Little Grebes arrived at lunchtime and were rather flighty.
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March 1st 2004
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February 28th 2004 Saturday
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February 27th 2004
Some snow today
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February 26th 2004
Blizzard today
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February 24th 2004
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February 21st 2004
Yet another record count of Little Egrets. Also 7 Grey Herons is the most seen for a while. Another bat seen today picking something from the water's surface at dusk. It is too big for Pipistrelle, I presume Daubenton's is the most likely, but it is bitterly cold for bats (Northerly wind today).
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February 20th 2004
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February 19th 2004
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February 18th 2004
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February 17th 2004
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February 14th 2004
I think 4 Shelduck get the same bold treatment as 7 Little Egrets. Shelduck are less common here now than Egrets. One bat reported at dusk over the water
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February 13th 2004
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February 12th 2004
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February 11th 2004
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February 10th 2004
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February 7th 2004
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February 6th 2004
Great Tits were singing today as the sun pushed through the clouds. The water level is very high at the moment after heavy recent rain.
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February 4th 2004
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February 2nd 2004
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January 19th 2004
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January 18th 2004
The Water Rail was in the duck feeding area, quite happy to walk in the open. Dave Helliar has gone to the Falklands and I am off to Madeira, so this site will not be updated for over a week. Please do send in any observations to:kevin@chardres.totalserve.co.uk and I'll update when I get back.
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January 15th 2004
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January 10th 2004
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January 9th 2004
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January 8th 2004
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January 6th 2004
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January 5th 2004
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January 3rd 2004
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January 1st 2004
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