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Recent sightings

What to look for in May

Previous Years

 

May 23rd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 6
  • Herring Gull 32
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  

May 22nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Mandarin 4
  • Mallard 1 with 7+ ducklings
  • Gadwall 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 1 taking sticks into the reeds
  • Buzzard 2
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Swift 5
  • Swallow 2
  • Goldcrest heard
  • Long-tailed Tit heard
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Chiffchaff 4 heard south end
  • Blackcap 8+ heard singing south end, subsong heard from one individual.
  • Reed Warbler heard singing south end
  • Reed Bunting 1 at SE feeders
Kevin Harris: Green-veined White and Common Blue Butterflies

May 21st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Mallard with at least 6 large ducklings
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Swift 2
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  

May 20th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 6
  • Herring Gull 70
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 10
  • Swift 2
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Swallow 2
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Blackcap 2
  • Reed Warbler heard singing
 Also a Banded Demoiselle over the water

May 19th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Reed Warbler 1
  

May 14th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 5
  • Herring Gull 82
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker heard south end
  • Swallow 2
  • Goldcrest heard
  • Long-tailed Tit heard
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard and bird seen to fly east across the meadows
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Blackcap heard singing
  

May 13th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Gadwall 1 pair + 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 6
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  

May 12th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Great Crested Grebe 5
  • Herring Gull 49
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 east side
  • Goldcrest heard
  • Long-tailed Tit several east side
  • Blackcap heard singing
  

May 10th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Herring Gull 27
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  • Swallow 2
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Long-tailed Tit 7 newly fledged young south end
  • Chiffchaff 3
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Reed Bunting singing male
  

May 9th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Herring Gull 54
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Goldcrest heard
  • Coal Tit 1
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  

May 8th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Herring Gull 41
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  

May 7th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Shelduck 1
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 8
  • Herring Gull 45
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Reed Warbler song heard south end
  

May 6th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Maandarin 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
 

May 5th 2025

  • Canada Goose 1
  • Mandarin 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  • Herring Gull 29
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  

May 4th 2025

  • Mute Swan 4
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 1
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Coot 4
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Reed Warbler 2 heard
 Also 2 Roe Deer and a Grass Snake

May 3rd 2025

  • Mute Swan pair
  • Mandarin 2
  • Gadwall 1 pair + 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  • Red Kite 1 (KGH south end midday)
  • Buzzard 4
  • Herring Gull 252
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 12
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming heard and cross meadow flights seen
  • Jay 1 north end
  • Goldcrest call heard south end
  • Coal Tit active nest found
  • Swallow 1
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard south only
  • Reed Warbler song heard north and south
  • Chiffchaff song heard north and south
  • Blackcap song heard north and south


Kevin Harris: Red Kite

Butterflies seen today: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Small Copper


Kevin Harris: A Jay hiding as usual, a freshly emerged Orchid and a Small Copper butterfly

May 2nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Gadwall 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Herring Gull 207
  • Cetti's Warbler
Malcolm Brown: The elusive Cetti's Warbler shows itself

May 1st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  

April 30th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 3
  • Mandarin 1
  • Mallard 10 ducklings SW corner
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 9
  • Herring Gull 166
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
 Fish spawning today

April 29th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Cormorant 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 13
  

April 28th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  

April 27th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Swallow 2
  

April 26th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  

April 25th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Pheasant 1
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Common Sandpiper 15
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Herring Gull c.250
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 9
  • Goldcrest call heard
  • Swallow 2
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Chiffchaff song heard
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
  

April 24th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 13
  • Black-headed Gull 3
  • Herring Gull 106
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 11
  

April 23rd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Gadwall 1
  • Tufted Duck 1 pair
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Herring Gull c.50
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Green Woodpecker heard
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Goldcrest 1 south end
  • Marsh Tit 2
  • Coal Tit 2
  • Swallow 1
  • Long-tailed Tit 2
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Chiffchaff 4 singing south end
  • Blackcap 3 singing south end
  • Reed Warbler 1 singing south end
  • Nuthatch 1 heard
  • Song Thrush 1 feeding in meadows
  • Goldfinch 2+
Kevin Harris: Green-veined White butterfly and Slow Worm in dull conditions

April 22nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Gadwall 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Common Sandpiper 11
  • Stock Dove 1 on Jims field shore
  • Sand Martin 3
  • Green Woodpecker 1 flew across the res
  

April 21st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Tawny Owl 1 in nestbox
  • Swallow 1
  

April 20th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Gadwall 3
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 116
  

April 19th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Common Sandpiper 13
  

April 18th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Common Sandpiper 3
  • Swallow only 1 in wet weather
 Wet weather usually brings the hirundines in to the reservoir at this time of year.

April 17th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 13
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Herring Gull 27
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Stock Dove 1 on dam shore
  

April 16th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 5
  • Gadwall 2 1
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great White Egret 1 (reported by warden)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Herring Gull 109
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 9
  • Kingfisher 1 (NW corner)
  • Song Thrush 2 singing
  • Marsh Tit 1
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard and bird seen (KGH)
  • Long-tailed Tit 1pair
  • Chiffchaff 4 singing
  • Blackcap 4 singing
  • Nuthatch call heard


Kevin Harris: Red Admiral and eggs of Green Dock Beetle

Butterfly survey gave Orange Tip, Small White, Red Admiral and Green-veined White.
Also seen were 2 Bank Voles and a baby Toad.

April 15th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Common Sandpiper 4
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  

April 14th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  

April 13th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 11
  • Sand Martin 2
  • Swallow 1
  

April 12th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Mandarin 1
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1 pair
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • Herring Gull 36
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  

April 11th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Common Gull 2
  • Herring Gull 213
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Marsh Tit 3 (south and east sides)
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Long-tailed Tit heard
  • Chiffchaff song heard
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
Kevin Harris: Treecreeper and Early Purple Orchid

April 10th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 14
  • Herring Gull 37
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming heard
  • Goldcrest heard
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Long-tailed Tit heard
  • Chiffchaff song heard
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
  

April 9th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1
  • Gadwall 3
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 3
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebes 18
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker pair seen
  • Cetti's Warbler song heard
  • Long-tailed Tit 2
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing south end
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
  • Song Thrush 1 seen
  • Bullfinch heard at entrance to south wood
Kevin Harris: Gadwall

April 8th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 3
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Sand Martin 2
  

April 7th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pait
  • Cormorant 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Osprey Catching fish reported by Chris Hiscoke
  • Common Sandpiper 3 (NW corner)


Chris Hiscoke: Osprey with fish caught at the reservoir

April 6th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Cormorant 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Swallow 2
  

April 5th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair (male on nest at north end)
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 16
  • Buzzard 2
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Goldcrest 2
  • Coal Tit 1
  • Sand Martin c.40
  • Swallow 4
  • Long-tailed Tit 2
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing south end
  • Willow Warbler (Merlin app reported as heard)
  • Blackcap song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
  • Treecreeper 1 north end
  • Song Thrush song heard
Kevin Harris: Wren singing

April 4th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 1 pair
  • Cormorant 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  

April 3rd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Goldeneye 1st winter
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
  • Sand Martin c.40
  • Swallow 2+
Dave Helliar: Goldeneye

April 2nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 4
  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Cormorant 4
  • Great Crested Grebe 16
  • Buzzard 2
  • Little Gull 7 (KGH) record count
  • Black-headed Gull 4
  • Herring Gull 125+
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Green Woodpecker call heard
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker call heard
  • Marsh Tit 1 (carrying food?)
  • Sand Martin 6
  • Swallow 3
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing south end
  • Blackcap snatches of song heard
  • Nuthatch call heard
Kevin Harris : Little Gulls

April 1st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Sand Martin 1
  

March 31st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Green Woodpecker 1
  • Sand Martin c.12
  • Swallow 2
  

March 30th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Gadwall 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 9
  • Green Woodpecker 1
  • Sand Martin 2
  

March 29th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 1
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 9
  • Sand Martin c.20
  • Swallow 2
  

March 28th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Sand Martin 9
  

March 27th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 16
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 12
  • Sand Martin c.30
  

March 25th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Cormorant 2
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Swallow 1
  

March 24th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
  

March 23rd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Black-headed Gull 22
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
  • Sand Martin 2
  

March 22nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Great Crested Grebe 24 - pair nesting in NE reeds
  

March 21st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 6
  • Sand Martin 5
  

March 20th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 1
  • Teal 3
  • Cormorant 1 imm.
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Buzzard 2
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 6
  • Wood Pigeon 50+
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 south side
  • Sand Martin c.20 north end
  • Chiffchaff 2 singing south end
  • Cetti's Warbler singing in reeds to west of hide
  

March 19th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 2 1
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Sand Martin 4
  

March 17th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Shoveler 1 pair
  • Cormorant 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Sparrowhawk 1 over
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Stock Dove 2 over
  

March 16th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Cormorant 3
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Redwing 4+ feeding in Jim's field
  

March 15th 2025

  • Cormorant 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
  

March 14th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 6
  • Sand Martin 3
  

March 13th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Sand Martin 3
  

March 12th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 1
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 6
  • Sand Martin 3
  

March 11th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 1
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Black-headed Gull 6
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Marsh Tit 1
  • Nuthatch 1
  • Bullfinch 1
  • Reed Bunting 1
  

March 10th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair (confirmed as ring DKL and partner)
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Cormorant 2
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Buzzard 1
  • Herring Gull 26
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 adults
  • Wood Pigeon 200+ flew south at 17:20
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 east side
  • Goldcrest 1 east side
  • Coal Tit 1 east side
  • Long-tailed Tit 2 east side
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing south end
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Goldfinch heard
Kevin Harris: Heron in full breeding colour collecting sticks and presenting to partner. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker sitting at the top of a conifer

March 9th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
  

March 8th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 24
  • Black-headed Gull 30
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Sand Martin 1 flew North without stopping
  

March 7th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Sand Martin 4 in drizzle late pm (early date)

March 6th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Mandarin 3
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Herring Gull c.100
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  

March 5th 2025

  • Canada Goose 3
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Black-headed Gull c.40
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  

March 4th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 3
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Black-headed Gull 34
  • Herring Gull c.70
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker calling
  • Goldcrest 1
  • Coal Tit 1
  • Long-tailed Tit 2
  • Chiffchaff 1 first of the year
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Greenfinch heard
  

March 3rd 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Black-headed Gull 4
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  

March 2nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Mandarin 3
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
  

March 1st 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Cormorant 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  

February 28th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 4
  • Mandarin 2 pairs
  • Teal 5
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Little Gull 1 2nd winter (5th day)
  • Herring Gull 30
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 adults
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
  • Goldcrest 1
  • Marsh Tit 2
  • Coal Tit 1
  • Long-tailed Tit 2
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Mistle Thrush pair with singing male
  • Chaffinch 1 pair
  • Goldfinch heard
  • Reed Bunting 1
  

February 27th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Mandarin 3
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Cormorant 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 17
  • Little Gull 1 2nd winter
 

February 26th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Little Gull 1 2nd winter
 

February 25th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 3
  • Mandarin 6
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Little Gull 1 2nd winter
  • Black-headed Gull 45
  • Common Gull 2
  • Herring Gull 82
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Coal Tit 1 SE feeders
  • Long-tailed Tit 2 SE feeders
  • Nuthatch 1 SE feeders
Kevin Harris: Little Gull

February 24th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 pair
  • Canada Goose 10
  • Mandarin c.10 in flight
  • Gadwall 1 pair mating
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Cormorant 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 18+
  • Little Gull 1 2nd winter (DWH)
  • Stock Dove 2 perched in tree
Dave Helliar: Little Gull

February 23rd 2025

  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Cormorant 6
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
 Heavy rain and SSW gales

February 22nd 2025

  • Canada Goose 8
  • Mandarin 8
  • Teal 5
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Cormorant 4 inc. red ring
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 24
  • Black-headed Gull c.100
  • Common Gull 2
  • Herring Gull c.100
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 adults
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker seen SE corner
  • Coal Tit 1 SE feeders
  • Long-tailed Tit 2 SE feeders
  • Nuthatch 1 SE feeders
  • Song Thrush 1
  • Chaffinch 1 pair SE feeders
  

February 21st 2025

  • Mandarin 10
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Goosander 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
Dave Helliar: Goosander

February 20th 2025

  • Mandarin 10
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Cormorant 9
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  

February 19th 2025

  • Mandarin 2
  • Shoveler 1
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 13 seen in the fog
  

February 18th 2025

  • Canada Goose 6
  • Mandarin 1
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Cormorant 7
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 25
  • Black-headed Gull c.130
  • Common Gull 4
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 adults
  

February 17th 2025

  • Canada Goose 4
  • Mandarin 7 5
  • Teal 9
  • Tufted Duck 9 2
  • Cormorant 9
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 24
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 adults
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling
  • Coal Tit 2 SE feeders
  • Marsh Tit 1 SE feeders
  • Long-tailed Tit 6 SE feeders
  • Nuthatch 1 SE feeders
  • Goldfinch singing SE feeders
  • Chaffinch 1 pair SE feeders
  

February 16th 2025

  • Mandarin 6
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Little Egret 4
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Jack Snipe 1 SE corner (AG)
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 10 adults
  • Mediterranean Gull 2 (AG) coming into summer plumage
  • Kingfisher 1
  

February 15th 2025

  • Mandarin 4 pairs
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1 on dam
  

February 14th 2025

  • Mandarin 11
  • Teal 2
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Cormorant 11
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22
  • Black-headed Gull c.100
  • Common Gull 1
  • Herring Gull 1 with pale wingtips
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Green Woodpecker 1 flew across res west to east at 16:03
  • Jay 2 south end woods
  • Goldcrest 1
  • Song Thrush 1 on path south end


Kevin Harris: Goldcrest getting its feet wet on the shore by the hide

The Herring Gull was noticed flying past because of its pale wingtips, not unlike an adult Iceland Gull. However from below it appeared there were some small black spots on the primary wingtips and from above some white patches in the wing coverts. This probably means that it was a leucistic Herring Gull rather than something more exotic. It unfortunately flew off south not allowing for photos or further observation.

February 13th 2025

  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Cormorant 14 inc. Red Ring 111
  • Little Egret 5
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Herring Gull 200+
  

February 12th 2025

  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 21
  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Green Woodpecker 1 flew across res west to east at 16:50
 Also 2 Roe Deer

February 11th 2025

  • Mallard 43
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18 (3 pairs displaying)
  • Grey Wagtail pair on dam
  

February 10th 2025

  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 2
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 13
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Black-headed Gull c.140
  • Herring Gull c.70
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  

February 9th 2025

  • Canada Goose 2
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Cormorant 15
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Kingfisher 1
  

February 8th 2025

  • Canada Goose 18+
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Cormorant 15
  • Little Egret 5
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 19
  • Kingfisher 1
  

February 7th 2025

  • Canada Goose 28
  • Mandarin 4
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Teal 4
  • Gadwall 2
  • Goosander 1 pair
  • Cormorant 15 inc. red ring
  • Little Egret 4
  • Great White Egret 1 (Gary Andrews)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  • Black-headed Gull c.240
  • Common Gull 15
  • Herring Gull 179
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
  • Kingfisher 1
Kevin Harris: Teal

February 6th 2025

  • Mandarin 4
  • Great White Egret 1 (Brian Rendell)
 

February 5th 2025

  • Canada Goose 42
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 15
  • Moorhen 7+
  • Water Rail 1 (Roger Lindsay)
 

February 4th 2025

  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Cormorant 3
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 12
  

February 3rd 2025

  • Tufted Duck 10
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 12
  • Peregrine 1 flew low and may have roosted at south end
  

February 2nd 2025

  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 10
  • Green Woodpecker 1 flew across res, west to east
  

February 1st 2025

  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 12
  

January 31st 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 adult
  • Tufted Duck 5 (4)
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great White Egret 1 flew in at 17:09 to roost
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 18
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Coal Tit 2
  • Marsh Tit 1 SE feeding station
  • Long-tailed Tit 3
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Song Thrush 2 singing at the south end
  • Chaffinch 1 pair SE feeding station
  • Siskin call reported from south end by Merlin app
  • Reed Bunting 3 (2) SE feeding station


Kevin Harris: Great Crested Grebe

January 30th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 adult
  • Tufted Duck 4
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 20
  

January 29th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 adult
  • Teal 5
  • Mandarin 10
  • Cormorant 3 including red ring 111
  • Great White Egret 1 reeds next to hide (DWH)
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
 Hide flooded

January 28th 2025

  • Teal 4
  • Tufted Duck 1
  • Cormorant 1
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 adult
  

January 27th 2025

  • Canada Goose 2
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  

January 26th 2025

  • Teal 3
  • Cormorant 2 including red ring 111
  • Great White Egret 1 flew into SW corner at 17:11 (DWH)
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 36
 Storm Herminia - Res flooded

January 25th 2025

  • Canada Goose 26
  • Mandarin 9
  • Teal 23+
  • Cormorant c.10
  • Little Egret 2
  • Great White Egret 1 (present most of the afternoon KGH)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  • Black-headed Gull 220+ only stayed 10 mins
  • Common Gull 3
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker calling in the south woods
  • Goldcrest 2 chasing each other in the cut reeds
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Song Thrush singing
Kevin Harris: Black-headed Gulls having a wash and on their way to roost elsewhere

January 24th 2025

  • Cormorant 10+
  • Little Egret 9 at dusk and departed in SE direction
  • Great White Egret 1 departed to roost at 17:11 in SE direction (DWH)
  • Great Crested Grebe 30
 Storm Eowyn 65 mph gusts

January 23rd 2025

  • Mandarin 4
  • Cormorant 19
  • Little Egret 5
  • Great White Egret 1 to roost at 17:10 (DWH)
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 27
  

January 22nd 2025

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 23
  • Tufted Duck 12
  • Cormorant 19
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 22+
  

January 21st 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Canada Goose 7
  • Mandarin 6+
  • Teal 16+
  • Tufted Duck 2
  • Gadwall 4
  • Cormorant 21
  • Little Egret 6
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 27
  • Black-headed Gull 27
  • Common Gull 11
  • Herring Gull 411
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Raven 3 flyovers of single birds
  • Goldcrest 3 at south end
  • Coal Tit 2
  • Long-tailed Tit 10
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Dunnock 5 all at new feeding station
  • Bullfinch 1
  • Chaffinch 1 pair
  • Reed Bunting 1 pair


Kevin Harris: Dunnock and Reed Bunting

January 20th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Canada Goose 25
  • Egyptian Goose 6 flew in to NW corner at dusk
  • Mandarin 11
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Gadwall 7
  • Cormorant 20+
  • Little Egret 1+5 flew over south at dusk
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  

January 19th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Mandarin 2 pairs
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Gadwall 6
  • Cormorant 3
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 27
  

January 18th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 adults
  • Mandarin 6+
  • Wigeon 5
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Gadwall 5
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  

January 17th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 imm. flew in at 16:40
  • Canada Goose 28
  • Mandarin 8
  • Teal 28
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Gadwall 5
  • Cormorant 22
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 28
  • Black-headed Gull 87
  • Herring Gull 59
  • Kingfisher 2
  

January 16th 2025

  • Mute Swan 1 adult and 1 imm. flew in at 16:30
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Gadwall 4
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 28
  • Kingfisher 1
  

January 15th 2025

  • Canada Goose 25
  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Mallard 74+
  • Tufted Duck 3
  • Teal 20
  • Cormorant 7
  • Little Egret 2
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Black-headed Gull 43
  • Common Gull 33
  • Herring Gull 174
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Nuthatch heard
  • Song Thrush heard singing
  • Chaffinch 2
  

January 14th 2025

  • Little Egret 3
  • Great White Egret 1 (DWH)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 31
  • Kingfisher 1
  

January 13th 2025

  • Mandarin 6
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Teal 34
  • Gadwall 5
  • Cormorant 23
  • Little Egret 4
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 32
  • Black-headed Gull 34
  • Common Gull 10
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Raven 1 over
  

January 12th 2025

  • Mandarin 3
  • Tufted Duck 14
  • Cormorant 9
  • Little Egret 5
  • Great White Egret 2 (Photographers reported to AG)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Common Gull 4
  • Kingfisher 1
  

January 11th 2025

  • Mandarin 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 23
  • Cormorant 22
  • Little Egret 5
  • Great White Egret 1 (DWH)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 27
  • Green Woodpecker 1 flew across the res

Interesting records of Woodpeckers flying across the reservoir at this time of year...
2021 24th Feb Green Woodpecker flew across res and so did a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the same day
2022 24th Jan Green Woodpecker flew across the res
2024 28th Feb Green Woodpecker flew across the res
2025 11th Jan Green Woodpecker flew across the res

These are the only records of Woodpeckers flying across the water and sometimes the only actual sighting of Green Woodpecker in the year although calls are often heard

January 10th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 immatures flew in at dusk
  • Mandarin 18
  • Tufted Duck 13
  • Teal 32
  • Little Egret 8
  • Great White Egret 1 (SH and AG)
  • Grey Heron 3
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Pheasant 1
  • Kingfisher 1
 A second Great White Egret was present at the same time nearby on the River Isle near Knowle St Giles

January 9th 2025

  • Mandarin 3
  • Shoveler 2 pairs
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Teal 21
  • Cormorant 18 including red ringed bird
  • Little Egret 5
  • Great White Egret 1 in SW corner (KGH)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 26
  • Coot 5
  • Black-headed Gull 116
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling
  • Goldcrest 1


Kevin Harris: Great White Egret and Little Egret

January 8th 2025

  • Mallard 60+
  • Cormorant 6
  • Little Egret 3
  • Great White Egret 1 in SE corner at 12:40
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Great Crested Grebe 24
  • Coot 3

 

January 7th 2025

  • Mute Swan 2 immatures
  • Mandarin 6
  • Tufted Duck 18
  • Gadwall 2
  • Cormorant red ringed bird present
  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 29
  • Herring Gull 150+
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 3
  • Marsh Tit 2
  • Coal Tit 1
  • Long-tailed Tit 1
  • Nuthatch 2
  • Treecreeper 1
  • Chaffinch 2
  • Reed Bunting 1 pair

 

January 6th 2025

  • Mandarin 5
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Cormorant 2
  • Little Egret 3
  • Great Crested Grebe 32

 

January 5th 2025

  • Mandarin 3
  • Teal 27
  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Cormorant 14
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 23+
  • Kingfisher 1

 

January 4th 2025

  • Canada Goose 4
  • Mandarin c.10
  • Tufted Duck 26 inc. 19
  • Cormorant 20
  • Little Egret 3
  • Great White Egret 1 flew in at 16:15
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 30
  • Black-headed Gull c.80
  • Kingfisher 1

 

January 3rd 2025

  • Canada Goose 41
  • Mandarin c.30 at dusk
  • Tufted Duck 15
  • Cormorant 22
  • Little Egret 3
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 28+
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Siskin 2 at the Rest N View feeding area

 

January 2nd 2025

  • Canada Goose 30+
  • Mandarin c.16 (8)
  • Teal 22
  • Gadwall 1
  • Wigeon 3
  • Tufted Duck 20
  • Cornorant 15
  • Little Egret 1
  • Great White Egret 1 (Early morning per Roger Lindsay)
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Great Crested Grebe 23
  • Nuthatch 1

 

January 1st 2025

  • Mandarin 12
  • Gadwall 1 pair
  • Tufted Duck 12
  • Goosander 1 pair (AG)
  • Cormorant 12
  • Little Egret 6
  • Great White Egret 1 (DWH)
  • Great Crested Grebe 33
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Reed Bunting 1

A great start to the new year

Previous Years

If anyone has information or observations on the wildlife at Chard Reservoir:

email sightings to: kevbirder@gmail.com

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