The weather forecast was for a intermitten rain showers, and it was not wrong. Perhaps it was this that was responsible for a reduced turnout of just five members, lead by Joyce and Paul. Despite the weather, a most enjoyable day was had.
We started with a visit to view the resident Little Owl (as does everyone), the we had a Marsh Harrier fly over the car park, followed quickly by a heron. Then a Whitethroat was heard and seen feeding its young by the toilet block, then a Cetti’s Warbler callimg from the bushes, meaning we had nine species recorded before leaving the car park.
We were immediately impresswed by the number of Swift patrolling the sky at all levels; the count would well have exceeded a hundred if it had been possible to count such a rapid flight of these birds.
Another numerous bird we encounted throught the day was the Reed Bunting which could be heard and seen perching the amongst the low bushes.
However, the anticipated sightings of the Bitten and Black-necked Grebe did not happen for us. Perhaps we did not venture into their territory, dispite being advised by the site wardens in the car park, that they were showing well, the Bitten even had been seen with a chick. Perhaps another visit to this enchanting site (in better weather) might reveal them.
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Graylag Goose | Anser anser |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor |
| Shoveler | Anas clypeata |
| Gadwall | Anas strepera |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Pochard | Aythya ferina |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula |
| Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus |
| Little Grebe (Dabchick) | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus |
| Feral Pigeon | Columba livia |
| Wood Pigeon | Columba palumbus |
| Swift | Apus apus |
| Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| Coot | Fulica atra |
| Lapwing | Vanellus vanellus |
| Redshank | Tringa totanus |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
| Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus |
| Buzzard | Buteo buteo |
| Little Owl | Athene noctua |
| Magpie | Pica pica |
| Crow | Corvus corone |
| Skylark | Alauda arvensis |
| Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus |
| Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia |
| House Martin | Delichon urbica |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus |
| Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin |
| Whitethroat (common) | Sylvia communis |
| Robin | Erithacus rubecula |
| Reed Bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Cetti’s Warbler | Cettia cetti |