Aug 31st.

Seen from the car park area this morning, 15 Greylag flying south, Common Sandpiper by the sailing club, 2 Hobbies over one carrying food and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the water. The Canada Geese flock remains steady at 341 birds and still 3 Greylags with them. No Terns of any kind on the pool this morning.
S Seal...

Aug 30th Afternoon.

Black Terns still present along with, 2 Hobby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and 6 Chiffchaff.
K Wimbush, P Forbes.

Aug 30th Sanderling.

This mornings Sanderling record is only the fifth record for the site, previous records are.
29-05-91 x3.
16-05-95 x1.
15-07-95 x1.
09-08-99 x1.
S Seal.

A further five Arctic Terns went through later on in the day.
B Duckhouse.

August 30th

Upon my arrival at the pool this morning 2 juvenile Black Terns could be seen feeding just off the car park. On my walk around the main pool a small wader was seen flying around the eastern end although the bird was too distant to identify. Just before 9 o'clock two groups of Terns dropped onto the pool, these groups totaled 21, with the majority being Arctic Tern. Both groups however departed after just 2 or 3 minutes. 10 minutes or so later 3 more juvenile Arctic terns dropped in with 3 further juvenile Black Terns. Once again the Arctics didn't hang around and flew off south after 5 minutes. Shortly after their departure a moulting adult Black Tern dropped in. This left the morning Tern total at 6 Black and at least 20 Arctic. As if this was not enough the wader that i had failed to identify earlier flew across infront of the car park, revealing its self as a Sanderling. The bird paused briefly infront of the sailing club before being losed to view, but was picked up again at 11 o'clock flying off high to the west. Other species noted this morning included Hobby, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, 4 Greylag Geese, 25+ LBB Gull and Kingfisher.
L Johnson, S Seal...

August 29th

Common Darter.

Common Darter.

The main pool was relatively quiet this morning. Yesterdays 3 Greylag Geese were again in the Canada Goose flock. Lapwings totaled 66, along with 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant and 1 Gadwall. A Hobby flew low over the pool late morning. The area to the north east of the fishing lodge was again productive with 7 Bullfinch, 2 or possibly 3 Willow tit, 2 Nuthatch, 4 GS Woodpecker and 4 Goldcrest. At least 8 Chiffchaff were around the site, with the majority of these being in the north east corner. Singles of Jay and Green Woodpecker were also noted. Dragonflys seen included 5+ Brown Hawker, 3 Migrant Hawker and 1 Common Darter. The warm but cloudy weather also produced 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Copper and 6+ Speckled Wood.
L Johnson, S Seal...

Aug 28th.

The Canada Geese flock is still increasing now upto 348 birds also 3 Greylags with them. Tufted Duck total still remains at 27, with 14 Little Grebes, 1 Pochard and 1 Gadwall. A walk around the back of the fishing cottage produced 1x Willow Tit, 5x Chiffchaff , 1x Blackcap, 1x Treecreeper, 3x Gt S Woodpecker, 2x Green Woodpecker, 5x Coal Tit, 3x Goldcrest, 1x Nuthatch . Back in the car park and a Sparrowhawk flushed a Redshank from the sailing club shoreline.
Dragonflies noted included, 4 Brown Hawkers, 8 Common Darters and 2 Southern Hawkers.
S Seal...

August 26th

Spotted Flycatcher.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Following the Spotted Flycatcher report two days ago, the area along the river to the north east of the fishing lodge and bushes around the small pool were checked thoroughly this morning. This proved to be very rewarding producing 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Willow tit, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 GS Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker (1 juv), 13 Bullfinch, 2 Whitethroat, female Blackcap, 1 Nuthatch and 2 Treecreeper. Species noted around the main pool included 1 Hobby, 2 Cormorant, 1 Goldcrest and another Whitethroat. Canada Geese numbers increased again this morning to a total of 307.
L Johnson, S Seal...

August 25th

Willow Tit.

Willow Tit.

The Willow tit was again present along the railway line by the small pool, along with 2 Garden Warbler. Also around the site this morning were 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 12+ LBB Gull, 1 Pochard, 1 Gadwall (drake), 1 Kingfisher, 231 Canada Geese (including 3 Greylag hybrids), 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and a group of 30+ Mistle thrush to the north east of the small pool. Dragonflys included a Brown hawker and a male Southern Hawker.
L Johnson, S Seal...

Late news from 24th August: 2 Spotted Flycatcher along the river just north east of the fishing lodge

August 23rd

Yesterdays Teal was still present on the main pool, with a total of 25 Pied Wagtail, 209 Canada Geese and a Little owl. A Raven flew over the fishing lodge mid-morning. The area around the fishing lodge also held Nuthatch, Jay and the first Willow tit to be recorded at the site this year. Another quick visit at midday produced 1 Hobby and 5 Buzzard over. Butterflys noted included 1 Small Copper and 1 Red Admiral. A phone call from S Cawthray around tea time saying their was a Marsh Harrier from Ladywalk drifting over the north of the pool.
L Johnson...

August 22nd

Not much to add after Steve left this morning although Buzzard numbers increased to at least 9. A Coal tit was also present along the river. At around 13:30 a group of 50 BH Gull, 17 LBB Gull and 1 Herring Gull dropped in briefly. Butterflys included several Speckled Wood, 8 Meadow Brown and 4 Small Copper.
L Johnson...

Aug 22nd.

A steady walk around the pool this morning produced, 180 Coot, 131 Mallard, 59 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Little Grebe, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard and 1 Teal first back this year. Also 33 Canada Geese, 7 Mute Swan, 4 Moorhen, 2 Gadwall, 85 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Bullfinch in one bush, 2 Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Jay, 4 Cormorant, 20+ Swallow and 40+ House Martins.
S Seal, L Johnson.

Aug 19th afternoon.

Three Black Terns still present , also Peregrine, Common Tern and Common Sandpiper.
J Harris.

Aug 19th.

A record shot of one of the three Black Terns present on the pool this morning. The birds are staying in the centre of the pool making it very difficult for photography.
Black Tern.

Black Tern.

The three Black Terns were still present this morning, along with 2 x Little Owls, 3 x Red-legged Partridge, 1 x Common Sandpiper, still around 75 x Lapwing, 2 x Chiffchaff, 1 x Willow Warbler, 1 x Blackcap and 7 x Swift .
S Seal, D Hutton, L Johnson.

Aug 18th.

Viewed from the car park this morning, 3x Black Terns all adults , Buzzard , Little Owl and 3 x LBB Gulls.
S Seal, D Hutton.

Aug 17th.

On arrival at the pool this morning around 10-30 there were just 6 Common Terns sitting on the bouys just off the car park , when at 10-40 a flock of 33 birds came in from the north circled the pool twice, and moved off high to the south. Other birds of note , 2x Common Sandpipers, 2x Buzzards, 75x Lapwing and a Hobby.
S Seal.
Late news from Wednesday.
Goldeneye (female).
Part of the flock of 33 Common Terns.

There was a good number of Lesser Black Backed Gulls today at the pool, mainly adults with a small number of juveniles. This juvenile was photographed close to the shore at the western end .
Lesser B B Gull (juv).

Lesser B B Gull (juv).

Lesser B B Gull (juv).

August 17th

With good numbers of Black Terns around in the rest of the country and some in the Midlands, I headed down to the res this afternoon in the hope that there would be some present. However there were none to be seen but the heavy showers around did produce 10 Common Tern (including 1 juvenile) and a count of 83 Lesser black backed Gull. Also present were 2 Gadwall and 2 Common sandpiper. A Raven flew over the western end of the main pool at around 5pm, this represents the first record for this species at the site this year.
L Johnson...

Aug 15th.

One of the Little Owls was showing reasonably well early this morning, also noted 3x Common Tern and 1x Common Sandpiper .
S Seal.
Late News from yesterday.
8x Common Sandpipers dropped in during last nights storm, but must have moved on again during the night.
P Forbes.
Little Owl.

Little Owl.

August 15th

No sign of the Redstart or the B N Grebe this morning. The area seemed very quiet today with 2 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 (male) Blackcap, 2 Pochard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern and 8+ Buzzard the only species of note. Numbers of Lapwing continue to increase daily with 77 birds counted this morning.
L Johnson...

Aug 14th. (Redstart).

While on the phone to Lee a female Redstart flew from the hedgerow in front of me and landed about 20yds away. It started calling then flew into a nearby oak tree, were it spent the next couple of hours fly catching from the canopy. This is only the third record for the pool the other two being in April 1988, and April 2000. Bob soon joined me and we had good views as it kept flying between the hedgerow and the tree. Other birds of note were, 2x Common Sandpipers, 2x Common Terns, 49x Lapwing, 3x R L Partridge , but no sign of the B N Grebe.
S Seal.

August 14th

Another very brief check of the pool this morning produced 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Common Tern. Numbers of Black headed gulls have been building up over the past few weeks, with at least 50 birds present at 11am. There was no sign of the B N Grebe this morning, although it has occasionally dissapeared for short periods during its stay, so could well be still around.
L Johnson...

Aug 12th.

12 Arctic Terns went through at 19-30 this evening.
K Wimbush.
Black-necked Grebe still present.

Late news from yesterday 1 x Green Sandpiper.
P Forbes.

August 11th

A brief walk around the main pool this morning produced 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Owl, 7+ Buzzard and 1 Hobby as well as the juvenile Black necked grebe. Also of note was an increase in Lapwing numbers, with 32 birds present this morning (compared to a highest count of 10 in recent weeks).
L Johnson...

Aug 10th.

One of the pools resident Little Owls was showing reasonably well this morning, these secrative little birds are seldom seen, although in poor light i took opportunity for a photo.
Little Owl.

Possibly due to failure of the first nest this Little Grebe is building again and using the green bouys and netting as support .
Little Grebe.

Little Grebe.

Little Grebe.

The juvenile B N Grebe was forced down into the bottom corner this morning by the sailing boats and gave a rare chance for some photos , the bird was not seen at all yesterday and was thaught to have gone. It has now been present for ten days.
Black-necked Grebe (juv).

August 10th

The Black necked Grebe was still present this morning to the east of the sailing club, although it has been proving more and more illusive during its stay. A Redshank was present early morning but was soon flushed by walkers and flew off in the direction of Ladywalk. Also noted this morning were 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Pochard, 25+ Tuffted Duck, 1 Shovler, 1 Gadwall (drake), 2 LBB Gull, 1 Herring Gull (over), 1 Common Tern, 1 Hobby, 5 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Goldfinch and a Bullfinch. Dragonfly's included Common Darter and 2 Southern Hawker
L Johnson...

Aug 9th.

An early start this morning with a pleasent walk around in the morning sunshine , very little new around from yesterday. Still 8x Pochard , 1x Shoveler and 1x Gadwall on the pool, also 4x adult and 1x juvenile Common Tern , 2 juvenile Green Woodpeckers , 1x Common Sandpiper , 1x Grey Wagtail , 3x LBB Gulls , 60+ BH Gulls and 2x Cormorant , but no sign this morning of the B N Grebe ,but it could have been tucked in by the sailing club.
S Seal...

Aug 8th.

Eight Common Terns were present today on the pool, 5 adults and 3 juveniles. At this time of the year their are usually good numbers around but due to the poor breeding season at nearby Kingsbury WP numbers have been well down. This bird was photographed close to the shore line fishing at the eastern end of the pool.
S Seal...
Common Tern.

Common Tern.

Common Tern.

Aug 8th. Afternoon.

Gatekeeper.

Much the same as Lee this morning with additions of 1x Shoveler , 1x Kingfisher , 2x Grey Wagtail , 1x G S Woodpecker , 1x Blackcap (fem) , 1x Sparrowhawk and 2x Mistle Thrush. Butterflies, also 1x Small Copper ,Comma , Peacock , Speckled Wood , Meadow Brown , Ringlet and Gatekeeper. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was still at the eastern end at 17-00 when i left.
S Seal....

Aug 8th Morning.

Noted by Lee Johnson this morning, Black-necked Grebe (juv), 8x Common Tern , 1x Common Sandpiper , 8x Pochard , 1x Green Woodpecker , 7x Willow Warbler , 6x Coal Tit , 3x Hobby , 1x Little Owl (juv) , 4x Buzzard , 1x Gadwall , 4x Chiffchaff , 4 Tree Sparrow and Common Blue , Small Copper Butterflies.

Aug 7th.

The Black-necked Grebe is still present east end of the sailing club, and still trying to eat its way through the pools population of sticklbacks. Also noted today, 16 x Little Grebe , 60+ G C Grebe , Grey Heron , Cormorant , Gadwall , Pochard (first returning bird) , 25 x Tufted Duck , 2 x Common Tern , 2 x Hobby , 30+ B H Gulls , 3 x L B B Gulls , Common Sandpiper , 10 x Lapwing , Buzzard , 3 x Willow Warbler , and Whitethroat.
Butterflies were,
1x Small Copper , 2x Peacock , 1x Red Admiral , 30+ Small Skippers , 2x Speckled Wood , small numbers of Ringlet and good numbers of Gatekeeper.
L Johnson........

Aug 6th.

An immature/female type Marsh Harrier was seen heading west over the pool this morning at 10-40 by Pete&Linda Price . This is only the second record of Marsh Harrier at this site, the previous being April 18th 1999. Also the juvenile Black-necked Grebe is still between the sailing club and the eastern end.
S Seal....

Aug 4th.

The juvenile Black-necked Grebe is still at the eastern side of the sailing club and slowly eating its way through the pools stickleback population. It seems quite settled and does show very well with a little patience. Also today 9 Little Grebe and 2 Common Terns noted.
L Johnson.
Black-necked Grebe (juvenile)......photo by S Seal.

Aug 3rd.

Black-necked Grebe (juv) still at the pool this morning also 5 Little Grebe, one adult and one juvenile Common Tern, Kingfisher and Green Woody.
L Johnson.

Aug 2nd.

The juvenile Black-necked Grebe is still present at the eastern end of the pool, also 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Common Tern , 12 Little Grebe, 64 Great Crested Grebes , and a Buzzard. Butterflies noted but no counts taken, Comma, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Large White, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Ringlet and Gatekeeper.
S Seal.....
Black-necked Grebe (juvenile).

Aug 1st.

Wood Pigeon at main entrance.

The Black-necked Grebe was still present this morning, it was half way between the sailing club and the eastern end but to distant for any photos. Also 3 Common Sandpipers , Dunlin , Yellow Wagtail and a Hobby over at 10-30. Only one Common Tern hawking over the water along with 36 House Martins, 20 Swifts , 41 Sand Martins and around a dozen Swallows. Wildfowl numbers were Mallard 161 , Coot 212 , G C Grebe 74 , Little Grebe 10 , Canada Geese 25 and Tufted Duck 22. Their were 2 Cormorants and 2 L B B Gulls on the pontoon.
S Seal.....