Sutton Bingham - Sun 16 Feb

Storm Dennis failed again today, more very heavy rain and wind and even fewer birds than yesterday. That being said, when the weather briefing cleared up late afternoon I did make a quick visit to see if any gulls have been forced in and did find a second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull but it didn't linger. Nothing else of note today though.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 15 Feb

Not much to report from a few visits over the past week other than a drake Tufted Duck, but three Mandarin were viewable from the Fishing Lodge at lunchtime today, despite the heavy rain and strong winds. Wigeon numbers were slightly down on recent counts and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were noted. Finally, seven Teal were at the southern end.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 6 Feb

Following a weekend visit which produced a Coal Tit as an addition to the year list but nothing else of note, today saw me enjoying an afternoon visit in wonderful, if slightly chilly, weather was most enjoyable if somewhat lacking in birds. A Sparrowhawk flew over the car park area, a new bird for the patch year list but other than that it was pretty routine fair with the Wigeon flock rising to one hundred and thirty-four birds and a small flock of seventeen Meadow Pipits near the Canoe Club. Probably the highlight of the visit was a notable count of at least (hard to be sure exactly as many were in flight) thirty-five Mediterranean Gulls, in an assortment of plumages and ages, the pick being a very smart summer-plumaged adult.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2020 now at 69 species.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 30 Jan

I started off an afternoon visit at the southern end where the Wigeon flock had increased to one hundred and twenty-seven birds and a total of fourteen Tufted Duck were also present, all but one of the latter being male birds.
A decent walk around the Cotton Bridge area produced a couple of new birds for the year list with three Bullfinch and two Siskin seen. A Raven was also heard.
Round to the Fishing Lodge but nothing to report from there other than a flock of twenty-three Collared Dove.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2020 now at 65 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 26 Jan

Another late in the day visit today as I stayed until dusk in the hope of finding a Woodcock...I failed, but did have a Water Rail feeding with five Moorhen near Cotton Bridge. A Peregrine was atop one of the pylons and was a new bird for the year list and a Mute Swan was new in, but didn't stay that long as it flew south and was lost to view.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2020 now at 63 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 25 Jan

A late afternoon visit produced a female Shoveler amongst the Wigeon flock (which numbered around ninety birds) at the southern end of the reservoir. A total of twelve Tufted Duck were also present.
A look through the gulls produced a first-winter Mediterranean Gull but nothing else of note.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 23 Jan

After a tip off from the Ranger I staked out a private area this afternoon in the hope of finding one of my favourite birds, and after a wait of around half an hour managed to find my quarry, a gorgeous female Brambling! This was only the second one I had seen at Sutton Bingham and so I was understandably thrilled to see this brilliant finch! Also in the same area a good number of Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and my first patch Linnet of the year.
The north-east corner held eighty-eight Wigeon and one hundred and forty-four Canada Geese but nothing else amongst them. A Tawny Owl was calling from the somewhere near the church and a single Meadow Pipit was near the Canoe Club.
A good number of gulls gathered as the afternoon wore on and five Mediterranean Gulls were present, they are always a joy to see.
All in all a good visit this afternoon, but the Brambling stole the show!
Sutton Bingham year list for 2020 now at 61 species.