Sutton Bingham - Tue 28 Jun

A flying visit on my way home from work produced a Common Sandpiper on the northern causeway and presumably the same recent Little Egret still present on the far bank opposite the Sailing Club.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 26 Jun

An early morning visit produced the first two returning Common Sandpipers of the year on the northern causeway. Three Linnets flew over the dam and the Little Egret was again present all day. A family party of Mandarin were seen at the southern end of the reservoir, proving that this species has again successfully bred on patch.
A late afternoon visit added a "new" Great Black-backed Gull with an adult being present on West Pool.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 25 Jun

I managed a quick visit to the reservoir on my way to work stopping first at the northern causeway for a quick check. A single Little Egret was in a tree on the edge of West Pool, and with distinctive pale yellow legs showed itself to be a juvenile bird.
I then took a drive around to the dam where a second Little Egret, this time an adult bird, was present. Continuing to check the dam "just in case" I came across a single Redshank! A real bonus find and another tick on the patch year list. It was worth the stop!
A return visit later in the day drew a blank with regard to the morning's Redshank and the Little Egret had relocated to the southern arm. A Reed Warbler was holding territory mid-way between the Canoe Club and the site of the hide where nearby a pair of Reed Buntings were present. Overhead a single Swift and a distant Kestrel rounded off the visit.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 19 Jun

As a special Father's Day treat I managed a couple of trips to the reservoir today, starting with a pre-breakfast visit. Frustratingly I saw a Little Owl just a hundred yards from the edge of the patch, but despite trying I was unable to see it from Sutton Bingham, so it can't go on the patch year list!
A sub-adult Great Black-backed Gull was again present, presumably the same bird that was seen last week. I also witnessed a rather interesting sight as a Herring Gull flew over carrying a squirming Mole! This was my first sighting of a live Mole at Sutton Bingham (though I doubt it stayed in that state for long).
Returning mid-afternoon and dodging the worst of the rain that had been hammering down for most of the day it was safe to say that it was not going to produce anything, however, it was nice to get a bit of fresh air. I was sat on the decking at the Canoe Club just minding my own business when I heard a familiar call and sure enough, two Curlew flew in from the north right past me and continued heading south over the reservoir until they were lost to view. I've not seen a Curlew at Sutton Bingham for many a year, so a real bonus bird for the patch year list.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2016 now at 94 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 18 Jun

A mid-morning visit finally produced my first patch Little Egret of the year, with a single bird feeding on the dam. Considering that in April of last year there were up to ten Little Egrets present over a two week period mid-month it is strange why it has taken so long to get one at Sutton Bingham in 2016...what a difference a year makes! Unfortunately there was nothing else of note during this mornings visit.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 11 Jun

A lunchtime visit after work produced a bit of interest with a sub-adult (third calendar year) Great Black-backed Gull loitering on a buoy just south of the car park. A Hobby was seen soaring over the dam and at least half a dozen Swifts were also seen. It has been a much better year for Swifts at Sutton Bingham as I only saw two birds on the patch during 2015 but has observed several this year. I didn't see much else and frustratingly I found out on Saturday morning that I had missed a female Pochard which was present on 9 June!

Sutton Bingham - Sun 5 Jun

A rather unseasonal drake Shoveler was present at the southern end of the reservoir this morning, not a patch year tick, but good to get one in the Summer as this has been a scarce winter visitor over the past few years. Four Mute Swans were also present at the southern end.
With not much else going on at this end of the reservoir I headed to the dam (a quick check of West Pool proved unproductive other than a singing Reed Warbler). From the dam I actually added a patch year tick in the form of a Feral Pigeon!!! Now normally I would not count this but the Patchwork Challenge rules allow you to count this on your list...so what the heck!
I also found another pair of Lesser Whitethroats in what seems to be a good year for this species, with at least four territories on the patch. A male Kestrel was a nice sight and the pick of the rest included a Mistle Thrush and a Grey Wagtail.
It's been good to see a number of young birds on the patch over the past few days, with the following species all having successfully raised young:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Blue Tit
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Goldfinch
A Kingfisher was also observed carrying food, so I guess they are breeding somewhere at Sutton Bingham also.