Sutton Bingham - Thu 28 Jan

A little over an hour on site this afternoon starting at the Fishing Lodge where the Wigeon flock numbered some one hundred and thirteen birds, but unfortunately there were no other duck species associating with them.
A quick look down the arm of the reservoir produced a Peregrine on one of the pylons plus a nice flock of seven Reed Buntings feeding on the water's edge.
The only other bird of note today was of a single Mistle Thrush viewed in a flock of twenty-one Collared Dove near the church.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 64 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 23 Jan

After not having the opportunity to spend any time at the reservoir for nearly two weeks I finally managed nearly two hours on site this morning, problem was there were very few birds to be seen. Starting at the Fishing Lodge the Wigeon flock numbered one hundred and ten individuals but there was nothing in with them unfortunately other than three Teal (a further four Teal were on West Pool). Along the arm I flushed four Snipe from the water's edge and a couple of Meadow Pipits were seen in flight. The pick of the day was the Little Owl which I was lucky enough to see again and what's more managed some wonderful views for a change.

So no additions to the year list and not much variety among the species present but the visit was rescued by the Little Owl.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 14 Jan

Just a quick trip on my way home from work today to get some exercise. It was pretty quiet with nothing much on the water, just a couple of dozen Wigeon off the dam, though a female Sparrowhawk was a nice addition to the year list. The southern end was more productive though with two, possible three, Marsh Tits seen as well as my first Bullfinch and Siskin of the year. So four new species added to the patch year list in just over an hour on site.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 61 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 10 Jan

A mid-morning visit produced two drake Shoveler from the Fishing Lodge with around sixty Wigeon.

Large parts of West Pool and the southern arm of the reservoir were covered by ice, but three Tufted Duck were present. A walk around Cotton Bridge was not that productive with just a single Stonechat and half a dozen Meadow Pipits seen. A couple of Jays were heard calling but failed to show themselves.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 57 species.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 8 Jan

With the recent cold weather and that fact the fog killed any chance of checking for wildfowl yesterday I popped out for a lunchtime visit to the reservoir today. Five Tufted Duck were on the main reservoir whilst a Mute Swan was with Canada Geese and Wigeon off the Fishing Lodge. A total of twenty Teal were at the southern end with a further four on West Pool. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were off the Sailing Club.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 7 Jan

A couple of brief visits earlier in the week produced eight Tufted Duck on Monday 4 January and a pair of Gadwall on Tuesday 5 January.

Thick fog covered the reservoir this afternoon so it made it all but impossible to do much in the way of birding, especially as you couldn't see anything on the water. I good look around Cotton Bridge was pretty pointless with just a Stonechat noted with a second one on West Pool. Also on West Pool two Snipe and a calling Chiffchaff somewhere in the gloom. I did see my first Kingfisher of the year though.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 55 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 3 Jan

A drake Gadwall was present with the Wigeon flock off the dam today, nice to see one so early in the year as I had to wait until late September before seeing one last year. A Peregrine was on a pylon at the southern end where approximately twenty Snipe were flushed. At least fifty Mediterranean Gulls flew south.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 51 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 2 Jan

An early morning walk paid off with cracking views of a Little Owl near the Canoe Club. The only other birds of note were a single Mediterranean Gull and two Tufted Duck.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 47 species.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 1 Jan

So 2021 starts and with it a new patch year list! Today produced some pretty good birds as well. The main reservoir played host to an adult Great Black-backed Gull and three Mediterranean Gulls. A total of seven Tufted Duck were off the Fishing Lodge. A search around the church yielded a wintering Chiffchaff along with a few common garden species. A Stonechat was on the edge of West Pond and a lone Snipe was flushed from a field near the Canoe Club.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2021 now at 40 species.