Sutton Bingham - Sat 28 Jan

A stop late last night produced a calling Tawny Owl at the southern end and a pre-work visit this morning turned up a Mute Swan on West Pool.

Mute Swan is increasingly scarce visitor to the reservoir these days, so always to nice to see one.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2023 now at 68 species.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 26 Jan

About two hours on patch today and the biggest surprise was that the Kittiwake was again/still present. This time it was at the southern end, pretty much in the area Pete had first seen it on Saturday. I even managed to take a few ropey photos today.

There was a lone Gadwall in with the Wigeon flock this afternoon and two little groups of Tufted Ducks, eight in total. A pair of Shoveler were partway down the arm and were a nice addition to the year list.

A Peregrine showed very well over the Water Treatment Works and a lone Lapwing was in a field.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2023 now at 66 species.

Sutton Bingham - Mon 23 Jan

I actually had the chance to check the reservoir before work today and that paid off with a drake Goosander in flight from the Fishing Lodge before it went down the arm. A total of thirteen Tufted Ducks were present.
Later in the morning Ash found a Black Redstart at the Water Treatment Works so I thought I'd give it a go during my lunch break. Despite a good scan of the area there was no sign so I thought I'd check out the dam wall as this was the location where I found a Black Redstart (probably the same bird over-wintering). Again no sign but I was shocked when a Kittiwake flew past me! Having dipped this species on Saturday I connected just two days later. I can only presume it is the same bird, though it was not seen yesterday. A Lapwing was on the deck briefly by the Fishing Lodge and a flock of around thirty flew over.

Sutton Bingham year list now at 63 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 21 Jan

A morning off work today so I popped up to the reservoir for about forty-five minutes mid-morning. It was a pretty decent visit with a few additions to the patch year list, the best being a number of Lapwings, around twenty-three, spread over a couple of fields behind West Pool. A Little Grebe was seen at the back of West Pool and a Kingfisher was also noted.

However, those positive vibes turned to despair when I learned upon getting home that a Kittiwake was at the southern end. A quick return visit failed to relocate this Sutton Bingham scarcity and I didn't have time to invest in a decent search due to other commitments.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2023 now at 61 species.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 5 Jan

I spent a bit of time at the reservoir this afternoon, but managed to miss my second Great White Egret of the year (like the one present on New Year's Day this was also found by Pete). I did pick up a few new birds for the year list with the pick being a Marsh Tit at the southern end of the reservoir.

A return visit after an evening meeting did, however, produce the goods. Using my spotlight I was able to pick out a Little Egret, a Cattle Egret and a Great White Egret all roosting together in trees below the car park. Result! The first time I have seen all three egret species together at Sutton Bingham.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2023 now at 49 species.

Sutton Bingham - Wed 4 Jan

I was able to leave work slightly earlier to day so decided to stop off at the reservoir on the way home, this turned out to be an inspired decision as I located a Cattle Egret roosting with a Little Egret in the trees below the car park. Presumably the same Cattle Egret which was present around Christmas. Obviously it was nearly dark but I still thought I ought to record the event with a typical high-quality photo.

Nothing else to add today other than some of the commoner "garden" species.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2023 now at 38 species.

Colyford Common - Tue 3 Jan

Around Christmas an Isabelline Wheatear had been found less than an hour from home at Colyford Common, I finally had the chance to go and see it on 27 December, the problem was the bird did a bunk on Boxing Day. I was rather disappointed, but that's how it goes with birds.
Imagine my surprise and delight then when it reappeared a week after going missing. Well I wasn't going to miss out again so I jumped in the car and drove down to Colyford in dismal weather. When I arrived on site it was still raining but that didn't stop me as I headed down to the boardwalk where the bird had been most reliably seen. When I got there I was told that it was sheltering against the boardwalk, and I must say that I didn't blame it at all. Before long I had some nice views of the Isabelline Wheatear looking very sorry for itself but then the rain stopped, the bird perked up and then performed extremely well for the next fifteen or so minutes. It even sat up nicely for a photo or two. My first Isabelline Wheatear in the UK and a welcome addition to my UK life list.

To be honest I didn't really spend any time looking for any other birds as the weather just wasn't really good enough to spend hours in the field. A few Meadow Pipits and a Rock Pipit were seen and a flock of Lapwing contained a couple of Golden Plover. A Blackcap was in the hedgerow as I walked back to the car after a very wet but very successful morning out.

Arne RSPB - Mon 2 Jan

A trip to Sutton Bingham yesterday to start the year list off failed to produce anything of note, but plenty of time yet. Today we had a family trip down to Arne RSPB for a pleasant afternoon out, with a few decent birds to boot.

Starting with a walk out to Shipstal Point where out in Poole Harbour three Black-necked Grebes were probably the best birds on offer. Overhead a pair of Greylag Geese passed by, as did a flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Waders were fairly numerous with Avocets being the standout species. At least eight Spoonbills were also seen and a female Marsh Harrier was over the saltmarsh.

I failed to see any of the typical heathland specialties, but no doubt we'll be coming down this way again before the year is out.