Sutton Bingham - Mon 20 Apr

A very quick visit this morning produced five Common Sandpipers in the north-east corner, but the highlight was a Wheatear present on the dam wall briefly before it moved into the horse paddock before I lost it.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 87 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 19 Apr

After a few fleeting visits over the last couple of weeks, I managed a decent chunk of time at the reservoir this afternoon, spending a little over two hours on site. Starting on the northern causeway, there was not that much around but a Coot, the second in five days, was on West Pool.

I then had a look at the southern end of the reservoir but there was no sign of the two Mute Swans that were present yesterday morning, no real surprise there, so instead I headed down to Cotton Bridge for a look around.

The Cetti's Warbler, which is presumably the same bird that was present last year, was back singing, though proved to be typically elusive. Two Mandarin flew over and a pair of Gadwall were an unexpected find.

I then drove round to the Fishing Lodge where a sizeable flock of twenty-eight Common Sandpipers were loitering in the north-east corner and rounded off an enjoyable visit.

Sutton Bingham list for 2026 now at 86 species.

Sutton Bingham - Tue 14 Apr

A quick pre-work visit produced my first Whitethroat of the year, but there wasn't much else about other than seven Common Sandpipers and a pair of Mandarin.

However, I got a message late morning to say there was a Coot on West Pool, so I popped in on the way home and managed to connect with what is now a scarce visitor to Sutton Bingham.

Sutton Bingham year list now at 84 species.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 9 Apr

A quick visit before work this morning was completely uneventful, with mist across the reservoir and barely a bird to be seen, so I was completely surprised when Pete posted a message mid-morning to say that he had found a Kittiwake off the northern causeway. Fortunately, I was able to take an early lunch and pop along to see it, eventually getting some good views off the bottom of the car park.

Always nice to see a Kittiwake on the patch, and I was pleased it did the decent thing and stayed long enough for me to connect.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 79 species.

Sutton Bingham - Mon 6 Apr

My first visit to the reservoir for a fortnight, and I managed to add a few birds to the year list. At the southern end a pair of Mandarin were seen, but two Swallows were my first for the year.

There was nothing of note from the northern causeway, so I moved round to the Fishing Lodge where a lone Common Sandpiper was another new bird. There were a few distant hirundines flying high, but I was unable to identify them.

I then had a quick stop at the outflow stream where a Willow Warbler was feeding and I finally connected with a patch Treecreeper. So, not a bad visit with regard to new birds albeit species I would expect to see.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 77 species.

Mallorca - Thu 26 Mar to Thu 2 Apr

A family holiday in Mallorca was a non-birding trip, but I still managed to see a few birds. Full trip report to follow.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 22 Mar

A quick visit this afternoon to carry out the monthly WeBS count and it was still pretty quiet on the patch with a pair of Tufted Duck new arrivals on West Pool and the flock of Wigeon was still present, with thirty-one birds present.

Pick of the birds present was a second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull that was present on the northern causeway with a fair number of Herring Gulls.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 73 species.