Ripley Farm Reservoir - Sun 25 Jan

When news broke of a Killdeer on a small farm reservoir a few days ago I was, obviously, tempted. However, I didn't really have the opportunity to go and see it until today when our initial Sunday morning plans fell by the wayside and that freed me up to make the journey to this interesting site just to the south of Ringwood.

I parked in the village of Avon, along with several other birders, and made the mile-long walk along a farm track towards the location of the target bird. Along the way I had a Red Kite fly over and then had some decent, if a little distant, views of a White-tailed Eagle...surely this was a good omen?

On arriving at the reservoir, which was really just a fairly large pond, I was helped on to the bird and was treated to some cracking views of the Killdeer, a Nearctic wader I hadn't really expected to see in the UK, and it was a little beauty.

There was plenty of other bird activity with several Egyptian Geese and Shelduck plus other commoner wildfowl, however, a Little Gull was a bonus year tick as I first saw it on water before it vanished whilst I was looking at other things but it then flew back in a few minutes later, showing really well in flight.

Having had my fill of the Killdeer I decided to head back home with the aim of getting back in time for lunch!

Sutton Bingham - Thu 22 Jan

Another rainy day, but I still managed some time at the reservoir this afternoon but it was pretty quiet. A small flock of nine Lapwing were near the Fishing Lodge for a while, before being flushed by one of the Sailing Club support boats.

Wildfowl were very much absent, with just a single pair of Wigeon present and little else. A Great White Egret was on West Pool and a second bird was at the southern end of the reservoir. A notable flock of thirty-nine Collared Doves was counted near the entrance to the Fishing Lodge.

The highlight of this afternoon's visit though was a Woodcock, flushed from a private area of the site. Having not seen one for a couple of years, it was a welcome addition to the year list.

Sutton Bingham year list now at 59 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 17 Jan

An afternoon trip today to do the monthly WeBS count and there was very little to report on the wildfowl front, just thirty-seven Wigeon and two Teal, though a Great White Egret was again present on West Pool.
A bit of excitement with a Red Kite seen from the dam, always a great bird to see, whilst a couple of Feral Pigeons were a less exciting addition to the patch year list.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 58 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 10 Jan

A quick visit a couple of days ago turned up three Mute Swans along the arm, whilst a Mediterranean Gull was in the gull roost of the Fishing Lodge.

Today there were a few new additions to the year list including a Stonechat at the southern end of the reservoir and a Peregrine was atop a pylon.

A stroll around a private are of the reservoir flushed around sixteen Snipe and a few commoner species were seen.

Sutton Bigham year list for 2026 now at 52 species.

Sutton Bingham - Tue 6 Jan

A pair of Gadwall were present yesterday, whilst a lunchtime visit today produced several small flocks of Lapwing passing through, forty-five in total and a lone bird was on the ground next to West Pool.

In the car park a small flock of about ten Siskin were milling about and on the main reservoir there were ten Tufted Duck.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 43 species.

Avalon Marshes - Sat 3 Jan

In what seems to have become somewhat of a tradition, myself and four of my oldest birding friends headed off for a trip to the Somerset Levels to start the year off. Always good fun and great company the birds are almost secondary!

We started the day at Wet Moor where despite the bitter cold we managed to connect with some good birds, with a flock of around thirty or so Russian White-fronted Geese on the deck, and another sixty seen in flight overhead. A lone Bewick's Swan was eventually picked out in the distance and a spectacular site of thirty-five Common Crane flying over was something to see and hear.

On then to Greylake RSPB which proved to be pointless so we didn't linger, instead heading to Catcott where we failed to connect with the recent Glossy Ibis but had great views of a hunting Marsh Harrier.

Another miss at Meare as we didn't see the elusive and mobile Whooper Swans and Long Drove also drew a blank as we missed the two Ring-necked Duck.

We then spent some time at Shapwick Heath, walking out to view Noah's Lake. Again, lot's of duck but nothing out of the ordinary...it was interesting that there was not actually that much variety in the birds we were seeing. Lots of wildfowl and little else.

We finished the day back at Wet Moor after a brief stop just north of Muchelney where five Bewick's Swans were showing really well.

Whereas we missed a few things today, it was a wonderful day out with good friends and that more than made up for the somewhat low total of species recorded.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 2 Jan

A quick stop before work failed to produce yesterday's Brent Goose but a Shoveler was present with the Wigeon flock. Three Tufted Ducks were on the main reservoir (there were ten yesterday) and a Great White Egret was again on West Pool.

A brief return visit late afternoon produced a Cattle Egret in trees below the car park and a flock of seventeen Lapwing flew through.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2026 now at 35 species.