Sutton Bingham - Fri 29 Aug

Nothing new for the year list today, but a decent end to the month with a few birds of note during an early morning visit. Firstly, a Mute Swan which flew south and that was followed some twenty minutes later by a flock of eight Cattle Egrets.

In the vegetation along the arm there was a Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler, and one, possibly two, Sedge Warblers.

There were still a few Common Sandpipers lingering with at least seven at the southern end.

Sutton Bingham - Tue 26 Aug

A juvenile Stonechat was an unexpected new arrival this morning.

Nothing else of note today though and the Little Stint has moved on after a stay of four days.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 24 Aug

I had a fly-through Common Tern yesterday morning and today I made an evening visit where a Marsh Tit was a nice find and the Little Stint was showing much better, affording some half-decent photos.

Nothing else to add today though.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 22 Aug

Another decent visit today with Dave Chown finding a Whinchat which I was lucky enough to relocate opposite the Canoe Club about 100 metres from his initial sighting. I also found a Wheatear, so two quality additions to the year list again today.

At the southern the Little Stint was still present with eight Common Sandpipers and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2025 now at 115 species.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 21 Aug

Something very unexpected on the patch this morning, a first-summer type Scaup on West Pool with a female Tufted Duck. The Scaup showed pretty well on West Pool before taking flight and heading over to the main reservoir where it eventually relocated to the area in front of the Sailing Club.

Scaup is a very scarce visitor to the reservoir and I've only seen a couple over the years and these have all been in the winter. There was also some debate over this bird, but I have no doubt.

After I'd left to get to work, I had a call from Pete to say he'd found a Little Stint at the southern end! Typical, and I'd checked that area too, so must've missed it. Fortunately, I was able to return during my lunch break and the bird had hung around and showed well, if distantly.

So a productive day with two year ticks, both of which being quality birds on the year list.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2025 now at 113 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 17 Aug

Another addition to the year list today as I managed to connect with one of the Yellow Wagtails that had been seen earlier in the day when I made an afternoon visit. Always distant and flighty, I had to grab a record shot of sorts!

Having missed Yellow Wagtail in 2024, it was nice to see one on patch and add it to the year list.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2025 now at 111 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 16 Aug

I finally managed to connect with a Spotted Flycatcher on the patch this year, with one bird near Cotton Bridge early in the afternoon.

I've missed quite a few this year, so was good to get one at long last.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2025 now at 110 species.

Sutton Bingham - Wed 13 Aug

Another day and another interesting wader, today it was an Oystercatcher that was initially present at the southern end but was extremely flighty. It then settled on the northern causeway for a bit.

Nothing else that different in the morning, though a return visit later in the day did produce four Common Terns off the dam.

The pictured bird above being one of two juveniles present along with two adult birds, so presumably a family group.

Sutton Bingham - Tue 12 Aug

A Golden Plover was a new arrival this morning, not a bird that one sees on the deck at Sutton Bingham very often, more a fly-over visitor in flocks in the winter, so a grounded bird in the summer was a joy to see.

It was present for a while before a Peregrine flew in from the east and made a beeline straight for it! The Golden Plover took flight, avoided the Peregrine and understandably flew off strongly to the north!

Sutton Bingham - Wed 6 Aug

Yesterday's Little Ringed Plover was still present this morning.

Always a bit distant it was favouring the area just south of the Canoe Club.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 10 Aug

A Ringed Plover was at the southern end today and was the only notable bird present outside the long-staying individuals.

Sutton Bingham - Tue 5 Aug

A Shelduck was present yesterday afternoon.

Today I spent a bit of time patrolling the arm of the reservoir where the vegetation along the water's edge produced a nice little mix of birds with two Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler.

On the mud a single Little Ringed Plover was present and a total of four Common Sandpipers were spread across the site.

On the water there were two female-type Tufted Ducks, and the long-staying adult Yellow-legged Gull and Great White Egret were still hanging around.

So a decent visit today, but no new birds for the year list.