Sutton Bingham - Fri 13 Jul

A decent pre-work visit to the reservoir today starting with a walk along the southern arm where four Common Sandpipers and four Little Egrets were seen and a Raven flew over. From the northern causeway the only bird of note was a Great Black-backed Gull so round to the Fishing Lodge where a Redshank was showing really well.

 

A further four Common Sandpipers were noted, bringing the day total to eight, the highest since spring passage birds passed through.
A return visit in the afternoon produced the first Mediterranean Gulls of the "autumn" with two adults, a second-summer and a juvenile bird. Further larid interest was provided in by a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

Sutton Bingham - Mon 9 Jul

Pick of this morning's visit was a Lapwing that flew through heading north. A total of five Common Sandpipers were noted today and Little Egrets numbered some four individuals. The three Great Black-backed Gulls were all present again today.
Of interest, a Black-tailed Skimmer was seen this morning.

Sutton Bingham - Wed 4 Jul

Fairly consistent fair over the last couple of days, though a pair of Tufted Duck were on West Pool yesterday evening. Today though a bit of excitement with a Black-tailed Godwit that was found circling the north-east corner of the reservoir before flying off strongly to the south. Also this morning a couple of Common Sandpipers were present as were two Little Egrets. A Mute Swan was new in and was lingering off the dam and a Kingfisher was seen carrying a small fish. The female Mandarin was seen off the northern causeway after a few days of going missing and great news that she still has all five ducklings with her.
Sutton Bingham year list 2018 now at 106 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 1 Jul

An early morning visit was somewhat productive with another Redshank on the dam.

 

There were also three Common Sandpipers present today. Aside from these waders there was not much about, with three Great Black-backed Gulls and four Little Egrets. A Kingfisher was being harassed by a couple of Black-headed Gulls as it zoomed along carrying a fish (so obviously still feeding young somewhere nearby). At least one Sand Martin was feeding with Swallows and House Martins off the dam.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 29 Jun

Well it took the entire month, well as good as, but I finally added something to the Sutton Bingham year list today when a visit after work produced three Redshank on the dam. I didn't get any photos as I had left my 'scope and phone in the car, so sorry to disappoint on that front! Nothing else to report other than a few returning Black-headed Gulls, including one juvenile bird.
Sutton Bingham year list 2018 now at 105 species.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 23 Jun

A bit more wader migration this morning with two Common Sandpipers present at the reservoir. Also this morning, a couple of fly-through Stock Doves and the two Little Egrets were still milling around. The female Mandarin appears to have lost one of her brood as I could only count four ducklings today.
A drake Tufted Duck was present last night but there was no sign this morning.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 21 Jun

Despite several short visits to the reservoir in June there has been nothing much to report other than a singing Skylark near the Fishing Lodge, a couple of Little Egrets and a Mandarin with five ducklings (plus a further two adult birds)...hence the lack of postings. However, a little bit of interest this evening with what was presumably a family party of Lapwing on West Pool, two adult birds and three juveniles. So a little bit of wader passage and something to pique my interest after what has been a tough month so far with regard to birds on the patch.