Woolston Eyes and Moore Nature Reserve 14th April 2018
We had a free morning so, with a lull in the rain, we decided to see if we could see the Black-necked Grebes at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve. The site was so boggy that the short path to the hides was closed and the even the long parth round to the left was deeply muddy at places. Still it was dry today so we had hopes of seeing some interesting birds. We were not disappointed.
Our very first bird of notice was a year first Willow Warbler which I only managed to hear on my firstpass but on my return saw it as well. This was quickly followed by a Blackcap and things were looking up. Another early bird was a flyover Sparrowhawk. However, an even better bird was pointed out to us by another birder who had found it in a small field by the footpath but at a bit of a distance, Getting the scope on it took a little while but eventually a Brambling came into focus. We spent quite a while looking at it but may as well have not bothered because when we got to the main hide there were about eight of them in the trees near the feeders. There were males and females and all in different stages of moult which made it very interesting. I do not think I have ever seen more than one in the past.
The Black-necked Grebes were visible from most of the main hides. I saw eight of them but I think there were around fourteen in total on the site. We also got Great Crested Grebes and Little Grebes making a set. There was also a nice smatteing of ducks; Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Shelduck, Tufted Ducks and Mallards. There wer also lots of singing woodland birds but often easier to hear than see.On the feeders were also Bullfinch and Greenfinch and lots of Tits.
It was really great seeing the Black-necked Grebes – even if they hardly stayed above water for more than a second or two at a time. But the real highlight was the Bramblings and the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff and Blackcap all presaged a sping on its way at last.
A quick drop-in at Moore failed to give us a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker but we did get a year first Goldcrest.
Woolston Eyes 14th April 2018
| Greylag Goose | 2 |
| Canada Goose | 20 |
| Common Shelduck | 4 |
| Gadwall | 6 |
| Mallard | 8 |
| Northern Shoveler | 1 |
| Common Pochard | 4 |
| Tufted Duck | 30 |
| Little Grebe | 1 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 4 |
| Black-necked Grebe | 8 |
| Great Cormorant (North Atlantic) | 6 |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | 1 |
| Common Buzzard | 3 |
| Common Moorhen | 6 |
| Common Coot | 8 |
| Northern Lapwing | 1 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 20 |
| Black-headed Gull | 100 |
| Feral Pigeon | 2 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 6 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Carrion Crow | 6 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 6 |
| Eurasian Wren | 1 |
| Willow Warbler | 3 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 2 |
| Blackcap | 1 |
| European Robin | 2 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 2 |
| Dunnock | 1 |
| Common Chaffinch | 4 |
| Brambling | 8 |
| Eurasian Bullfinch | 2 |
| European Greenfinch | 4 |
| European Goldfinch | 2 |