Since the last diary entry (blog post) I've been over the reservoir just three times.
The 30th June see me give it one last go for the month and I bagged 56 species for my trouble and the highlights were a couple of Little Ringed Plover on the causeway, 2 Common Sandpipers, the continuing Redshank and a new bird for the month as a Hobby flashed up the channel towards the Girling at 5.15am and then an hour later it or another bird flew north along the channel too. Harry pointed out a Peregrine on one of the distant pylons too which was nice as I haven't seen one for a while now on the reservoir. A Little Grebe was again seen on south basin where it has been popping up on the odd visit this month. Having recently found a young Mistle Thrush with an adult bird on 30th I found five birds in the same field. I had a high count of 27 Blackbirds too as they seemed to be dropping out of bushes all along the four mile circuit.
 |
| The view of London at 5am from KGV |
 |
| Little Grebe |
 |
| The Fishers Green Black headed Gull |
 |
| 2K54 |
 |
| Common Sandpiper |
 |
| Buzzard |
I visited again on 1st July to get the month off and running and here the surprise for the day was a large flock of Canada Geese in the top field along with a single Greylag and a hybrid offspring. The Redshank was still present for its tenth day now and I found a couple of Common Sandpipers again. A juvenile Black headed Gull had a leg ring which showed it to have been ringed as a nestling at Fishers Green on 26th May this year. Again Blackbirds were very evident with a count of 27.
 |
| Common Sandpipers |
 |
| Common Sandpiper |
 |
| Cormorant and Sandpiper |
Today 3rd July I walked it again despite the heat. The walk was quite rewarding as I found four Common Sandpipers, four Buzzard, two Red Kites, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. Tufted Duck and Coot numbers continue to build with 99 and 233 counted today. I was enjoying watching the five resident Ravens when two more birds came over calling from the Girling and to my surprise they dropped to the floor with the three young birds before they went to sit on the pylon with the two resident adults and then all seven took off north calling as they went. A new high count for the reservoir. As I returned along south bank I picked up three birds on the wall and scoping them they revealed themselves to be Yellow Wagtails. An early record for the reservoir but when I got to to the car park I bumped into Harry who said that he and Dominic had one fly over the sailing club too and Harry had seen the sixth Raven come in but missed the seventh bird. A decent walk and I'll probably have a few days off now before giving it another go next week.
 |
| Yellow Wagtail |
 |
| Two Yellow Wagtails |
 |
| Two of the seven Ravens present on 3rd July |
 |
| Raven |
 |
| Raven |
 |
| Raven |
 |
| Raven |
 |
| Black headed Gulls |
 |
| Reed Bunting |
 |
| Reed Warbler |
 |
| Cetti's Warbler |
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Common Tern |
 |
| Swift |
 |
| Buzzard being mobbed by Starlings |
 |
| Common Sandpiper |
Year list still 222 with a distinct reluctance to go chasing year ticks further afield at the moment.
