Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

I arrived at the reserve late morning with weather conditions very dull with light rain throughout. My first stop was at Rotunda Hide where a male Cetti's Warbler was heard calling although distant. Despite today's wet weather the late summer and early autumn has been generally very dry and this was most evident on my arrival at the Teal Hide. The water levels here were low with exposed muddy islands now visible in several places. It was among these islands I discovered four Green Sandpiper and two Common Snipe busily feeding on the exposed mud. A single Grey Wagtail put in a brief appearance while on the water several drake Common Teal displayed to two disinterested ducks. I then made my way to Lynsters Hide where good numbers of geese were observed  feeding on the pasture at Lynsters Farm. Among them was a large gathering of Feral Rock Dove, sixty eight in total, all very nervous and flighty. At the far end of the farm a charm of Magpies was gathering, thirty eight in total. At Lynsters Gravel Pit (Lake) a pair of Eurasian Wigeon fed among the shallows while on the deeper water I noted Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck.
My final destination was Shell Hide where a Common Kingfisher put in the briefest of appearances while overhead a rather sodden Red Kite glided by followed by a small gathering of Eurasian Siskin.
A full list of species recorded as follows:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (4), Grey Heron (1), Greylag Goose (97 L.F), Canada Goose (25 L.F), Eurasian Wigeon (2 LG.P), Gadwall (1), Common Teal (13), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (11), Tufted Duck (4), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen (16), Eurasian Coot (3), Common Snipe (2), Green Sandpiper (4), Black-headed Gull (8), Common Gull (1 LG.P), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (68 L.F), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (1 over), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (2), Cetti's Warbler (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Common Magpie (38 L.F), Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (11).

                                                      View from Teal Hide today.

      

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

I visited the reserve late afternoon with the following species noted.:-
Little Grebe (2), Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (5), Grey Heron (3), Greylag Goose (89 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (2 Lynsters Farm), Common Teal (8), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (6), Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (1), Water Rail (1 calling from phragmites), Common Moorhen (12), Eurasian Coot (8), Green Sandpiper (1), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull (over), Feral Rock Dove (2 over), Stock Dove (4 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Kingfisher (2), Grey Wagtail (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay (4 Lynsters Farm), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (5).
    

Broadwater Gravel Pit

A late morning visit in sunny mild conditions provided the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret (3), Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose (13), Eurasian Wigeon (10), Gadwall, Common Teal (5), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Buzzard (2), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (15), Green Sandpiper (2), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Common Kingfisher (1), Barn Swallow (7), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler (singing male), Common Chiffchaff (5), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay (3), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Siskin (1).
Last winter I struggled to find Eurasian Siskin locally with only a few records noted. I'm pleased to say that records have begun to trickle in already during early Autumn and today I noted a singleton in flight, calling as it flew overhead. 

27-09-15 West Hyde

A late morning stroll in mild sunny conditiond provided the following species:-
Grey Heron (1 over), Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Eurasian Hobby (2), Herring Gull (35 over), Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Common Skylark (4), Meadow Pipit (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, European Robin, Blue Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (17), European Goldfinch (10), Common Linnet (c20), Common Reed Bunting (1).

                                                              Common Buzzard

                                                                    
                                                                 Red Kite

  

West Hyde

Another afternoon visit in sunny mild conditions provided the following species of note:-
Red Kite (4), Common Buzzard (6), Eurasian Hobby (3), Common Stonechat (1).
The immature Common Stonechat remains and was present on the hedge line busily catching insects. It was a good day for Raptors with Common Buzzard and Red Kite showing well overhead. Above the stubble field three Eurasian Hobby were busily hunting dragonflies and were present throughout my visit.
A few puddles remain along the footpath and it was near these that a Common Darter Dragonfly showed long enough for me to photograph.

  

25-09-15 West Hyde

An afternoon visit provided the following species of interest:-
Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (1), Common Kestrel (1), Eurasia Sparrowhawk (1), Stock Dove (c20), Woodpigeon (c200), Common Stonechat, Common Linnet (100+), Yellowhammer (4), Reed Bunting (1).
While following the footpath adjacent the quarry road a single immature Common Stonechat was observed in the hedge hunting insects although distant. Out on the fields a large mobile flock of 100+ Common Linnet were nervously feeding amongst the stubble and were flushed by a hunting Eurasian Sparrowhawk.

Bedfont Lakes Country Park and Virginia Water

A late morning visit to Bedfont Lakes Country Park in unsettled conditions provided the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan (2 pairs with well grown cygnets), Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose (2), Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker (immature), House Martin, Barn Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff (5), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, European Goldfinch.
I then visited Virginia Water early afternoon where two Eurasian Hobby were observed hawking insects above the cafe. Shortly after two Common Buzzard performed overhead for several minutes.