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Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve

An S.S.S.I. Managed by Woolston Eyes Conservation Group

Woolston Eyes Monthly Sightings

2015-09-29

An adult winter male Ruff was a new bird today. Also present were 380 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 46 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti’s Warbler. Yesterday a Raven flew southwest over the bed.

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-21

Three Ruff were still present today, two of which fed in front of the JM hide briefly.

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-19

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)from The John Morgan Hide

Submitted by: Andy Weir

2015-09-19

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)from the John Morgan Hide

Submitted by: Andy Weir

2015-09-18

A late Green-veined White along the south bank this morning.

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-18

The Kingfisher has been seen regularly this week from the John Morgan hide.

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-18

Yesterday a Great White Egret was seen from the tower hide before flying off west at 9:00 a.m. Other recent sightings have included 86 Black-tailed Godwit (per Brian Martin), 4 Ruff (per Les Jones), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 41 Snipe. A Cetti’s Warbler is singing frequently in the centre of the bed, best heard from the tower hide. A flock of 30+ Siskin was near the footbridge yesterday evening and smaller numbers are regularly being seen/heard overflying the bed.

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-16

In spite of earlier forecasts of wet weather it turned out to be a lovely autumn day for my weekly walk around the reserve. Speckled Woods were still plentiful and a reserve-wide count of 50 was excellent so late in the year. There were also a few Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Red Admirals and a Comma on No.4 bed. A couple of late flying Small Whites were also seen. A pair of Grey Wagtails was at the locks and a flock of 125 Canada Geese on the canal at the eastern end of the reserve. A further 70 were on No.3 bed together with 18 Greylags. Also on No.3 bed were about 400 Lapwing, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Ruff. Photo; Comma on no.4 bed

Submitted by: Dave Hackett

2015-09-12

Nine species of waders were recorded on No.3 bed today. 370 Lapwing were roosting in the centre of the bed. Amongst these were 14 Snipe and 1 Dunlin. Spread more widely across the bed were 79 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Ruff, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper. The heavy rain brought in a Greenshank and 1 Curlew was heard calling from the south bank. Other highlights included 2 Kingfisher from the John Morgan hide and a Cetti’s Warbler singing briefly from the tower hide. (Les Jones, Dave Steel, Al Warford, Helen Allan, Paul Hazelhurst Diane Shepherd, George Dunbar & David Spencer)

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-10

A mid-morning jaunt to No.3 bed produced a good variety of birds this morning. A Hobby had several unsuccessful goes at the hirundines feeding over the bed, while 3 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 23 Snipe, 72 Black-tailed Godwits and 240 Lapwings were feeding voraciously on the ever-increasing mud. Other good sightings included Willow Tit, Water Rail and Kingfisher. Early on, David Spencer also had a Cetti’s Warbler near the Morgan Hide. Interestingly, there was a large shoal of small fish under the footbridge, which some kind soul might ID for me from the photo I’ve posted.

Photo of a Kingfisher in front of the Morgan Hide today.

Cheers David

Re: the photo of David’s on 10th September below, Dave Peate sent a contact note to the website to report the fish are Perch. Posted by John Blundell 13/09/2015

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-10

Photo of a Brown Hawker from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-10

Photo of a shoal of small fish from under the No.3 bed footbridge today.

Cheers David

Dave Peate sent a contact note into the website to report these fish are Perch. Posted by John Blundell 13/09/2015

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-10

Photo of a Migrant Hawker from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-07

A lazy afternoon on No.3 bed, with wader numbers were still good. Totals were: 3 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 24 Snipe, 54 Black-tailed Godwits and 186 Lapwings. Small numbers of Migrant Hawkers and Brown Hawkers were hunting actively while, after Saturday’s Painted Lady, it was good to finish the afternoon with a Brimstone on the south bank.

Photo of today’s Brimstone

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-07

Photo of a Black-tailed Godwit from today.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-07

Photo of a Grey Heron from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-06

A walk around the eastern end of the reserve and No.3 bed produced a total of 35 Speckled Woods, now the most plentiful species of butterfly as we move into autumn. There were a few Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admirals but the most noteworthy sighting was of a late Gatekeeper on No.2 bed which equals the latest ever record at Woolston. Photo; Speckled Wood

Submitted by: Dave Hackett

2015-09-05

Photo of a Common Darter from Butchersfield Tip this morning.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-05

Photo of a Common Darter from Butchersfield Tip this morning.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-05

Photo of a Brown Hawker from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-05

Photo of A Kestrel from Butchersfield Tip this morning.

Cheers David

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-05

A very productive morning started at 6.30 am with a Visible Migration Watch from the top of Butchersfield Tip, till mid-day. Highlights were: 3 Tree Pipits, 51 Siskins, 2 Redpolls, 607 Swallows and 176 House Martins. We then moved on to No.3 bed, where plenty of waders were present. Counts included: 4 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 62 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Snipe, plus 4 Wigeon. Kieran Foster and Jason Atkinson also reported a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a Pintail, a Common Sandpiper and a Lesser Whitethroat (trapped and ringed) from No.3 bed, making it a great day for species variety..

Photo of a Common Darter

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Alan Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird, Helen Allan and George Dunbar)

Submitted by: David Bowman

2015-09-01

A fine morning and I managed to cover No.1 bed and Butchersfield Tip before cutting short my walk as a result of a thunderstorm just before noon. Two Grey Partridge and a Hobby were on the tip and butterflies were still fairly numerous with 38 Speckled Wood, 31 Meadow Brown, 7 Common Blue and 4 Gatekeeper. Just before the rain arreived I found a Small Copper on No.1 bed - see photo

Submitted by: Dave Hackett

2015-09-01

Pintail from the Rotary Hide

Submitted by: David Spencer

2015-09-01

A nice sunny morning, with a short thunderstorm adding some variety along the way. The wader variety from the Morgan Hide remains the main attraction, with 1 Greenshank, 2 Ruffs, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 48 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Snipe and 210 Lapwings visible.

Cheers David (with David Spencer)

Submitted by: David Bowman