May 2023
25th - Cuckoo (singing), Kingfisher, 4 Garden Warbler (singing males), 4 Cetti's Warbler (singing males)
22nd - 11 Common Tern, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Garden Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, c.25 Swallow, 25 Swift
19th - 2 Kingfisher, 12 Common Tern, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler, 12 Swallow, 4 Swift
16th - Cuckoo, Kingfisher, 6 Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Egyptian Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Mandarin, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 10 Swallow, 3 Swift
14th - Cuckoo (heard and seen by this morning’s warbler walk group, top of tall poplar just west of reedbed behind the Colne), Reed Warbler, 5+ Sedge Warbler, 7+ Cetti's Warbler, c20 Common Tern, 20+ Swallow
13th - Water Vole (Colne side, western end)
10th - 16 Common Tern (including a pair trying to get a spot on one of the rafts), 4 Kingfisher (a pair feeding two well grown fledged young), 4 Garden Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Egyptian Goose, 8 Shelduck, 10 House Martin , 14 Swift
9th - 14 Common Tern, Garden Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, Egyptian Goose, c 15 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 8 Swift
7th - Water Vole (in the ditch alongside the path that runs by Inns Lake and connects with Springwell Lane) along Inns Lake
2nd - Garden Warbler
April 2023
28th - Common Sandpiper (from Shoveler hide), Garden Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warbler
26th - 5 Common Tern, 12 House Martin, c.75 Swallow, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Egyptian Goose, Mandarin
24th - Cattle Egret (flew over lake at 14.35; earlier seen at Stocker’s Farm), Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler
23rd - 13 Common Tern, Kingfisher, Willow Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Red-crested Pochard
21st - Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 7 Cetti's Warbler, Common Tern
20th - Kingfisher, Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, 13 Chiffchaff, 4 House Martin, c20 Swallow,
14th - 2 Kingfisher, 2 Willow Warbler (2 singing males along the canal side), 5 Chiffchaff (singing males), 18 House Martin, 12 Blackcap (including 9 singing males), 7 Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, c25 Swallow, c25 Sand Martin, 3 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Egyptian Goose
12th - 2 Willow Warbler (both along the path on the north side), Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 5 House Martin ,
11th - 2 Kingfisher, Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler (1 on Causeway and 1 along River Colne), 6 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Red-crested Pochard (males )
10th - Mandarin, c50 Swallow flying withat least one House Martin
7th - Common Scoter (drake from heron viewpoint), Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 4+ Chiffchaff (at least 4 south side of lake), 2 Blackcap
6th - c50 Swallow
3rd - Kingfisher (on the Colne), 5 Egyptian Goose, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Swallow, 8 Blackcap, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff
2nd - 4 Blackcap, 14 Chiffchaff (all singing), 4 Cetti's Warbler, Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Swallow and on Stocker’s Farm - Wigeon (on flooded field), Willow Warbler (garden of Stocker's lock house).
1st - 2 Willow Warbler (1 near the lock and 1 at the watch point), Blackcap
March 2023
29th - 84 Sand Martin (mass arrival this afternoon in rain), 4 Swallow, House Martin, Red-crested Pochard (single drake), 2 Blackcap (singing males), 13 Chiffchaff (singing males around site), 3 Cetti's Warbler (2 singing by the River Colne and one on the causeway)
27th - Kingfisher (Colne side), Egyptian Goose, Red-crested Pochard, 10 Chiffchaff (all singing), Blackcap (singing near boardwalk)
21st - Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard, 4 Chiffchaff (all singing), Cetti's Warbler
17th - 2 Kingfisher, Red-crested Pochard (drake), Chiffchaff (singing)
16th - Smew (relocated back to Stockers from Springwell lake, viewed from riverside) 6 Red-crested Pochard (3 drakes), Wigeon, Oystercatcher, 12 Siskin, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler
10th - 3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Red-crested Pochard (3 drakes), 4 Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Egyptian Goose, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff (singing)
9th - Smew (still, seen from Tern Hide}
7th - Smew (still)
5th - Smew (still)
3rd - Smew (still), 5 Goldeneye, Red-crested Pochard, 4 Wigeon, Mandarin, 4 Lapwing, 2 Chiffchaff
2nd - Smew (still, from Shoveler Hide), 8 Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Cetti's Warbler {singing), 2 Chiffchaff (singing), Egyptian Goose
1st - Smew (drake, present continuously over the last month, seen close to Tern Hide early afternoon), 4 Goldeneye (1 male), 8 Red-crested Pochard (6 males), 3 Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher (in front of tern hide)
February 2023
27th - Smew (adult drake still), Egyptian Goose , 10 Wigeon , 2 Cetti's Warbler , 3 Goldeneye, 4 Red-crested Pochard, Water Rail (along river Colne), Chiffchaff (feeding in blackthorn), Grey Wagtail (along Colne), 6 Fieldfare , 9 Redwing
26th - Smew (adult drake still, from Shoveler Hide)
24th - Smew (adult drake still, from Tern Hide)
23rd- Smew (adult drake still, seen from Shoveler hide then amongst islands going south towards Springwell on the canal side, 16 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher, 10 Lapwing
22nd - 2 Goldeneye (1 drake, 1 female), 2 Red-crested Pochard (1 drake, 1 female), Oystercatcher, 8+ Siskin
21st - Smew (adult drake still)
20th - Smew (adult drake still from Shoveler Hide, though elusive, Mandarin (from causeway), Barnacle Goose, 3 Chiffchaff (along River Colne] Grey Wagtail, 7 Wigeon
19th - Smew (still)
18th - Smew (still showing well at times)
17th - Smew (drake, still), 6 Goldeneye, Barnacle Goose, c50 Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler
16th - Smew (showing well from Kingfisher hide this morning)
15th - Smew (still present and showing well from the south (canal) side of the lake mid-morning)
14th - Smew (from Tern Hide)
13th - Smew (still present)
12th - Smew (drake still showing well from Tern Hide and in the SW corner of the lake)
11th - Smew (showed well from Tern Hide and from elsewhere around the SW corner of the lake for much of the day), 5 Goldeneye (1 drake), 5 Wigeon, 2 Red-Crested Pochard (making 9 different species of Duck altogether), 2 Barnacle Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 12+ Lapwing, Cetti’s Warbler, 20+ Siskin, 5+ Redwing
10th - Smew (drake)
9th - Smew (seen from Tern Hide at 9.20am and also later elsewhere but still very mobile and elusive)
8th - Oystercatcher, 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 7 Red-Crested Pochard, 9+ Redwing
7th - Smew (adult drake still, seen in a couple of places including the lake’s SE corner), c 20 Siskin, Kingfisher, 3+ Lapwing, 4+ Goldeneye, 25+ Redwing, Barnacle Goose
6th - Smew (adult drake still, seen from Kingfisher hide at around 8.40am and then later from Shoveler Hide and the Causeway), 4 Goldeneye, 8 Wigeon
5th - Smew (adult drake still, seen from canal side path)
4th - Smew (seen from Shoveler Hide and elsewhere)
3rd - Smew (drake), 2, Goldeneye (female), 21 Red-crested Pochard, 15 Wigeon, 2 Barnacle Goose (with some Canadas), Kingfisher, 12 Redwing, 2 Cetti's Warbler
2nd - Smew (drake), 6 Goldeneye, 8 Red-crested Pochard (7 males), Egyptian Goose, 60 Lapwing, 6 Redwing, 2 Cetti's Warbler
January 2023
26th - Goldeneye (male), 3 Egyptian Goose, c20 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, Siskin (male)
21st - Goldeneye (male), 2 Cetti's Warbler (1 seen, both heard), 7+ Redwing, 7 Egyptian Goose
18th - 4 Goldeneye (1 male), 2 Red-crested Pochard (males), 8 Lapwing, 20 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, Marsh Tit (on feeders in lock keeper's garden)
15th - Firecrest (heard and briefly seen close to boardwalk section); also on Stocker’s Farm - Barnacle Goose
13th - 5 Goldeneye (all together at NE end of lake, 2 drakes), Cetti's Warbler (heard), 14 Red-crested Pochard), 22 Lapwing
9th - 7 Goldeneye, Chiffchaff
7th - Goldeneye, 8 Red-Crested Pochard, Grey Wagtail , 5 Lapwing
2nd - Great Black-backed Gull (from Tern Hide), 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3+ Redwing
1st - Great Black-backed Gull (from Kingfisher hide), 5 Goldeneye (2 male and 3 female from Shoveler hide), 10+ Red-crested Pochard (from causeway 9 drakes), Cetti's Warbler (by kingfisher hide, seen and heard)
December 2022
31st - 17 Wigeon (from the causeway)
15th - Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bullfinch (pair)
9th - Smew (drake, seen around islands on north side of lake this afternoon - viewable from west end and from River Colne path), 4 Goldeneye, 6 Wigeon, 5 Red-crested Pochard.
8th - Smew (drake, still active on the lake today)
7th - Smew (drake, still present moving between islands), 2 Kingfisher, 2 Water Rail, 10 Red-crested Pochard, 5 Goldeneye (two adult drakes, 3 females), 7 Lapwing, Great Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Bullfinch, Oystercatcher, 6 Siskin
6th - Smew (drake)
5th - Smew (swimming around between islands), 3 Goldeneye (2 males), 2 Red-Crested Pochard (pair), 2+ Kingfisher (from Tern Hide), 20+ Lapwing, 12+ Redwing
4th - Smew (drake, seen from Tern Hide)
1st - Goldeneye, 4 Red-crested Pochard,13 Wigeon, 8 Redwing
November 2022
30th - 12 Lapwing
26th - 2 Goldeneye (females), 7 Red-crested Pochard (6 drakes), 20+ Redwing
25th - Kingfisher, 2 Goldeneye (1 male, 1 female), 12 Redwing
20th - 10 Goldeneye (2 males, 8 females), 6 Wigeon
17th - Goldeneye (female), 8 Lapwing
14th - Goosander (female, viewed from Causeway)
9th - 2+ Kingfisher (one on River Colne, at least one flying across lake, firstly in front of Tern Hide and then in front of Heronry leaning post)
4th - 2 Kingfisher, Goldeneye (female), 6 Lapwing, 3 Red-crested Pochard (males), 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Cetti's Warbler
2nd - 10 Lapwing
October 2022
26th - Kingfisher (flying low right to left in front of Tern Hide), Goldeneye (female on Inns Lake)
24th - 2 Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail (heard), Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, c.40 Siskin (flock in Alders on the canal side),
19th - Kingfisher (flying low over the water at the Springwell end of the lake)
13th - Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Little Egret
12th - Barn Owl (at 2300 hrs at the SW end near Fishermans car park and Inns Lake)
9th - Egyptian Goose, 3 Cetti’s Warbler
7th - Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, 3 Red-crested Pochard (2 male 1 eclipse male)
September 2022
26th - Great White Egret, Kingfisher, Barnacle Goose, 2 Willow Warbler, c.35 House Martin, 12 Swallow
25th - Barnacle Goose, South African Shelduck (see picture, presumably an escapee)
23rd - Caspian Gull (first winter bird), Barnacle Goose (on raft, seen from Tern hide), 3 House Martin , c6 Swallow
9th - on Stocker’s Farm: Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher
August 2022
25th - Kingfisher, and on Stocker’s Farm - Whinchat
23rd - Hobby, 2 Kingfisher, 6 Common Tern, Barnacle Goose, 7 Egyptian Goose, 16 Little Egret, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 52 Swallow, 6 House Martin
22nd - 2 Kingfisher (in front of the artificial bank; adult and juvenile), Barnacle Goose, 2 Cetti's Warbler (on causeway)
21st - Barnacle Goose
19th - Common Sandpiper (on island next to tern platform), Barnacle Goose (on tern raft)
9th - on Stockers Farm, a Hobby flying amongst Swallows
6th - 3 Egyptian Goose, circa 10 Common Tern
June 2022
27th - Hobby, 2 Kingfisher (one adult one juvenile, Colne side), 13 Common Tern (10 adults, 3 juveniles), 2 House Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Swift
22nd - 10 Common Tern (adults across 4 rafts) plus several chicks; 6 Egyptian Goose
9th - 10 Common Tern (including 1 juvenile on raft), 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Kingfisher (Colne side), 6 Swallow, 3 Swift, 2 Cetti's Warbler
2nd - Kingfisher, 9 Common Tern, Egyptian Goose, 10 Little Egret, 2 Cetti's Warbler
1st - 16 Common Tern, 12 Swallow, 14 Little Egret
May 2022
26th - 11 Common Tern, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Swift, Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warbler
19th - Cuckoo
18th - 15+ Common Tern, about a dozen birds sitting on one of the newly floated out rafts plus several more in flight, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, Blackcap 3 Cetti's Warbler (heard)
17th - 7 Common Tern, Kingfisher, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler
16th - 16 Common Tern, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 House Martin, 8 Swallow, 3 Swift, 2 Garden Warbler,2 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler
12th - 2 Kingfisher, circa 9 Common Tern, Egyptian Goose, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Swift, 2 House Martin, 8 Swallow
4th - Great White Egret (flying off towards Harefield), 4 Common Tern, 6 Swallow, Oystercatcher, 12 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff
2nd - Kingfisher, Oystercatcher, 12 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 6 Cetti's Warbler , 12 Blackcap, 4 Common Tern, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler
April 2022
30th - Kingfisher, 3 Common Tern, 2 Egyptian Goose, 10+ Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler
29th - c.25 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Common Tern, 2 Egyptian Goose, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cetti's Warbler
27th - c.30 Swallow, c.20 House Martin, Common Tern, Egyptian Goose, 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 3 Cetti's Warbler
22nd - 2 Common Tern, 10 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler (heard), Garden Warbler (heard), 4 House Martin, Sand Martin, 6 Swallow (over causeway)
20th - 3 Common Tern, 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher
17th - 2 Common Tern, Swallow
14th - 8 Blackcap (four pairs of males/females at various locations around circumference of lake), 5+ Cetti’s Warbler, plus on Stocker’s Farm: 2 Oystercatcher
10th - Cetti’s Warbler, plus on Stockers Farm - 2 Swallow
2nd - Marsh Harrier, 3 Brambling (2 males)
1st - 11 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 2 Goldeneye (pair), 4 Egyptian Goose, 2 Wigeon and on Stocker’s Farm - 2 Oystercatcher
March 2022
29th - Oystercatcher, 4 Egyptian Goose ,Red-crested Pochard, 14 Little Egret (in heronry ), 2 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing
28th - 3 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff
27th - Pintail (male feeding between islands, viewed from riverbank)
25th - 2 Kingfisher (pair copulating and food pass with fish), 5 Egyptian Goose, 2 Oystercatcher, Red-crested Pochard, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff
21st - Kingfisher (along Colne carrying food), 2 Wigeon, 2 Egyptian Goose, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Red-crested Pochard
17th - Kingfisher, 9 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher,4 Egyptian Goose, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Snow Goose (towards Harefield over Stocker’s; potential escapee)
14th - Kingfisher, 12 Wigeon, 4 Egyptian Goose, Goldeneye (male), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff
10th - Kingfisher, 6 Wigeon, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Goldeneye, Chiffchaff (singing north of lake), 2 Oystercatcher
9th - Great White Egret
3rd - Goldeneye (male), 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard)
February 2022
25th - 4 Goldeneye (2 pairs, one copulating and displaying), 4 Wigeon, 2 Egyptian Goose
23rd - 3 Goldeneye (2 males), Common Gull, Kestrel
20th (our Wildfowl walk) - Goldeneye, Wigeon, Shoveler, Common Gull, Siskin and more - see event report
17th - 35 Wigeon , 5 Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Egyptian Goose
10th - 12 Wigeon, c12 Siskin
7th - 12 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneye
5th - Kingfisher, Wigeon
4th -20 Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye
1st - 25 Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye
January 2022
28th - Kingfisher, 2 Goldeneye (pair), Red-Crested Pochard (male)
25th - 2 Goldeneye (pair), 2 Wigeon, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, c40 Siskin (in Alders on canal side)
23rd - 3 Cetti's Warbler (at various locations), 30 Siskin, 2 Goldeneye
20th -Kingfisher (on the river)
13th - Cetti's Warbler (feeding on the bird table by Kingfisher hide!)
12th- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (heard from Causeway in Alders at Bury Lake junction), 12 Wigeon (7 Drakes), 2 Goldeneye (pair), 30+ Siskin
9th - Goosander (female), 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 4 Wigeon, 3 Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, Cetti’s Warbler
6th - Goosander (female), 5 Goldeneye (2 drakes), Kingfisher, Redwing, 30+ Siskin
5th - 2 Goosander (females), 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 2 Red-crested Pochard, Kingfisher, Water Rail
2nd - 2 Goosander (both redheads), Chiffchaff
1st - 6 Goldeneye (1 male), 2 Red-Crested Pochard (1 male), 2 Cetti’s Warbler
December 2021
30th - Goosander (female) still
28th - Goosander (female), Kingfisher, c.30 Siskin
25th - Goosander (female seen from Tern Hide then it flew towards Inns Lake where seen again later),
5 Goldeneye (2 males, 3 females and also a pair on Inns Lake), 4 Wigeon (2 males), Red-crested Pochard (male), 2 Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker
21st - Goosander (female, in front of Tern Hide), 3 Wigeon (2 males), 5 Red-Crested Pochard (4 males), 2 Egyptian Goose, Grey Wagtail (on river)
20th - Goosander (female), 3 Egyptian Goose, 2 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Red-crested Pochard
18th - 3 Goosander (2 male, 1 female, seen swimming in front of Fort Drew), 5 Goldeneye (2 male, 3 female), 4 Wigeon (2 male, 2 female), 2 Redwing (in field with cattle)
10th - Goosander (female), Goldeneye (male), 3 Red-crested Pochard (males), 15+ Wigeon, 2 Kingfisher, c30 Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, c10 Redwing,Grey Wagtail
9th - 2 Kingfisher (one flew across lake in front of heronry lookout leaning post; the other flew across corner of Inns Lake by Margaret Partridge plot), 3 Goldeneye, Wigeon, 2 Egyptian Goose
8th - Goosander (female roosting on small island at Kingfisher Hide), Kingfisher (on River Colne)
4th - 2 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye
2nd - Goosander (female seen between Shoveler and Kingfisher hides), Chiffchaff, 2 Great Black-backed Gull , 7 Siskin, 3 Goldeneye (2 males)
November 2021
30th - Great Black-backed Gull, 60 Siskin, 4 Goldeneye (1 male, 3 females)
26th - Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Goldeneye (1 male, 2 females)
24th - 2 Goldeneye, 5 Wigeon, 3 Egyptian Goose, 3 Kingfisher, Red-crested Pochard, Water Rail, 6 Siskin
19th - Goosander (female from the viewpoint just down from Shoveler hide), Goldeneye (male), 2 Water Rail (heard squealing from cover on the causeway), 3 Cetti's Warbler
17th - Chiffchaff, 4 Goldeneye, Goosander (redhead), 8 Red-crested Pochard
16th - 5 Egyptian Goose, 2 Goosander (male in flight plus female showing well on lake), 2 Kingfisher, Wood Duck (male), 12 Siskin, 2 Wigeon
5th - 4 Wigeon, Goldeneye (female), Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail
3rd - 4 Wigeon, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail (heard squealing in NE corner), 3 Siskin (heard), Kingfisher (flying along Colne)
October 2021
27th - 1+ Cetti's Warbler (calling)
16th - 2 Brambling (calling from willows and seen in flight on North side), 3 Cetti's Warbler
13th - Grey Wagtail (near the river)