KITTIWAKE in the roost

A first-winter KITTIWAKE was present in the gull roost briefly this evening. Myself and Roy watched it fly in and settle on the water close to the hide at ca.16:05, after a short while it joined the resting BHGs on the exposed shore between the new overflow and the hide. Shortly after Steve had joined us from watching the Water Pipit all the gulls suddenly took flight and a large number flew off towards Grovebury. As we couldn't relocate the Kittiwake it presumably left with these (Dave Bilcock).

WATER PIPIT still present

This morning I hoped to improve on the brief (2 to 3 seconds), view I had of the WATER PIPIT yesterday. As I approached the Jetty Mike Campbell was approaching from the car park direction with Ian Williams behind him – David joined us a bit later. Fortunately we were not disappointed, and although it was flighty we did see it well and I got some video footage that should show the bird adequately. Also the Black-necked Grebe was showing well and there was a Dunlin on the spit in front of the jetty and Pintail were scattered around the area as well.

Mike, Ian and I walked round to the hide and the Little Egret as sporadically visible on the creek and a Water Rail was out in the open. On leaving the hide Ian continued round the fields and heard a Brambling flying over as well as Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. We also had a couple of parties of Bullfinch, but didn’t see them well enough to say they were Northern Bullfinch. We also heard a Marsh Tit in the area that the Pied Flycatcher was in earlier this year (Roy Hargreaves)

5 November - Roy finds a WATER PIPIT on Wilstone

This morning while looking at the Black-necked Grebe by the jetty I noted a mid-sized Pipit on the mud next to the jetty. I fully expected it to be a Rock Pipit and so was most surprised to see a WATER PIPIT. Although I didn’t move after seeing it I guess I was inside its comfort zone - as it took off and flew across the reservoir. While I did eventually lose sight of it against the trees I didn’t see it leave and so it may have landed in the reeds or on the mud on the south-west side of the reservoir. I couldn’t find it from the hide, but then the last one took me two or three weeks to confirm properly so this one was most co-operative by comparison. Hopefully it will stick around as the habitat is certainly right for it to do so.

Also saw Little Egret in the creek by the hide, but not much else of note (Roy Hargreaves).

4 November

Today, with it being windy, the Black-necked Grebe was not obvious, unlike yesterday when it was easy to see by the jetty. The Little Egret was seen yet again in the creek to the right of the hide – seems to enjoy the easy fishing there. Yesterday I had three more Brambling fly over and a few Siskins as well.

Today’s highlights were two Dunlin that flew in from the east and landed on the mud near the Golden Plover. I also saw a Raven flying across by the Dry Canal – dwarfing the two accompanying Carrion Crows. Raven really is becoming easier to see near Wilstone now that they are breeding nearby.

Recently I have also been seeing coveys of Red-legged Partridge in the fields to the west and south-west of the reservoir. My highest count so far is fourteen – I think this is my best count ever (Roy Hargreaves).

Another SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT at Wilstone

Clearly the 1st is the month is the only day I can find Rock Pipits. Having found one on 1st October it was nice to find one by the jetty this morning – also a nice morning to be out. The Black-necked Grebe was parading up and down sometimes less than 10 metres from the bank – hopefully some nice video of that. Also the Little Egret was still in the creek and at least 14 Pintail were scattered about.

The water level is still dropping as well and the spit from the centre is creeping closer to the jetty (Roy Hargreaves)

Weekend Highlights - BLACK-NECKED GREBE

The long-staying first-year BLACK-NECKED GREBE remained at Wilstone Reservoir all weekend, showing very well from Wilson's Jetty. Also seen were the two adult Whooper Swans, up to 14 Northern Pintails, 225 European Golden Plover, Water Rail and Little Egret from the Drayton Bank hide. There was also a Common Treecreeper behind the hide (Dave Hutchinson)

WAXWINGS at Pitstone Fen - 30 October

30 October - I had two BOHEMIAN WAZWINGS feeding on hawthorn berries in Pitstone Fen this morning (Pitstone Fen is the little BBOWT reserve the other side of the railway line from College Lake). They flew off, heading towards College Lake (Nancy Reed)