Linacre WeBS - 13th September 2026

 Today was this month's scheduled WeBS count, so I had a couple of hours (7am - 9am) down at Linacre. Unfortunately, all of last week's "goodies" had gone, but this did mean I could concentrate on the count, and not get distracted!

Numbers were: Mallard (54), Tufted Duck (21), Mandarin (13), Grey Wagtail (3), Pied Wagtail (1), Grey Heron (1), Moorhen (8; 6 adults and 2 juveniles), Coot (2), Cormorant (7) and Great-crested Grebe (1). 

Mandarin Duck

Cormorant

As you can see, numbers were quite low, due mainly to the very low water levels on the top and bottom reservoir (approximately one third full).

Bottom Reservoir

Other birds seen were: House Martin (5 overhead), Chiffchaff (at least 5 singing and 2 seen, in the willows, by the top reservoir), Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Skylark (heard) and Woodpigeon.

Woodpigeon

Grey Squirrels were everywhere, as always, but this one, a tail-less individual, caught my eye.

Grey Squirrel 

Linacre - 5th September 2026

 As well as the excitement of the Greenshank and Green Sandpiper at Linacre yesterday, I also had quite a few other good sightings to share.

First up was a Buzzard that was perching in a tree, by the bottom car park. I'm sure its a juvenile bird, due to the pale fringing on the feathers.

Buzzard

Next up was a pair of Teal, that were found, feeding on the top reservoir. It may be a good winter for this species, if the water levels remain lower.

Teal (female/eclipse male)

Whilst watching the Teal, a Raven flew overhead, along with half a dozen Swallows - possibly the last of the year? Mallard, Tufted Duck and Mandarin Duck numbers were average, but I didn't do a full count, as I was too busy with the waders! 7 Cormorants were present, along with Coots (2 adults), Moorhens (2 adults), a Kingfisher, at least 2 singing Chiffchaffs , a lovely flock of c20 House Martins (the highest count of the year, by far and 1 Great-crested Grebe.

Cormorants (6 of the 7 present)

The last species that I want to mention id the Grey Wagtail. I haven't seen too many this summer, so I was very pleased to spot an adult and 2 juveniles, feeding around the overflow from the middle reservoir.

Grey Wagtail (adult and juvenile?)

Linacre - 11th August 2026

 Today was my first visit to Linacre since the end of July (!). I was very pleased to meet a reader of this blog, in the car park. Hello to you. In all, I was on site for 2 and a half hours, and saw a few nice insects and birds.

First the waterbirds. Despite the low water levels on the bottom, and top reservoir, there were decent numbers of birds around. Mallard (81 - the highest count of the year, so far), Mandarin Duck (30), Tufted Duck (34), Great-crested Grebe (2 adults - no young this year), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (10; 7 adults and 3 juveniles), Black-headed Gull (1 - a nice, early record), Coot (2 adults - no juveniles), Moorhen (3 adults - no juveniles), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (2; 1 adult and 1 juvenile) and a single Common Sandpiper (2nd record of the year).

Common Sandpiper (heavily cropped)

Grey Heron (juvenile)

 Smaller birds seen were: Swallow (6), House Martin (5), Chiffchaff (1 singing, and others "wheeting", Song Thrush (1 juvenile), Stock Dove and 2 Common Buzzards.

Insects seen were: Painted Lady (3), Meadow Brown (2), Holly Blue (1), Common Blue Butterfly (1 male and 1 female, the first records of 2026), Red Admiral (1), Speckled Wood (1), Large White (2), Migrant Hawker (1), Brown Hawker (1), a Yellow Shell moth and a Grasshopper sp.

Holly Blue

Common Blue Butterfly (female)

Painted Lady

Field Grasshopper?

Rufford - 18th July 2026

 I had a few hours free this afternoon, so I had my second visit of the "autumn" to Rufford CP. The number of Black-headed Gulls had increased to c.25, and I managed to see 3 ringed gulls.

The 3 birds seen were: 200H (2nd sighting this winter), 206A (1st sighting since 3rd January 2026) and 207C (1st sighting since 17th February). 

200H (losing the brown hood)

206A (full hood)

207C (fullish hood)

Other birds seen were: c45 Greylag Geese, c20 Canada Geese, Kingfisher (1 heard), 4 House Martins and 7 Mute Swans ( all un ringed, and looked like last year's birds).

It was quite overcast, so only managed to see 1 male Blue-tailed Damselfly (my first here) and 1 Red Admiral.

Welcome back 200H

 After school today, Jayne and I had our first visit of the "autumn/winter" period to Rufford. The temperature was a scorching 32 degrees, so it didn't feel very autumnal (!), but we did spot 10 Black-headed Gulls, including our first ringed gull of the season, 200H (looking very smart in full breeding plumage).

First photo of the season

200H

200H was first ringed, at Center Parcs, 2km away, as an adult, on 15th November 2025. This bird was seen five times over the winter, until my last sighting, at Rufford, on 17th February 2026. Unfortunately, there are no summer records yet, so we can't say where this bird breeds. Hopefully, it'll hang around for the full winter.

We only had a quick visit tonight, but we also recorded 4 Mute Swans, 6 House Martins, 3 Swallows and a Kingfisher (heard).

Year List Update - 4th May 2026

 Over the Bank Holiday Weekend, I managed to add a few more species to the Year List, taking the total so far to 154 species.

The first species, Cuckoo (149) was heard above Padley Gorge on Thursday (30th April) and again on Monday (4th May). The next two species, Swift (150) and Dipper (151) were both seen at Bakewell on Saturday. Redstart (152) and Pied Flycatcher (153) were both seen on Monday. The Redstart was first seen at Barbrook Plantation (2 birds) and at Padley Gorge (again 2 singing birds), whilst the Pied Flycatcher was added at Padley.

The last addition was Ringed Plover (154), two of which were present at Ogston Reservoir on Monday. Other birds seen here were: Dunlin (2 breeding plumaged birds), Redshank, Lapwing (on nest), Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Black-headed, Common, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Mallard (1 brood of 8 ducklings), Coot ( pair with 4 young), Cormorant, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Pied and Yellow Wagtail (2), Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting (1 pair).

Reed Bunting (female)

Linacre Update - 3rd May 2026

 I've been down to Linacre a couple of times over the weekend, once for ringing and once for a quick walk around and a check of the nestboxes.

The ringing was a quick session of just three hours, and resulted in four birds (1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Song Thrush). The Garden Warbler was a great surprise, as it was a female bird (with a brood patch) that had first been ringed, at Linacre, in May 2023, as an adult.

The second visit, yesterday afternoon, was again, just a couple of hours. The highlight was our first Pied Flycatcher nest of 2026. It contained 5 eggs that were cold and uncovered, so not being brooded yet. As always, the nest recording is carried out as part of the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. Interestingly, I'd not heard or seen any Flycatchers yet, so they must have slipped in unnoticed!

Pied Flycatcher

Other birds seen around the site were: Mallard (3 broods of 6,4 and 2), Mandarin Duck, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe (2 pairs), Coot, Moorhen, Swallow (20+), House Martin (c.6), Swift (1 - the first Linacre record of 2026), Grey Wagtail (1 heard) and Pied Wagtail (1 male).

Mandarin Duck

Waders, Gulls, Summer Migrants and a few Ducks!

I had a few free hours yesterday afternoon, so I popped down to Ogston Reservoir to see what was about. As a member of the Ogston Bird Club, I had access to the Members' Hides.

I knew that there had been a Black-tailed Godwit around for a few days, so I was very pleased to find it feeding about 40m away from the hide. They aren't that common in Derbyshire, so to get good views was a real treat.

Black-tailed Godwit

Next up was Snipe. These are much more common than the Godwit, but the Members' Hide at Ogston can often allow you to get some pretty close views. On this visit, I saw 4 different birds, all feeding along the Moat area.

Snipe

Two other species of wader seen were: Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Both species breed on site. I managed to see three of each of these birds.

Lapwing

Oystercatcher

Along with the waders, were four species of gull: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Ducks seen were: Teal, Gadwall and Mallard, including a female with 11 ducklings (my first of the year).

Mallard

Last, but not least, were the newly-arrived summer migrants. Swallows, Sand Martins and a single House Martin were all seen.

And they're back..!!

 I was down at Linacre this morning to carry out the first nestbox check of 2026. It was a mixed bag, as always, with 7 nests with eggs in them, many empty nestboxes, and a few "dead" boxes. Some of the empty boxes had the beginnings of nests, so there should be more to come over the next few weeks. The results, as always, will be sent off the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. Whilst there, I also had the first records for 3 new species of summer migrant.

In total, four nests were either Blue or Great Tits, and the other three were Mandarin Duck nests. None of the tit nests had a full clutch, and none were incubating yet. The Mandarin nests ranged from 4 eggs to 16+!!

As well as the birds, we also found a couple of wasps, and, a first for the site, two Wood Mice, together in one box!

Wood Mice

Other birds also recorded were: Chiffchaff (7), Willow Warbler (3), Blackcap (3), Swallow (20+), House Martin (1 with the Swallows, Year Tick 128), Sand Martin (also 1 with the Swallows - the first site record since 2024), Raven (1 over), Greylag Goose (2  flying along the valley), Canada Goose (heard, first thing), 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Cormorant and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Siskins were also heard, but not seen.

Island Tour - Part 3- Morro Jable

 Our last stop on 30th March was the seaside resort of Morro Jable, on the south coast of the island. We parked on the outskirts of the resort, by the old abandoned zoo, where we were able to see a couple of the island's more exotic species; Hadada Ibis and Monk Parakeet.

Morro Jable lighthouse and boardwalk

Hadada Ibis

Monk Parakeets (waiting to be hand fed!)

Other birds seen on a walk around the beach and lighthouse were: Cattle Egret (adult and juveniles), Plain Swift (2 over), Spectacled Warbler (our only sighting!), House Martin (2 over), Yellow-legged Gull, Goldfinch and our first Great Grey Shrike (ssp koenigi). 

Great Grey Shrike

Barbary Ground Squirrels were also seen here.

Linacre WeBS and Ringing

 This week, I have been down to Linacre a couple of times to carry out this month's WeBS count and for a ringing session.

The WeBS count was as follows: Mallard (46), Tufted Duck (28 adults, no breeding again this year), Mandarin Duck (5), Coot (8; 5 adults and 3 juveniles), Moorhen (8; 5 adults and 3 juveniles),  Grey Wagtail (4), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (1), Great-crested Grebe (4: 1 adult and 3 juveniles) and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Other birds seen were: Goldfinch, Bullfinch (heard), Robin, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, c.8 House Martins and c.20 Swallows.

The ringing session, held on 23rd, was the best one so far this year, with 80 birds ringed. Totals were (new/retrap): Chiffchaff (19/0 - all juveniles), Willow Warbler (5/0 - 4 juveniles), Blackcap (14/1 - the retrap being a juvenile first ringed here in July), Blackbird (1/0 - an adult), Blue Tit (20/1 - the retrap being a bird ringed in box c.26 on 18th May 2025), Great Tit (6/0 - all juveniles), Long-tailed Tit (1/1 - the retrap being a bird first ringed here in November 2024), Robin (2/0 - both juveniles), Wren (2/0 - 1 juvenile), Goldfinch (1/0 - 1 juvenile), Dunnock (1 juvenile) and Goldcrest (5/0 - 4 juveniles).

Other birds seen were: House Martin (c.17), Swallow (2 over) and Crossbill (10 over).

5 butterflies (3 Red Admirals, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Painted Lady) were also seen.

New Forest, Poole Harbour and RSPB Arne

 After our visit to Salisbury, Jayne and I spent the next four days in The New Forest and Poole Harbour/Swanage area. Whilst there we added 9 more species to the Year List.

Our first new bird was House Martin (139), which was seen around our accommodation in Fordingbridge. Firecrest (140) was added during a walk in Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary in The New Forest, as was Willow Warbler (141).

Firecrest

On 9th, we had a 3 hour cruise with Birds of Poole Harbour, where we managed to see 3 Spoonbills (142), 2 distant Ospreys (143), and, best of all, amazing views of a female White-tailed Eagle (144).

WT Eagle G466

The White-tailed Eagle that we saw was a female, G466, that was translocated from The Isle of Skye into the Isle of Wight in 2020 by the Roy Dennis Foundation. She has been settled in this area, with a male bird, G463. See details here. Whilst on the trip, we also saw Black-headed, Great Black-backed, Herring and Mediterranean Gulls, Black-tailed Godwits, a Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Great-crested Grebes, Curlew, Lapwing, Canada, Greylag and an Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (145) and Sandwich Terns (146). 

Our last addition to the Year List was Dartford Warbler (147) that was seen on Hyde's Heath at RSPB Arne. Unfortunately, no photos, as the two birds we saw, decided to keep low down in the gorse, to avoid the attention of a pair of Stonechats!

Linacre Butterflies - 14th September 2024

 At this time of the year, whenever the sun comes out, I like to get down to Linacre to see if there are any insects about, just in case it's the last sightings I get this year! Yesterday was such a time, with lots of sun and temperatures of 20 degrees. I wasn't disappointed, with 8 species of butterfly seen, along with two dragonflies, a few bees, craneflies, hoverflies and a wasps' nest!

The butterfly species were: Red Admiral (5), Comma (2), Peacock (2), Speckled Wood (7), Large White (2), Green-veined White (3, including a pair attempting to mate) and, best of all, a Small Copper (my first record of the year!).

Small Copper

Small Copper (and friend)

Other species seen were: Migrant Hawker (2), Brown Hawker (1), Red-tailed and Common Carder Bumblebees, Eristalis hoverflies and 1 Marmalade Hoverfly. 

Whilst walking along the bank below the top reservoir, I came across a hole, approximately 1/2m deep, with several hundred wasps flying around it! I peeped in, very carefully (!) and could see the remains of a wasps' nest. I couldn't get a great photo, so I'm not sure if they were Common or German Wasps, but, whatever species, it was great to see. Presumably, the nest had been discovered and dug out by a Badger, or a Honey Buzzard (only joking!!).

Wasps' nest

Linacre WeBS - August 2024

 I carried out this month's WeBS count at Linacre yesterday. As always at this time of the year, it was pretty quiet. Unfortunately, the top reservoir is still closed off, for repairs to the boardwalk, and the water levels are much lower than normal there. Despite searching, I couldn't locate any passage waders!

Counts for this month's survey were: Mallard (100; 99 adults and 1 duckling), Mandarin (22 birds), Coot (2 adults), Moorhen (14; 11 adults and 3 juveniles), Tufted Duck (18 adults, no sign of breeding this year), Grey Wagtail (2 juveniles), Grey Heron (1), Great-crested Grebe (2 adults) and Kingfisher (a minimum of 2 birds - 1 on the middle reservoir and 1 on the bottom reservoir, but there appeared to be a few flying around - possibly juvenile birds?).

There were still c50 Linnets in the field by the car park, along with 5 Stock Doves, a feral Pigeon, 10 Chaffinch and Goldfinch. A small flock of c15 House Martins were over the middle reservoir, and a single Common Buzzard was seen.

Just 1 butterfly was seen, a single Speckled Wood, in the farmer's field, by the car park.

Speckled Wood

Linacre Nestboxes - 27th April 2024

 Yesterday, I had my first visit of the year to check on the nestboxes at Linacre. The initial few boxes didn't bode well, but, by the end of the session, I had 20 boxes with eggs in them. As always, the boxes were checked under licence, and the results will be added to the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. There are still a few boxes to check, so hopefully, there will be a few more to add to the list.

All of yesterday's boxes contained tit nests, including only my second Coal Tit nest. The highest count of eggs was 13 in one clutch! Unfortunately, there weren't any Pied Flycatchers around at all. I'll keep checking, and hopefully, there will be some nests this year.

After checking the boxes, I walked around the rest of the site, recording my first Common Sandpiper (162) of the year. 

Common Sandpiper

There were also approximately 15 Swallows, 1 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin, flying around the top reservoir. The ringed Grey Wagtail was still present, singing on the top reservoir, and was joined by a female bird. Other birds seen were: 1 Grey Heron, 21 Mallard, 7 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Canada Goose, 7 Coots (1 nest on the top reservoir), 4 Moorhens, 3 Great-crested Grebes,  24 Tufted Ducks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrushes and a calling Great-spotted Woodpecker. Unfortunately, the female Mute Swan, 6Y24, appears to have left the site.

Swallow

In the afternoon, I was down at The Avenue Washlands, and spotted my first Swift (163) of the year.

Year List Update - 7th April 2024

 It's been a few weeks since I updated the "Year List", and, since then, I've added a few new species.

First was the Ring-necked Parakeet (132). This was first seen in Didsbury Park, Manchester, when 2 were spotted. The next species, Blackcap (133), was added last Sunday, when 1 was ringed at The Avenue in Chesterfield. Bird number 134, Willow Warbler, was heard at Linacre, while 135 was a Barnacle Goose, a feral bird seen in London on Thursday. The final three species seen at Linacre this week, were: Swallow (136 - first seen on 6th, and then c.10 seen today), House Martin (137 - c.20 feeding over the middle reservoir, in rain, today) and Sand Martin (138 - c.5/6 feeding with the Swallows and House Martins today).

Linacre - 10th September 2023

 After a week of high temperatures well into the high 20s, it was really nice to walk around Linacre this morning in a still-quite-warm 19 degrees. It was still quite quiet, but one sign of the coming autumn and winter was a lovely flock of 12 Mistle Thrushes feeding on the Rowan berries, and the first Teal (3) since February.

Teal

Other waterbirds seen were: Mallard (106), Mandarin (42), Tufted Duck (9), Coot (8; 7 adults and 1 juvenile), Moorhen (18; 11 adults and 7 juveniles), Grey Heron (2), Cormorant (2), Great Crested Grebe (6; 2 adults and 4 juveniles), Little Grebe (1 adult on the top reservoir) and Grey Wagtail (2).

Grey Heron

Other birds noted around the site were: Magpie (7, my highest ever count), Jay, Nuthatch, Stock Dove (heard), Woodpigeon, Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff (2 singing and "wheeting" heard), Swallow (7 over the top reservoir), and House Martin (1 heard).

Just one butterfly, a Red Admiral, was seen, sunning itself on the dam wall.

Rufford Gulls - 15th August 2023

 I had my first August visit to Rufford yesterday, to check on the gulls. After my last visit, at the end of July, gull numbers had picked up, to 52 Black-headed Gulls (10 juveniles), and I managed to see 3 of "our" green-ringed birds.

The first bird, 293A, was a familiar sight, this being the 20th record since ringing back in December 2021.

293A

The second bird, 245B, was my first sighting, since it was ringed in December 2022, at Center Parcs (2km away). The only other sighting was shortly after ringing, at Center Parcs.

245B

The third bird, 251B, was a special bird, as it was one I ringed, at Center Parcs, back in October 2022. It was aged as a 3 back then, i.e. born that year, making it just 1 year old. This sighting was the first since ringing.

251B

Other wildlife seen there included: Canada Goose (38, but no rings), Greylag Goose (4, no rings), House Martin (c.20), Swallow (6) and a single Volucella zonaria hoverfly - my first record at this site, and my first sighting of 2023.

Another of "our" gulls, 236B, a bird ringed as a pullus at Carsington Water in June 2022, was reported today. It was seen back there, so great to see another returning bird. 

Another 2 birds ringed there, 233B, and 222B, had previously been reported in Cheshire in December 2022 (60km away) and in Wales in July 2022.

Linacre Insects - 22nd July 2023

 It stopped raining for an hour this afternoon (!), so I popped down to Linacre to see what was about. I only walked around the bottom reservoir, before the rain started again, but I did manage to spot a few insects and birds.

Insects seen were: Meadow Brown (3), Green-veined White (1), Marmalade Hoverfly, Volucella pellucens (3), Cinnabar Moth caterpillars,  Silver Y moth (2), Soldier Beetles , White-tailed, Common Carder and Red-tailed Bumblebees, and Common Blue Damselfly (1m).

Silver Y Moth

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar

Birds seen were: House Martin (c20 - 30 feeding over the middle reservoir), Swift (2), Grey Wagtail (1 juvenile), Cormorant (1), Mandarin Duck (8; 1 female with 7 good-sized ducklings) and Little Grebe (2; 1 adult and 1 juvenile, on the middle reservoir).

Little Grebe (chick)