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 

Seven Hours at Linacre!

 Yesterday (19th), I had a couple of visits to Linacre. The first, from 06.00 - 09.30, was a ringing session, with 3 other members of Sorby Breck Ringing Group, whilst the second from 14.00 - 17.30, was a solo walk, looking for insects and carrying out this month's WeBS walk.

The ringing session was quite a quiet affair, with just 9 birds ringed. Happily, 8 of the 9 birds were juveniles, i.e. born this year, but the low number was quite disappointing, given the time of year. Hopefully, numbers will pick up, as the summer progresses. Bird caught were (new/retrap): Blackcap 1/0 (juvenile), Chiffchaff 4/0 (all juveniles), Robin 1/0 (juvenile), Blue Tit 1/0 (juvenile) and Bullfinch 2/0 (1 adult - born last year, and 1 juvenile).

By the afternoon, the temperature had risen to 22 degrees, so I went back down for a walk around the site. As you can see from the picture below, the bottom reservoir is currently nearly dry. It has been drained as maintenance work is being carried out on the overflow. As a result there were few birds there, but the exposed mud could bring in some waders perhaps.

Bottom reservoir

Waterbirds see were: Mallard (42 - 40 adults and 2 juveniles), Tufted Duck (24 - all adults), Mandarin Duck (17 - all adults), Coot (1 adult), Moorhen (3 adults), Grey Heron (1), Great-crested Grebe (3 adults - no juveniles this year), Herring Gull (1 adult), Lesser Black-backed Gull (5 adults and 1 juvenile),and, the best of all, a juvenile Common Sandpiper!

Whilst on site, I also spent a lot of time (!) looking at the amazing number of butterflies and other insects present. Very conservative estimates of species seen are: Meadow Brown (50+), Gatekeeper (9), Speckled Wood (3), Comma (2), Painted Lady (6 - 5 very fresh looking individuals and 1 very tatty one!), Holly Blue (4), Green-veined White (2), Large White (1), Peacock (3), Small Skipper (1), Silver Y (1), Shaded Broad-bar (1 in the ringing site), Brown Hawker (2), Common Blue Damselfly (100+, including ovipositing pairs), Blue-tailed Damselfly (1 male), Migrant Hawker (6), Volucella inanis (2), Volucella pullecens (3), Myathropa florea (1) and Eristalis sp!

Migrant Hawker

Common Blue Damselfly

Volucella inanis

Linacre WeBS - 24th January 2026

 I hadn't been able to get down to Linacre until today (!), so this month's WeBS count took place today. The highlight was, undoubtable, the 12 Goosanders (6 male and 6 female) that were on the middle reservoir. Other good sightings included, 2 Little Grebes ( on the bottom reservoir), an adult Herring Gull, (first January record, I think), 1 Great-crested Grebe and 5 Cormorants.

Cormorant

The other main species were: Mallard (56), Tufted Duck (58), Mandarin Duck (29), Coot (5), Moorhen (4) and Grey Wagtail (1). 1 Raven flying over was also good to see.

Two new species were added to this year's Year List: Crossbill (81) and Jay (82).

Linacre WeBS - 27th December 2025

 I wasn't able to get down to Linacre earlier this month for the WeBS walk, so Jayne and I popped down on 27th to do it.

It was a grey, overcast morning and just 7 degrees, but we recorded the following birds: Mallard (73), Tufted Duck (68), Mandarin Duck (36), Coot (7), Moorhen (3), Grey Wagtail (1), Cormorant (2), Goosander (4; 2 males and 2 females), Little Grebe (2), Great-crested Grebe (2) and Black-headed Gull (92 - the highest count of the year).

Linacre Ringing and WeBS

 On 26th October, I was down at Linacre for a ringing session. We managed to catch 61 birds, including our first Redwing of the winter (a juvenile) along with the following birds, new/retrap: Blue Tit 18/1, Great Tit 6/1, Coal Tit 6/0, Long-tailed Tit 14/1, Wren 1/0, Robin 1/0 and Goldcrest 10/0. The retrap Great Tit was a juvenile that I had originally ringed, in Box c3, in May 2025. 

Last weekend, (9th) I carried out the monthly WeBS count at Linacre. Numbers were beginning to build up, with the following birds seen: Mallard (69), Tufted Duck (73),  Moorhen (7), Coot (5), Cormorant (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (1 on the muck heap by the main entrance), Black-headed Gull (6), Mandarin (38) and a single Kingfisher. 

Whilst on site for the WeBS walk, I also had the first Fieldfare of the winter (c.40 flew over) and a couple of Raven very low over the bottom reservoir. 

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.

Linacre WeBS and Insects

 This month's WeBS count took place yesterday, and whilst there, a few butterflies, 1 species of moth and two damselfly species were also recorded.

Birds seen were: Mallard (38; 36 adults and 2 ducklings), Mandarin Duck (11 adults and 2 ducklings), Tufted Duck (25 adults), Coot (21 birds; 11 adults and 10 young), Moorhen (4 adults), Great-crested Grebe (7 adults and 8 young), Grey Heron (1 young bird), Grey Wagtail (2), Chiffchaff (4 singing), Blackcap (2 singing), Garden Warbler (1 singing), Willow Warbler (1 singing), Swallow (4 juveniles feeding over the top reservoir), Swift (1 - the first Linacre record of 2025!), Skylark (1 singing), Stock Dove (heard), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 adults) and 3 Racing/Feral Pigeons (complete with rings), drinking in the bottom reservoir.

Racing Pigeon

The butterflies seen were: Ringlet (12 - the highest ever count?), Speckled Wood (3), Comma (2), Meadow Brown (7), a white butterfly, possibly Small White, and a Small Skipper (1st record since 2023).

Small Skipper

The two damselfly species seen were: Common Blue (c.6), and, the best by far, a female Banded Demoiselle - my first female at this site.

Banded Demoiselle (female)

Other species seen were 1 Myathropa florea (hoverfly), Harlequin Ladybirds, 1 Latticed Heath (moth) and a single Brown Hare.

Linacre WeBS - 14th December 2024

 Last weekend, I carried out the last Linacre WeBS count of 2024. It was, again, a very quiet affair with lower than average numbers of birds.

Birds seen were: Mallard (75), Mandarin Duck (21), Tufted Duck (6), Coot (1), Moorhen (10), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (1), Little Grebe (1) and Black-headed Gull (9).

There were a few other birds in and around the woods: Nuthatch, Siskin (heard), Buzzard, Jay, Blackbird, Dunnock and a nice flock of c15 Long-tailed Tits, around the top reservoir.

Linacre WeBS and Ringing- October and November 2024

 I carried out this month's WeBS count at Linacre this morning. It was 12 degrees, grey and overcast, and, not for the first time this year, very quiet!!. I also realised that I hadn't posted last month's totals either, so here they are too.

October 2024 - Mallard (57), Moorhen (9; 8 adults and 1 juvenile), Coot (3), Cormorant (5 juveniles), Grey Heron (2), Tufted Duck (17), Mandarin (80), Great-crested Grebe (1), Grey Wagtail (2) and Black-headed Gull (2).

November 2024 - Mallard (53), Moorhen (9; 7 adults and 2 juveniles), Coot (1), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (2), Tufted Duck (0!), Mandarin (16!!), Little Grebe (1), Pied Wagtail (1) and Black-headed Gull (1).

Last weekend, we were ringing at Linacre and managed to catch 25 birds: Redwing (6/0), Blue Tit 7/0, Great Tit 1/2, Coal Tit 1/0, Long-tailed Tit 6/0 and Wren 1/1.

Linacre WeBS - 21st September 2024

 I undertook this month's WeBS walk yesterday. It was a dreary, drizzly morning, but relatively warm at 16 degrees. 

The totals were: Mallard (81), Mandarin Duck (98), Moorhen (17;14 adults and 3 juveniles), Coot (4), Tufted Duck (22), Great-crested Grebe (4; 2 adults and 2 juveniles, all on the middle reservoir), Grey Heron (2), Cormorant (1), Pied Wagtail ( 1 heard), Grey Wagtail (2), Wigeon (a single male that flew in, landed briefly, and flew off - the first of the Autumn/Winter) and Black-headed Gull (3 - the first of the Autumn/Winter).

The woods were pretty quiet, but I did  hear/see Nuthatch, Wren, Robin, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch ( a charm of c.20 feeding on Knapweed seeds by the top reservoir), Jay, Blue, Long-tailed and Great Tits. Feeding with a small Tit flock were a couple of Chiffchaffs. 1 Chiffchaff was also heard singing!!

Top reservoir and four Sunflowers

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 Update - 11th May 2024

 Yesterday morning I went down to Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count, and to catch up with the nestboxes.

The WeBS count was, as usual for May, quite quiet, with the following birds recorded: Mallard (46 birds; 32 adults and 14 ducklings - 4 broods of 5, 5, 3 and 1), Tufted Duck (4!), Grey Wagtail (2; 1 male and 1 female), Grey Heron (1), Coot (5 adults), Moorhen (4 adults) and Mandarin Duck (10).

The nestboxes, on the other hand, were much more exciting! I found our first full clutches Pied Flycatcher eggs of the year (2 nests, each containing 5 eggs). Another 2 singing males were also heard away from these boxes, so I'm keeping everything crossed for further nests. The Coal Tit and Wren nests were still going strong, and the first Blue Tit chicks of the year had hatched. In total, we now have 43 active nests on site - a very good year! Other birds recorded around the site were 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs and 1 singing Garden Warbler.

On Thursday, I was also on site, with Chloe, to ring the adult Mandarin Duck that is nesting on site. This year, we also added a colour ring, so hopefully, we'll get some more sightings of her.

Mandarin Duck "HA"

Last, but by no means least, I also managed to spot a few insects: 2 female Orange Tips, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Helophilus pendulus, 1 Common Carder Bumblebee, 1 Red-tailed Bumblebee and 1 Hairy Shieldbug.

Linacre WeBS - 6th April 2024

 The second visit to Linacre this week was this morning, when I carried out this month's WeBS count. It was 13 degrees when I arrived at 7am, and this had risen to 17 degrees (!) by the time I left at 9am.

In the two hours that I was there the following waterbirds were seen: Mallard (47), Tufted Duck (17), Mandarin (12), Canada Geese (2), Mute Swan (1 - 6Y24), Moorhen (10), Coot (4), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (6; 3 pairs, 1 on each reservoir) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (4).

Mandarin Duck

Lots of birds were singing in the sunshine, including 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap 1 Skylark and 3 Song Thrushes. Other birds seen were: Sparrowhawk (1 high over the woodlands), 3 Stock Doves and my first Swallow of the year (hurrah!).

Linacre WeBS - 9th March 2024

Ringing was cancelled yesterday morning, due to windy and rainy conditions, so instead, I popped down to Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count.

The morning started well, when the female Mute Swan, 6Y24, was re-found, back on the middle reservoir. She seems to have settled in well, and came readily to seed, even pecking at the surrounding Mallards, to make sure she got her fair share!

Mute Swan

I carried on around all three reservoirs, and, despite the weather, there was an almost spring-like feel to the morning, with 2 pairs of Great-crested Grebes on site, both displaying. Other birds seen were: Mallard (69), Moorhen (10), Coot (7), Tufted Duck (17), Black-headed Gull (32) and Mandarin Duck (8). 

Black-headed Gull

Lots of the woodland species were singing, and I also spotted my first drumming Great-spotted Woodpeckers (2) of the year, my first Linacre Jay record, and a super Common Buzzard perched on the fence by the main entrance.

The big highlight of the morning, however, came just as I was leaving. I was walking along the middle reservoir, when I heard the sound of calling Whooper Swans. Looking up, an amazing 50 birds appeared, flying in low over my head! At first they looked like they might land, but instead they gained height and carried on along the valley. A few minutes later, however, 7 birds re-appeared and landed on the middle reservoir - fantastic!!!! This is my first record, actually on the reservoirs, and not just flying over, since 2016!

Whooper Swans

Linacre WeBS - January 2024

 Last week (20th), I walked around Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count. 

After a week of very cold temperatures, the bottom reservoir was about 25% frozen, and there were some good numbers of birds: Mallard (145), Mandarin Duck (45), Moorhen (12), Coot (12), Grey Heron (2), Goosander (13; 8 males and 5 females), Teal (c.32), Cormorant (2), Grey Wagtail (1) and Tufted Duck (28).

Linacre 10th and 17th December 2023

 I've just realised that I didn't post details of last week's visit to Linacre , so today's post is going to cover that and today's WeBS count.

Last week's details are: 122 Mallards, 39 Mandarins, 32 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Tufted Ducks, 1 Cormorant, 8 Coots, 15 Moorhens, 2 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, c.20 Teal and 4 Goosanders (3 males and 1 female). Other birds seen/heard included Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Siskin, 4 Raven (my highest ever count) and, best of all, a flock of c.4-500 Jackdaws coming out of the roost on the middle reservoir - an amazing sight and sound!

Today's count also started with the Jackdaw roost (about 300ish birds). Water birds seen were: 117 Mallards, 62 Mandarins, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Tufted Ducks, 7 Coots, 16 Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes and 6 Teal (4 males and 2 females).

Linacre WeBS - 19th November 2023

 Today was the day for this month's WeBS walk around Linacre. I had a couple of hours, walking around all three reservoirs, recording just shy of 400 waterbirds of  9 species.

Counts were: Mallard (154), Mandarin Duck (153), Coot (10), Moorhen (19), Tufted Duck (47), Kingfisher (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (3) and Black-headed Gull (13).

Mandarin Ducks

Other birds seen/heard were: Raven (2), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Nuthatch, Wren, Robin, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit and Redwing.

Linacre WeBS - 15th October 2023

There was a real autumnal, if not wintery, feel to the air at Linacre this morning, as I arrived just before 7am, for the monthly WeBS count. It was just 2 degrees, and sheltered spots had a covering of frost. As always, October's WeBS count sees the highest waterbird counts for some months, and today's count did not disappoint.

Birds seen were: Mandarin Duck (166 - highest count of the year), Mallard (139 - highest count since January, when 141 were counted), Tufted Duck (47 - highest count since February, when 53 were seen), Teal (1fm), Coot (7), Moorhen (14),Great-crested Grebe (4; 2 adults and 2 juveniles), Little Grebe (1 adult), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Grey Heron (1) and the first returning Black-headed Gulls (38).

Black-headed Gulls

Other birds heard or seen: Raven (1 heard), Magpie (1), Skylark (1 heard), Long-tailed Tit (flock of c.15), Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin and Tawny Owl (1 heard).

Despite the cold weather, it was also very sunny, and I spotted 2 butterflies on the wing, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Small Tortoiseshell - my latest ever sightings.

Linacre WeBS - September 2023

 I was down at Linacre yesterday morning for this month's WeBS count. I had a good walk around all three reservoirs, and recorded some good numbers of returning waterbirds.

Birds seen were: Mallard (124 - my highest September count), Mandarin Duck (157 - also my highest ever September count), Tufted Duck (13 - still quite low numbers), Moorhen (23; 17 adults and 6 juveniles), Coot (9; 6 adults and 3 juveniles), Little Grebe (1 adult on the bottom reservoir), Great-crested Grebe (3; 2 adults and 1 juvenile on the middle reservoir), Kingfisher (2 on the bottom reservoir), Grey Heron (10) and Grey Wagtail (2).

Walking around, I also had 5 species of corvid (Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie and Raven), along with 2 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 Mistle Thrush, Blue/Great and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Woodpigeon.

Linacre WeBS - 28th August 2023

 I carried out the monthly WeBS count this morning. It was warm and sunny and a really enjoyable walk around all three reservoirs.

Birds seen were: Mallard (97 adults and 3 ducklings), Tufted Duck (17 adults), Mandarin Duck (49 adults and 2 ducklings), Moorhen ( 8 adults and 6 juveniles), Coot (6 adults and 3 juveniles), Grey Heron (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Canada Goose ( 1 heard) and Great-crested Grebe (2 adults and 4 juveniles).

Other birds seen were: Raven (1 over the top reservoir), Magpie (2), Chiffchaff (3 singing and lots of "wheeting"), Blackcap (1 singing in the ringing site), Jay (heard) and Stock Dove (heard singing).