Stanford Reservoir



This morning, I decided to spend a few hours at Stanford Reservoir. The water levels are still very low and even at these levels, water is being pumped into Draycote Water! It was mild and sunny for most of my walk and apart from a jogger, had the place to myself.

A report of a Great White Egret near Stanford Village begged to be searched for, but alas no sign at all. It is now believed that the GWE may be a mis-identification of a pale, almost white Grey Heron in the area. Time will no doubt tell.

A Little Egret graced the stilling pond and at least two hundred Golden Plovers were seen on the mud. A solitary Common Sandpiper fed with them. I walked from the inlet to the feeding station and took some time watching at least twenty Tree Sparrows - but they refused to pose well for a photograph! The only other bird of note was a solitary Grey Wagtail feeding around the stilling pond.

At least seven Brown Hares dashed around the fields.

While driving back towards Stanford Village, two male Pheasants decided to have a scrap. I tried to capture an image or two, but obviously got the camera speed wrong! I have included them at the end of this post, mainly because I like them!

Brown Hare

Golden Plover

Blue Tit

Reed bunting

Chaffinch

Tree Sparrow

The Pheasants Fight!

Todays Sightings:

Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Mallard; Greylag Goose; Wigeon; Teal; Coot; Tufted Duck; Canada Goose; Pheasant; Black Headed gull; Lapwing; LBB Gull; Cormorant; Green Woodpecker; Wood Pigeon; Goldeneye; Skylark; Pied Wagtail; Red Legged Partridge; Wren; Moorhen; Robin; Fieldfare; Little Egret; Golden Plover; Great Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Dunnock; Buzzard; Mistle Thrush; Blackbird; Grey Wagtail; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Magpie; Blue Tit; Kestrel; Common Sandpiper; House Sparrow; Jackdaw; Starling; Carrion Crow; Yellowhammer; Tree Sparrow; Rook; Chaffinch; Reed Bunting; Goldfinch.