Chard reservoir sign

Recent sightings

The original main site is at Totalserve An alternative site is at Claranet as a backup. If this page seems out of date, try the alternative link in this paragraph.

New "What to look for" pages >> What to look for in June


June 19th 2008

  • Little Egret 1 adult
  • Mute Swan 1

 

 


June 18th 2008

  • Little Egret 1 adult
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2

 

 


June 17th 2008

  • Little Egret 1 adult
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Kingfisher 1

 

 


June 16th 2008

  • Little Egret 1 adult
  • Mute Swan 1

Only one young Grebe seen today of the two reported on the 13th


June 13th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing
  • Blackcap singing

 

A Great Crested Grebe leaps clear of the water as it defends itself and its 2 young from a Lesser Black Backed Gull. They survived this attack.


June 11th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
  • Bullfinch feeding young

Bullfinch feeding youngLarge Skipper

Thanks to Robert Daw from Bristol for sending in these pictures


June 6th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing

Juvenile RobinJuvenile Blackbird


June 5th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing

 


May 30th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 10 juveniles
  • Mute Swan 1

 

4 pairs of grebes have raised 10 young between them so far

May 27th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 5 juveniles
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

 

2 pairs of grebes have raised 5 young between them so far

May 24th 2008

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Canada Goose 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Blackcap 3 singing

 

 


May 22nd 2008

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Reed Warbler 1 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Robin 2 families with young

 


May 19th 2008

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 10
  • Herring Gull 80
  • Swallow 20
  • House Martin 10
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Reed Warbler 1 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing

 

 


May 15th 2008

  • Mute Swan 2
  • Swallow 25
  • House Martin 25
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing
  • Reed Warbler 1 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Robin 3 juveniles together

Cooler wet day

 


May 12th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 1 chick
  • Mute Swan 4
  • Common Sandpiper 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 11
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing
  • Reed Warbler 1 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing

Another warm sunny day.

1 pair of grebes has raised at least one chick. Hopefully more to come...

 


May 9th 2008

  • Mute Swan 4
  • Common Tern 3
  • Willow Warbler 2 singing
  • Chiffchaff 2singing
  • Reed Warbler 2 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing

 

Common Tern


May 7th 2008

  • Mute Swan 4
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 17
  • Herring Gull 83
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing
  • Reed Warbler 2 south end
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Spotted Flycatcher 1 north end

 

 


May 6th 2008

  • Mute Swan 4
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 8 (2 imm)
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Willow Warbler 2 singing
  • Chiffchaff 2 singing
  • Reed Warbler 1 south end, 2 north end
  • Blackcap 1 singing

A warm sunny day

The Great Spotted Woodpecker flew right across the Reservoir near the north end.


May 4th 2008

  • Common Tern 1

Thanks to Steve Waite for this record.


May 2nd 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Reed Warbler singing

 


May 1st 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Reed Warbler 2

 


April 30th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Swallows
  • Swift 3
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing
  • Blackcap 2 pairs
  • Coal Tit 3 singing


April 29th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • House Martin 14+

 


April 28th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • House Martin 5
  • Swallow 60
  • Raven 1

 


April 25th 2008

  • Hirundines 70+
  • Treecreeper 2 singing

The Hirundines were made up of just Swallows and Sand Martins. They are notoriously difficult to count when quickly flying around, back and forth.


April 24th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Common Sandpiper 2
  • House Martin 15+
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Raven 1

Another sunny day. Many Grebe pairs displaying.

 


April 23rd 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Common Sandpiper 6
  • Blackcap 1 singing
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing

Another sunny day.

The Sandpipers were only there early morning and had moved on by lunchtime.


April 22nd 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Black Tern 1 in summer plumage
  • Swallows
  • Blackcap 1 singing

A Black Tern catches the evening sun as it swoops to catch insects

April 21st 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Swallow c.70
  • Blackcap 1 singing

Wet weather.


April 19th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 7
  • Swallow 20+
  • Sand Martin 20+
  • House Martin 2
  • Marsh Tit 1 pair
  • Bullfinch 1 pair

 


April 18th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Swallow 20
  • Sand Martin 20
  • Goldcrest singing
  • Willow Warbler 2
  • Blackcap 2
  • Marsh Tit 1 pair
  • Treecreepers singing

 


April 17th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Canada Goose 3
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 9
  • Swallow 20+
  • Sand Martin 30+
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Blackcap 3

 


April 16th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Canada Goose 1
  • Swallow 15
  • Sand Martin 3

 


April 15th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 3
  • Herring Gull 93
  • Chiffchaff 2
  • Nuthatch 2 pairs

 


April 14th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 7
  • House Martin 6
  • Swallow/Sand Martin 30
  • Chiffchaff heard

 


April 13th 2008

  • Sand Martin 4
  • Swallow 2
  • Marsh Tit 1 pair

 


April 11th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 3
  • Swallow 3
  • House Martin 2
  • Sand Martin 15
  • Chiffchaff 3
  • Blackcap 1 singing

 


April 9th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted Duck 13
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 5
  • Swallow 7
  • Willow Warbler 2
  • Chiffchaff 3
  • Blackcap 2 singing

The Egret was pursued by the Swan as an unwanted large white 'rival'.


April 8th 2008

  • Little Egret 2 flew over
  • Sparrowhawk 1 pair

 


April 7th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted Duck 13
  • Buzzard 1
  • Sand Martin 60
  • Swallow 1
  • Green Woodpecker 1 calling and drumming


April 6th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted Duck 8
  • Shoveler 1
  • Sand Martin 60
  • House Martin 2
  • Swallow 10
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Willow Warbler 1 singing

First House Martins of the year on a day when it snowed.


April 4th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Swallow 4
  • Sand Martin 20+

 


April 3rd 2008

  • Tree Creeper 1 near hide

 


April 2nd 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Sand Martin 3

 


April 1st 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Wigeon 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 pair
  • Nuthatch several calling
  • Chiffchaff 3 singing
  • Siskin several

Overwintering Wigeon sometimes stay until the middle of March, but this is the first April record at the reservoir since 1933.

Drumming heard from the Woodpeckers.

March 31st 2008

  • Blackcap 1

First Blackcap of the year

March 30th 2008

4 Great Crested Grebe nests flooded. It's very early yet.


March 28th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Swallow 1

First Swallow of the year


March 27th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Teal 1

 


March 26th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Canada Goose 2
  • Chiffchaff 2+

 


March 25th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Sand Martin 3

 


March 23rd 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Sand Martin 10
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing

 


March 20th 2008

  • Redshank 4

There is almost no shoreline after heavy rains have raised the water level. The Redshank were on one of the floating platforms


March 19th 2008

  • Tufted Duck 9
  • Sand Martin 10

 


March 18th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1
  • Tufted Duck 11
  • Sand Martin 10
  • Marsh Tit 3

 


March 17th 2008

  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Sand Martin 5
  • Chiffchaff 1 singing

 


March 16th 2008

  • Teal 1 pair
  • Sand Martin 30+

 


March 15th 2008

  • Sand Martin 24

Heavy rain today.


March 13th 2008

  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 34
  • Mediterranean Gull 1 2nd winter
  • Siskin 3+

Dave Helliar reports that the Gulls did not stay for long.


March 12th 2008

  • Teal 1

 


March 11th 2008

  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 1
  • Stock Dove 3
  • Kingfisher 1

High winds and heavy rain.


March 9th 2008

  • Cormorant 11
  • Grey Heron 2
  • Canada Goose 8
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 1
  • Stock Dove 2

 


March 8th 2008

  • Snipe 4
  • Common Gull 4
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 7
  • Bullfinch 5
  • Siskin a few

 


March 7th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Snipe 2
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 7
  • Common Gull 5
  • Green Woodpecker calling
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
  • Brambling 1
  • Siskin 4
  • Bullfinch 2

Andy Grinter reports the Brambling, Siskin and Bullfinches in the Reservoir carpark. Brambling are rare visitors to the Reservoir. There have been a larger number than usual seen locally this winter.


March 6th 2008

  • Sparrowhawk 1
  • Kingfisher 1

The Sparrowhawk nearly caught the Kingfisher


March 5th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Stock Dove 2
  • Common Gull 1
  • Reed Bunting 1

 


March 4th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Teal 1
  • Buzzard 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 6

 


March 3rd 2008

  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Snipe 3
  • Reed Bunting 1 singing

Only one Reed Bunting was seen last year at about the same time of year.


March 1st 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 41
  • Little Egret 1
  • Canada Goose 4
  • Great Black Backed Gull 1 adult
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Siskin 14+

Apparently there is a small northerly migration of Great Black Backed Gulls over Somerset at this time of year. Most birds stick to the coast with just the odd ones appearing inland at reservoirs.


February 27th 2008

  • Snipe 2
  • Buzzard 1
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 8

 


February 25th 2008

  • Great Black Backed Gull 3
  • Mediterranean Gull 1 adult winter
  • Grey Wagtail 1
  • Pied Wagtail 2
  • Siskin several
There was a mixed flock of finches near the entrance including Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Siskins.

Surprisingly, 3 Great Black Backed Gulls is a record count. Recently they have averaged one bird every two years. There were 2 adults and one second winter bird today.


February 24th 2008

  • Canada Goose 6

 


February 23rd 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 36
  • Pied Wagtail 40 flew over

 


February 22nd 2008

  • Common Gull 12
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 11

 


February 21st 2008

  • Little Egret 3 flew over
  • Black Headed Gull 600

 


February 20th 2008

  • Little Egret 1 over
  • Herring Gull 134

 


February 18th 2008

  • Grey Heron 2
  • Cormorant 13
  • Teal 10
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
  • Siskin 4

The water level is being kept deliberately low at the moment due to work on the sluice at the north end.


February 6th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Teal 1
  • Common Gull 13
  • Peregrine 1 imm

A good count of Common Gulls again. The Peregrine was flying over the reservoir below the treeline and carrying prey. It was chased by Crows and put all the Gulls to flight as it flew low over them. I saw an adult female Peregrine a few weeks ago just north of the reservoir, so that's 2 Peregrines in the area.


February 5th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1

 


February 4th 2008

  • Little Grebe 1
  • Little Egret 1
  • Teal 6
  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Snipe 3
  • Common Gull 10
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 1

10 is the best count of Common Gulls for about 2 years with a mix of adult and young birds.


February 2nd 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 39
  • Cormorant 5
  • Grey Heron 1
  • Teal 6
  • Mallard 127
  • Tufted Duck 6
  • Snipe 2
  • Common Gull 6
  • Black Headed Gull 81
  • Lesser Black Backed Gull 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

 


January 29th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Teal 6
  • Common Gull 1
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

 


January 28th 2008

  • Tufted Duck 7
  • Kingfisher 3

Some shoreline is now present as the water level has fallen somewhat. Apparently the sluices are partly blocked so the water level does not fall as quickly as it should.


January 27th 2008

  • Grey Heron 1
  • Teal 6
  • Canada Goose 4

 


January 24th 2008

  • Little Egret 1
  • Goldeneye 1
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Grey Wagtail 1

Presumably related to the high water level, all the good birds were at the north end.


January 19th 2008

  • Herring Gull 140

 


January 18th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 32

Also a bat seen at 16:15


January 17th 2008

  • Mute Swan 1

 


January 16th 2008

  • Goldeneye 1
  • Tufted Duck 5
  • Grey Wagtail 1

Very heavy recent rains have made the res unsuitable for many of the birds that were present before. For instance there is almost no shoreline and all the usual gull perches are under water. Plenty of Grebes still present but no count taken.


January 12th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 45
  • Cormorant 12
  • Teal 8
  • Shoveler 2
  • Canada Goose 25

 


January 9th 2008

  • Teal 24
  • Canada Goose 2

 


January 8th 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 48
  • Teal 40
  • Shoveler 4
  • Black Headed Gull 830
  • Common Gull 4
  • Kingfisher 1
  • Green Woodpecker 1 heard
  • Grey Wagtail 1

40 Teal at lunchtime had reduced to 24 in the evening


January 2nd 2008

  • Great Crested Grebe 42
  • Little Grebe 1
  • Teal 47
  • Shoveler 1 pair
  • Snipe 4
  • Siskin heard

 


2007 sightings
2006 sightings
2005 sightings
2004 sightings
2003 sightings
2002 sightings
2001 sightings
2000 sightings

See the Sun and Moon snaps


Scrolling Panorama panorama360 degree view around Chard Reservoir

If anyone has information or observations on the wildlife at Chard reservoir:

email sightings to: kevin@chardres.totalserve.co.uk


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