April 30th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Whimbrel on east shore towards north east corner (FJC); 2 Common Tern on island, Wheatear on landfill, 2 Common Sandpiper, Mandarin Duck male, Little Egret, Cuckoo (Paul Bright-Thomas); Little Ringed Plover on east shore behind island (Brian Bennett); Sedge Warbler in reeds in front of hide (Geoff Emmett)
Black Swan Lake – 1000+ mixed Hirundines mostly Swallows and House Martin (FJC); 100+ Swallow resting on pontoon by activity centre (Anne Cronin)
Wimbrel record shot at Lea Farm – FJC
April 29th
Lea Farm GP – Hobby over Loddon on path to hide (Suren Akkaraju)
Black Swan Lake – 300+ mixed Hirundines mostly Swallows and House Martin (FJC); Yellow Wagtail on sailing Club beach, Hobby hawking over islands, 7+ Arctic Terns with a few Common Tern at southern end of lake (Brian Bennett)
April 28th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Cuckoo, 3 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper (Finley Hutchinson); Common Gull 1st winter, 2 Mandarin duck on raft male and female, Good numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin, 3 Wheatear 2 males and a female on vents on landfill (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Gadwall male, 4 Shoveler 2 males and 2 females (Finley Hutchinson)
Sandford Lake – 2 Hobby (Steven Day); Wood Warbler male singing from east bank of the Loddon down from the mill seen by others (Joseph Taylor)
Black Swan Lake – Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpiper, Nightingale singing from island opposite picnic area, Bar-headed Goose, 2 Mandarin Duck male and female (Finley Hutchinson); Hobby (Dominic Mackenzie)
Wood Warbler along the River Loddon – Dave Rimes
Hobby over Sandford Lake – Steven Day
Common Sandpiper at Lea Farm -Dominic Mackenzie
April 27th
Lea Farm GP – Redshank on east shore (FJC); Little Ringed Plover (Brian Bennett); 3 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper (Marek Walford)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo, 5 Shoveler 3 males and 2 females, Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford)
Black Swan Lake – Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper (Marek Walford)
April 26th
Lea Farm GP – 4 Common Sandpiper (FJC); Shelduck female this was probably the bird partially seen in the Oak tree box (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Garden Warbler singing close to car park east side (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – 10+ Swift, 2 Garden Warbler singing at base of viewpoint (Brian Bennett); Bar-headed Goose near duck feeding area (Stephen Lynch)
April 25th
Lea Farm GP – 4 Common Sandpiper (Geoff Emmett); Cuckoo, Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford)
Lavell’s Lake – 3 Shoveler 2 drakes and a female, Oystercatcher, Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford)
Sandford Lake – 2 Oystercatcher (Marek Walford)
Black Swan Lake – Swift (Marek Walford)
April 24th
Lea Farm GP – 4 Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher over towards Dinton (FJC); 2 Little Ringed Plover on east shore, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher maybe 2 between Green bridge and hide (Rick Dawson); House Sparrow male near feeders, Coal Tit on feeder, Whitethroat in brambles on the left of hide (Bob Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Whitethroat one back right of scrape the in bushes on path to hide, Common Sandpiper on bund, Cuckoo nearby, Willow Warbler singing near stile at the back of the car park field (Rick Dawson); 2 Snipe, 4 Shoveler, 2 pairs 2 Teal male and female, 2 Gadwall both male (FJC); Whitethroat singing and showing well back of meadow (Brian Bennett)
Sandford Lake – 2 Oystercatcher (Rick Dawson)
Black Swan Lake – Lesser Whitethroat calling from picnic area island, Nightingale in same area, 2 Mandarin male and female, Bar-headed Goose, 3 Cetti’s Warbler around park (Rick Dawson); Lesser Whitethroat singing at the southern end just east of fisherman’s car park (Brian Bennett); 30+ House Martin, Swallow, 2 Swift (FJC)
White Swan Lake – Sedge Warbler (Rick Dawson)
Common Sandpiper at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett
Common Tern at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett
April 23rd
Lea Farm GP – 3 Little Egret in south east corner, 35+ Sand Martin (FJC); 2 Common Tern over lake, Common Sandpiper flying all over lake, Swift over south west corner above trees (Bob Bennett); 2 Little Ringed Plover on east shore, Willow Warbler near hide (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Shoveler male and female, 2 Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper (Marek Walford); Common Sandpiper still around late in the day (John Morgon)
Black Swan Lake – Lesser Whitethroat calling from picnic area island, Nightingale in same area, Swift over sailing club (FJC); 2 Mandarin male and female (Marek Walford)
April 22nd
Lea Farm GP – 5 Common Tern over lake (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – 5 Shoveler 4 drakes and 1 female, 2 Teal male and female, Cuckoo (Marek Walford); 6 Snipe, 3 Cetti’s Warbler between Lavell’s and Lea Farm (FJC); House Martin over car park field, Swift over car park field (Anne Cronin)
Sandford Lake – Oystercatcher on island (Neil Allan)
Black Swan Lake – Lesser Whitethroat singing on island near play area, 2 Common Tern, 2 Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford); 2 Mandarin male and female swimming towards raft and resting on it for a few minutes (FJC); Common Sandpiper on view point (Bob Loades); Swift over (Brian Bennett)
Dancing Little Egret at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
Speckled Wood at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
April 21st
Lea Farm GP – Great White Egret flew low over going south may have landed (Brian Bennett); 2 Little Egret, Cuckoo, 2 Teal, Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Swift (Joseph Taylor); Cetti’s Warbler near path to Bittern hide (Stephen Lynch); 4 Shoveler, Pochard, Stock Dove under feeder (Neil Allan); 2 Little Ringed Plover on bund at Tern scrape, Grey Wagtail (Geoff Emmett)
Sandford Lake – 2 Oystercatcher presumed another pair, Reed Warbler singing in reeds near hide (FJC); Sedge Warbler in reeds by Wincor Nixdorf screen showing well, Willow Warbler in Alder by brook 200 yds from hide (Neil Allan)
Black Swan Lake – Common Sandpiper, Goshawk female seen soaring with Red Kites and Common Buzzards, Nightingale singing on island near play area, Swift (Joseph Taylor); Garden Warbler in dense undergrowth other side of path from View point (FJC)
Cuckoo at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
Grey Wagtail at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
Little Ringed Plover at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
April 20th
Lea Farm GP – Common Tern, Cuckoo in tree near Lodge woods, Swallows and House Martins over passing through, 15+ Sand Martin around wall, Lesser Black-backed Gull on island (Bob Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo in trees behind Bittern hide seen from path, Cetti’s Warbler, Snipe, 4 Shoveler 3 drake and a female, 3 Reed Warbler flew into reeds at back of bund, 2 Common Tern on bund, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull on island (Bob Bennett)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Garden Warbler showing well on path to Wooden bridge from Black to White Swan lake, Goldcrest female along same path, Common Sandpiper on pier at the viewpoint (Bob Bennett)
April 19th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Common Tern, 6 Teal (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Cuckoo, Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Snipe, Shoveler drake, 2 Teal male and female, Reed Warbler singing near Teal hide, Sedge Warbler singing near Teal hide (Marek Walford); 3 Cuckoo all adult males two calling & seen close to Teal hide then a 3rd bird flew in from north, over Lea Farm landfill, 2 Common Tern both adult flying low over Lavells several times to and from Lea Farm (Trevor Guyatt)
Black Swan Lake – Garden Warbler singing and showing well at base of viewpoint (Brian Bennett); Nightingale singing from the island off the picnic area, Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford)
Common Tern at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett
April 18th
Lea Farm GP – Common Sandpiper east shore, towards north east corner (FJC); 4 Sand Martin around the Martin wall (Michael Hubbard Senior)
Lavell’s Lake – Grey Wagtail singing by Sandford Mill Bridge (FJC); 2 Oystercatcher on the bund at Bittern hide, Cetti’s Warbler singing in bushes along the path to Bittern hide (Richard Marsh); Common Sandpiper on Bittern hide bund possible same bird as at Lea Farm (Rick Dawson); Sedge Warbler singing from reed bed in front of Teal hide, Cetti’s Warbler also heard, Willow Warbler calling in trees opposite Jerry’s bench, Cuckoo heard, 2 Little Ringed Plovers on bund seen from Bittern hide, 2 Common Sandpiper on Bittern hide bund (Michael Hubbard Senior)
Sandford Lake – 2 Sparrowhawk both females low over car park field, Kingfisher flew along channel, Oystercatcher (Rick Dawson)
Black Swan Lake – Garden Warbler opposite the base of the viewpoint peninsula, 2 Oystercatcher (Rick Dawson)
Common Sandpiper at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett
April 17th
Lea Farm GP – Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin numbers over lake and near wall (FJC); Common Sandpiper in east corner (Alan Rymer)
Lavell’s Lake – Reed Warbler quietly singing in reeds by path to Bittern hide (Brian Bennett)
Black Swan Lake – Nightingale singing on island by playground (Steven Day)
April 16th
Lea Farm GP – 20+ Sand Martin over lake (Bob Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo calling, 4 Teal 2 male and 2 female still here, Shoveler drake (Marek Walford); Common Sandpiper flew right to left in front of island viewed from sailing club (FJC); 10+ Blackcap seen on walk between hides, Willow Warbler on top of hedge by Jerry’s bench in mating dance! (Bob Bennett)
Sandford Lake – 2 Oystercatcher on island feeding (Bob Bennett)
Black Swan Lake – Brambling male in trees on north side of lake, 10+ Swallow over, 5+ House Martin over (Bob Bennett)
Mortimer Meadows – 2 Herring Gull on flooded area of field, Treecreeper along nearby footpath along Loddon (Richard Marsh)
April 15th
Lea Farm GP – Sedge Warbler giving short bursts of song left of hide (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Oystercatcher mating seen from hide
Black Swan Lake – Brambling female in trees parallel to viewpoint (Brian Bennett); 2 Common Tern south end (Steven Day)
Middle Marsh – 2 Mandarin Duck male and female (Brian Bennett)
Oystercatcher feeding on the new wet meadows at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
Treecreeper at Lavell’s Lake – Steve Rogers
April 14th
Lea Farm GP – Sedge Warbler singing (Joseph Taylor); Sand Martin inspecting the wall (Geoff Emmett)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Oystercatcher (Joseph Taylor); Redwing over, 4+ Bullfinch around base of view point, Plenty of Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff around whole park, 4+ Brambling in tall trees backing onto Sandford at South and South East side (FJC)
Sand Martin inspecting the wall at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett
Mute Swans taking off at Lavell’s Lake – Steve Rogers
April 13th
Lea Farm GP – 40+ Sand Martin & Swallow, 1 Oystercatcher, 4+ Wigeon, 8 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – Oystercatcher (Marek Walford); House Martin, Swallows & Sand Martins low over water, 12+ Brambling in trees between Black Swan and Sandford (Brian Bennett)
April 12th
Sandford Lake – 5 Brambling 3 males and 2 females feeding in tree tops about 100 metres right of hide near lake’s edge (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – Oystercatcher (Marek Walford); Mistle Thrush in activity centre car park, 40+ Swallow feeding over lake, Brambling female, Blackcap male both in mixed flock near Sandford lake (Richard Marsh)
April 11th
Black Swan Lake – 14+ House Martin seen from sailing club (FJC)
April 10th
Lea Farm GP – Great White Egret over heading south towards White Swan Lake (Alan Rymer); 12+ Sand Martin prospecting at least seven different holes in the nesting block (Trevor Guyatt)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Oystercatcher (Marek Walford)
April 9th
Sandford Lake – Great White Egret just flushed off stream by Sandford and flown north towards Lea Farm (Adam Bassett).
Black Swan Lake – Great White Egret see record shot below (Marek Walford and FJC); 3 House Martin, 24 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin all feeding low over water (Brian Bennett)
Great White Egret record shot at Black Swan – Marek Walford
April 8th
Lea Farm GP – 3 Sand Martin over lake (Finley Hutchinson); 14 Sand Martin, 37 Teal, 19 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Brambling female asleep in Bittern Hide feeding area, Willow Warbler seen on left side of car park field then ducked into cover and heard from the same spot (Finley Hutchinson)
Black Swan Lake – 6 Swallow over lake (Finley Hutchinson); 2 Little Gull both adult one in full sumner plumage (Brian Bennett)
April 7th
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Snipe right of scrape, Brambling female , Bar-headed Goose, 11 Shoveler (Les Blundell); 2 Bullfinch both males (Ann Cronin)
Black Swan Lake – Swallow over heading north, 10 Chiffchaff around the park, 8 Blackcap around the park (Les Blundell)
White Swan Lake – 2 Goldcrest near Loddon (Les Blundell)
Female Brambling at Lavell’s Lake – Alan Rymer
April 6th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Sand Martin flying around wall (FJC); Bullfinch male on Willow in reeds left of hide, Oystercatcher over (Richard Marsh)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Ring-necked Parakeet over car park field, 4 Snipe, Little Egret at Bittern hide, Oystercatcher north over lake, Cetti’s Warbler singing in hawthorns opposite Jerry’s bench (Richard Marsh); 4 Blackcap all males in hedge at far end of car park field (Alan Rymer); First Peacock Butterfly (Geoff Emmett)
Sandford Lake – 2 Grey Wagtail near Mill, Kingfisher flew by (FJC); Blackcap singing in vicinity of viewing screen (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Swallow over (FJC)
First Peacock Butterfly at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett
April 5th
Lea Farm GP – 3 Sand Martin, Sparrowhawk near River Loddon on path to hide (Suren Akkaraju)
Lavell’s Lake – Cetti’s Warbler heard only (Paul Doctor); Willow Warbler by sign to Bittern hide, Egyptian Goose in Barn Owl box, First Orange Tip butterfly of the year (Alan Rymer); Chiffchaff near Bittern hide (Ida Groot-Attias)
Sandford Lake – Snipe on island (Paul Doctor)
Chiffchaff at Bittern hide – Ida Groot-Attias
April 4th
Lea Farm GP – 3 Sand Martin (Brian Bennett)
Lea Farm landfill – Swallow over (Paul Bright-Thomas)
Lavell’s Lake – Chiffchaff & Blackcap singing around car park field (Paul Bright-Thomas); 3 Oystercatcher flew south over lake (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Oystercatcher on raft (Richard Marsh); 11 Sand Martin over, Tern species on raft (FJC)
Unspecified Tern on raft on Black Swan – FJC
April 3rd
Lea Farm landfill – Wheatear on distant vent, seen from bottom of car park field, Meadow Pipit, Hawfinch flew north over west side of landfill (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Pair Mandarin flew east over car park field, Green Sandpiper on Balancing Pool and Hawfinch heard flying over nearby, 2 Redwing flew from copse on east side of car park field, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Pintail (2 pairs) flew in, circled BSL once then flew back north, 2 Swallow over car park field towards Lavell’s (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – Willow Warbler singing near duck feeding area (Brian Bennett)
April 2nd
Black Swan Lake – Common Tern (Tim James); male & female Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher (Marek Walford); Willow Warbler (Peter Scudamore)
April 1st
Lea Farm GP – Green Sandpiper (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – male & female Mandarin (Brian Bennett) Sparrowhawk over car park field, Chiffchaff singing in car park field (R Marsh); Barnacle Goose over heading south with a Canada Goose (M Walford)
Sandford Lake – Blackcap singing by footbridge to Black Swan & Willow Warbler singing nearby (Brian Bennett); 2 Oystercatcher (M Walford)
Dinton Pastures Golf Course – 3 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush (Brian Bennett)
