Reservoir Logs - Summer 2026 round up

                                                                                  The odd couple  of Sanderling and Ringed Plover  @chris-farthing.bsky.social 

       The first Sanderling for two years and successful breeding again by Little Owls were the highlights of June and July. June also saw Coal Tit added to the year list while July brought the first Black-tailed Godwits among a nice range of waders passing through. In all, 80 species were recorded across June - six less than last year - with 90 in July, three more than in 2025. Amazingly, the year list at the end of July stands at 131 as it had the two previous years. 

                                                   The Little Owls again nested successfully @DD

        The totals came despite the on-off work on the pylons - more off than on so far this summer again - closing paths across much of the southern part of the Wetlands. The restricted access has at least hidden from visitors the impact of the record high temperatures and lack of rainfall which has seen larger numbers of birds than usual succumbing to avian botulism.  Among the victims, sadly, have been Little Grebes and Common Sandpiper.

        The hot and dry summer did, however, appear to benefit breeding with high numbers of wildfowl nesting. The exception was Barnacle Geese with no young seen for the first time in several years. In fact, the parched conditions meant the resident flock left at the end of July presumably looking for something to eat further up the Lea Valley. 

                                     Pochard with young and stray Tufted duckling pic @samodonnell.bsky.social

         But five pairs of Shelduck had broods with perhaps four young surviving the many predators until they disappeared - hopefully to the coast - towards the end of July. This summer also saw record numbers of Pochard with 25 broods counted compared to 13 last year and just five in 2024. Survival rates were, as usual, dire with those lasting to near-maturity scarcely reaching double figures. Tufted Duck broods at 43 have also easily surpassed last year's 30 figure at the end of July with new families still appearing. One pair of Gadwall also bred. 

        Both Teal and Shoveler - probably failed breeders elsewhere - began arriving back in small numbers from mid-June. Much less expected was the appearance of two Goosander, scarce enough in the winter nowadays, on No 5 on July 27th before relocating to KGV Reservoir. No one can remember a July record before but it seems as if the hot, dry summer has encouraged an early nationwide movement from their breeding quarters. 

                          Two Great White Egrets were seen over the summer @samodonnell25.bsky.social

           A count found 31 Little Egrets and 19 Grey Herons nests on the islands of No 1, 2 and 3. It may not be too many years before Great White Egrets join the heronry but, in the meantime, the only records were single birds on June 2nd and July 14th. 

                                       Marsh Harrier remain scarce visitors pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

        The stand-out raptor of the summer was a female-type Marsh Harrier picked up by SD circling over the south side on July 16th. Red Kites continue to be seen more frequently with records on at least six days in June, including two on the 12th and 21st, and on three days in July. As recently as 2024, there was only a single record from each month. Hunting Hobby were also more regular than last year with records on six days in June and again three in July.  

                                        Early July was good for Black-tailed Godwits pic @ivorh.bsky.social 

        

        Twelve species of wader - the same as last summer - were seen across the two months although as the drought left plenty of shorebird-friendly edges around the reservoirs perhaps more might have been expected. The highlight was the first Sanderling since 2024 which arrived on Lockwood in the company of a Ringed Plover - which stayed for two days - on July 19th.  July also saw a nice run of Black-tailed Godwits with the first flock of seven seen flying south by DB and IH on July 1st before single birds feeding on the south side on the 3rd and 12th.  Pic (below) @samodonnell.bsky.social  

                         
       Oystercatchers were regular and noisy visitors with records on four days in June and two in July. The first Lapwings of the 'autumn' were two on June 14th with singles on July 11th and 22nd, three on the 14th and four on the 12th. It seems as if Little Ringed Plover may have attempted to breed somewhere close to the Wetlands as birds were seen on five days in early June but not again until July 22nd.  

                                                     Redshank were frequent visitors pic @MLP                          

        Among the less routine waders were Curlew on June 17th and Greenshank on July 14th and 30th while the only Dunlin was a very tame juvenile on July 27th & 28th. There was, however, a good showing from Redshank with two on June 21st, singles regularly from July on 8th to the 23rd, two on the 17th and three on the 13th. The first returning Common Sandpiper was seen on June 19th with numbers building to a peak  of ten on July 21st. Green Sandpipers were seen on July 2nd and 13th with two on the 13th. 

                                        Green Sandpiper on the Coppermill weir pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

       Common Terns continued to grace the Wetlands but unfortunately, after all the young were lost to gulls last year, it looked as if none even attempted to breed this summer. Only two years ago, 23 young were raised so let's hope something can be done to encourage a recovery. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was picked out from the many young Black-heads by SD on Lockwood on July 13th and a young Yellow-legged Gull by RE the next day. 

                            Mediterranean Gull enjoying the Lockwood beach pic @samodonnell.bsky.social

          For the third consecutive year, Little Owls bred successfully at the Wetlands, raising three young. Just like last year, there was no sign of any for ten months until occasional brief glimpses were had from late May. The first confirmation of breeding came when three fledged young with their parents were seen on June 15th, almost the same date as last year. They continued to show from time to time until late July and, if past experience is any guide, will now vanish until next summer. 

                                                        Adult Little Owl hunting for prey pic @sjn  

          Several pairs of Sand Martins nested in the pipes near the Coppermill tower and south end of East Warwick while up to 300 made use of the No 1 reed bed to roost. Swifts, despite the purpose built tower and playing of their calls, still showed no interest in nesting although the reservoirs remain a major feeding area for birds from across London. On the rare overcast days this summer, hundreds fed low over the reservoirs although numbers dropped drastically by the end of July as local birds began their migration.

   

                                   Garden Warblers appear to have bred pic @samodonnell25. bsky.social 

      Good numbers of Reed Warblers, Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs and a couple of pairs of Sedge Warblers again bred across the site.  It also looks as if both Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers successfully raised young either within or on the boundaries of the Wetlands.     

                   This Coal Tit was among the summer's scarcest records pic @samodonnell.bsky.social 

        A juvenile Coal Tit, a scarce bird at the reservoirs, made an unusually extended stay from June 21st to the 27th. Single Skylarks were seen on June 19th and a very young juvenile on July 17th. July also saw the earliest migrants beginning to passing through with first Willow Warbler on July 28th - 12 days later than last year - and the first Yellow Wagtail next day.  

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - May 2026 round-up

 

                     The first Cattle Egrets since 2024 rested briefly on No 2 

             A pair of breeding plumage Cattle Egrets and a fly-over Ring Ouzel - both species not seen last year - were the highlights of what was, in truth, a disappointing month. May did see Arctic Tern, Little Owl and Hobby also added to the year list as well as a second Osprey. But the long spell of dry and sunny weather gave little reason for passage birds to pause their migration at the Wetlands while the major pylon work by National Grid reduced access and coverage. 

       So it is not surprising that the 84 species recorded across May were five less than last year and three behind 2024. But the overall total remains impressive with the five additions taking it to 128 for the year, two ahead of 2025 and four ahead of 2024. And while the weather conditions may have been poor for dropping migrants at the reservoirs, they look very good for breeding birds with young geese and ducks everywhere. 

          These included three broods of Shelduck by the end of May although how many will survive the gulls, herons and cormorants only time will tell. The weather probably also explains the early breeding of Pochard with first brood on the 14th and Tufted Duck on the 24th, both a week before last year. The exception sadly to this breeding success seem to be Barnacle Geese with no young seen, despite apparent incubating birds, by the beginning of June by which time last year three broods had already appeared around No 5. 

                                     An unseasonal Goldeneye appeared on Lockwood

      Given the last wintering Goldeneye departed in mid-March, the appearance of a 1W drake on Lockwood on the 15th and again on the 20th was very unexpected. By the 24th, the first drake Shoveler had re-appeared on East Warwick.  Cattle Egrets are no longer the outright rarities at the Wetlands they were a decade ago but none had been seen since 2024 before SD picked up a pair over No 5. They rested around ther herony on No 2 island before continuing north. 

                                              Cattle Egrets heading off high 

       A second Osprey of the Spring was seen by PL flying NW over the Maynards on the 21st. Red Kites are definitely becoming commoner with sightings on at least nine days while Buzzards were only recorded on three days. The first Hobby was found by LB on the 14th with sightings on five subsequent days.

                                       Oystercatcher inspecting the power line modernisation 

       May brought only five species of wader compared to eight last year as migrating birds just kept going north. The good run of Oystercatcher sightings in April continued into May - perhaps suggesting a local breeding attempt - but there were no records after the 21st. Little Ringed Plover is another possible breeder in the wider area with two seen on the 19th and singles on the 23rd and next day. A Curlew, the third of the year, rested on Lockwood on the 14th and a Greenshank on the 8th. Common Sandpiper passage was light with a peak count of six on the 13th compared to nine last year and none after the 28th. 

                                           Three Mediterranean Gulls visited this month 

      Passage of gulls and terns was also very poor. Neither Little Gull nor Kittiwake - which have become pretty much annual recently in Spring - have been seen so far this year and the sole record of Arctic Tern was a brief appearance of a single bird on No 5 on the 10th. An adult Mediterranean Gull made a flying visit on the 25th with a pair briefly over East Warwick three days later. But there was plenty of breeding activity with Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls all producing young by the end of the month as did what may be again be London's only pair of Greater Black-backed Gulls with at least two chicks on the big No 5 island. 

                               Great Black-backed Gulls and chicks on No 5 

       There is no sign yet of Little Owls breeding but a single bird was heard by QG from his home overlooking East Warwick in the early hours of the 27th before being glimpsed later that morning.  There could also be young Cuckoos emerging later in the Summer with adult birds seen on the 3rd, 30th and 31st. Sand Martins are definitely nesting in drainage pipes near the Coppermill Tower while the No 1 reed bed hosted a gathering of 250 roosting birds on the last day of the month. The 31st also saw two very late Swallows while 25 were counted on the 19th. 

                                 A  noisy male Cuckoo was seen around Lockwood

      Garden Warblers were more regular than usual with singing birds on six days from around the Wetlands. Ring Ouzels were very scarce across London this Spring. They were also not seen at all last year at the Wetlands so the bird seen by ICE flying north over the No 1 reed bed on the 23rd was a welcome addition to the year list. Only two Wheatears on the 2nd and 8th were seen but Yellow Wagtail passage was better with records on at least six days until the 17th with a peak count of six on the 4th. 

                                  Garden Warbler singing in the open for once  

 DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social   Photographs @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

Reservoir Logs - April 2026 round-up

 

             The first Slavonian Grebe since 2018 was April's rarest sighting @samodonnell25.bsky.social

          Slavonian Grebe, Spoonbill and Little Terns were among the highlights of an excellent April. The month also saw Osprey, Garganey and Common Redstart, which hasn't been recorded for two years, added to the year list as well as most of the expected waders and summer visitors. 

                                 The Osprey, unusually, circled slowly over the Wetlands @PaulG

          In all,  97 species were seen across the month which was the same as last year. But with 24 additions to the year list, the running total of 123 is only bettered by 2018's remarkable and rarity-rich 126. Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Little Gull and Black Redstart are three of the likely birds still missing along with Hobby which should be seen in May. 

                        London's first Whinchat of the year graced the Wetlands @chris-farthing.bsky.social

                  

            After a near three month stay on its favoured bank at the north end of High Maynard, the White-fronted Geese finally discovered its migratory urges with the last sighting on April 24th. The first - and perhaps only - Garganey of the year was a female found by DaD on No 1 late on the 26th. More obliging and definitely more colourful was a stunning Slavonian Grebe in near full breeding plumage which spent all of the 13th on Lockwood.  It's the first at the Wetlands since another one-day bird in November 2018 which itself was the first for five years. 

                     The Slavonian Grebe hung around all day for its admirers @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

 

        Osprey is just about annual at the Wetlands but birds in Spring usually power their way north to get to their breeding grounds. This was not the case with the female found and photographed by PG on the 27th which circled leisurely over the reservoirs before moving south. 

                               Osprey getting the usual friendly Walthamstow welcome @PaulG

       Red Kites were seen on at least six days, just like last year, but the six across the 26th was a high count. A Buzzard was also seen on the same day in good passage conditions with sightings on two more dates. A second Great White Egret of the year was seen on the 10th. Spoonbill remain scarce visitors at the Wetlands with the bird seen briefly by TR, PR and TG on the 28th around No 1 island the first since the astonishing flock of 11 in September 2023.  

                                      Oystercatchers were regular in April @samodonnell25.bsky.social

      Ten species of waders were seen across the month - the same as in both 2024 and 2025 - with Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover all new for the year. Oystercatchers were seen on the 8th and then regularly from the 20th with two on several days, suggesting they may be trying to breed nearby. The only Lapwing was seen on the 19th. 

                   Ringed (above) and Little Ringed Plovers were on Lockwood @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       In recent years Little Ringed Plover seem to be getting scarcer and it has been the same again this Spring with just one brief sighting on Lockwood on the 11th. Lockwood also held a tamer Ringed Plover which stayed around for several hours on the 26th and the first of two Whimbrel on the 11th with a second flying over on the 22nd. 

                                 Three Dunlin braved the weeekend crowds @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social 

       Dunlin, usually one of commoner passage waders, were late this year but a flock of three turned up on the 26th to make up for the delay. Common Sandpiper passage continued throughout April, building to a peak count of 17 on the last day of the month.  The 30th also saw a Green Sandpiper on High Maynard with two more on Lockwood on the 22nd and one on the 27th. The only Redshank was one on the 7th which was one less sighting than Greenshank with records on both the 22nd and 30th. The surprise was that neither species of godwit has yet been seen with Bar-tails in particular turning up reliably in early Spring in recent years. 

    

                       This breeding plumage Redshank was the only record @samodonnell25. bsky.social 

     

       An immature Yellow-legged Gull was seen on both the 10th and 11th The first Common Tern of the year was on the 12th - a day earlier than last year - with around a dozen back by the 21st.  Let's hope they have more success than last year's disastrous breeding season. Three Little Terns - the first  since 2021 - flew south through the reservoirs on the 25th while SD photographed two Black Terns flying high in the opposite direction next day. 

  

                                            Two Black Terns passed over high @samodonnell25.bsky.social

          A Cuckoo was heard by MLP and DiD on the early date of the 19th around the 123 reservoirs but seemed to pass through quickly, Swifts were also early with the first on the 11th - nine days before last year's first bird- with local birds screaming around the reservoirs from the 19th,  Just like last year, the first Swallow was seen on the 2nd with 20 feeding over the reservoirs on the 11th before continuing north. House Martins, which breed on the neighbouring filter beds, were two days later than last year with the first sighting on the 11th, 

                                          Swifts arrived back in numbers by the end of the month @MLP

       Willow Warbler passage continued in the first half of the month but, with largely fine conditions, numbers were not high. Our breeding warblers were remarkably consistent in their arrival dates withe the first Sedge Warbler on the 2nd (1st last year), Reed Warbler on the 7th (8th) and Common Whitethroat on the 8th, the same date as both 2025 & 2024. Only Lesser Whitethroat, four days earlier on the 18th, bucked the trend although GI picked up a very early for the reservoirs Garden Warbler which can take until the late summer to see some years. 

                      A sublime Whinchat posed for two days on West Warwick @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Common Redstart has become so scarce at the reservoirs - except for the unwary trusting Merlin to identify its call from Chaffinch - that the female found around No 5 by ML on the 23rd was the first since 2023.  There is no more beautiful British bird than a Spring male Whinchat so it was a delight that the bird found by CF on West Warwick, the first in London this year, on the 12th stayed for two days. A second made a much briefer stay on the same reservoir on the 27th. 

                                                  Wheatear passage was light @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       

          The dry, bright conditions were ideal for Wheatears to continue migrating without stopping which helps explain why four on the 18th was the highest daily count. But there was a better showing from Yellow Wagtails which perhaps may be more affected by the northerly winds. After the first on the 6th, ten days later than last year, birds were seen or heard on at least six days with eight on the 25th the highest total.

 

 DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

March 2026 round-up

                               This Mediterranean Gull was one of 12 new birds for the year pic@samodonnell25.bsky.social       

        Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit and the continuing, and increasingly tame, White-fronted Goose were among the highlights of a pretty predictable March. Twelve species - without anything too out-of-the-ordinary - were added to the year list including the first summer visitors in Sand Martin, Wheatear and Willow Warbler. 

                           .................as were this pair of Red-crested Pochard @samodonnell25.bsky.social

            The additions also included Redshank and Oystercatcher which might normally have been expected before March as well as Avocet, which in recent years has become a regular visitor. Red-crested Pochard, Great White Egret, Rook and Mediterranean Gull, which are more irregular but usually annual, were also recorded. Across March 89 species were seen - three less than last year - while the annual total so far stands 99, the same as in 2024 but five behind 2025. 

   The White-fronted Goose showed no sign of wanting to leave for good@samodonnell25.bsky.social

      The Wetlands may have been one of the last sites to attract a visitor fron this winter's mini-invasion of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK but, unlike most which have already returned east, our immature seems in no hurry to depart. It remained faithful to the grass banks of Lockwood and High Maynard throughout the month and is now almost as tame as the accompanying Greylags and Canada Geese. The flock of Barnacle Geese also remain with at least two pairs continuing to show signs that they will attempt to breed. 

    

                           The long-staying Scaup finally left mid-March @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

       The same is true of Shelduck with several pairs around the site.  A pair of Red-crested Pochard joined the Sunday crowds on the 22nd. If the past is any guide, their one-day appearance may again be the only record of the year. The female Scaup stayed on West Warwick until at least the 20th. Having been found at the end of January, it is the longest stay by the species in recent years. The wintering Goldeneye may have departed as early as the 6th with just a one-day record, perhaps a bird passing through, on the 16th.  

                                                 Marsh Harrier over high in the gloom @samodonnell.bsky.social 

        March is always a good month for birds of prey and scarcer corvids. Single Red Kites were seen on five days with two on the 14th and 29th. Two Buzzards were also seen on the 26th with lone birds on three other days. SD picked up the first - and perhaps only - Marsh Harrier of the year on the 8th, the exact same day as he did in 2025. Jackdaws were regular while Rooks were seen on at least three days. 

                                             The second Curlew of the year was again on Lockwood @LolBodini

       The same consistency was also shown by Avocets wth five flying south on the 18th, the same date as the first sighting last year. They were among the seven wader species recorded with the first Redshank on the 6th and Oystercatcher on the 9th, both later than is often the case. The 9th also saw the only Green Sandpiper of the month while LB picked up the second Curlew of the year on Lockwood on the 25th.  Two Common Sandpipers were seen into April while the numbers of Common Snipe roosting on the East Warwick island dwindled away as the month went on.   

                                 Two Great White Egrets passed over high @samodonell25.bsky.social

           The only Mediterranean Gull of the year so far was an adult over Low Maynard on the 1st while the first two Great White Egrets flew through on the 22nd, three days earlier than the first record last year. Both species were picked up and photographed by SD. Little Egrets and particularly Grey Herons are already well into their breeding cycle. 

              Another indication that Spring has arrived is the appearance of the first summer visitors.  The first Sand Martins were seen on the 7th - three days earlier than last year - while the first Wheatear was on the 13th, eight days ahead of 2025, It can often be quite a wait for more to come but not this year with single Wheatears on the 16th, 25th, 26th and 30th and two on the 24th, 28th and 29th. 

              It was a good month for Wheatears at the Wetlands @sameodonnell25.bsky.social

        Blackcap song was a familiar sound by the end of the month but we had to wait until the 28th - three days later than last year - to hear the first Willow Warbler. A singing Siberian Chiffchaff was found by CF on the 22nd and remained until the 24th at least. The wintering pair of Firecrest stayed until the middle of the month. 

                 Single Skylarks passed through on the first and last day of the month while the first Rock Pipit made a brief appearance on the 7th. Both Redpoll and Siskin were more regular than is often the case with Redpoll recorded on at least three days and Siskin on six including a flock of 10 on the15th.

                                     A Redpoll showed well by the entrance pic @DD

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - February 2026 round-up

 

                The White-front spent early mornings around Lockwood pic @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social 

       A long-staying White-fronted Goose - the first to land at the Wetlands for five years - enlivened what was, as usual, a pretty dull month. February also saw the more expected Skylark, Buzzard, Wigeon and an early Curlew added to the year list while the Scaup and Firecrests continued their stays. Across February, 80 species were seen with the five additions taking the year list to 86 which, in a remarkable show of consistency, is one more than last year but one behind 2024. 

          Barnacle Geese look as if they may breed again pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

         

        The Barnacle Goose flock began to prepare for the breeding season with at least one pair showing interest again in the No 5 islands. It had looked as if the Wetlands was going to miss out on the big influx of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK this winter. The omission was put right when a 1W bird was found early on the 11th feeding on the grassy banks of Lockwood with Canada Geese and Greylags. It continued to be seen regularly but only early mornings always in the same area for the rest of the month,  

                   White-front showing small size and dainty pink bill pic@davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

      The first Wigeon of the year was picked out by FSJ flying over No 4/5 on the 20th. The 1W female Scaup remained all month at the south end of West Warwick. The highest daily count of Goldeneye crept up to four although more than four different birds were seen across the month. Just like January, there was only one record of Goosander although this time it was a female briefly over Lockwood on the 2nd. 

                                   The female Scaup with accompanying Tufted Ducks pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Single Red Kites were seen on three days with the first and sole Buzzard of the year so far on the 2nd. Four species of wader were recorded - one more than last year - but only the Curlew which came off Lockwood early on the 24th was at all unexpected. A single Lapwing was  seen on the 1st with a flock of five on both the 13th & 15th. Two Common Sandpipers remained all month largely on High Maynard while as many as six Common Snipe continued to roost inside the East Warwick island where the removal of vegetation has made viewing much easier than in the past.

                   

                  The East Warwick Snipe were not often as showy pic @MLP 

       The Wetland's breeding gulls were already back on territory by the end of the month with Lesser black-backed and Herring Gulls pairing up on the islands and dozens of Black-heads noisily staking claims on the Lockwood rafts. They again helped attract scarcer species with a Yellow-legged Gull on the 16th and a 1W Caspian Gull on the 23rd,. 

                                         East Warwick attracted this young Caspian Gull pic @AW

            Our celebrity Kingfishers are already showing signs of breeding as well with plenty of courtship chasing. There is no sign, however, of Ravens nesting in the immediate surroundings although a pair were seen on pylons just outside the Wetlands on several days but only early in the month. The odd Jackdaw was also seen passing over.  

       Skylarks bookended the month with the first of the year on the 1st and a second on the 28th. They are among the first signs that Spring migration is underway as is an increase in the number of Stonechats. The first passage birds away from West Warwick were seen on the 25th - a week later than the last two years - with at least five scattered around the site and six on the 27th. 

                    The Firecrest pair have spent the winter on West Warwick pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

        The wintering pair of Firecrests continued to be seen occasionally on West Warwick with what may have been a separate bird by the Engine House on the 21st. There was no pick up in the small number of wintering thrushes with just the odd Redwing and Fieldfare. A Redpoll on the 26th and 28th in silver birch around the main carpark.        

                           A single Redpoll was around the car park at the month’s end pic @SJN 

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social