Reservoir Logs - October 2026 round-up

 

                           A high-flying Merlin was a sensational find pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social                                                

       A Merlin - the first for at least a decade  - was October's star bird. Along with some impressive visible migration, the month also saw Brambling belatedly added to the year list.  Only 87 species were recorded across the month - ten fewer than last year - but the drop likely owes more to less intensive coverage than lack of birds. In fact, the two additions take the year list so far to 145 which is two ahead of last year. 

                                                 Wigeon were less frequent visitors pic @MLP

         The regular flock of 11 Barnacle Geese spent much of the month on the playing fields next to No 5, Eleven was also the number of geese that CF picked up in the distance on the 21st which, having been tracked going east over London, could be identified as White-fronts. The Shoveler flock, largely on No 5, grew to an impressive 220 by the 7th before numbers began to fall. The second Pintail of the year was found by RB on Lockwood on the 6th. Wigeon were not as frequent visitors as last year when they were seen on seven rather than two days, but the 18 recorded on the 18th included a large by Walthamstow standards flock of 13.  

           Black-necked Grebes continue to feel at home on Lockwood pic@samdodonnell25.bsky.social
  

           Black-necked Grebes have been regular this Autumn on Lockwood with one arriving on the 11th - perhaps a re-appearance by September's long-stayer - and remaining until the end of the month with two more seen on the 15th.  Great White Egrets are no longer the rarity they were but the six photographed by SD (picture below) to the north of Lockwood on the 30th is our biggest flock.    

          The excellent Autumn for birds of prey continued. The rarest bird of the month - and one of the birds of the year - was the high-flying Merlin brilliantly picked up and photographed by SD on the 29th as it made its way south. It seems as if it might be the first record since 2011.   Red Kites were noted on at least nine days - up from just two last October - with two individuals on the 30th.  Common Buzzards did not duplicate this increase in sightngs with records, like last year, on just two days. 

       Waders were scarce with only four species seen, three fewer than last year. Lapwing were recorded on four days with a peak count of six on the 20th (pic above ivorh.bsky.social). The Wetlands look as if it might be hosting multiple Common Sandpipers over the winter instead of the usual one or two with five still remaining on the 28th. 

       They were joined by a Green Sandpiper on the 29th but the only other waders were the occasional Common Snipe usually roosting in the 'doughnut' in the middle of the island in East Warwick.  For the second month running, there were no sightings of scarcer gulls. But a photograph by CF of a ringed Black-headed Gull on High Maynard showed how far commoner gulls travel to reach the Wetlands. Its number showed it had been rung in eastern Germany close to the Polish border two years ago.  

                                           A  German visitor to the Wetlands pic @chris-farthing.bsky.social 

        October again lived up to its reputation as the best month for visible migration. Around 90 Jackdaws went over on the 12th topped by the 150 counted five days later . Passing covids also included several Rooks. Skylarks were seen or heard on at least seven days with 15 including a flock of eight on the 29th. The first Redwing of the Autumn flew over on the 8th - a day later than last year - but numbers then took off with 350 on the 9th, 700 on the 17th, 600 the next day and still 90 passing on the 31st. As usual in recent years, Fieldfare were much scarcer with the first four on the 18th and only the odd bird afterwards. 

                                           A late Swallow spent the day at the Wetlands pic @ DD

        The month also the final summer visitors passing through. What seemed like a remarkable passage of Chiffchaffs early in the month was confirmed by the ringing team who trapped over 50 individual birds on both the 6th and 8th, the highest numbers they have caught. A Swallow spent the day around the reservoirs on the 9th with two even later birds passing through on the 16th while a very late Reed Warbler caused a few palpitations when it was photographed on the 30th. Another summer migrant lingering at the Wetlands was Wheatear with one found on Lockwood on the 23rd staying until the 30th. 

    

                        Wheatear and Stonechat both showed well pics @samodonnell25.bsky.social  

      

            A Coal Tit - as rare as Ospreys at the Wetlands - was found by RE near the sensory garden on the 14th. Stonechats continued to pass through with a peak count of seven on the 5th and still five on the 28th. Rock Pipits are scarce if regular visitors in October with records of unusually flighty individuals on both the 5th and 12th. 

       Among the passage of common finches which included 50 Chaffinches over on the 18th were the first Bramblings of the year  on the 28th and 30th, both picked up by SD. Small numbers of both Redpoll and Siskin were also seen and occasionally encouraged by the alders to stay around for a few minutes.  

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social