News

Saturday 4th July 2026

A Ringed plover flew onto East Holm from the south in the morning,
Also there was 9+ Avocet chicks & 5 juvenile Mediterranean gulls (a further 2 were on West Holm),
Parties of 4 & 6 Pochard ducklings were on the Reed-bed, along with Bittern & Bearded tits (heard),
Also seen was 3 Eygptian geese (Crossland's causeway) & Peregrine west,
Bumblebees - Garden bumblebee
Butterflies - Painted lady, Green-veined, Large, Marbled & Small whites, Red admiral, Peacock, Meadow brown, Ringlet & Speckled wood
Dragonflies - Common darter, Blue-tailed & Common blue damseflies


Little grebe chicks on Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 7/4/2026 6:37:07 PM

Friday 3rd July 2026

In the morning, 2 Green sandpipers were on the Village lake, with a Common sandpiper on West Holm,
On East Holm there were 12 Avocet chicks seen, as well as a Great white egret,
7 juvenile Mediterranean gulls were seen,
Also seen was Cuckoo (Far lake), 2 juvenile Green woodpeckers & juvenile Bearded tits (both Dragonfly ponds), Marsh harrierplus 5 Eygptian geese on Crossland's causeway,
Bumblebees - Common carder & Garden bumblebees,
Butterflies - Essex, Large, Marbled & Small skippers, Ringlet, Red admiral, Painted lady, Green-veined, Small copper, Large & Small whites, Gatekeeper, Meadow brown & Peacock
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, Black-tailed skimmer, Common & Ruddy darters, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Female Blackcap along Dryham lane
Posted By: BJNcw on 7/3/2026 4:38:10 PM

Thursday 2nd July 2026

10 Avocet chicks were at East Holm, with the 4 Pochard ducklings showing on the Reed-bed,
In the early morning a Barn owl was by the Silt pond, with Bittern seen on the Reed-bed & a Peregrine in the East Holm oaks,
East & West Holm each had 2 juvenile Mediterranean gulls there,
23 Little egrets were counted
Bumblebees - Common carder, Garden & Tree bumblebees,
Butterflies - Green-veined, Large, Marbled, Small whites, Painted lady, Red admiral, Meadow brown, Ringlet, Peacock & Gatekeeper
Dragonflies - Southern hawker, Black-tailed skimmer, Common & Ruddy darters, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Female Pochard & 2 juveniles on the Reed-bed
Posted By: BJNcw on 7/2/2026 4:35:04 PM

Wednesday 1st July 2026

6 Black-tailed godwits were on Crossland's causeway from mid-morning onwards,
Up to 8 juvenile Bearded tits were in either the Dragonfly ponds or Reed-bed reeds,
2 Lapwing chicks were in Cell 'A', with 7 Avocet chicks in East Holm,
There were separate groups of 3 Mediterranean gull juveniles on East & West Holm,
Also seen was Barn owl (Cells 'B' & 'C' early morning, 2 Red kites & Peregrine north,
Bumblebees - Common carder, Garden & Tree bumblebees,
Butterflies - Green-veined, Large & Small whites, Red admiral, Peacock, Painted lady, Ringlet, Meadow brown, Essex & Small skippers,
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, Southern hawker, Black-tailed skimmer, 4 Spot chaser, Common & Ruddy darters, Blue-tailed, Common blue & Willow emerald damselflies


Common tern over the Far lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 7/1/2026 4:46:08 PM

Tuesday 30th June 2026

In the early morning, a Barn owl was hunting Cell 'A' & the New workings, Peregrine on the dead Ash trees by West Holm & Marsh harrier flying west,
There were 8+ Avocet chicks (some a week old), 4 Common tern &2 Mediterranean gull chicks, all on East Holm,
A further 2 Mediterranean gull chicks were on West Holm,
The female Pochard on the Reed-bed, now has 5 well grown ducklings,
Juvenile Bearded tits were in the Dragonfly pond reeds,
4 Lapwing chicks on Cell 'A',
Bumblebees - Garden bumblebee,
Butterflies - Large & Green-veined whites, Painted lady, Ringlet, Red admiral, Meadow brown, Large skipper & Gatekeeper,
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Ruddy darter, Blue-tailed, Common blue & Willow emerald damselflies


Peregrine by West Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/30/2026 6:24:27 PM

Monday 29th June 2026

There are now 6 Avocet chicks on East Holm (consisting of 3 families),
A Barn owl was hunting the New workings in the morning,
At the Reed-bed, there were 5 Bearded tits & the Bittern,
Bumblebees - Common carder, Garden & Red-tailed bumblebees,
Butterflies - 31 Meadow brown, 12 Small skippers, 11 Large white, 9 Painted lady, 8 Ringlets, 6 Green-veined whites, 3 Red admiral, 2 Small white, single Marbled white, Comma, Small tortoiseshell, Large skipper, Gatekeeper, Common blue & Purple hairstreak
Dragonflies - Emperor & Hairy dragonfly, Brown hawker, Black-tailed skimmer, Common & Ruddy darters, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Mediterranean gull family on West Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/29/2026 5:12:36 PM

Sunday 28th June 2026

The Black-tailed godwit was still on East Holm, along with 3 juvenile & 4 Avocet chicks,
A Common sandpiper was on the Village lake,
Also seen was adult & juvenile Cuckoo by the Dragonfly ponds, plus Bittern & 5 Bearded tits (both Reed-bed)
Bumblebees, Garden bumblebee,
Butterflies, Green-veined & Large whites, Comma, Meadow brown, Ringlet, Painted lady & Small skipper,
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, 4 Spot chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Common & Ruddy darter, Blue-tailed, Common blue, Small red-eyed & Willow emerald damselflies


Cuckoo by the Dragonfly ponds
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/28/2026 6:29:40 PM

Saturday 27th June 2026

A Black-tailed godwit, juvenile Little ringed plover & 5 Avocet chicks (from 3 families) were on East Holm,
Several juvenile Bearded tits were in either the Dragonfly ponds or Reed-bed reeds,
The 'Hybrid' Ruddy shelduck & 3 Eygptian geese were on the Village lake,
Also seen was Red kite, adult & juvenile Cuckoos, singing Corn bunting (New workings), Bittern (Reed-bed) & Barn owl (New workings in the morning),
Bumblebees - Garden bumblebees,
Butterflies - 36 Meadow brown, 24 Large white, 7 Small skipper, 6 Painted lady, 5 Green-veined whites, 4 Ringlets, 3 Essex skippers, plus single Red admiral, Gatekeeper, Marbled white, Comma, Speckled wood, Large skipper & Common blue.
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, Brown hawker, 4 Spot chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Common darter, Blue-tailed, Common blue & Willow emerald damselflies, Banded demoiselle


Chiffchaff on the West path
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/27/2026 4:21:30 PM

Friday 26th June 2026

22 Black-tailed godwits spent the morning on East Holm, where there were also still 4 Avocet chicks,
A female Mandarin was briefly on the Village lake in the mid-morning,
Also seen was Peregrine (briefly), at least 5 juvenile Bearded tits (Dragonfly ponds), Garden warbler (East path), adult & juvenile Cuckko (North hedge), 3 Eygptian geese & the 'hybrid' Ruddy shelduck (Village lake), 104 Tufted duck ducklings, Pink-footed goose (Crossland's lake), plus Barn owl
Bumblebees - Garden bumblebee,
Butterflies - Green-veined, Large, Marbled & Small whites, Painted lady, Comma, Ringlet, Small skipper, Meadow brown, Small tortoiseshell,
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, 4 Spot chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Common darter, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Black-tailed godwits on East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/26/2026 4:55:32 PM

Thursday 25th June 2026

A Wood sandpiper was on East Holm in the early morning, also there was 4 Avocet chicks (families of 1 & 3), plus a juvenile Little ringed plover,
9 Bearded tits (a female & 8 juveniles) were in the Dragonfly pond reeds,
Also seen was Barn owl (Dryham lane in the morning), Peregrine, Wigeon (Crossland's lake) & Marsh harrier (New workings),
Bumblebees - Common carder & Garden bumblebees,
Butterflies - Green-veined, Large & Marbled whites, Red admiral, Painted lady, Essex, Large & Small skippers, Meadow brown, Small tortoiseshell & Ringlet
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly, Black-tailed skimmer, Broad-bodied & 4 Spot chasers, Common & Ruddy darters, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies & Banded demoiselle


Great crested grebes changing nesting duties on East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 6/25/2026 4:23:50 PM