Recent Sightings at Grimsargh Wetland
1st August 2026
Mute Swan, 2, (Muhummed H)
Mandarin Duck, 1
Gadwall, 1
Teal, 10
Avocet, 3
Lapwing, 63
30th July 2026
Greylag Goose, 15, (Jen Coates)
Mute Swan, 2
Avocet, 3, 1 ad 2 juv
Lapwing, 112
Green Sandpiper, 1
Sparrowhawk, 1
With prey
Kestrel, 1
Hobby, 1
Flew over with prey
Swallow, 4
House Martin, 2
Mallard, 95, (David Hindle)
evening
Swift, 2
Avocet, 3, two young now fledged but still present
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Grey Heron, 0
1
House Martin, 4
Greenfinch, 1
trilling and wheezing
Goldfinch, 2
nb common blue butterfly today my first record here Also holly blue in garden and buck roe deer
29th July 2026
Swift, 7, (Geoff Carefoot)
Avocet, 3, Adult and 2 juveniles
Green Sandpiper, 1
Active below public footpath screen
28th July 2026
Little Ringed Plover, 4
Probably 2 ads & 2 fledged juvs
Sparrowhawk, 1, m
Low & fast. Flew within inches of observers
Mallard, 62, (David Hindle)
Swift, 2
Coot, 6
Avocet, 3, 2 imm. one adult
Common Sandpiper, 1
Green Sandpiper, 1
Long-tailed Tit, 42
in flight heading for roost site
25th July 2026
Green Sandpiper, 1, (Gareth Morgan)
On main Island
Avocet, 3, (David Hindle)
one adult two immatures ready for flying
Green Sandpiper, 1
23rd July 2026
Greylag Goose, 180, (Geoff Carefoot)
Avocet, 3, Ad & 2 juvs
Snipe, 1
Green Sandpiper, 1
20th July 2026
Canada Goose, 27
Gadwall, 5
Mallard, 51
WeBS count
Teal, 2
Tufted Duck, 4
Adult pair asleep, 2 ducklings operating independently
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 4
Avocet, 3
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-headed Gull, 14
Grey Heron, 2
Willow Warbler, 1
Blackbird, 4
Dunnock, 4
Linnet, 1
18th July 2026
Little Egret, 1
Reported at 09.45 as it departed. Scarce here.
Sparrowhawk, 1
Overflight put most birds up including 80+ Jackdaws from local trees
Buzzard, 2
High birds 'mewing'.
17th July 2026
Greylag Goose, 55
Flew in en masse
Gadwall, 6
Gadwall, 15
Including duck with 5 ducklings
Mallard, 30
5 with 6 ducklings, F with 2 ducklings
Teal, 4
Tufted Duck, 3, F & 2 ducklings
Swift, 4
Woodpigeon, 4
Moorhen, 5
3 juvs
Coot, 4
2 juvs
Oystercatcher, 1
Brief evening visitor
Avocet, 3, 1 ad, 2 juvs
Avocet, 3
Juvs now fledged and still feeding at 21.40
Lapwing, 5
Curlew, 1
Over
Common Sandpiper, 1
Green Sandpiper, 1
Feeding below N. bank screen at 21.40
Black-headed Gull, 21
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Grey Heron, 1
Evening visitor
Jay, 1
Jackdaw, 15
Great Tit, 2
House Martin, 4
Willow Warbler, 1
Sedge Warbler, 1, m
Singer
Song Thrush, 1
Bullfinch, 2
Goldfinch, 3
13th July 2026
Canada Goose, 30
Includes well grown goslings.
Mallard, 30
Includes duck with 5 very small ducklings
Teal, 4
Swift, 6
Stock Dove, 2
Coot, 5
Three well grown juvs
Oystercatcher, 1
Avocet, 5
Last pair still minding three almost fledged young, at dusk
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-headed Gull, 7
Common Tern, 3
Adult with two fledged juvs on big island at dusk
House Martin, 4
11th July 2026
Gadwall, 6, (Mark Breaks)
Female with 5 small ducklings
Tufted Duck, 4
Including female with two ducklings
9th July 2026
Greylag Goose, 20, (Geoff Carefoot)
Turned up from elsewhere after a few months absence.
Mute Swan, 2
Non-breeding pair
Tufted Duck, 9
includes female with 2 small ducklings
Avocet, 5, 2 ads, three juvs
Chicks ranging widely, parents not particularly observant
Lapwing, 90
Nearly all lying down on island in substantial heat
Black-headed Gull, 15
Numbers decreasing after breeding
House Martin, 5
At least one regularly landing and taking mud. Nest repair?
Reed Warbler, 1, m
Still calling
6th July 2026
Avocet, 5
Pair with unfledged chicks, Older fledged brood currently at Alston.
5th July 2026
Canada Goose, 21
Incudes pair with 5 goslings and pair with 2
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 1
Coot, 3
Oystercatcher, 3
Avocet, 5
Pair with fast growing chicks
Lapwing, 88
Black-headed Gull, 30
Successfully bred on island but less so on rafts
Common Tern, 1
Over the mere.
2nd July 2026
Tufted Duck, 3
Duck with 2 ducklings only (see 27/6)
Redshank, 2
Adult & Juvenile feeding - probably Alston Wetland birds
1st July 2026
Canada Goose, 16
Only 5 goslings seen,
Mute Swan, 2
Stock Dove, 1
Coot, 6
Oystercatcher, 3
Avocet, 3
2 ads, 1 chick seen. First fledged family group (5) now at Alston Wetland.
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-headed Gull, 40
Includes 14 juveniles,
Common Tern, 1
Fishing in Mere, briefly.
Jackdaw, 18
A 'nuisance' of jackdaws
Reed Warbler, 1, M
Singer
Song Thrush, 1
30th June 2026
Common Tern, 2, 2 Ads.
Post-breeders? One adult losing black cap.
28th June 2026
Mute Swan, 2
Shelduck, 7
Juvs now flying.
Gadwall, 1
Swift, 6
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 10
All 6 chicks constantly feeding
Lapwing, 2
Curlew, 1
Arrived at 1840
Jackdaw, 40
Includes fledged juvs begging from parents
Long-tailed Tit, 3
Wren, 2
Singers
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, M
27th June 2026
Tufted Duck, 7
6 small ducklings trailing female on the lake.
Mute Swan, 2, (Muhummed H)
Avocet, 7, 2 chicks and 3 juveniles
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Redshank, 2
Common Tern, 3
Pair on Island Lake and single fishing on Mere
Reed Warbler, 1
singing
Grey Wagtail, 1
flyover
26th June 2026
Shelduck, 7, (Geoff Carefoot)
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 10
Lapwing, 146
Black-headed Gull, 30
Numerous fledged young
Common Tern, 0
Not present this morning.
Jackdaw, 42
Reed Warbler, 2, Males
25th June 2026
Common Tern, 2
Resting together on large island but both also fishing in the Mere
24th June 2026
Shelduck, 7
Well grown ducklings spend most time loafing.
Moorhen, 5
Includes 4 almost full grown juvs.
Coot, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Includes a possible late brooder
Avocet, 10
6 chicks still surviving...
Lapwing, 15
Black-headed Gull, 20
Uncounted
Common Tern, 2
Most likely common terns on island but no scope
Jay, 1
Under Oaks in compound
Chiffchaff, 2
Singers, but Reed warblers quiet by 20.00
22nd June 2026
Mandarin Duck, 1, Female type, (Gareth Morgan)
Curlew, 2
Briefly
Redshank, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 6, 5 ad 1 1stS
Reed Warbler, 2
Singing
21st June 2026
Buzzard, 3, (Geoff Carefoot)
3 over again
20th June 2026
Shelduck, 8
3 ads, 5 fast-growing ducklings
Little Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 3
Avocet, 10
4 ads, 6 chicks
Lapwing, 40
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-headed Gull, 30
Mediterranean Gull, 2
In flight, calling
Buzzard, 3
Over, causing consternation.
Jay, 2
Reed Warbler, 2, 2m
Singers
Reed Bunting, 1
17th June 2026
Gadwall, 10, Adults
Mere.
Jay, 2
Under oak trees
16th June 2026
Mute Swan, 2
Mere
Shelduck, 7
Family group, usually loafing.
Tufted Duck, 6
Little Grebe, 1
Mere
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 10
Second pair, on small island eventually hatched 3 chicks (after 39 days incubation!)
Lapwing, 36
Start of post-breeding flock, already.
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-headed Gull, 50
Includes 6 fledged juvs from elsewhere
Buzzard, 1
'Mewing' to the north.
Jay, 1
Willow Warbler, 2
Reed Warbler, 2
Males singing from phragmites in fen and NE corner of lake
Wren, 3
Blackbird, 6
14th June 2026
Canada Goose, 27
Monthly WeBS count, includes a mere (pardon the pun) 5 goslings
Mute Swan, 2
Shelduck, 7
2 ads and 5 ducklings
Mallard, 6, No ducklings seen.
Pandemonium! Everything put up, including geese, by loose dog' porpoising' in the lake!
Tufted Duck, 4
Stock Dove, 1
On island
Moorhen, 2, adult and well-grown young.
Coot, 7
Little Grebe, 1
Mere
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 7
4 ads, (males fighting) presumed sitting bird now abandoned overdue clutch.
Black-headed Gull, 116
Includes 4 fledged juveniles from elsewhere
Mediterranean Gull, 2
First post breeders (?) from elsewhere
Jay, 1
Again, foraging beneath Oak trees in compound.
Jackdaw, 19
Bathing in shallows, as usual.
Willow Warbler, 1
In reedmace
Chiffchaff, 2, m m
singers
Greenfinch, 1, m
13th June 2026
Mute Swan, 2
Non-breeding pair
Shelduck, 7
Family mainly loafing on islands
Mallard, 12
Tufted Duck, 4
Coot, 2
Avocet, 6
Includes 3 now wide-ranging chicks
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-headed Gull, 50
Grey Heron, 1
Jay, 1
House Martin, 8
Chiffchaff, 2, m m
Still calling
Reed Warbler, 1, m
Singing from fen phragmites
Blackcap, 1, m
Song Thrush, 1
Dunnock, 3
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, m
Bullfinch, 1, m
calling
Reed Bunting, 2
12th June 2026
Shelduck, 7
Includes 5 growing ducklings
Avocet, 6
Pr +3 chicks and F still brooding but well overdue.
Reed Warbler, 1, M
Singing in Fen.
Song Thrush, 1