The current hotspot for birds

Some of our members may know that while things are generally quiet around Berkshire on the birding front there is an excellent opportunity to keep your year lists filled by visiting Staines Reservoirs. The North basin has been drained for pipe repairs and is expected to be very low with much exposed mud until September.

During June 23 species of wader were seen there and Hobbies and Peregrines, Little Gulls and many other species have been sighted. On a brief visit on 19 July, two of our members enjoyed views of several Greenshank, about a dozen summer plumage Black- tailed Godwits, a solitary Turnstone, many Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover and about one hundred Dunlin, with a Common Sandpiper thrown in for good measure. A Little Gull, not yet in adult plumage has been around but disappeared for this visit. Many other species can be seen but take your telescope as birds can be quite distant.

There is an interesting website in case you are not sure where to find the reservoirs or don?t know the area well. We cannot vouch for the content of the site, or come to that for the birds you will see when you go to Staines, but this is an opportunity not to be missed this summer which has even had the well known Lee Evans regularly visiting.

Colin Wilson –