Please scroll down to view photos. All photos taken by Jono Leadley unless stated otherwise.
2008
Turnstone, Arenaria interpres On the dam, 22nd August 2008.
Curlew, Numenius arquata On the dam, 22nd August 2008.
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus Juvenile near Mander CP, 22nd August 2008. It has been a good breeding season for this species at GW, with several pairs rearing young around the site.
Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis Three juveniles on the boom at Mander Car Park, 20th August 2008.
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata Juvenile/first-winter at the north end of the dam, one of two or three, 10th August. Sadly, a rarity at Grafham these days, with autumn migration the best time to see one.
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena Adult off Mander CP on 3rd July.
Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus First-summer in the lagoons, 30th June.
Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis Drake in the lagoons, 29th June. Perhaps last year's returning bird. Thanks to David Hollins for the photos.
Avocet, Avocetta recurvirostra Adult in the lagoons, 12th June.
European Storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
4th June. An awesome and for the time of year, totally unexpected find by Colin Addington and a great unblocker! The photos were taken by Chris Orders who borrowed Jim Lawrence's camera and approached the bird in his fishing boat!
Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola First-summer on the dam, 21st May 2008. A scarce passage migrant at Grafham Water, this is the second of the year.
Sanderling, Calidris alba Adult on the dam. 18th May 2008. A fairly common migrant at Grafham.
Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus This male has been hanging out in the lagoons for a couple of weeks, though he is not approachable. 10th May 2008.
Turnstone, Arenaria interpres On the dam, 8th May 2008.
Black Terns, Chlidonias niger Two off the dam, 5th May 2008.
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa Three in the lagoons, 2nd May 2008.
Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus First chicks of the year, 1st May 2008.
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos On the dam 30th April 2008.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus In the lagoons, 26th April 2008.
Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides First summer in the roost off Mander CP, 23rd April 2008.
Common Terns, Sterna hirundo On the boom at Mander, 22nd April. Note the bird with the black beak - looks surprisingly like a Roseate!
Garganey, Anas querquedula Drake in the lagoons, 22nd April.
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus Second summer in the lagoons, 21st April.
Yellow Wagtails, Motacilla flava A flock of c20 Yellow Wagtails feeding on the grass at Marlow, presumably grounded by the fresh northeasterly, 17th April. Note the top two photos of a bird with a bit of Blue-headed Wagtail in it. The bird had some olive feathers on the crown.
Sanderling, Calidris alba On the dam, mid-afternoon, 17th April.
Little Gull, Larus minutus Second calendar year in the lagoons, 17th April.
Swallows, Hirundo rustica Pair in Perry, 17th April.
Litte Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius Adult on the dam 10th April.
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba alba One of two males on the dam, 10th April. Note how when the bird tucks it's wings in, it creates the impression of grey flanks. However, the clear cut black nape sharply demarcated from the dove-grey mantle, shows this is a male and therefore very unlike a Pied Wagtail. In the first and especially the third photos, note how the rump colour, showing between the wings, is concolorous with the mantle.
Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava Nice to see these guys back! Male on the dam, 10th April.
Avocet, Avocetta recurvirostra One of a pair, 10th April.
Linnet, Carduelis cannabina Female on the dam, 9th April. Fairly scarce these days.
Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus The same Littoralis individual on the dam as on the 31st March. 6th April.
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator A fine drake found by Mark Hawkes which brightened a snowy April WeBS count. Although alone, the bird was sometimes seen displaying. 6th April.
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis On the dam, 6th April 2008.
Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus Littoralis individual on the dam, 31st March 2008.
Ring-necked Parakeet, Psittacula krameri Mander Car Park, 30th March 2008.
Litte Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius Adult, 30th March 2008.
Red Kite, Milvus milvus Wing-tagged individual 30th March 2008. It is really not easy to digiscope flying raptors!
Goosander, Mergus merganser First summer drake in Littless Creek, 30th March 2008.
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis At least three pairs are around the site currently, 30th March 2008.
Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe Two males on the fence at the foot of the dam. 23rd March.
Stonechats, Saxicola torquata Two on the fence at the foot of the dam.23rd March.
Meadow Pipits, Anthus pratensis Large numbers in the grassland along the dam today, together with a Stonechat, 23rd March.
Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Male in the snow, the lagoons, 23rd March.
Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla Adult in the roost in Sanctuary Bay, 21st March.
Grey Herons, Ardea cinerea Two sheltering from the howling northerly near Savages, 21st March.
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis Two of twenty on the dam, 16th March.
Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla One of two off the dam, 13th March 2008. The birds turned up in strong westerly winds yesterday.
Barn Owl, Tyto alba Hunting at dusk in the fields across from my house. Not knowing how to use my wife's camera and in poor light, revealed some interesting results!. 9th March 2008.
Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus Can you pick it out?! Adult in the roost off the lagoons, 7th March 2008.
Pintail, Anas acuta Male at Marlow, 29th Feb 2008.
Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Adult, 26th Feb 2008
Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus Wintering individual on one of the new islands in the lagoons, 26th Feb 2008
Yellow-legged Gull, Larus michahellis Adult (rear) paired with Lesser Black-backed Gull, plus Shelduck, 26th Feb 2008
Snipe, Gallinago gallinago One of c20 in the lagoons, 26th Feb 2008
Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus First winter (top right of photo) off Mander CP, 23rd Feb 2008
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla Female in my back garden, Perry, 23rd Feb 2008
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina Drake in Gaynes Creek, 8th Feb 2008
Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus The long stayer, near the lagoons, 6th Feb 2008. Thanks to Garth Peacock for this superb photo.
Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides First winter off Mander CP, 19th January 2008
Common Scoter, Melanitta nigra First winter drake off the dam on 12th January 2008
Presumed Red-crested Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (with female Pochard).
Drake in Savages Creek. Larger than a drake Tufted Duck, with startling orange crest, greyish mantle and smudgy upper flanks suggesting RCP. Otherwise, similar to a drake Tuftie, though with a RCP headshape. Wierd!
