An interesting circuit of Cheddar res this morning from 8.15 at Cheddar end. After noting a Grey Wagtail and a single Swift near Cheddar tower and being told that the Grey Phal had been there a few minutes ago, I set off to the south side on a full circuit. I found the Phalarope around 100metres south of the Axbridge tower but it soon moved farther towards the centre of the res where it was visible but would have been very hard to find “cold”. I then saw the Juv. Shag, a single Common Sandpiper and the female Red Crested Pochard (latter near the yacht club) before hastening back to my car as a biblical storm approached.

5-Sep-2020
Grey Phalarope still along the southern edge not far from the Cheddar Tower (skateboard park) at 16:30 per various tweets on Twitter.

Red Crested Pochard, 21 gadwall and a wigeon on the Axbridge side late afternoon

The Shag was still present this morning, close to the Axbridge tower.  Just one Common Sandpiper was seen between the Axbridge entrance and the yacht club, infront of which 22 Linnets were feeding.  Two Swifts present among the mix of hirundines out over the reservoir.

Juvenile shag was on the north side this afternoon with mallards and canada geese. A single sand martin went past me and a buzzard flew across the reservoir.

This afternoon, in very windy conditions: 4 common sandpipers, 4 wheatears, c 20 linnets including juveniles being fed, 3 swallows, 5 house martins, 2 swifts, c 520 coots, c 70 Canada geese, 3 pochards and a few teal and gadwall.  Plenty of black-headed gulls but no terns or other small gulls.

Adult Gannet centre of reservoir

Three coomon sands and a little egret this afternoin but no sign of the wood sand

Wood sand still this afternoon

Still here Dan? I saw a green sand, two wheatears at the west/ south west end plus the wood sand. Coot numbers are building up and don’t remember seeing so may canada geese before. Also 21 mute swans.

...and 4 common sandpipers, 3 of which were in the south-west ‘corner’.

Wood sand (still) 12 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, C. 150 Coot, Hobby at the res this am.

The first Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Pochard as well as an immature Common tern this morning, signalling the start of autumn. A fine juv Wood sandpiper seemed like an appropriately good bird for me to round off my time at the res.
Water levels are looking fantastic, and for anybody willing to put in the effort (I managed 500+ visits in the last 2 and a bit years) I hope I’ve shown that there will be rewards at this most obviously man-made of sites.
All the best!