Summary
This report covers bird species recorded at the reserve between June 21st and September 20th 2026. Thirteen visits were made to the reserve between these dates, nearly all being in the morning between the hours of 7am and 10am. One additional visit was made on the evening of 21st June between 8:30pm and 10:30pm. Each morning visit consisted of a circuit of the reserve beginning at the entrance on Aldcliffe Road and ending at the Cromwell Road entrance. The section of the canal between the triangle and the Aldcliffe Road entrance was walked on each occasion and then a second lap of Pony Wood was undertaken, returning to the canal via the footpath to the south of the reserve.
The timing of the visits undoubtedly had an impact on the sightings that were recorded, especially where raptors are concerned. No access was gained to any of the individual fields this summer which also probably impacted on sightings of species associated with the reedbed areas.
In total, 56 species were recorded on the reserve. No further species were seen along the short stretch of canal directly adjacent to the reserve. However, some sightings from this part of the canal are included in this report as an addendum since many people visiting Fairfield Nature Reserve do a full lap of the area including the same stretch of canal.
Last Sightings / Records of Summer Visitors
| Species | Last Sighting / Record |
| Swift | 16th August |
| Swallow | Still present on 20th September |
| House Martin | 6th September |
| Reed Warbler | 27th June |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 13th September |
| Whitethroat | 23rd August |
| Blackcap | 16th August |
| Chiffchaff | Still present on 20th September |
Water Birds
Two Cormorants flew west over Flora Field and 1 flew east over Hay Meadow on 8th August.
Single Little Egrets were seen over Flora Field on 19th and 25th July.
Grey Herons were not seen on the reserve during the exceptionally dry period in July and early August. Single birds were recorded on a number of occasions from 16th August onwards.
A Mute Swan was seen circling over Pony Wood on 16th August.
The first returning Pink-footed Geese were seen on 20th September – a skein of 31 birds flying east over Flora Field.
45 Greylag Geese and 3 Canada Geese were observed in Flora Field on 25th July, shortly after the crops had been harvested.
3 Teal were seen on West Field pond on 20th September.
Mallards were largely absent from the reserve during the summer, the sole record being 13 birds on West Field pond on 6th September.
Moorhens were quiet at the height of the dry spell but birds were heard calling from Flora ponds and Hay Meadow from early August onwards and a pair were regularly seen on West Field pond in September.
Raptors
A Sparrowhawk was hunting in Pony Wood on 21st June.
A Kestrel flew low over Flora Field on 16th August before perching in the hedgerow on the north-eastern edge of the field.
Partridges and Pheasants
Pheasants were recorded regularly throughout the period with evidence of successful breeding on the reserve. A high count of 16 birds was achieved in Flora Field on 16th August.
Waders
An Oystercatcher was calling over Pony Wood on 27th June.
Two Curlews flew west over Flora Field on the same date.
Gulls
An adult Mediterranean Gull was in Flora Field on 25th July, just starting to moult out of its summer plumage.
Black-headed Gulls were regularly seen in Flora Field during the midsummer period with a high count of 25 on 23rd August.
Numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull peaked at 10+ for each species on 25th July.
Woodland Species
Stock Doves were recorded sporadically through the period in ones and twos.
83 Woodpigeons were counted in Flora Field on 25th July.
A single Cuckoo was observed on migration flying south over Flora Field on 27th June.
A Tawny Owl was heard calling behind Hay Meadow on the evening of 21st June.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers were recorded regularly from 25th July onwards, mostly around the Pony Wood area.
Nuthatches were also recorded on several occasions from 8th August onwards, generally around Pony Wood or just outside the reserve boundaries.
Hirundines & Swifts
Swifts were present in good numbers over the reserve during the summer heatwave. The final two birds were observed on passage on 16th August.
Swallows and House Martins were also seen over the reserve regularly, the last record of the latter species being on 6th September.
Robins and Thrushes
Fledged Robins and Blackbirds were a regular sight in the early part of the season. There were no records of Mistle Thrush in the period.
Warblers
The Cetti’s Warbler was heard on 21st June in its usual location between Hay Meadow and Upper Sower Holme but was not recorded again until 13th September when it was heard briefly in the same area.
Two singing Reed Warblers were heard in the reedbed behind Hay Meadow on both 21st and 27th June but not subsequently.
Single Lesser Whitethroats were seen next to the boardwalk (6th September) and along Long Pads (13th September)
1-2 Whitethroats continued to sing until 19th July. The only record thereafter was of two birds in West Field on 23rd August.
It was a similar story with Blackcaps, two singing males being heard until 19th July, after which a female sighted in the orchard on 16th August proved to be the sole sighting.
Two singing Chiffchaffs were recorded up to 27th June. Intermittent sightings of 1-2 birds were then noted between 16th August and the end of the period.
Tits
Several small groups of Long-tailed Tits were seen throughout the season, the largest being 4+ birds near the orchard on 25th July.
Crows
A total of 70 Jackdaws were in Flora Field on 25th July alongside 2 Rooks. A maximum of 4 Carrion Crows were noted in the same location on 2nd and 8th August.
Finches & Buntings
Greenfinches were largely absent from the reserve during July and August. Singles were recorded on 13th and 20th September.
A high count of 10 Goldfinches was achieved in Hay Meadow on 27th June.
Two single Linnets over the reserve on 2nd August were the only sightings.
A female Bullfinch was in trees alongside Hay Meadow on 8th August. Another Bullfinch was calling in Pony Wood on 16th August.
A male Reed Bunting was seen three times between 27th June and 19th July, generally on the western side of Big Meadow or in Lower Sower Holme.
Canal Sightings
Ripley Field and the adjacent section of canal had high counts of 2 Grey Herons (16th August), 22 Mallards (23rd August), 3 Moorhens (13th September) and 60 Black-headed Gulls (23rd August). A Stock Dove was in the same location on 16th August.