A sickly, tired looking 'redhead' goosander in NE corner of Reservoir No. 1. It was on the water's edge and was struggling to move. Its bill was open and it seemed to have problems breathing. A couple of feeble, unsuccessful attempts were made to move, but it may have been trapped in the mud.
Surprise was no green sandpiper although might still be lurking around. Otherwise a bit dull (compared with elsewhere later!). 2 dunlin, 10 goldeneye, 9 cormorant. Best was kingfisher on wall at point blank range which proceded to regurgitate a fish pellet, something that I'd never witnesssed before.
Cormorant X 4. Common Gull X 2. Green Sandpiper X 1. Wheatear X 1. Rock Pipit X 1. Meadow Pipit X c5. Mute Swan X 2 (immature). Grey Heron X 1. Kestrel X 1 (with prey, Meadow Pipit/pied Wagtail). Wigeon X 5 (male)
Sadly, another dead GC Grebe in the South West corner of #1. Did notice a struggling immature yesterday around the same place half way up the cobbling stumbling around, but put that down to it was out of the water and had land balance issues.
This am,09:00-13:45, rain, with another site regular.
Cormorant X 3. Common Gull X 5. Meadow Pipit X 5+. Goldeneye X 3. Wheatear X 1 (female/immature). Lapwing X 7. Grey Heron X 1. Grey Wagtail X 1. Goosander X 1 (female/immature). Kestrel X 1.
Green sandpiper; dunlin; 2 gadwall; 8 cormorant. Three skeins of pink-feet between 9.45 and 10.00 of c110, c100, c50. First and last skeins went more or less east, second was doing, then decided against it and veered off north/north-west splitting up as they did.
There was a dead great crested grebe on the draining water of No.1 Please watch out for any other casualties in case birds are suddenly able to access something toxic previously out of reach.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 12th of October 2017 08:46:09 PM
Grey Phalarope still present on number 2 until escaping a 3rd gull attack (2 from larger gulls then 3rd from a Black headed!) late afternoon and flitting over to number 1. Most of the time it was well out in the middle of the reservoir only briefly drifting to the edge and flying back out.
Also present was a Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 3+ Goldeneye etc. Didn`t notice the Scoter and no Twite seen.
Grey Phalarope still present 2.30pm - the only worry being that on 1 occasion it swam 40 - 50 yards out near Lesser Black-backed Gulls that would certainly have it for lunch given the chance.
No sign of Green Sandpiper but a few Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches, Linnets, Grey and Pied Wagtails.
(f) Kestrel caught a small rodent and proceeded to eat it less than 15 yards away. 1 (f) Goosander, 1 Teal, 110 Tufted Ducks, 4 Goldeneye, 21 Great Crested Grebes
First time to this location, all thanks to this forum. The GM community is one that i've only ever found helpful and encouraging as a younger, new, UK birder. Thanks to all.
Fantastic views of the Grey Phalarope which was feeding along the edge of reservoir (next to train line) around 11am.
Plenty of Meadow Pipit, Twite and Goldfinch in the dried vegetation along pools on the walk back.
-- Edited by Matt Gillett on Sunday 8th of October 2017 12:57:45 PM
-- Edited by Matt Gillett on Sunday 8th of October 2017 01:08:03 PM
Hi David, Unfortunately I didn't see if any were ringed although they all sat on the wall of the reservoir I could see the dark streaking on the backs but focused on the closest one just to be sure they weren't Redpoll, In total probably only a 5 second view.
A quick visit between 14:45 and 16:10. Nice to meet Andy Bissitt who pointed me in the direction of the phalarope. No sign of any whooper swans or twite unfortunately. But can add a female wheatear. The phalarope was hugging the bank of bed no.2 near the railway line but regulary going a meter or so away from the bank, however it then flew a fair bit further out and landed but couldn't pick it up with my bins. So i decided to leave but when i looked back i could see it had relocated to the same
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Sunday 8th of October 2017 02:23:33 PM
Grey Phalarope still present on No2 close to the bank at 13.20 It had a brief fly around for 2 minutes I thought it was moving on as it went quite a considerable distance then promptly returned to the same spot and continued feeding,
Also 11 Whooper Swan
14 Twite feeding on the weeds growing on the walled bank
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 7th of October 2017 03:08:43 PM