Dunlin - landed briefly before flying off high again Curlew 4 Snipe 2 Lapwing 2 Skylark through 3 Meadow Pipit through and 2 birds on the ground 2 Kestrel 1 Pochard 4 Mute Swan
I visited for the first time from 9am-12am this morning. Had a great time and saw a few new birds for myself. Must thank the birding contingent on-site for the warm welcome and pointing out the Iceland Gull to me! I'll be back.
Highlights:
At No.2:
x4 Goldeneye
x1 Reed Bunting (Male. Appeared for 20 seconds at the southwest corner, perched just 10m away giving me a flawless view)
x1 Kestrel (On the grass south of No.2)
At No.1:
x1 Iceland Gull (2nd winter. Noted it flying north away from reservoir at 11am)
x1 Little Ringed Plover
x4 Snipe
x1 Green Sandpiper (caught it flying from E>W side of the reservoir at about 11:15am)
x~15 Linnet (Flock flew down to waterside from east briefly, around 11:30am)
x1 Pochard (Female, at south end of reservoir at 12am)
7 curlew down on No.1 tank was the highlight this morning. Also 2 shelduck, 1 redshank, 1 green sandpiper, 2 pochard, lapwing flocks totalling 36, 7 cormorant, 13 coot. Soon be welcoming Spring visitors from further afield I hope.
A short-eared owl was down on No.1, beneath the wall in the north-west corner, for 90 minutes, and still there when I left at 11.45 a.m. looking settled.
Glaucous Gull juvenile stood on the ice of a still mainly frozen no1 1 Mediterranean Gull 2 Snipe, 7 Dunlin, The Red-breasted Merganser was with a few Goosander. 3 Pochard
Only thing that was out of the recent norm was a curlew which came in, landed on one of the islands for a couple of minutes, then departed east calling. A nice portent of Spring (weather not withstanding).
The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was in very early and gave the best views of the winter on the partially frozen no 3 Reservoir.
Also in the roost the 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull again, a new 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and c1,500 Herring Gull. 16 Pochard and 28 Golden Plover.
Sun 7 3.05 pm 2 Iceland Gulls in roost both stood together for 15 mins until disturbed by some dog walkers. One slightly lighter head than other not sure on age but if I go by books would say 1 adult and one 3rd year. Both returned along with the black headed gulls just in front of the steps up to No1 one stood in water doing dance to disturb water. It was throwing what looked like small stones into the air?? presumably thinking they were mollusc. Could have been fresh water snails?