Probably a Goosander, but as I was travelling past on the motorway this morning a very long necked 'diver' looking bird flew across into number 3 reservoir. If anyone is not at work all day then might be worth checking.
Just for a bit of interest there was a Bar-headed Goose on no1 this morning, firmly in cat E but always nice to see a new bird on a local patch whatever the origins. Not much else around, Ringed Plover, 8 Tufted Duck and a drake Goldeneye.
Morning visit (with John Ireland) in strengthening SE winds that promised much but delivered little. A scattering of waders, lots of Swifts, but not much else:
Sanderling 1 Dunlin 3 Ringed Plover 1 Lapwing 1 Swift 200+ Sand Martin c30 House Martin 1 Linnet 3 Goosander 2 Coot 1 Great Crested Grebe 28
1 Hobby through east early evening 1 Sanderling 1 Oystercatcher 3 Ringed Plover 2 Dunlin 2 Lapwing C100 Swift 50+ each of Sand Martin and Swallow 3 immature Mute Swan
5 arctic terns, which arrived mid a.m., were top of the 'best of' what was seen this morning. Other than that it was mostly stuff seen on other days recently (e.g. wheatears, dunlins, ringed plovers etc...)
In addition, 2 whimbrel dropped onto the east shore of No. 3 water at 11.05 a.m. and stayed during a heavy shower for about 20 minutes. A third wheatear was also found.
24/4/2018 Some combined sightings from this morning up to 11:30.
3 Whimbrel 13 Ringed Plover 3 Little Ringed Plover 7 Dunlin 2 Wheatear 2 White Wagtail 2 Swift 1 House Martin 2 Goldeneye Still not that many Sand Martins and Swallows, maybe 20+ of each before 8am.
First swifts of year 6+; 2 house martins, 25+ sand martins, 30+ swallows, 2 yellow wagtails, 3 dunlin, 5+ ringed plover, 3 little ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper, 1 curlew, 2 blackcaps along railway side. Expected more suprises in view of weather.