This afternoon, 11 Wigeon, 2 Pochard, 2 male Common Scoters, redhead Smew, 6 Wheatears, 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover and an adult Mediterranean Gull.
This morning's highlights included a Kittiwake, 7 Knot, 5 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Sanderling. The Black-tailed Godwits remained into late morning and the 5 Redshank and Sanderling were still present this afternoon. No sign of the Black-necked Grebe today, but the Smew remains, also 1 Sand Martin this afternoon.
Smew still present on No1, quite mobile lately and using all corners of the reser. has been seen on No3 recently as well. 1 breeding plumage Black-necked Grebe on No1 1 Ringed Plover 2 Redshank 2 Oystercatcher 3 Curlew 2 Lapwing 3 Wigeon 7 Shoveler c.25 Teal 4 Gadwall 20+ Goldeneye A few Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits
New arrivals: 1 Grey Plover on No1. (found by another regular before I arrived). 1 Sand martin almost sneaked through unseen early on. 2 Dunlin low over No.3 lost to view as they flew west.
All else as per yesterday, apart from smew not seen, 4 gadwall, 10+ shoveler 6+ reed buntings.
Late afternoon visit..gull roost forming with in excess of 5000 birds. Also 16 x Goldeneye, 2 x Pochard, 18 x Teal, 6 x Goosander, 11 x Shoveler, 3 x Gadwall, 3 x Oystercatcher, 180 x Lapwing, 1 x Dunlin with the Lapwing. 1 x redhead Smew
-- Edited by Colin Broadhurst on Saturday 24th of February 2024 06:12:57 PM
A few things from this morning which haven't featured recently on this thread:- 3 oystercatchers on Nos. 1/3, 3 curlew on No. 1, I greylag goose on No.2, a sparrowhawk and 1 skylark over No.1, 1 f. pheasant on bank of No.2, 1 Grey Wagtail, and 25 siskins in alders between No.1 and rail line.
1st W Caspian Gull Yellow X3EU also the regular adult were on no1 at 3pm. Otherwise similar counts to recent sightings except Wigeon up to 15 and a roost gathering of 44 Goosander. The Smew was on no1 at last light.
Red Crested Pochard adult drake was on the West bank of number 3 reservoir associating with Teal. 6 Pochard were also on number 3 with 6 Goosander. Not enough time to look around, but a cracking winter scene on number 1.
Yesterday afternoon (1st) similar numbers of Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Wigeon to yesterday. Other birds included 1 Pintail, 3 Pochard, the male Red-crested Pochard, female Common Scoter, 6 Goldeneye, 16 Goosander, 7 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Chiffchaff.
This morning a brief Great White Egret was on no 1 around 10am and a female Pheasant (bit of a site mega) was showing on and off along the east bank of no 1. Other birds included c30 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 36 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 43 Gadwall, the male Red-crested Pochard, 5 Pochard, 1 female Common Scoter, 5 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Chiffchaffs.
Common Scoter, Pintail drake, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 14 Great Black Backed Gull, 6 Goosander, 20 Goldeneye, 200+Lapwing, Kestrel, 2 Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting
Plus Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Great Crested Grebe uncounted
Ringing info for a 1st winter Caspian Gull (yellow X6VV) seen last Sunday hopefully attached.
This morning from 7 to 9:30
5 Whooper Swan flew east, 4 dropped in on No3 (2 ad and 2 juvs), then probably a different family on no1, (2 ad and 1 juv) as I was leaving. 9 skeins of Pink-footed Geese heading east except for 1 of 15 heading west. Fieldfare, Starling and Woodpigeon moving through.
The Common Sandpiper remains on No2 4 Goldeneye 3 Goosander c40 Wigeon c20 Gadwall c25 Shoveler c10 Teal 1 Little Grebe 24 Mute Swan incl. 2 juvs 2 Chiffchaff 6 Meadow Pipit 2 reed Bunting
This afternoon the female/immature Red-breasted Merganser remains on no 3, also c50 Teal, 32 Gadwall, 25 Shoveler, 39 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 7 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 123 Lapwings and 6 Great Black-backed Gulls.
Red-breasted Merganser still at north end of No3 1 juv. Whooper Swan 1 Pintail 1 Common Sandpiper 2 Snipe c60 Lapwing 1 Little Grebe 2 Goldeneye 22 Mute Swan including 1 juv. 6 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 adult 4 juvs. Minimum counts of 40 Wigeon, 29 Gadwall, 26 Shoveler, 60 Teal. 1 Skylark over
This afternoon, a female/immature Red-breasted Merganser on no 3, also 74 Teal, 23 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler, 47 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 8 Goosander, 3 Little Grebes and 144 Lapwings.