Eyebrook Reservoir; on the way back from visiting Uppingham I had a short stop here. There seemed plenty of the expected ducks on show and Lapwings. A Kestrel was hunting ove the rough edge.
Also, I had good views of the Red-throated Diver between the dam and island, this has been present several days now.
Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Tuesday, 26 November 2019
26th Nov - mostly cloudy and showers, 11C, light- mod southerly
Stanford reservoir; a look this afternoon.
c100 Fieldfare and c50 Redwings along the Leicestershire side, plus Long-tailed Tits and Treecreeper. With so much 'muddy' coloured water running in the reservoir is looking quite brown, which may explain why Wigeon and Goldeneye numbers appear to have decreased. Although Pochard and Gadwall numbers are good.
A Buzzard and Kestrel were around, a Little Egret on the settling pool and a Grey Heron at the field pool. A Grey Wagtail was on the dam, while 4 Little Grebe were in Keepers bay.
c100 Fieldfare and c50 Redwings along the Leicestershire side, plus Long-tailed Tits and Treecreeper. With so much 'muddy' coloured water running in the reservoir is looking quite brown, which may explain why Wigeon and Goldeneye numbers appear to have decreased. Although Pochard and Gadwall numbers are good.
A Buzzard and Kestrel were around, a Little Egret on the settling pool and a Grey Heron at the field pool. A Grey Wagtail was on the dam, while 4 Little Grebe were in Keepers bay.
Monday, 25 November 2019
Sunday, 24 November 2019
24th Nov - cloudy, dull, misty, calm, 9C
Shawell Lagoons; highlights were 23 Snipe visible around the edge of north lagoon and 126 Lapwing on the shore.
Cotesbach landfill; only a handful of Gulls, mostly Great Black-backed. 7 Teal and 2 Shoveler.
Stanford reservoir; afternoon. a story to tell today.
I was walking down the path from the on the Northants side when I heard the quiet sounds of Swan 'contact' calls, turning round 9 Swans flew low over the hedge and my head and along the reservoir towards the inlet end. Immediately I knew they were not Mute Swans and the sound and a hint of yellow on the bill made me think they were likely Whooper Swans, I texted the group this hoping someone else was present and may see where they went, I decided to head to the inlet end in case they had come down. Fortunately, Chris was at the inlet end and was able to find the Swans off the main reed bed, he sent a photo - seeing this I though that the yellow on the bill was small and did not extend below the nostrils and they looked quite small in stature. I eventually made it round to the point, but no Swans - Chris texted to say they had flown back from where I had come - dam.
So, I turned round and went to the hide to see if I could see them - they were now distant on the other side of Blowers Lodge Bay. From here I could see them with the scope and my suspicions were increased that these were actually Bewick's Swans, the juvenile and adult bills were quite distinct and the general small, neat stature of the birds confirmed. Informing Chris of my suspicions, the aim was to get better photos, he was luckily much closer than I. I headed back round to the other side, but they had flown off by the time I had got there, in fact they had made it to the inlet end - so they gave me the run around.
Cotesbach landfill; only a handful of Gulls, mostly Great Black-backed. 7 Teal and 2 Shoveler.
Stanford reservoir; afternoon. a story to tell today.
I was walking down the path from the on the Northants side when I heard the quiet sounds of Swan 'contact' calls, turning round 9 Swans flew low over the hedge and my head and along the reservoir towards the inlet end. Immediately I knew they were not Mute Swans and the sound and a hint of yellow on the bill made me think they were likely Whooper Swans, I texted the group this hoping someone else was present and may see where they went, I decided to head to the inlet end in case they had come down. Fortunately, Chris was at the inlet end and was able to find the Swans off the main reed bed, he sent a photo - seeing this I though that the yellow on the bill was small and did not extend below the nostrils and they looked quite small in stature. I eventually made it round to the point, but no Swans - Chris texted to say they had flown back from where I had come - dam.
So, I turned round and went to the hide to see if I could see them - they were now distant on the other side of Blowers Lodge Bay. From here I could see them with the scope and my suspicions were increased that these were actually Bewick's Swans, the juvenile and adult bills were quite distinct and the general small, neat stature of the birds confirmed. Informing Chris of my suspicions, the aim was to get better photos, he was luckily much closer than I. I headed back round to the other side, but they had flown off by the time I had got there, in fact they had made it to the inlet end - so they gave me the run around.
We were able to confirm they were, indeed, Bewick's Swans, the first here since 2007. 5 Adults and 4 juveniles.
Saturday, 23 November 2019
23rd Nov - cloudy, dull/hazey, light rain/drizzle at times pm, very light NE, 9C
Cotesbach Landfill; a look this morning after Carl told me there was a male Goldeneye present, a new site record for me here. Quite a few Gulls, a couple of Caspian Gulls (1W) were spotted by Carl among the other usual Gulls. A few more Teal today (12) and the ever present Tufted Duck. 12 Red Kite were around too.
Brandon Marsh; a look here after lunch, water level pretty high still. Teal 67+, Shoveler 31, Wigeon c100, Pochard (m) 1, Tufted and Mallard too. A Single Little Grebe from the Carlton hide. Grey Heron 3, also 3 Water Rail heard.
On the Alders c40 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin were feeding. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Greenfinch, a single Redwing over, 15 Stock Doves in the dead trees.
Brandon Marsh; a look here after lunch, water level pretty high still. Teal 67+, Shoveler 31, Wigeon c100, Pochard (m) 1, Tufted and Mallard too. A Single Little Grebe from the Carlton hide. Grey Heron 3, also 3 Water Rail heard.
On the Alders c40 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin were feeding. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Greenfinch, a single Redwing over, 15 Stock Doves in the dead trees.
Friday, 22 November 2019
22nd Nov - cloudy, showers pm, 7C, light breeze East
Cotesbach Landfill; a look this afternoon, the weather was not brilliant, but many Gulls today. 13 Red Kites and c100 Starlings flying over the tipping area. The Common Sandpiper was watched feeding, pulling and tipping over vegetation looking for food, which it seemed to find.
A couple of Teal and Shoveler, 31 Tufted Duck and 3 Little Grebe, A Grey Heron was standing on an islet.
A couple of Teal and Shoveler, 31 Tufted Duck and 3 Little Grebe, A Grey Heron was standing on an islet.
Thursday, 21 November 2019
21st Nov - thick cloud, dull, light Easterly, 5C
Willey; checked the feed station this morning, three Pheasants, c30 House Sparrows, the usual Tits, Greenfinch. Surprisingly little variety today.
Redwings are really attacking the Yew berries, coming and going all the time, must be 30-50, but difficult to know exactly, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush too.
Stanford Reservoir; a look here this afternoon. A Great and Little Egret were at the settling pond, only the Little Egret was photogenic today. A single male Goosander and 2 Little Grebes were in Keepers Lodge Bay. A Snipe was flushed from the by-pass river. Otherwise, all the other regulars were present. Three Buzzards were hanging around noisily.
Redwings are really attacking the Yew berries, coming and going all the time, must be 30-50, but difficult to know exactly, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush too.
Stanford Reservoir; a look here this afternoon. A Great and Little Egret were at the settling pond, only the Little Egret was photogenic today. A single male Goosander and 2 Little Grebes were in Keepers Lodge Bay. A Snipe was flushed from the by-pass river. Otherwise, all the other regulars were present. Three Buzzards were hanging around noisily.
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