Wednesday 27 January
With the promised rain not materialising, the gusty wind falling back to a breeze and my planned chores completed, I popped over to relatively nearby
Eyebrook Reservoir on the Rutland/Leicestershire border for an hour or so this afternoon and managed to find 30 species, including many ducks along with three waders.
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Greylag Goose Anser anser |
On arriving the light was not good and the sun was trying to illuminate the water but low and on the opposite bank so yet another problem. Despite the small waves there were a good number of
Mallards,
Pochards and
Gadwall on the water along with scores of
Greylag Geese, albeit the last were making their way ashore on the nearer bank. The odd
Crow and a hovering
Kestrel plus a number of
Wood Pigeons and
Blackbirds also helped set the scene.
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Little Egret Egretta garzetta |
Driving to the road bridge over the inlet stream I had both
Blue and
Great Tits feeding on the seed hoppers whilst on the lake side a single
Mute Swan, there were many others on the main water,
Heron and my first
Little Egret since returning were busy feeding in the company of a score of more resting
Teal and a couple of
Moorhen.
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Hundreds of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus present with numerous Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria |
On round to the back to get a better view of the large roosting
Lapwing flock from the roadside screen where the flock also included a small number of
Dunlin and a couple of score or more of
Golden Plover. The
Common Starlings were very flighty and moved off as I approached. meanwhile, overhead, a couple of beautiful
Red Kites got closer and closer giving great views in the dwindling light. Continuing on to the second roadside "hide" and I found yet more lapwing along with a score of
Cormorants, a handful of
Golden Plover and a small number of
Coots. Whilst there were a number of
Black-headed Gulls flying over the water, it was surprising to find a single
Great Black-backed Gull roosting with the
Cormorants. A second
Pheasant dashed across the road and my only finch of the day was a rather lovely male
Bullfinch that decided the hedge on the other side of the road was more appetising.
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Red Kite Milvus milvus overhead in the dimming light |
The final ducks of the day were a handful of both
Shelduck and
Tufted Duck and as I made my way round the reservoir I also added a flock of
Rooks and a
Magpie on the way home.
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Lapwing Vanellus vanellus |
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Teal Anas crecca |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Red Kite, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Starling, Bullfinch.
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Mute Swan Cygnus olor |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
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