Wednesday 30 October
With today's proposed visit to Boston postponed (hopefully Frampton Marsh in the morning subject to weather) and the sun shining in a clear blue sky I drove over to nearby
Rutland Water for a couple of hours to visit three specific sites. Arriving
Burley Fishponds on the North Arm it was obvious that there were more occupants than my short visit last week. A plentiful supply of
Cormorant and lots of
Tufted Duck, the latter accompanied by the local
Coot and
Wigeon. An
Egyptian Goose rested on top of a pole and a few more were noted on the far bank.A lone
Heron watched over the proceedings as a couple of
Mute Swans drifted past.
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A well-concealed Grey Heron Ardea cinerea |
Whilst a couple of
Carrion Crows fed on the nearby grassland and a
Kestrel hovered overhead, a few
Gadwall drifted past on the North Arm itself no shortage of
Tufted Duck,
Wigeon and
Gadwall along with a plentiful supply of
Coots.
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Little Egret Egretta garzetta |
Further over I was able to find a large flock of
Canada and small number of
Greylag Geese. Plenty of
Great Crested and a couple of
Little Grebes were seen and in the far bank both a pair of
Little Egret and
Great White Egret. Mainly Black-headed Gulls but also a couple of Greater Black-backed Gulls and the final bird before departing a one Wood Pigeon.
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Great Tit Parus major, Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs |
Noting the large number of
Jackdaws as I approached the Visitors Centre I went straight to the
Feeding Station and immediately recorded
Great,
Coal and
Blue Tit along with
Chaffinch and
Goldfinch. Entering the VC to check out the birds on Lagoon 1 I found a further 4
Great White Egrets and a couple of
Little Egret plus maybe a dozen
Heron. Lots of
Wigeon and
Tufted Duck along with
Teal and a single
Mallard. Lovely to see the arrival off so many
Pintail and there, resting in front of the Centre, was a female
Smew.
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Pintail Anus acuta (left) concealing the female Smew Mergellus albellus (right) |
back to the Feeding Station for a last look and able to add a
Greenfinch and
Marsh Tit to the list. A trio of
Collared Doves arrived at a back tree and a male
Blackbird dashed across form one side to the other. Whilst the lone
Robin posed in front of me the single
Dunnock remained in the cover of a bush to my right.
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Dunnock Prunella modularis |
So on to my final, third, site of the morning. The
Lindon Centre was actually closed but it was the garden feeder that interested me in the hope that it might have attracted both Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow. In the event neither. However, there was a constant movement of
Coal,
Blue and Great Tit and especially the pair of very active
Marsh Tits. But what flighty blighters these are; never still and it seemed always away before you could focus the camera.
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Quick record shot of the Marsh Tit Parus palustris |
In addition a pair of
Wrens were messing around at the bottom of the bush adjacent to the artificial pond along with a
Dunnock whilst above no shortage of both
Chaffinch and
Goldfinches as they accessed the feeders.
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Coal Tit Parus ater |
A couple of
Starlings flew across and to the side a small number of
Rooks were active in the neighbouring field. And as I drove away up the lane to make my way home another cock
Pheasant was determined not to miss out on the day's listing as it casually meandered up the verge. Just over two hours and 43 species recorded.
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What a bunch of tits; Blue Parus caeruleus, Great Parus major and Coal Parus ater |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Tufted Duck, Smew, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.
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A male Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs looks down on a mere Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis! |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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