Sunday 14 November
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| East Lake at Deepings Lakes Nature Reserve |
A couple of hours at Deeping Lakes, just outside Deeping St James on the Lincolnshire/Peterborough border. Both Rook and Jackdaw along with Collared Dove were recorded as I passed through Tallington and arrived at the East Lake at 9.30 on a calm, dry morning with broken cloud and the sun trying to peep through. First stop the eastern lake as I entered the reserve and pleased to be able to make a good start to the morning's sightings with Mute Swan, Canada and Egyptian Geese, Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon and Mallard. Eight Cormorant with resting on the small island with a good number of Black-headed and a single Herring Gull close by. On the grass on the far side a large number of Wood Pigeon.
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| Mute Swans Cygnus olor with Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca and Canada Goose Branta canadensis |
On then to the car park which held a couple of Moorhen on the adjacent small pool before climbing the bank to check the parallel Welland River before entering the reserve proper. Here, not so much the forty Mute Swans and trio of Mallard on the water but the couple of Goosander which caught my attention, even if a little distance away.
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| Distant Goosander Mergus merganser with Mute Swans |
Passing a Robin perched on the fence I entered the reserve as not only the first person on site but no dogs permitted within so was looking forward to finding undisturbed birds on the lake ahead. Moving forward I heard then saw about a dozen Redwing fly over and perch in the nearby tall trees, one of which was completely exposed and remained long enough for a quick photo.
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| Redwing Turdus iliacus |
A pair of smaller birds were already resting atop and on processing the photo was able to confirm that they were Bullfinches.
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| Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
Arriving at the main hide I settled down to check out the mass of birds on the water including very many Coot. Mostly Teal and Wigeon but also gradually able to confirm Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Mallard. However, no doubt the best sighting was the single Ruddy Shelduck which I just managed to see before it disappeared behind the island immediately in front of the hide. A couple of Greylag Geese were skulking below the bank of the island and then a Great Crested Grebe wandered past. The Ruddy Shelduck did out in another couple of appearances but distant and not good light for a photograph.
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| Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma ferruginea behind Gadwall Anas strepera |
Continuing on alongside the lake I then added a small group of Common Pochard before walking through the wood to gain access to the river bank for the return journey to the car park. A Little Grebe was seen on the small pond below me and at the back a pair of Egyptian Geese. Further down steam on the river a couple of Little Grebe were bust feeding alongside the remaining Mute Swans.
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| Mute Swans Cygnus olor |
A final stop at the East Lake produced both Heron and a couple of Pied Wagtail and in the field opposite the exit gate a Kestrel was successfully stooping on to its lunch and a Starling flew away from the neighbouring house.
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| A bit of everything on the East lake |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Starling, Bullfinch.
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| Sort the ducks and Coots! |
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