Heath Pond, Petersfield

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Monday 17 June

Another lovely sunny day so along with Jenny and our friends/guests Derek and Barbara Etherton we set off for Heath Pond in Petersfield where a visiting Ruddy Shelduck has been seen over the past few days.  Our fist visit to this lovely site and although we had been advised that the target bird was associating with Egyptian Geese we certainly had not expected to find a flock approaching 200!

Arriving not long after 10 we were greeted by Magpie, Blackcap, Song Thrush and Chiffchaff. Reaching the first access to the water I was greeted by a small number of Egyptian Geese, Mallard, Moorhen and Coot with the birds obviously expecting to be fed.  No such luck.  Looking across the water a Cormorant was making its departure and a number of Black-headed Gulls observed.

Just a handful of the 200 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

Then, checking the water in general along with a couple of distant islands it soon became very obvious that there were Egyptian Geese including well-grown youngsters all over the place; so started the dedicated search for the Ruddy Shelduck.  A handful of Mute Swans, more Mallards and Coots and even a pair of Tufted Duck and a Great Crested Grebe but no Ruddy Shelduck.  Crossing a walkway next to a small reedbed we agreed that at least two Reed Warbler were present and then on towards the refreshment area where we found many more Egyptian Geese along with a small number of Canada and a few Greylag Geese plus a few Herring Gulls.

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (Resting centre) amongst Egyptian and Canada Geese plus Coot and Mallard

Time to stop for a coffee and, unbelievable, the ruddy Ruddy Shelduck simply walked up out of the water to rest on the bank not four yards away! 

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Walking slowly back to the car park we stopped to identify both Blue and Great Tit along with a Goldcrest and above us a number of House Martins and Swifts giving a good total of 26 species for the morning. Then a pair of "friendly" Carrion Crows.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute swan, Egyptian Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Swift, Woodpigeon, House Martin, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow,  

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.