Part-time Birding: Common Pochard

Showing posts with label Common Pochard. Show all posts

Eurasian Spoonbill, Common Firecrest and Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon

I decided after the rain had stopped to pop over and catch up with the Eurasian Spoonbill. It was on show in the middle of the reserve. The Spotted Redshank was also on show in front of the hide. A Male Common Pochard was at the back of the reserve. Plus the usual waders and Wildfowl. At the top of the road near the Bridge was a vocal and showy Common Firecrest. Nice to bump into Rob and Steph and have a catch.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon

I had a few hours to kill whilst my daughter was auditioning for a part in Centre stages next performance of Shrek the musical at Exmouth Pavilion (plug done). So as it coincided with the tide on its way out from high tide, I decided to visit here.

Straight away I was treated to numerous Common Snipe, Pied Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. At the back of the reserve were 2 Common Pochard busy diving for food a few Northern Pintail were dotted about. There were so many waders that scanning for the Spotted Redshank was very difficult but my patience paid off but was never able to get a photo. More scanning for the Ruff was not so successful.

Common Snipe

Pied Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit

A Couple Of Bits Ands Bobs

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
My first day back in the office after a lengthy time working from home was a shock to the system, so I decided to have an early finish. I headed for Bowling Green Marsh in case the reported Gloosy Ibis had dropped in on the main lagoon but I was unsuccessful. There were 2 Pied Avocet on the furthest island. A sleeping Common Pochard with the also sleepy Tufted Ducks. A few Northern Pintail were dotted about too. From the viewing platform were more Pied Avocet and good numbers of Dunlin. 2 Mistle Thrush were in the field on the approach to the platform. A quick look from Goosemoor produced 10 Common Greenshank, surpringly my first of the year!

A Reservoir, A Lake And A Marsh

Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset
I had the day off so decided to pop to a few places I’ve not visited for a good while. This was my first stop, with my main target of Red-crested Pochard. After a good search I drew a blank but the following notable species were logged. Common Loon, Greater Scaup, Common Pochard, Grey Wagtail a Male Mandarin Duck and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Greater Scaup (Male)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Male)

Mandarin Duck (Male)

Common Loon

Chew Valley Lake, Avon
I always struggle to bird this place, especially without a permit.
Targets here were the Lesser Scaup (not reported for a while but could still be on site) and Long-tailed Duck. I stoppped off at a couple of spots. The best I could muster were 4 Male Common Goldeneye, a Female Greater Scaup at the lay-by at Herons Green Bay, a few Mew Gull at the dam and several Common Pochard and a white Eurasian Coot at Herriotts Bridge. I always struggle with birding this place due to the size of the site so feeling a tad deflated, I moved on.

Goldeneye (Male)

Mew Gull

Steart Marshes, Somerset
A final site before heading home. The main target heat was Short-eared Owl. I started off at Otterhampton Marsh where 3 Eurasian Spoonbill showed distantly. I moved to Steart Gate for the target species and wasn’t disappointed, with 2 individuals on show. Also a major surprise was a Twite. I had heard that there had been a few reports of this bird but I wasn’t expecting to see it. It was rather flightly and skulking (not surprising with 2 Short-eared Owls on the prowl.

Short-eared Owl

Dorset Delivers Again

A cracking “fill your boots” day out in Dorset.

Portland Harbour, Dorset
First stop off in search of Loons and Grebes. It was rather quiet here but eventually a Black-throated Loon showed distantly. The only other bird of note was a Common Murre.

Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth, Dorset
My next stop proved better with a Common Loon, Horned Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebe.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
My main targets here were the Ring-necked Duck and Bearded Reedling. After two circuits of the Buddleia Loop I was giving up hope of the later but just near the visitor centre I heard the distinctive call and there were a Male and Female at real close quarters. They were often slightly obscured and due to the breeze, never ventured right to the top of the reeds. I absolutely adore this species and wish I could see them more often. A quick look of the pontoons along the main road gave me the other target bird. Mission complete! Also on site were good numbers of Common Pochard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. I was surprised not to get a Mediterranean Gull though!

Bearded Reedling (Male)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset
Next stop off was for the Lesser Yellowlegs. I got straight on to this cracking bird and had nice close views for a few minutes but it flew off before a photo opportunity. Also onsite was a Male Western Marsh Harrier, Ruff and good numbers of Common Snipe.

Ruff

Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset
I couldn’t resist stopping off here for Corn Bunting and the place didn’t disappoint as I got straight on to a group of circa 20 birds.

Lyme Regis, Dorset
A final stop off to look for the apart showy Common Eider and boy is it showy. The bird was outside the harbour and gave nice views. I couldn’t locate any Purple Sandpiper or the earlier reported Black Redstart in the Bowling Green area.

Common Eider (Male)

A Day Out In Dorset

I had a well earned day off today so decided to have a look around Portland and Weymouth.

Portland Harbour, Dorset
I stopped here first in the hope of some Grebes or Loons but was a tad disappointed with what was on offer. The only species that made the note book were a solitary Sandwich Tern and a few Red-breasted Merganser.

Sandwich Tern

Red-breasted Merganser (Male)

Reap Lane, Portland, Dorset
My next stop was a look for the Siberian Lesser Whitethroat. Again there wasn’t a lot on offer except for 2 fly through Barn Swallow and the usual House Sparrow and Common Starling.

Chesil Cove, Portland, Dorset
With the brisk South Easterly winds, I thought this sheltered side of the island would be a good place to check out. I wasn’t wrong either as I got on to a Male and Female Garganey sat close in on the sea. My first of the year and always a pleasure to see. Also around were a small flock of Common Scoter, 1 Razorbill, a few Common Murre and Northern Gannet.

Garganey (Male and Female)

Common Scoter

Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, Dorset
I popped here quickly in the hope of a Red-necked Grebe that’s been seen off there a few times but again my luck was out. This was open to the winds so everything was obviously sheltering elsewhere.

Lodmoor Reserve, Weymouth, Dorset
Next, Lodmoor. This reserve is great for its Common Tern colony and Marsh Harrier. Today both were on offer. The Common Tern have only just started to arrive, so I only managed 2 birds in flight on arrival. They did a short circle around then headed off to sea. The Marsh Harrier, however put in a much better performance. With a Male and Female hunting quite close. There wasn’t much else of real note.

Tufted Duck (Male and Female)

Black-headed Gull

Marsh Harrier (Male)

Eurasian Coot

Radipole Lake Reserve, Weymouth, Dorset

This was probably the most productive part of the day for me. 15 Common Pochard, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Eurasian Reed Warbler, lots of Common Chiffchaff and best of all a Siberian Chiffchaff. The Siberian Chiffchaff was on the Budleia Loop near the shelter / viewing platform. It called and showed beautifully at times. However, frustratingly couldn’t get that decent photo. Every time I got it in my sights, someone with either Dogs or Kids came round the corner. Don’t get me wrong, I have 3 kids myself. So I appreciate it’s great to be out with them and enjoying the wildlife. I’m also not totally against Dogs but do hate ones that aren’t controlled in the correct manner (there were some examples of this today). I’m not going to rant and I appreciate people that read this will have dogs but at a wildlife reserve, they surely have to be controlled?

Grey Heron

Rock / Feral Pigeon

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon
On the way home I had a very brief stop off (to stretch my legs) very little on the lagoon so I headed back to the car. I was greeted by the friendliest European Robin I have ever come across. It came with 2 feet of me and I think if I had any food on me it would have fed from my hand.

"Give us a lift mate!"

European Robin

"Got any grub?"

European Robin

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
As I was leaving Black Hole Marsh, I received a call from Terry Smith to say he had just got an Osprey on the Exe. So I knew I could get there and manage about 30 minutes to check it out. Based on what Terry had told me, I decided to pitch up at Mudbank Lane. I scoped the Estuary over and over but didn’t see it. Thank for the call though Terry and a nice sighting. The

Somerset Levels

I had a day off and opted for a trip to the Somerset Levels

Ham Wall
Me and my mate Pete headed off and got to site for around 9am. The rain hadn’t hit but it was rather windy. We had only been on site 10 minutes and got a Great Egret. As we advanced around the site we were impressed by the amount of Gadwall and Common Pochard. No Eurasian Bittern seen despite hearing a few booming. 1 Cetti’s Warbler seen and several others heard. A total of 3 Western Marsh Harrier seen with 2 males and a female. We also saw a total of 4 Great Egrets and on leaving, a group of circa 20 distant Sand Martin.

Eurasian Coot

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Grey Heron

Great Egret

Common Pochard (Male and Female)

Eurasian Teal (Male and Female)

Gadwall (Male and Female)
Common Pochard photobomb!!

Westhay to Burtle
We had a tip off on the location of the Western Cattle Egret so we headed off on the road between the villages of Westhay and Burtle. In one of the fields we found a total of 5 birds hanging out with 10 Little Egret. A mass of Gulls were in the next field, with manly Black-headed Gull a number of Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few Mew Gull. These were all put up when a party of 3 Common Buzzard and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew through.

Westhay NNR
Our last stop of the day. A little disappointing as there was little on offer with the best birds being 2 Greylag Goose. I did however hear a few pings of a Bearded Reedling but couldn’t locate any birds.

American Horned Lark

Staines Reservoir, Surrey
I Don’t usually do twitches that far away but I had the day off and decided to scratch an itch I’ve had for a while now and go for the American Horned Lark. I wasn’t sure if the weather was going to be on my side but I threw caution to the wind and made the trek up to Surrey. On the way up I was stuck at 15MPH behind a tractor (cursing as you do) on the A303 about 10 miles from Stonehenge but I soon changed my tune when I noticed a group of Partridge pottering about at the edge of a field/ road and was able to pick out a Grey Partridge. I managed to stop a bit further up the road and walk back. The Partridges had moved further in to the field but I managed to scope them and there were 3 Grey Partridge.

During the rest of the journey I was treated to 5 Red Kite at various locations on the A303 and M3. As I was on the M3 I noted quite a bit of snow around and wondered what Staines would be like. The roads were clear of snow so I soldiered on.

I arrived at Staines in good time and was surprised how easy parking was and how easy it was to access the reservoir. I bumped into a local birder who told me the Lark had just been here (yes, I thought. No lengthy walk) but he continued to tell me it flew over to it’s favourite spot (the opposite side of the reservoir (which is a bit of a walk). Anyway, off I trod in the thin covering of snow. There were a few species to keep me occupied on route. Double figures of Common Pochard, several Great Crested Grebe and a few Meadow Pipit.

I finally made it to the location the nice local birder had pointed out and BAM! There it was! Now this may sound strange but this is my 400th species. Yes a lifer, as I’ve never seen a normal one! However, what a species to get for your 400th. It’s also special as as far as I have read it was once on the British list but got disproved and duly removed. There have been a few other not accepted claims. So if the BOU accepts this it would be a UK first. There’s then also the chance of an armchair tick if the IOC split it. It’s been muted that there could be around 6 full species of Horned Lark.

Viewing the bird was a little tricky at times due to the fence but I did manage a few snaps.

American Horned Lark

On the way back to the car, the nice local birder pointed out this bonus Water Pipit

Water Pipit

On the M3 on the way home I was treated to 2 more Red Kite.

Enford, Wiltshire
I made a nature stop conveniently at a spot that I know can be good for Corn Bunting and I was in luck as there was a distant flock of around 20 birds.

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
I got home with enough time to catch the rising tide. Good numbers of Dunlin were on view plus a few Grey Plover and Common Ringed Plover. There was also a Knott of the Matt variety (sorry I couldn’t resist). Matt’s company was welcomed in the cold conditions and I do enjoy our conversations. Matts beady eyes got me on to a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and a few distant Sanderling. Also of note were reasonable numbers of Ruddy Turnstone and a Mew Gull.

Ruff And Stuff

Bowling Green Marsh, Devon
A quick visit to see if the 2 Ruff were still around and my luck was in. They were either very active or obscured from view but did manage a record photo. Also of note was a Male Common Pochard, several Nothern Pintail, 3 Common Greenshank and 2 Little Grebe. Plenty of Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal, several Gadwall, 1 Greylag Goose, a few Tufted Duck, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank.