Couldn’t find the sandpipers this afternoon between Holwell Lane and Axbridge but there was a redshank instead and what looked to be a distant godwit but it took off before I got close enough to be 100% sure. A good half of the 300 plus gulls were common gulls and I also counted 3 teal, 16 shoveller and a grey wagtail in flight and on the steps. Watched a songthrush bashing and eating a snail in Holwell Lane - never actually seen them do that before. In Round Oak Road there was a small flock of 4 fieldfare and 3 redwing feeding on berries.
pair of common sandpipers flirting the edge of snow/water this windswept morning,alongside the boathouse playarea
Pair of goosander on the reservoir this afternoon. Also saw a common gull and (I think) a greater black backed gull. Walking in Axbridge saw a flock of fieldfare, goldcrest, male bullfinch and three buzzards. Saw three redwing (and two smart foxes) from Holwell Lane near new estate yesterday.
A scan of the gulls near the sailing club this afternoon found three common gulls amongst black headed, herring and lesser black back. Also a grey wagtail on the side of the reservoir and two mute swans in the same area. Mistle thrush singing in Holwell Lane and a very bright greenfinch wheezing enthusiastically along the Strawberry Line.
Walk round the reservoir this afternoon found the male goldeneye, pair of shoveller, pair of gadwall, displaying great crested grebes, the pair of mandarin ducks, a grey wagtail near the sailing club plus a chiffchaff, songthrush and goldcrest
Single male Goldeneye north of Cheddar tower this AM.
Two male Goldeneye still north of Cheddar Tower this morning as the rain began to fall. They seemed to be displaying to each other but no females in sight!
Good number of pochards this morning: I counted 267. Also 2 drake goldeneyes off the Cheddar tower.
Sorry, yes, 2000 coot. Male goosander and goldeneye this afternoon and I counted 210 pochard. Also pair of bullfinch by the barn as I walked home down Holwell Lane.
The RBM was reported the previous day as well. There are usually Avocets wintering on the Parrett & they nest at Steart Point, if you want some closer (in distance & county) views…
Frankie, did you mean 2000 Coot rather than Grebe?
Mike
Thank you to the birder who told me about the Merganser as I was visiting the reservoir on Thursday!
A beautiful bird, I think it only stayed for the day unfortunately. :(
Good to see the resident female Mandarin now has a mate! He’s starting to get his breeding plumage and is a fine looking fellow! 😊
Pics of the Merganser and the Mandarins plus lots of other bits and bobs on my blog here;
http://carlbovisnaturephotography.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/red-breasted-merganser-black-redstart_13.html
Couldn’t find the merganser this afternoon but a male goldeneye and male goosander on the reservoir. Quick count gave at least 40 great crested grebe, 8 cormorants and estimate of about 2000 coot. Bumped into Kim and we agreed at least 10,000 gulls in the roost and probably a lot more.
That’s good; he was performing really well early afternoon in the sunshine.
Also on the reservoir earlier today while I was watching the merganser: 13 shovelers, 8 pintails, 60 wigeons, 124 pochards and 38 tufted ducks.
And 9+ teals in Portmeade Ditch (runs west from the south-west corner of the reservoir.)
Merganser still at south side of reservoir at sunset
Also 2 male goldeneye early afternoon from Sharpham Road end