Highlight late this afternoon was a male red-breasted merganser south of the Axbridge tower and down to 50 m at times. Also one male goosander and another large gull roost.

2 male goldeneye and one male goosander through the mist on the reservoir late afternoon today.

Late this afternoon, just before sunset: kestrel hunting over gardens between reservoir and Cheddar Road - my first here for some time; 5 goosanders (4 male, 1 female); tawny owl calling from Strawberry Line; and a very large gull roost with birds still arriving more than 20 minutes after sunset.  I made a crude estimate - and I’m not too confident about this - which gave me a range of 8000 - 12000 birds, mostly black-headed and herring/lesser black-backed but also some common and at least 2 great black-backed.  I think it’s probable that my figure is an under-estimate!

Stuart Holden - 30 December 2017 02:57 PM

Definitely looks like a Dunlin Jen lovely spots

Thanks

Definitely looks like a Dunlin Jen lovely spots

The male mandarin duck is looking very colourful now.

Also, 2 Goldeneye on the far side of the reservoir late this morning.

We also saw what we think is a Dunlin on the pontoon.

Photos on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/groups/cheddar_reservoir/

flirty Goldcrest this morning by the boat park feeding in among the ivy

Only saw one male goosander this afternoon. Also at least 70 crested grebe with a pair displaying and a count of the coot gave a conservative estimate of 1,700. I still haven’t plucked up courage to attempt the gull roost but in the gloom came up with at least 2000, mostly black headed.

The Mandarin pair are hanging out with the farmyard flock & coming to anyone who might feed them. Female Sparrowhawk over & 1+ female Goosander amongst the usual yesterday.

Quiet at the reservoir this morning but highlights were 105 pochards and a single drake goldeneye.

C500 coot this afternoon plus counted 28 great crested grebe, only 18 pochard, c30 tufted duck in flight and 18 mallard with the pair of mandarin ducks