Spectacular afternoon with hundreds of swallows, sand martins and house martins feeding over the whole expanse of the reservoir and, something I have never seen here before, birds resting on the barbed wire fence at the foot of the bank in the south-west corner (sheltering from the north-easterly breeze, I suppose): I counted 166 swallows here together with around 20 sand martins and even one or two house martins on the fence posts. Also, in the field outside the fence, 1 yellow wagtail, 3 white wagtails and a wheatear.
Other highlights included a common sandpiper and a female grey wagtail, both on the western bank south of the Axbridge tower.
3 common sand this rather damp morning and two woodies head banging in the little copse by the boathouse
Little gulls and shelducks still present at 09:30. Also 2 common sandpipers, still 1 drake goosander, 9 swallows, 4+ sand martins, 4 blackcaps, 4+ chiffchaffs and the Cetti’s warbler.
A quick look before work this morning produced 9 shelduck and a shoveler with both little gull still present now in the SE corner. No sign of the two Common scoter this morning. I’ve set up a twitter account (@axbridge_birder) for sightings in real time for those who are interested. Cheers
Currently ad sum plum and 1s little gull hawking along western edge.
Very quick post, had a quick look at the res this morning before unpacking more boxes. 2 drake Common scoter, 10+ swallow and 1 wheatear. The drove between Moorland rd and the res had a Willow warbler, 3 chiffchaff and an escaped Blue quaker parrot!
I noticed one of the hybrid ducks is exhibiting angel wing. That can be caused by filling up on bread and not getting the correct nutrition. Could should we get notices put up there to suggest correct items to feed the ducks in preference to (moldy) white bread scraps??
The male mandarin was with the female on Sunday when I was there photographing the Slavonian Grebe. They were at the Axbridge entrant where the people seem to feed the various duck that hang around there.
Pictures of the Grebe are on my Flickr account.
I walked right round the reservoir around 5pm yesterday. Only the female mandarin was there at the beginning and end of the walk. I didn’t see the slavonian grebe either, but talked to some people who thought they had seen it at a distance. There were lots of GC grebes and some pairs displaying.
Couldn’t find the male this afternoon, first time I’ve seen the female alone so am a bit concerned. If anyone spots him perhaps they could post. Willow warbler and female black cap below the reservoir at Axbridge.
A late posting,29-03-2018, my Cousin showed me pictures of a Male Mandarin duck that has joined the female, they can be seen on my website on the link below.
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#ha789d591
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#ha789d592
A Common Sandpiper on the south side of Cheddar this morning and about 10 Sand Martins near Cheddar Tower. No sign of the Slav Grebe today although I did see it on Wednesday along with a Common Scoter.
No sign of any little gulls in short visit from Axbridge side around 11am, but couldn’t see all the way across in the rain. Several sand martins though, and a female goosander near the tower.
On a flying visit this morning I saw one juvenile little gull which flew up high eventually and I couldn’t stay to see if it came back and two sand martins on the Cheddar side. Also willow warbler singing quietly on the Strawberry Line.
03-Apr-2018
The Slavonian Grebe still present off the Cheddar water tower early-afternoon, then swam out towards the middle, and at least 11 Little Gulls (9 adults & 2 1stW) from the southern edge/SW corner.