No sign of little gulls yesterday evening or this morning but 7 scaup still (3 drakes). About 20 sand martins dropped in before moving off west and a red kite flew over going north.

Black necked grebe in summer plumage by Cheddar Tower early afternoon. The scaup flock also there and both little gulls to the south of the tower.

First thing this morning I was greeted by the surprising sight of 7 grey herons approaching from the south west.  They took one look at the res (or me, perhaps), did a 90° turn and headed off to the south east.  I don’t recall seeing 7 herons together in flight before away from a heronry.  Also 12 scaup still but in 3 groups: 4 to the south and 6 to the north of the Cheddar tower plus 2 to the west of the sailing club.

The 2 little gulls still south of Cheddar Tower. 12 scaup reported (I only saw 8 east of the sailing club). Singing Cetti in scrub nearby and probably another singing near the Axbridge Tower. Singing treecreeper in Axbridge car park and a pair of siskins there (only my 2nd sighting in 4 years here). Also a male stonechat briefly on the west side (my first for at least 3 years).

3 adult Med gulls in the roost this evening , two with full hoods, one just a smudgy crown.

Male goldeneye this morning. My first here since Dec 2022! Little gull still near Cheddar Tower and the 13 scaup roosting with pochard near the sailing club. Also a shelduck in the fields to the west and many ravens, including 6 pairs cavorting together and cronking loudly! No sign of any RCPs, though.

Little Gull and Scaup still present in same areas this morning together with three RCPochards (2M 1F) between sailing club and south tower.

The Little Gull landed on the circular path (south side) right in front of me this morning at 08.10 and briefly fed on the path (could have been picking up grit) It then circled up high and I didn’t see it again. There were 11 Scaup in front of the yacht club and a number of Wagtails including 2 Grey Wag on the way round the reservoir. Very few other ducks, just a few Tufted and Pochard.

The Little Gull was still present and active on the south side of the reservoir at 3pm Here is a link to a photo https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/200291651

13 Greater Scaup still present close to the Axbridge tower around midday https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/200202368

Little gull still there by Cheddar Tower.  Now 13 scaup by Axbridge Tower (7 males)..

The little gull is still along south side & 12 scaup by axbridge entrance, plus 6 goosander, although we didn’t find any med gulls today (at least 3 seen on Friday around midday)

Someone else on twitter reported 7 meds on the reservoir, presumably earlier in the day, as they also only found 9 scaup

One of the oystercatcher present all day Friday was ringed whilst breeding in Iceland in may 2019 and has bred there every year since, usually leaving in July.

“This is the first sighting of him outside Iceland, great sighting. Breeding site is inland so he arrives late march or beginning of April, but ground can be still frozen.

There are some sighting still in our fieldbook from 2023 but I can tell you that he arrived at similar time as before and bred successfully. His nest site is though getting smaller and smaller, houses are being build - so human nests.”

First winter little gull late morning.

In addition 19 Goosander today at 12:30pm - at least 3 males, the rest females.