Cheddar Res -closed thread
reduced amount of Sand martins this morning 7:30 ish, taking a battering from the wind and sheltering beneath the bund wall at the western end of the res, around 20 in number with a single house martin among them,
3 scaup still there, best seen from south side, and 50+ sand martins.
11.00am - noon.
3 Scaups (1m, 2f), 1 Widgeon, Shovelers, Martins (approx 50) - think most were Sand Martins.
1 Redwing in the field near the Axbridge entrance.
Looking through the photos we took (trying to ID Sand v House), we also saw one swallow. (cropped image in Flickr group)
2 house martins this morning and around a dozen sand, 11 shoveller, and a green woody in the lane [middlemoor]
Hi Jen,
Regarding the gull you photographed on 23rd (a 1st-winter Herring Gull), email your photos to Pete Rock .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) He will probably be able to identify which ringing project marked this bird. You can also search for ringing projects yourself at this site http://www.cr-birding.org/colourprojects
I think the code on the orange ring may be L+0.
Best wishes,
Dave
Thanks - I just have.
Edited to add, that it is one of his birds.
Between 9 and 10 this morning the best were.
1 Perregrine over Reservoir
2 Gooseander
3 Scaup
7am to 8am
1 Wheatear on perimeter path/wall, 2 Wigeon, 1 Pintail. Shovelers, Tufties, GC Grebes etc.
1 Egret flew over.
(We still haven’t seen the sand martins)
7 sand martins this morning ,swooping around the flock of sheep with a plentiful supply of flying insects
Whilst taking a few snap shots of some gulls on the pontoon at Cheddar reservoir at lunchtime today, I noticed that one of the gulls had an orange coloured band on its right leg and a metal band on its left leg.
My photos aren’t that sharp/focused so I can’t read the detail, but thought I would post the information anyway.
(link to photos in Dropbox. Photo1, Photo 2)
Three Scaup (m + 2f) still present this afternoon quite close to western edge; single drake Mandarin in the same area.
Juvenile Iceland Gull reported earlier this afternoon on twitter was present later. It flew off just before 5PM with a group of LBBG. Didn’t stick around to see if it returned to roost as it was freezing!
7.40am - A pair of Red-crested Pochards (near Axbridge entrance)
Both are Slavonian Grebes. As they are moulting in to breeding plumage it is easier to identify them from structure than from plumage, and the pale tip to the bill is diagnostic throughout the year.
Thanks very much (the benefit of taking ID photos). We had been looking at the pale tips, but the plumage was confusing us.
It was the black and white version that I saw - pretty distant views so thanks for the clarification
Both are Slavonian Grebes. As they are moulting in to breeding plumage it is easier to identify them from structure than from plumage, and the pale tip to the bill is diagnostic throughout the year.