Roger and I went to Eye Brook
Reservoir first today and found the twenty-two Ruff still present from
yesterday but they and the Lapwings were disturbed and whilst they flew around
for awhile they did not return during our visit. A Red Kite was observed being harassed by a
Carrion Crow and a Sparrowhawk was observed along the western shore. Whist we were looking unsuccessfully for a
Ring-necked Duck near the island a party of eighteen Dunlin flew by but we did
not see them again. There were plenty of
winter thrushes present and we did see a Little Owl in the old oak as we
approached the reservoir.
We moved off to the south arm
at Rutland Water but couldn’t find either the Long-tailed Duck or the Slavonian
Grebe we had seen yesterday and had to be content with a single Redshank and a
single Little Egret. We did find the
drake Scaup in the fishponds where there were also four male and a female
Goosander. Roger spotted a Peregrine sat
on a post on the north shore, which was possible the bird e had seen yesterday
on lagoon three. The phones the bleeped
indicating that there were two Velvet Scoter at Swithland Reservoir and we
discussed if we should go and see them.
We decided to go to the car park first for lunch and two see if
yesterday’s Hawfinch had been seen.
There was a crowd watching the area the Hawfinch was in yesterday but
there was no sign of the bird and after lunch we decided to go Swithland
Reservoir for the scoters.
Mistle Thrush in the Egleton car park
Redwing in the Egleton car park
When we arrived at Swithland
Reservoir only one of the two Velvet Scoter was visible and rather distant and
in poor light. However a short while the
second one did appear and gave better views of the wall along Kinchley
Lane. We continued to watch the birds
for some time when the closer on started to go to the far side and looked as
though it might join the second. However
the distant bird was now swimming towards the dam. It was eventually joined by what we thought
was the second bird although it appeared very different and less well
marked. A quick scan to the left
produced a third bird and there were three, a first-winter male and two
female-types. The only other bids of
real note were a single Cormorant and Two Buzzards over Buddon Wood.
One of the female-type Velvet Scoters
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