Today's Velvet Scoter at the Girling - record shots from Roy Woodward
TUESDAY 9 MARCH
Continuing unseasonally cold, with temperatures struggling to rise much above 7 degrees C. Dry once again, but relatively cloudy after a clear start.
The LITTLE EGRET was once again on the River Misbourne at Higher Denham (at TQ 027 878) (Bucks)
BELHUS WOODS COUNTRY PARK, AVELEY (ESSEX)
(Early afternoon visit; with Reston Kilgour)
This Country Park lies about a mile north of Aveley and is accessed from the main car park. The two long-staying PINK-FOOTED GEESE (previously present on Wennington Marshes at Rainham Marsh RSPB) were showing well, consorting with large numbers of Greylag Geese on the first lake east of the car park. Two Linnets were noted in the car park.
WILLIAM GIRLING RESERVOIR (LONDON)
(1445-1515 hours; with Bill Last and others)
The main purpose of my visit was to see the VELVET SCOTER discovered in the morning. After a long search, it was literally the last bird to be located from Mansfield Park. It was favouring the far NE corner of the reservoir and was diving frequently, once down remaining underwater for up to 90 seconds at a time. It appeared to be an immature drake, being very dark (almost black) overall, with a swollen bill base and darker belly.
There was also an excellent selection of other species including 1-2 juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE, a sub-adult EURASIAN SHAG, 5 Continental Cormorants, 3 Gadwall and 12 Common Goldeneye (two drakes).
WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTFORDSHIRE)
Stopped off on my way back around the M25 and although no Oystercatchers or Ringed Plovers were present, the female RUDDY SHELDUCK of presumed captive origin was present for its third day.
Continuing unseasonally cold, with temperatures struggling to rise much above 7 degrees C. Dry once again, but relatively cloudy after a clear start.
The LITTLE EGRET was once again on the River Misbourne at Higher Denham (at TQ 027 878) (Bucks)
BELHUS WOODS COUNTRY PARK, AVELEY (ESSEX)
(Early afternoon visit; with Reston Kilgour)
This Country Park lies about a mile north of Aveley and is accessed from the main car park. The two long-staying PINK-FOOTED GEESE (previously present on Wennington Marshes at Rainham Marsh RSPB) were showing well, consorting with large numbers of Greylag Geese on the first lake east of the car park. Two Linnets were noted in the car park.
WILLIAM GIRLING RESERVOIR (LONDON)
(1445-1515 hours; with Bill Last and others)
The main purpose of my visit was to see the VELVET SCOTER discovered in the morning. After a long search, it was literally the last bird to be located from Mansfield Park. It was favouring the far NE corner of the reservoir and was diving frequently, once down remaining underwater for up to 90 seconds at a time. It appeared to be an immature drake, being very dark (almost black) overall, with a swollen bill base and darker belly.
There was also an excellent selection of other species including 1-2 juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE, a sub-adult EURASIAN SHAG, 5 Continental Cormorants, 3 Gadwall and 12 Common Goldeneye (two drakes).
WILLOWS FARM POOL, TYTTENHANGER (HERTFORDSHIRE)
Stopped off on my way back around the M25 and although no Oystercatchers or Ringed Plovers were present, the female RUDDY SHELDUCK of presumed captive origin was present for its third day.
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