I should have gone out yesterday when the Sun was shining! Instead, I chose to wait until a day that was dull, overcast, constantly threatening rain and a gale force blow! At times I could not keep the scope steady and any thoughts of photography soon disappeared! So, where was all this enjoyment? - Eyebrook Reservoir on the Leicestershire / Rutland border. My reason was to touch base with two birds that I needed on my year list -
Whooper Swan and
White Fronted Goose. The
Whooper Swan was located just off the Stoke Dry car park. The water held large numbers of wildfowl including
Wigeon,
Gadwall,
Shoveler,
Teal,
Pochard, Goldeneye and
Tufted Duck. It was pleasing to see two
Red Kites over the surrounding farmland, which held large numbers of
Red Legged Partridge. Two
Raven also passed overhead. A trip around to the bird hide provided some shelter from the strong wind and it was here that a drake
Smew was located, my first this winter. Two female
Common Scoter were off the island and a female
Red Breasted Merganser was a pleasing find in the large duck numbers. Two
Little Egrets competed for balance with the
Grey Herons.
The White Fronted Geese were difficult to locate! Having scanned through hundreds of Canada's and Grey Lags, as I was leaving the hide, I spotted five geese in the field opposite and quite close to the road. They were White Fronts, but by the time I got to a gap in the hedge, they had taken flight and disappeared over a ridge.
Whooper Swan
Drake Smew
Todays Sightings:
Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Little Egret; Grey heron; Mute Swan; Whooper Swan; Canada Goose; Grey Lag Goose; White Fronted Goose; Wigeon; Mallard; Gadwall; Shoveler; Pintail; Teal; Pochard; Tufted Duck; Goldeneye; Red Breasted Merganser; Smew; Common Scoter; Red Kite; Kestrel; Pheasant; Red Legged Partridge; Coot; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Redwing; Fieldfare; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Starling; Magpie; Jackdaw; Raven; Carrion Crow; Rook; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch.
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