Any Gull fanatics would have been in their element this morning at Napton Reservoir with 100s to choice from. I did scan for a short while before my patience ran out and didn't manage to come up with anything unusual, at least I think I didn't, gulls are not my forte!
 |
| Napton Reservoir - A haven for Gulls this morning. |
Plenty of
Tufted Duck, along with a brace of drake
Pochard, single
♀Goldeneye and a pair of
Shoveler, these the only waterfowl of note, a single
Snipe flew through the reedbed.
 |
| Lesser Redpoll - On among the flock of circa 50 |
Brandon Marsh next and as I turned off Brandon Lane a couple of
Raven passed over the top reedbed. I arrived into the Baldwin Hide just in time to see a drake
Goosander depart. The chap next to me mentioned it had been around for the last hour. A dozen
Wigeon, two drake
Goldeneye and a single female were the only other waterfowl of note among the usual selection. A huge mixed flock of
Siskin/Redpoll were feeding in the alder at the end of the River Pool path. Some stonking birds among them, although the above photo doesn't do them justice! While here a
Willow Tit was calling and showing from time to time.
 |
| Jay - Finally snapped him after some fun and games! |
At East Marsh Hide a
Water Rail made a dart across the open space in front and from my position a
Peregrine was perched up in the owl box tree over on Alban's Reedbed (
formerly Newlands). Naturally by the time I reached the Ted Jury Hide for a photo, the bird had moved on. Not far I suspect with several eruptions from East Marsh Pool during my stay! Little else of note, including at Carlton Hide and so I made my way around to Horsetail Glade, where I enjoyed playing hide and seek with a cheeky
Jay. Got him in the end though! My love of Jay's probably goes back to my childhood, when I nursed an injured bird back to health over several weeks locked away in my bedroom, much to mums disgust. Both
Nuthatch and
Treecreeper in Horsetail before I moved on.
 |
| Redwing - The last remaining berries! |
Finally a walk around the Farm Field and Top Reedbed and here many
Fieldfare and
Redwing. Mostly in the leaf litter, having almost depleted the berry stocks around the reserve.
