Wander around the reservoirs

Last weekend had a nice walk around the Tring reservoirs first stop was Wiltstone with still a few winter ducks around though they have dropped quite a bit since my last visit in the height of winter with only a few Teal, Shoveler, Pochard and Wigeon around along with a few splendid look Great-crested Grebes. A few interesting geese were around with a Barnacle Goose and 2 pairs of Egyptian Geese before they moved out into the field to feed. Then around the woodland a few Chiff-chaffs were calling and nice treecreeper was seen feeding and a few Goldcrest where heard along with a flock of redwings flying over.

Chiff-chaff taking a break

Treecreeper in the tree

Male Great-Crested Grebe

Then headed over to Marshworth and Startops reservoirs where I soon as I got there had 2 Oystercatchers fly over my head and in the woodland between the two reservoirs a few Stocks Doves were in the trees. Further round on Startops the Red-crested Pochard was showing really well with a few Grey Wagtails joining the Pied Wagtails around the edge before further round a nice Redshank was seen feeding on the water edge.

Grey Wagtail

Red-crested Pochard

Feeding Redshank

Eclipse of the Sun

On friday with a Eclipse due so of course the british weather was saying heavy cloud locally so decided to drive out a little bit to were it looked like were it might have cleared so ended up near Buckingham where the sun showing reasonable well some times between the clouds.

Moon slowing coming across the sun

Rails and Herons

After spending quite a bit of time down at the Watercress beds hoping to get a reasonable image of the Water Rail was finally rewarded when one morning the rail decided to come out and have a quick feed only briefly stopping

Water Rail down in the stream

Also locally the Grey Herons have starting building their nests again in Verulamium Park with about 10 nesting pairs around and one really early pair with chicks three weeks old already. Also the 2 Little Egrets have been hanging around so fingers cross they decide to breed this year.

Grey heron bringing in the nesting material

Down in the park

A few weeks ago had a nice couple of morning around my local lake and was happy to spent a little time with a few Shovelers.

The male Shoveler

Female Shoveler

A few gulls were also around loafing around on the ice and going for free food that people were offering.

Black-headed Gull on the ice

Common Gull looking for a free meal

But the real winner the Greater Black-backed gull

Afternoon at Slimbridge WWT

After my Little Bunting adventure headed to Slimbridge which combined with the high tide was quite productive with a good numbers of waders over the site with a good number of Golden Plover out on the estuary with Dunlin and a couple of Little Stints with them. Around the main hides plenty of interest with a flock of White-fronted Geese which had a single Pink-footed Gooses and had brief view of a Water Rail and a few flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings where feeding which got spooked by a Peregrine at one stage. Also nice to see the pair of Cranes which had come home after being releases from the on going crane project.

Flock of Godwits coming in

Mass of Golden Plovers

Cranes having a little scrape

Then headed to the main swan feeding point to get up close and personally with the Bewick Swans and a few of the Waterfowl including my favourite duck the Pintail

The beautiful Male Pintail

Flock of Pintails coming in

Pair of Bewick Swans

Young Bewick Swan

Pair of  Bewick Swans coming in