I didn't need to be at work until 9.00am this morning, so instead of sleeping for an extra half an hour or so I got up and headed off to Sutton Bingham for a quick visit. The water levels are starting to drop at the reservoir, and if they continue to do so we might end up with a few waders passing through on migration in a few weeks time. However, today there were a total of five Common Sandpipers, three at the northern end and two opposite the hide. I presume these are birds that have failed to breed and are starting their return trip south. Half a dozen Black-headed Gulls were also viewable from the northern causeway, and a Little Grebe was on West Pool.
From the hide a pair of Little Grebes were with a young bird, a sign of successful breeding. A Mandarin was present in the furthest corner to the south, though whether it was a male in eclipse, a female, or a juvenile was hard to determine at distance. The highlight of the morning though was an adult Yellow-legged Gull which was also at the southern end of the reservoir. This could well be the same bird that has been seen in previous late summers and early autumns at the reservoir. I watched the bird for some time and at one stage it managed to catch a large crayfish and carry it to the southern causeway to eat, pretty impressive stuff.
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