I had some time off work this afternoon and was thinking of heading up on to the Somerset Levels, but time somehow vanished so I spent a couple of hours on patch instead. Starting at the southern end of the reservoir I managed to pick out a drake Teal hiding and a pair of Wigeon were also seen. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the trees behind me and a quick look produced the bird as it flew off!
Back then to the Canoe Club where I parked up and walked along to the car park. A couple of Meadow Pipits popped up from the field and a pair of Collared Doves flew over, both new birds for the patch year list, as was a Robin which was singing away.
There was very little in the way of birds around the car park, I heard a Chiffchaff and a couple of Goldcrests and that was it. There were however a couple of birders around today so it was good to catch up with a few friendly faces.
On the water there were hardly any gulls coming in to roost, and no sign of the Iceland Gull that was present last night. Amazing what a difference 24 hours can make! A flock of around forty Common Gulls looked as if they were going to settle but simply moved on. A Great Crested Grebe in summer-plumage gave hope that Spring is on the way and Cormorants numbered at least forty birds today, my highest count for a while. Also of note, some twenty or so Pied Wagtails flew in to a small tree in the car park to roost.
With the light failing the final new bird of a good visit with regard to the patch year list was a calling Water Rail on West Pool.
Sutton Bingham year list for 2014 now at 48 species.
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