I started the New Year off with a couple of visits to the reservoir today, one late morning and one in the afternoon. The day started off with a bit of a surprise in the form of an adult Great Black-backed Gull over the main reservoir. A juvenile Mute Swan flew in from the east but didn't settle, later in the day it returned and landed at the southern end. The usual suspects were present with the Wigeon flock numbering eighty-two birds.
Despite a good walk around before lunch there was nothing unusual to report, however, returning later in the afternoon I took a wander around the southern end of the reservoir where at least twenty Teal were present and half a dozen or so Mandarin. Twenty or more Snipe were flushed and a Peregrine was on one of the pylons.
Back to the northern end and a scan of the gull roost produced a single adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the gathered masses, the sixth species of gull of the day.
The highlight of the day was not a bird though, an Otter put on a real show for me during the afternoon visit. A couple of years since I've seen one at the reservoir and a real treat.
Sutton Bingham year list 2018 now at 44 species.
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