Sutton Bingham - Thu 30 Jan

A very productive couple of hours at the reservoir this afternoon, starting on the northern causeway where I had a good scan of the area including towards Coker Wood where I picked up a raptor heading my way and I knew straightaway it was something different. Over the next few minutes I followed it in my scope and was able to confirm my initial thoughts, a Marsh Harrier! This is the third Marsh Harrier I've seen at Sutton Bingham and the first for many years, with the previous records both being in May.

I then popped down to the southern end where a single male Tufted Duck was amongst a flock of Wigeon.

Back then to the car park and a walk down towards the Canoe Club where a lone Wigeon was in the company of a pair of Shoveler, a species I missed last year on the patch. As I was watching the Shoveler a flock of twelve Lapwing flew over, another omission on the 2024 list.

As I returned to the northern causeway I scanned the gulls and had a lone Mediterranean Gull on the water.

Overhead I heard another Mediterranean Gull calling and picked out another five circling above me, though these failed to settle. I then went round to the Fishing Lodge, where I managed to finally see my first Fieldfares of the year, with three in with a flock of Redwing.

So a very good visit today, with four additions to the year list.

Sutton Bingham year list for 2025 now at 66 species.