A day off today so a quick walk downstream along the river.
Twenty five Redwings were the first I’ve seen for a couple of weeks and a Grey
Wagtail on the first bend was a pleasant surprise…
Otherwise it was decidedly quiet until I got to a spot where
floodwater from last weekend was still lying on the far bank. I could see
dozens of gulls but also some whiter shapes. They were Shelduck and as I
searched through I tallied up 23, the largest count I have had.
Birds were very distant but I could see a couple of darker
shapes. There were three Gadwall, my first of the year, but the bird behind it
was a superb drake Garganey! A new bird for the parish. (Terrible photo
but it was very gloomy and very far…)
When I checked my other photos later it actually showed
there was a pair present.
As I walked back up Potter Lane I had two more Corn Buntings
(making a total of seven singing birds) and
a flock of 59 Golden Plover drifted over...
I finished off by checking the river north of the road. Three
Little Egrets here (none of them ringed) plus a Green Sandpiper and four
Goosander. A good morning's birding.
Only 2 Gadwall in your photo! The quality of the photo is such that I can't be 100% sure, but assume you have a pair of Garganey there. The female duck to the right of the drake Garganey looks the same size as him + clearly much smaller than the Gadwall. If it's not a female Garganey, would have to be a female Teal.
ReplyDeleteLooking again think I can make out a white loral spot which would be good for female Garganey.
ReplyDeleteHi CH, yes there was a pair present (see comment after the photo). I had missed it on the first photo as I wasn't even sure it was a bird! Another shot I have shows the female a little clearer. The third Gadwall was off the right of the picture by the way.
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