Another Rainy Day

Sometimes you just have to get up and go, and for once there appeared to be a break in the weather. It was still raining when I arrived at Liden Lagoon at 1:15pm, but it wasn't too heavy, so with wellies on it was off around the lagoon.

So what was on the water today, a count of the Tufted Duck revealed 29 drakes and 25 ducks, a good start, there were also 4 pairs of Gadwall, the drake Pochard, but no sign of the 2 Shovelers. The Mallard x Indian Runner was still mingling with the Mallard and also in amongst them a couple of other feral ducks.

Still a few Canada Geese and the 6 Mute Swans. Not quite sure what's going on here, as one of the juveniles was with the resident pen, whilst the resident cob was with his two juveniles from last year. The interloper was, as usual, at the southern tip of the lagoon, having a break from being chased around the water.

A single Great Crested Grebe again and a single Heron on the north side of the South Island.

Also on the water lots of Coot, Moorhens and a few Herring Gulls. Alas no Common Gulls.

Around the banks a huge flock of 60+ Goldfinches and Siskins feeding on the Alders.

Three drake Tufted Ducks riding the waves.

Here you can clearly see the tuft on the back of the drake.

And here is a female Tufted Duck

A drake Pochard.

And a drake Gadwall

Here his mate joins him. On the lagoon today there were 4 pairs of Gadwall

A pair of Mallard, the female and the brightly coloured drake.

Everyone's favourite at the moment this female Mallard x Indian Runner hybrid. Now has she paired up with a drake Mallard!

Another feral Mallard. Almost jet black with a white breast, most like a female.

Whilst this feral duck appears to have a lot of green on its head suggesting a drake.

Other water birds today included this Great Crested Grebe.

And one of the resident Mute Swans exercising those large wings.

And now the gulls, this is a 3rd winter Herring Gull

Most likely a 4th winter Herring Gull

An adult Herring Gull

And two more adult Herring Gulls

This adult Herring Gull is about to give this 1st winter Herring Gull a bit of a shock

And to round of a grab shot of 3 Siskins feeding in the Alders. In total there were over 60 Goldfinches and Siskins. Difficult to count the Siskins but certainly a good dozen or so.
Birds Recorded: 1 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan (resident pair, 3 juveniles and 1 cob), Canada Geese, Mallard, mallard x Indian Runner duck, 8 Gadwall (4 pairs), 54 Tufted Duck (29m, 25f), 1 drake Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, 6 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 12+ Siskin and 40+ Goldfinch.