Still no Treecreepers

I managed to get away on time from work and headed straight off to Coate Water. The mission was to find a Treecreeper that has so far eluded me this year. I was hopefully as the the early morning rain had gone so at least I wouldn't get wet on my quest, but instead there was a breeze coming across the water, which was freezing.  The usual gathering of waterfowl were by the diving board. These included a dozen or so Mute Swan, several Canada Geese, Mallard, a pair of Aylesbury Ducks, two drake Pochard and one or two Tufted Duck. A few Moorhen and Coot were among them.

A pair of Aylesbury Ducks

A drake Pochard

Canada Goose

Along the wall there was a large gathering of Feral Pigeons, which were very flighty today.  I chose to walk anti-clockwise and came across dozens of Moorhens feeding on the grass by the small pond on the right.  In the trees a few Squirrels were nibbling away on the Sweet Chestnut buds, which are close to opening.

Grey squirrel eating buds

Hide and Seek

On the golf course there must have been getting on 80+ Redwings with a few Mistle Thrushes alongside.

Just a few of the 80+ Redwings on the golf course

A Mistle Thrush

Just off the avenue there are a couple of tracks leading down to the waters edge.  From just behind the boat sheds I walked down to the water edge from where I could see across to the Reserve dam.  On the water were dozens of Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gulls, a single Common Gull, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, two Cormorants, a pair of Goosanders that flew south and a few Coots.

Great Crested Grebe with a pair of Canada Geese

Up above a 2nd winter Herring Gull was having great fun with a round object in his beak.  He would fly up to about a hundred feet and then drop the object.  As it fell he would swoop down and catch it.  He did this several times until he missed it and it dropped into the water.  I have absolutely no idea what it was but he’d had enough and flew off.

Herring Gull with an unknown object in his beak

First Drop

Second Drop

Third Drop

At the southern tip of the lake I met another photographer called John who had placed a few sunflower seeds on the handrail of the footbridge. I added a few grains of corn and we were rewarded with Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Robin and both male & female Chaffinches.

Robin

Long-tailed Tit

Time was getting on and a quick walk up to the Reserve dam and there on the Reserve was the Great White Egret.  It was quite distant but I did manage a record shot.

Great White Egret and just beyond it a Grey Heron

Back at the Diving Board there were several Herring Gulls about, which along with everything suddenly took off in a huge flock.  A quick look up revealed nothing, but I suspect a Peregrine or another raptor must have put them up.

Unfortunately my quest for a Treecreeper failed, but I did manage 43 bird species and had another glimpse of the long-staying Great White Egret.

Birds recorded were, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Aylesbury Duck, Goosander, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Magpies, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Siskin (Total of 43 Species Recorded)