With the news that Nick Goddard had found 4 Bewick's Swans at Coate Water this morning, I just had to see these beautiful Arctic Swans. My last encounter were the ones at Slimbridge last December and at Eysey back November 2013 when there were 4 adults and a juvenile.
Anyway here are a few images of the Bewick's plus other birds seen here this afternoon.
4 Bewick's Swans and behind are Mute Swans
Drake Goosander
Two Common Gulls and Black-headed Gull in foreground
On a very cold and frosty morning with temperatures dropping to -3.6°C, it wasn't that much of a surprise to see the reserve pool at Lotmead Farm, completely frozen over. The only birds on the pool were singles of Moorhen and Water Rail.
The main highlights of my 3 hours there (7:00am - 10:00am) were 4 large flocks of Redwing (21, 33, 45 and 36) and my first Kestrels here with a pair which flew over the hide.
On the farm itself there were 8 Meadow Pipit in the field next to the car park, along with House Sparrows, Starlings, Chaffinches, Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, Collared Doves and 5 Robins.
As I was leaving there were 4 Greenfinches and 3 Fieldfare feeding in the Hawthorn Trees down the lane towards the main road .
Highlights from an hour at Lotmead Farm this morning were my first Shoveler here on the pool, a Tawny Owl calling and a Water Rail showing really well on the far bank. There was also a good passage of Wood Pigeons, with three large flocks passing overhead with 200+, 100+ and 100+. Not to be outdone there were also 200+ Fieldfare & Redwing which were heading west.
Below are a few record shots and video from this morning. Apologies for the background noise on the video. One it was windy and secondly the very low-light conditions causes the camera to continually track the subject and consequently you get a constant clicking.
Dawn and the sun isn't quite up yet at 6:57am.
A Water Rail showed well this morning on the far bank.
The Water Rail feeding along the waters edge.
Three of the five Shoveler on the pool. My first here.
A Grey Heron in the Paddock Area.
One of five "black" Pheasants around the pool. Close-up more a dark red than black.
A Common Buzzard struggles to keep his balance in the strong wind
Most of my trips to the Reserve Pool at Lotmead have been early morning visits, so it made a change to visit during the middle of the day. The biggest difference was the lack of ducks with just 7 Wigeon and 2 Teal. Noticeably there were no Mallard at all.
Main highlight here today was my first on the patch, a very vocal Tawny Owl at the back of the pool, that seemed to be quite stressed out about something! Other highlights were dozens Redwing and Fieldfares, flying backwards and forwards over the pool and 5 "black" Pheasants. Not seen that many before.
Here are a few images from today and a short video of the Tawny Owl calling.
A Fieldfare and Redwing (right) in a Hawthorn
Is it safe to come out......
.....4 of the 5 "black" Pheasants on the Reserve.
A straggler.
Here are two of the 7 Wigeon here today. I suspect the other 40+ will be back this evening.
In the middle of this Spindle-tree (Euonymus europaeus), with its vivid pink fruits and orange seeds is a Long-tailed Tit.
Sat in an old Oak tree are 8 Collared Doves, a Carrion Crow and 2 Starlings.
Tawny Owl calling at the back of Lotmead Farm Nature Reserve Pool
Main highlights this morning (6:45am - 8:50am) at Lotmead Farm, were two parties of Fieldfare 12 + 3, 4 Redwing, 17 Siskin overhead and my first Lesser Redpolls here with 3 pairs. There was also a Skylark singing as it rose above the fields at 8:30am. On and around the pool were 55 Wigeon, 4 Teal and my first Water Rail here. Whilst in the brook a Kingfisher called several times throughout the time I was there.
Notes
Main highlight this morning was watching a Spotted Flycatcher preening and occassionally leaving its branch to catch its breakfast, behind the cow sheds. Other highlights were 10 Wigeon, which were new for me on the pool, a fly-by Cormorant and 2 Muntjac in the field between the Hide and pool. A few Red Admirals out in the early morning sun.
Birds noted flying over
- 1 Grey Heron that landed in the field behind the pool.
- A Cormorant that headed northwest.
- Just 14 large gulls overhead
- 30+ hirundines. At least 20 House Martins and 2 Swallows over the farm, and 8 Swallows heading south behind the pool.
- 1 Linnet
- 1 Yellow Wagtail over the farm
- 2 Grey Wagtail over the pool
- 5 Meadow Pipit
Hirundines etc. seen here today
- 10+ Barn Swallow
- 15+ House Martins
Warblers seen / heard around the water
- At least 5 Chiffchaff calling and 1 singing
- A Blackcap by the pool.
The counts from around the pool, duck pond and farm:
1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 28 Mallard, 10 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 3 Pheasant, 5 Moorhen, 2 Herring Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Feral Pigeon, 5 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20+ House Martin, 10 Swallow, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, 14 Robin, Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 9 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 1 Linnet, Goldfinch, Bullfinch.
Butterflies: 5 Red Admirals
Also: 2 Muntjac
Images and videos from today:
An escapee. This female Pheasant was supposed to be in her pen.
Two of the 10 Wigeon seen on the pool this morning.
The first Muntjac to pass the Hide this morning.
And the second one 15 minutes later
A Muntjac
And very close.
A Cormorant heads northwest
A Spotted Flycatcher.....
...which spent most of its time.....
....preening....
....and more in depth preening....
..........and a stretch........
..........before sitting still for a quick photo.
A Spotted Flycatcher making the most of a bit of Autumn sun
A "Leaf Warbler" I suspect its just a Chiffchaff....
but those yellow underparts!!
Looks like something out of Macbeth. A Carrion Crow in moult. Youngster maybe!
Lots of these about this morning.
My first fungi of Autumn. I'm thinking Honey Fungus, Armillaria mellea
