New Arrivals

Just a few days away and back this afternoon at Liden Lagoon to find that there were a few more additions to the wildfowl. The Gadwall were 3 pairs, but there are now an additional 2 drakes. The Tufted Duck were 20 and there are now 27, with 12 drakes and 15 ducks. The Shoveler pair remain the same, but we now have 3 Pochard, a drake and 2 ducks.

Quite a few Herring Gulls today. Out of the 11 counted there were just two adults and the remainder were 1st winter, 2nd winter and a 3rd winter.

2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also here today, an adult and a 2nd winter which looked really menacing as it flew around the lagoon, upsetting Coots and other wildfowl.

Here are a few photos from this afternoon:

A pair of Pochard along with another female were new additions to the lagoon.

Here the drake looks quite splendid looking.

However as this drake Tufted Duck has a big splash the drake Pochard moves away.

The second female Pochard

The "resident" Shovelers drift around the islands.

With the female Shoveler then coming in behind a pair of Gadwall and female Tufted Ducks.

Now what do we have here. Well the two Mute Swans on the water are the resident Swans and the one in the foreground is the interloper. It looks very peaceful, however when they wake up, rest assured the resident cob will be trying his best to oust the outsider!

A pair of Herring Gulls.

A 1st winter Herring Gull

Another 1st winter Herring Gull, very similar to above. However it is just slightly more advanced than the individual below and is more akin to a 1st summer.

Still a 1st winter, but the bill is slightly darker than the 2 gulls above.

A right squabble as what appears to be a 3rd winter Herring Gull sees of a 2nd winter gull, whilst another 2nd winter looks on.

An interesting Herring at the back, a 4th winter, with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in front.

A 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull.

The 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight.

Very aggressive looking.......

.......and as it comes into land........

..............this Coot just about gets out of the way.

The Coot has gone and the Lesser Black-backed Gull comes into land.

A Grey Heron stands and watches the world go by.

Our Mallard x Indian Runner duck is feeling right at home here at the lagoon. And very vocal as well!

Across the busy A419 from the lagoon, dozens of Wood Pigeons chill out on the branches.

Birds Recorded here this afternoon were: 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan (resident pair, cob, 3 juv), Canada Geese, Mallard, Mallard x Indian Runner duck, 8 Gadwall (5m, 3f), 2 Shoveler, 27 Tufted Duck (12m, 15f), new in 3 Pochard (1m, 2f), 1 Red Kite, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, 11 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 20+ House Sparrows and Goldfinch.

Also 1 Grey Squirrel)