No mistaking the song of a Cetti's Warbler (courtesy of xeno-canto)
Before I parked up a Red Kite drifted over the Lagoon before heading north over Barnmoor Close and was gone before I got out of the car. On the water there were quite a few gulls with 30 plus Herring Gulls when I arrived and by the time I'd left they were replaced by a 10+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Walking clock-wise towards the A419 I came across the 3 immature Mute Swans, and in the corner where the stream flows out of the lagoon, there were around 15 Siskins, feeding on the bank. Makes a change from the Alders!
Further down towards the South Island there was a Swan resting a 20ft into the wood. Not sure if this is a new nesting site, but certainly the first time I've seen a Swan deep into the wood.
Having seen a pair of Great Crested Grebes in the usual nesting site at the top of South Island, I was surprised to see another individual at the South End. Or was this one of two seen earlier, that had somehow whizzed around the island!
On the water itself were 3 Tufties, a female and two drakes, and with them the same drake Pochard seen here earlier in the year. A drake Shoveler was also present.
The first highlight of course was the Water Rail, which I only came across because I was watching a few Siskins come down to the overflow, for a bathe. The last time I saw one here, was quite a few years back and was just a fleeting glimpse. This individual was more confiding and was out in the open for most of the time I was there. As I was watching it, I wasn't suddenly taken aback by a really loud outburst from a Cetti's Warbler, which was just above the Water Rail in the Brambles. Whether the alarm call was aimed at me or not, it flew off east. I tried to follow, but it was always one step ahead and lost sight of where it went. This was also my first Cetti's at Liden, so a pretty good day all round.
As I left feeling quite elated, I carried on further around towards the car. I'd only gone about 50 metres and I realised that Malcolm was behind me. So hoping that Water Rail was still there, we headed back to railings, where not only did we have more good views, but also found out that the Cetti's was on the South Island.
A few images and a video from today:
"Little and Large". The immature cob Mute Swan with a drake Mallard in tow.
Normally seen feeding in Alders, this female Siskin along with 14 others were foraging on the bank of the Lagoon.
A male Siskin in more "natural" surroundings feeding on an Alder.
Can you spot the Swan on the south island.....
A close-up of a sleepy Swan. Is this a new nest site, or just a nice quiet retreat!
A few Herring Gulls (left to right) adult, 2nd winter, adult, 2nd winter and 3rd winter.
An easy one an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Now what do we have here. Two adult gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gull on the left, being pursued by a very angry Herring Gull.
Tufted drakes and a female. And on the right a drake Pochard.
In the foreground a pair of Gadwall with a drake Shoveler to the rear.
A Moorhen comes into land with legs dangling below.
It might just be an outlet pipe for the rain water from Liden, but this turned out to be a little oasis this afternoon, with Siskins, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Moorhens and two great surprises in a Water rail and a Cetti's Warbler. It's amazing what can turn up!
And here is the star bird today, a Water Rail having a good root around.
A pose for the camera.
And another.
Here you can see the difference between the Water Rail and much larger Moorhen.
This is only the second time I've seen a Water Rail at the lagoon since 2007. Normally a shy bird, this individual however was quite happy to feed out in the open. Once again apologies for the noise of the wind. One of these days I'll get to make a recording on a quiet still day.
Birds Recorded: 2 possibly 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant inbound as I left, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan (2 residents, 1 Pen, 3 immature), 21 Canada Goose, Mallard, 10 Gadwall (5 pairs), 1 drake Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck (2m, 1f), 1 drake Pochard, 1 Red Kite as I arrived, 1 Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, 5 Black-headed Gull, 33 Herring Gull, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 3 Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, 12+ Blackbird, 8 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Long-
tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 15+ Siskin, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch.