Easter Rainbows

Farmoor Reservoir and Dix Pit

Farmoor Reservoir
Location
My first ever trip to Farmoor Reservoir and I was certainly wasnt disappointed with all three birds I was hoping to see. The 2 juvenile Great Northern Divers couldn't have been any closer to the causeway if they tried. The Rock Pipit put in an appearance and I was even able to get round to the opposite side of F1 to see the Red-necked Grebe.

The weather was just incredible with huge storm clouds, hail, heavy rain and then amazing rainbows to at least show that the storm had passed.

Any way here are a few images from today:

Looking west towards the oncoming storm

Looking back towards the boat yard

Once the storm had passed, we were treated to a double rainbow.

One of the two juvenile Great Northern Divers

This one was continually diving down for food, whilst.........

......this one was asleep the whole time I was there.

Great Northern Diver (apologies for the wind noise, it was blowing a gale)

The wildfowl didn't seem to mind the crashing waves as this drake Mallard stretches his wings as a Coot swims off right.

Also in the corner by the boats this Little Grebe was having a bit of a feeding frenzy....

........whilst this one on the far bank managed to catch a small trout.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes

And the star today a Red-necked Grebe

Two grebes together, Red-necked and Great Crested Grebe

Short video of the Red-necked Grebe

There were a few Greylag Geese around the Reservoir.....

Including this odd looking bird. Strangely though I also came across two others, including one at Dix Pit where I visited later.

One of several Cormorants on the Reservoir.

A Pied Wagtail gets blown along the waters edge.

Birds Recorded: 2 juvenile Great Northern Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 4 Greylag Geese, Mallard, 20+ Tufted Duck, Coot, 3 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Swallow, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow and 3 Reed Bunting.

Dix Pit
Location

And this rainbow is at Dix Pit where I had hoped to see the Black-necked Grebe. Unfortunately if it was there I didn't see it. However I did get to see 200+ Sand Martins, 1 House martin and several Swallows.
Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, 1 Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, 200+ Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 7+ Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch.