An Afternoon at Coate Water

On the way to Coate Water via Dorcan Way, I came across a Green Woodpecker sat on the kerb next to a Diversion Sign. Thinking that it had been hit by a car I drove all around the roundabout, back down to the next roundabout and back up on the same side as the Woodpecker. With hazard lights on I parked the car up and started to walk towards the Woodpecker. I must have walked about 4 metres and it took off. Whether it had been hit by a car or not it was in good health and took off in the direction of Liden. Not only was this good news, but this was also my first Green Woodpecker of the year. As I pulled away a Grey Heron flew low over roundabout and just before the Coate Roundabout a Sparrowhawk was trying to get away from a disgruntled Carrion Crow.

The car park at Coate Water was absolutely packed, as you can imagine for a Sunday. But what was surprising was that despite the number of cars there didn't seem to be that many people walking around the water. Mind you the mud was horrendous on the paths especially at Broome Manor Lane, so I guess a lot of people were just milling around the diving board and children's play area.

Here are a few images from today's walk:

A pair of Teal on the Reserve Lake

Same pair in and out of the overhanging branches.

A female "redhead" Goosander

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

A 4th winter Lesser Black-backed Gull

And its other side.

And finally a Common Gull. One of two on the main lake.

Birds Recorded: 12+ Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 15+ Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, 1 pair Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 female Goosander, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Siskin and Goldfinch.

Also 4 Grey Squirrels

Liden: Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron and Sparrowhawk being harassed by a Carrion Crow.

County Ground: Red Kite

Frozen Lagoon

It was even colder last night with temperatures dropping to -3.8°C. So it was back off to Liden Lagoon this morning to see how it had effected the wildfowl.

When I arrived there was about 95% of the water covered by ice, with just the south-east section clear. In this section was a Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant (plus 2 more as I left), 3 Mute Swans (resident pair and interloper), a few Canada Geese, Mallard, 8 Gadwall (4 pairs), 2 Shoveler (the pair are back today!), 8 Tufted Duck (5f 3m), 3 Goosander (2m 1 f), 5 Moorhen and 13 Coot.

Further round and between the two islands there were a few more Canada Geese, Mallard, the Mallard x Indian Runner duck, 6 Moorhen, 40 Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 13 Herring Gull (4 adult, 5 1st winter, 4 2nd winter), 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Common Gull.

Around the banks there were 3 juvenile Mute Swans and 6 Canada Geese grazing, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, 4 Chaffinch, Siskin and Goldfinch.

Below are a few images and a short video from this morning:

Wintry sun over the lagoon

Canada Geese

A bit of a grab shot as this Little Grebe popped and disappeared just as quick.

The Shoveler pair. The camouflaged pattern really blends in well with the background. Maybe this is why I didn't spot them yesterday.

A pair of Gadwall with the drake showing that distinct white speculum and chestnut and black portions on the wing coverts. Even the female is showing a small amount of chestnut.

A pair of Mallard brave the ice.

This Cormorant seemed to be doing well in the shallows..........

...........and was joined by this one and another.

One of three Cormorants at the lagoon today.

Several Coot make there way gingerly across the ice.

A 2nd winter Herring Gull

An adult winter Black-headed Gull

Just the one Common Gull today

Same Common Gull now facing the sun.

Birds recorded were: 1 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 6 Mute Swan (resident pair, 1 cob, 3 juv), 12 Canada Geese, Mallard, Mallard x Indian Runner duck, 8 Gadwall (4 pairs), 2 Shoveler (pair), 8 Tufted Duck (5f 3m), No Pochard, 3 Goosander (2m 1 f), 11 Moorhen, 53 Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 13 Herring Gull (4 adult, 5 1st winter, 4 2nd winter), 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, 4 Chaffinch, Siskin and Goldfinch.

Also 2 Grey Squirrels

Winter Sun

After another frosty night and I wasn't surprised to see over half of Liden Lagoon covered in ice, especially as temperatures dropped to -2.6°C. It's always a good time to see the gulls on the ice, just in case there's a Yellow-legged Gull in amongst the Herring Gull. Alas not today, but there were a good number of Herring Gull, Black-headed Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull briefly and 2 Common Gulls.

Ducks obviously don't like the ice and this afternoon there were only 15 Tufted Duck (25 yesterday), 7 Gadwall (we've lost one!), just the drake Pochard (the 2 females appear to have left!) and the Shoveler have gone.

Around the banks a few Siskins and Goldfinches in the Alders, and I also had my first Coal Tits of the year.

Here are a few images and a short video from today.

Recently there has been a "relationship" between Coots, Black-headed Gulls and Gadwall, where the Coot dives down for weeds, and the gulls and ducks benefit from the food it brings up with the weed. Today it was the turn of the Tufted Ducks and as they dived down, the Gadwall were getting titbits.

A stunning looking Moorhen in the winters sun.

And an equally impressive Coot with that bright red eye.

Here we go again a 1st winter Herring Gull

And a 2nd winter Herring Gull

A Common Gull in an unusual posture with an adult winter Black-headed Gull and to the right a 1st winter Black-headed Gull.

The same Common Gull as above, slips through the ice.....

......and then has to preen all over again. To the right an adult Herring Gull

Here he regains his posture after falling in.

This is the another Common Gull........

........which later moved a bit closer to the 1st one.

The first Common Gull still preening.....

.............and a bit of leg stretching as well. A good comparison with the adult winter Black-headed Gull in front.

One of two Common Gull on the ice today

Another adult Herring Gull. Quite a beast this one!

A 2nd winter Herring Gull

A few of the Black-headed Gulls on the ice.

Another 2nd winter Herring Gull

This 2nd winter Herring Gull has found a Swan Mussel.

By the car park a pair of Collared Doves soak up the sun.

Whilst this Grey Squirrel plays hide and seek with me.

Birds Recorded: Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Mallard x Indian Runner duck, 7 Gadwall (5m, 2f), 15 Tufted Duck (10m, 5f), 1 drake Pochard, 1 Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 12 Herring Gull (7 adults, 3 1st winters, 2 2nd winter), 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Doves, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tits, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Siskins and Goldfinch.

Also 2 Grey Squirrels.

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)