Ferruginous Duck at Seeswood Pool

Ferruginous Duck

View from the causeway

  

After doing the WeBS count early at the pits I was still keen to make the most of Saturday with Storm Ciara due to hit the UK on Sunday.

Dave Hutton had reported the first winter Ferruginous Duck was back at Seeswood Pool and with it only being forty minutes from home it was worth a drive. I was expecting to see a few other birders but I had the causeway to myself. The striking looking duck was always with the Tufted Duck flock in the middle of the pool but the winter sunshine allowed me to get some reasonable footage. 

I've not seen that many of this species so really nice to see this bird in near adult plumage.

If you are going to try and see this bird please be aware there is no parking other than on the patch past the pool if arriving from the south. The Pool is private and viewing is from the causeway only where a stunning Grey Wagtail was flying up and down. 

Ham Wall winter feast

Ferruginous Duck

Following the Pochards

Great White Egret

Pintail

Bitterm (Back end only)

Marsh Harrier

Kingfisher

The Tor

Little Egrets

I teamed up with Chris Lane for a trip down to the RSPB Ham Wall to enjoy their seasonal feast of delights. Ham Wall is 2.5 miles west of Glastonbury in the valley of the River Brue or better known as the Somerset Levels.

Ham Wall is a nature reserve of the highest quality and is made up of rustling reed beds and glinting open water. The Starling roosts of over 750,000 birds are the star attraction for many visitors however we planned a busy day staring early.

The car park has improved considerably since I first visited a number of years ago & the toilets were a welcome sight to visitors of a certain age.

Our first star species was a Glossy Ibis that I picked up flying over us, first of a couple of sightings throughout the morning. This was quickly followed up by a Great White Egret viewed from the !st viewing platform. These Egrets first bred in the UK back in 2012 at near by Shapwick Heath and are not difficult to miss. We recorded three in total during the session.

Cetti's Warblers were calling along many of the paths and we got some fantastic views watching one creep along the bottom of the reed bed. Huge numbers of Snipe were flying in all directions, impossible to put a number of how many must be there. Chris caught a Kingfisher in flight which we refound later sat perched hoping for an early lunch. Water Rails could be heard screaming from a number of spots but we didn't see any in the open. 

At the Avalon hide we found the visiting Ferruginous Duck with a group of Pochard. This dark chestnut duck from the east really stood out as a stunning individual in the sunshine. Marsh Harriers were visible in flight whilst another was perched resting on the waters edge.

As we scanned the reed beds a fantastic Bittern wandered across one of the channels leaving me scrambling for my camera which I just caught his back end. From there I watched him creep along the reeds feeding before disappearing further back into the reed bed.

Other highlight species recorded were a male Stonechat, 4 Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Lapwing & Wigeon. A throughly enjoyable morning.

Ferruginous Duck opens New Year account

First view for 2015

Bewick Swans

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

 Little Egret under Holden Tower

Ruddy Shelduck

 Black Redstart

Black Redstart

As per most years I headed down to Slimbridge for the 1st January. It rarely disappoints and a good quality coffee and cake always seals the deal.

A couple of sharp and frosty nights had improved weather conditions for migration so there was around 180 Bewick Swans in the reserve or just outside. A single Whooper Swan was also viewable from Sloane Tower, a Slimbridge first for me.

Looking out in to the Rushy Pen there was an array of birds to watch including a large flock of Pintail that were very close outside the hide allowing terrific viewing.

I quickly popped my head in the Willow Hide to see if there was anything on the feeders to find a Water Rail skulking among the reeds. Sadly the light was to poor to get any sort of image.

The Holden Tower was full of birders on an organised walk but I managed to sneak into a space. A lot of the wading bird flocks had dispersed with the recent cold snap but there was still plenty to note. The male Peregrine sat on the bank waiting to make his move. 

Sightings from the Holden Tower included 4 Cranes, 800 Wigeon, 100+ Dunlin, 2 Little Egret, Redshanks, Lapwing, Teal 300 Golden Plover and 2 Little Stints that were great entertainment - very busy individuals.

I then headed across the reserve to the Asia Pen where I registered for first lifer for 2015 as a female Ferruginous Duck was still present. It was a bit odd watching a rare bird with absolutely no one else present. I had a couple of sessions watching the bird and she was definitely the star of the show. 

The Kingfisher and Ziess Hide didn't have anything of note other than a few pass finches and 50+ Carrions.

On the South Lake a female Ruddy Shelduck was just in front of the hide. Exact origin no one can be sure. Other sightings included 7 Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Cormorants, Shoveller, Pochard, Shelduck and Gadwall.

I hadn't been able to track the White-fronted Geese so Dave Painter one of wardens told be to look north from Sloane Tower as they were in a field there. There were around 140 White-fronts and a single Pink-footed Goose.

With it looking like it might stay dry for another hour or so I made the short journey south to Sharpness to see if I could catch up with the male Black Redstart. Literately as soon as I got out of the car I saw him take flight and then gave some great view for an hour before I headed back up the M5.