Great Northern Diver and Newts in the Pond

On Sunday stopped off at Bough Beech Reservoir and finally managed to see the juvenile Great Northern Diver that has been present since November last year. This was a new bird for me at BB and my first for 2 years.

In the garden pond, 2 newts were seen and the introduced frog-spawn is started to hatch. Whilst in the garden the first Harlequin Ladybird for the year was found.

New Year's Day at Bough Beech

Got the year off to a start with a trip to Bough Beech Reservoir and was pleased to connect with the female Bearded Tit which had been present from 5th Nov last year. I managed to get some pictures of this smart individual which represented my 128th species for the reservoir.

Bearded Tit (female)

On the feeders I saw one each of Brambling, Marsh Tit and Coal Tit and on the reservoir itself 6 Goosanders, a Ruddy Duck (only my 2nd ever at this site) and a pair of Mandarins checked in but the reported Great Northern Diver failed to show.

Goosanders

Brambling

Mallard on Ice

Goosanders

Robin

Shoveler

Goosander

After finishing early at work I was able to check into Bough Beech Reservoir on the way home and was soon watching 3 drakes and 1 redhead Goosander as they drifted out of the bushes. The off-white underparts of the drakes were very obvious in the gloom and I was able to get a few shots before they flew off.
Unfortunately the Great Northern Diver failed to materialise and the reported Bearded Tit fialed to show by the Oast house. Also although the feeders were active with plenty of birds there was no sign of any Bramblings. Just before leaving, I was pleased to see a small group of Shovelers and get some flight shots as I failed to see any of these on my visit at the weekend.

Bough Beech and Later

Got down to BB yesterday, unfortunately no sign of the recent Goosanders or Great Northern Diver, there was quite a bit of disturbance what with the local ringing group in residence and fisherman and sailing boats on the water, highlights were few:

Mandarin – 3
Common Gull – 30+
Herring Gull
Lapwing – 44
Kestrel
Green Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Coal Tit

Saw 5 Ring-necked Parakeets on the way to work – in the trees at Merton Golf Course, above the car at traffic-lights, seen through the sunroof.

Also saw a Sparrowhawk drift pass the window at work whilst in a meeting being mobbed by a crow. Always face a window when in meetings - you never know what is going to fly past.

Bough Beech

My first visit to Bough Beech for a while revealed little of note in gloomy drizzle apart from 14 Mandarin Ducks, Fieldfare, Nuthatch and 100+ Jackdaws.

Also 2 Roe Deer came out of the woods to drink from the lake - my first there for a year to almost the exact day.

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

News broke yesterday of a Grey Phalarope at Bough Beech Reservoir showing well from the road on the North Lake. Needless to say I dipped in after work and managed to see this grey and white sprite from the North.
Although, it was my 8th Grey Phalarope, it was my first at Bough Beech (127th species) and very welcome. I managed to get a few pics before the light faded. Also present were 4+ Little Egrets a Green Sandpiper, a few Common Terns and a number of Swallows were flying through.

Bough Beech

Bough Beech last night produced a Buzzard, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Green Sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Grey Wagtail and 20+ House Martins.

Bough Beech at Dusk

Little Egret
A half hour visit to Bough Beech Reservoir on the way home in the evening revealed 6 Little Egrets on North Lake (this equals the biggest number I have ever seen at BB) also present were 3 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, juvenile Little Ringed Plover and several Common Terns.

Swallows and Flycatcher

A visit to Bough Beech Reservior turned up 2 Little Egrets, 4+ Green Sandpiper, 4+ Common Sandpiper, Common Terns and my first Spotted Flycatcher for the reserve (126th species). Unfortunately I didn't get any decent pictures before it flew off into the nearby trees - just a perching shot on the dead tree in the orchard.

Spotted Flycatcher

The Swallows performed well over my head and consisted of juveniles harassing adults.

Acrobatic Swallows

Juvenile and adult Swallow in collision

Also saw this Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Bough Beech Winter Birds

Brambling

Brambling & Nuthatch

Goosanders

Here are some pics of birds seen at Bough Beech the other week. Both Goosanders and Bramblings are classic winter visitors that will be leaving us soon for their breeding grounds in northern Europe. It's been a good winter for Bramblings down at the Bough Beech feeders with 30+ seen almost daily.

Two Kestrels seen on the way home from work today, both hunting over the A21 in classic hovering pose.

Cold Bough Beech

Bitter cold winds but bright sunshine greeted me at Bough Beech Reservoir this morning.
The feeders in the Orchard were still attracting 30+ Brambling amongst the usual tits and finches as well as one Nuthatch and 4 Pheasants.
Meanwhile out on the reservoir itself I was pleased to see 3 Goosanders sheltering against the bushes out of the wind. Also present were Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler whilst Fieldfare, Reed Bunting and a singing Chiffchaff were all heard.