Diary - Blagdon Lake Birds

Recent Site Updates:

I’ve added the number of times I recorded each species (seen or heard) in my 255 complete day lists in 2024 on the 2024 page in square parentheses, as a rough guide to your chances of seeing the various species at the lake.
The page relating to historical bird records deemed as not proven has been updated with some of my information, and correspondence from Richard Mielcarek. It is linked from the NP section of the Blagdon Lake Bird List, or by following the link Historical Records (Not Proven).
A reminder that Redpolls have been lumped by the IOC and will be treated as such on the website, although historical records of Common Redpoll are listed on the species page, and will be going forward for completeness.
I’ve been updating the True Bugs site list in the Wildlife section, and am adding historical records from the NBN Atlas database for all wildlife. It may take a while, there are over 85000, although the vast majority are birds and moths which are pretty well covered already.

Last update: 28th February 2025

Diary: Click on the Main Menu to bring up this page, which will show news and sightings for the current month below. To see archived news, click on the year from the Main Menu Diary drop down to access news month by month. News is archived back to 2011 currently. I hope it provides a valuable resource to those of you interested in the birds and wildlife of the lake. Have fun exploring, there are nearly 500 pages and over 2000 photos.

March 2025

Saturday 15th March [Dry with sunny spells. The wind was still cold today.]

I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate & back this afternoon. It was pretty quiet in the cold conditions. I saw the two Siberian Chiffchaffs. but there was no sign of the drake Ring-necked Duck. There were two Great White Egrets, and the only other ‘interesting’ sighting was of a Partridge sp. that ran into cover before I could get the bins focused on it. 37 spp. It looks like it might start to warm up a bit around midweek with the wind turning through the east to southerlies next weekend. Hopefully, we’ll start to get some more hirundines through and it’ll be time to start looking out for Ospreys heading north.

Friday 14th March [Dry & mainly sunny with a cool northerly breeze]

I spent the afternoon hoping to be able to take some pictures of any migrant gull flocks that dropped in, but it wasn’t to be today. So I had a walk around at Top End with my camera. I saw a whole bunch of Chiffchaffs, including both the Siberian Chiffs. Then, I went to the hide where the Great White Egret with the red ring ‘ABF’ was hunting nearby – the only one I saw. While I was scanning around, I was taken aback to see the drake Ring-necked Duck close up against the flooded Top End trees. He must have been hiding away in the trees since I last saw him on 1st March. Perhaps this finally explains why we get gaps in his stop-over each winter, he’s just settled and feeding out of sight around the reed bed that’s hidden behind the trees. 48 spp.

Thursday 13th March [A cool wind though dry with some sunny spells]

Mark, Ken and I checked some bat boxes this morning at Chew Valley Lake, although we’re planning to do most of them on the 23rd. We saw some Soprano Pipistrelles and found one of the boxes missing where some tree work had been undertaken – not happy about that! Let’s hope it’s been put aside for us to rehang. After a cuppa and a piece of cake, we went our separate ways and I dropped by Blagdon Lake, where the boats were out on the water for the first time this season. Most of them were anchored up close under the north shore out of the biting wind. I had a look for the Chiffchaffs and saw both Siberian Chiffs. and at least two Common Chiffs at Flower Corner. I noted just one Great White Egret, and actually saw a Cetti’s Warbler at Home Bay reeds before leaving to go to my afternoon gym session. 37 spp.

I’m hoping to spend some time getting a load of pictures of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls that are migrating through in the next few days. In the past they were deemed to be Baltic Gulls ssp. fuscus, and they certainly are very black with little contrast between the overall upperpart colour and the wingtips. I don’t think they’re Baltic Gulls for one minute, but their dark colouration is certainly striking at this time of passage – perhaps a percentage of them are ssp. intermedius. A portfolio of images would be a worthwhile project to try and give us a clearer picture of what is happening during March each year.

Wednesday 12th March [Sunshine & cloud. A cold northerly breeze.]

I had an hour or two at the lake late this afternoon, but it was perishing in the wind birding around Green Lawn to Wood Bay Point. Again, there wasn’t too much to see on the water now that the vast majority of the wildfowl have moved on. However, at around 1530 hrs, the blizzard of Cattle Egrets flew in again from the east, and landed in the Top End trees out of sight. I reckon there were 36+ today. In the cold wind there wasn’t much birdsong, but i reckoned on seeing and hearing at least six Common Chiffchaffs, and saw one, perhaps both, Siberian Chiffchaffs. I hope it’s a bit warmer tomorrow because Mark, Ken and I will be checking a handful of bat boxes at Chew Valley Lake to see that they are still hanging safely, and to clean them, assuming they’re not occupied. 38 spp.

Tuesday 11th March

A late afternoon visit meant I was the only person at the lakeside. I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. The two Siberian Chiffchaffs were still present, and I saw three and heard one Common Chiffchaffs. I counted five Gadwall and 19+ Shovelers, and on the way back to the Lodge saw a tree festooned with 44 Cattle Egrets. 37 spp.

Monday 10th March [Cooler, overcast, with spits and spots of rain.]

I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back late this afternoon. I saw three Goosanders when I arrived at the dam, before moving on to top-up the feeder. I heard a singing Cetti’s Warbler, a Nuthatch, three singing Chiffchaffs, and saw one of the Siberian Chiffchaffs, three Great White Egrets, three Pochard, 4 Gadwall, and a flock of at least 150+ Starlings in a list of 42 spp.

Mark H. sent me a picture of the red ring on the Great White Egret frequenting Top End (see notes for 4th March) and it reads ‘ABF’. He sent details of his sighting to the BTO who have replied: This bird was ringed by A J Morgan as age nestling, sex male on 26-Apr-2022 07:30:00 at a confidential site, Somerset, UK. He was later sent a picture of the bird being ringed, with a note to say it was in breeding plumage last year at Slimbridge and may have bred. I saw it again over the weekend. Thanks for the info. Mark.

Before I got to the lake late this afternoon, I received a call from Simon H. who’d been looking in Holt Copse and found a little patch of Sweet Violet in flower (blue-violet form). Perhaps it’s an early response to the opening up of the tree canopy, although it’s usually more a plant of woodland edges. It’s a good nectar source for early butterflies, and to be welcomed. It occurs in various places around the lake, especially the white-flowered form. Another early, but barely noticed, flower of Holt Copse is Dog’s Mercury, usually associated with ancient woodland. It is widespread around the lake, even away from woodland, probably reflecting where woodland and hedgerows were before the farmland was flooded.ch

Sunday 9th March [A nice warm & sunny day, but with that same easterly breeze as yesterday.]

I spent early afternoon at the lake with my bins and camera, and birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. There wasn’t anything new out on the water, but newly arrived Chiffchaffs had started singing, one each in Lodge and Top End hide woods, where none overwintered. Back with the Siberian Chiffchaff, I spent an hour or more photographing it, and noticed the bird pictured yesterday was still present too. I’m fairly confident it’s also a Siberian Chiffchaff and, like the other, was also strikingly pale in the bright sunshine.

The probable Siberian Chiffchaff (top) shown together with the original (bottom), both photographed this afternoon in adjacent parts of a hedge. The legs photographed from the side, and slightly towards the sun look pale pinkish rather than black. However, compare them with yesterdays picture (below) and the original Chiffchaff, which were both taken with the sun behind me. Interestingly, while watching the original Sibe Chiffchaff with Dave P. last Tuesday, looking into the sun, it too appeared to have pinkish legs. I also noted a flock of 40+ Fieldfares, and three Great White Egrets in a list of 47 spp.

Saturday 8th March [Sunshine & cloud]

I had an hour or so at the lake just after lunch. I didn’t see anything on or over the lake of note, so spent half an hour looking for the Siberian Chiffchaff which I saw once for a few seconds. I also saw a couple of Common Chichaffs too, but it was a bit breezy. I met Merv P. at the dam and we had a look through a pretty big flock of Lessser Black-backed and Herring Gulls that had appeared on the water, presumably birds on migration heading north. I counted 38 spp.

A puzzling Chiffchaff (cf. pic. 27th Feb. of the Siberian Chiff.), Top End © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Friday 7th March [Mainly overcast & grey, but we were spared the rain.]

I had a look for the Siberian Chiffchaff this afternoon and had a few all too brief encounters with it. There were also at least six Common Chiffchaffs in various places at Top End too. I saw the Common Sandpiper on the dam wall, and five Great White Egrets, but saw little else out of the ordinary. I then spent a while in the hide with my camera before leaving for home. 35 spp. logged. Hopefully, we’ll get some more sunshine over the weekend.

Great White Egret, Top End © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Thursday 6th March [Breezy, but dry & sunny early, clouding over later.]

I didn’t get to the lake today, but Marc H. sent me news of a Red Kite, some calling Common Chiffchaffs, and 5 Red-legged Partridges. Cheers mate. I walked with friends from Kings Wood over Wavering Down to Crook Peak and back. The best birds were a pair each of Stonechats and Skylarks, and a flock of Fieldfares with a few Redwings.

Wednesday 5th March [Warm & sunny with a southerly breeze]

An afternoon walk saw the Common Sandpiper on the dam, a Water Rail in Home Bay reeds, a Greylag on Green Lawn, a Chiffchaff at Flower Corner, and at least four Great White Egrets around the lake. I spent some time with my camera in the hide being entertained by two pairs of Great Crested Grebes. I saw my second butterfly of the year a Peacock in the afternoon sunshine too.

Great Crested Grebe with a Perch © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Great Crested Grebes mating © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Great Crested Grebes © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Tuesday 4th March [Warm & sunny after an early morning temperature inversion & thick mist.]

Today was opening day for season ticket holders to start fishing from the bank. I understand it went pretty well. I waited until the sun burnt through the early morning mist before arranging to meet Dave P. who wanted to come and see the Siberian Chiffchaff. We eventually pinned it down and had some very satisfying views before making the short walk back to the car. During the three or so hours I was at the lake, in addition to the Sibe Chiff., I saw the Common Sandpiper, two Sand Martins, a Common Chiffchaff, a female-type Marsh Harrier, five Great White Egrets (one with a red leg ring that I couldn’t read), heard two Tawny Owls calling to each other, a Water Rail squealing, and saw 20+ Snipe in flight. Moreover, just as I said to Dave we might see a Brimstone Butterfly, a male appeared in flight in the wood at Top End hide. A lovely afternoon, and excellent company, produced a list of 52 spp.

Drake Shoveler, Top End © Nigel Milbourne

Monday 3rd March [Another cold start but sunny & warm later.]

I spent a couple of hours over lunchtime at the Top End hoping to find the Siberian Chiffchaff and Ring-necked Duck, but it took me about an hour to find the Sibe Chiff., so there was little time left to look for the RND and I didn’t spot it. No Sand Martins have appeared yet, despite the beautiful weather. The Common Sandpiper was back on the dam, and I noted six Great White Egrets, a Red-legged Partridge, and three Common Chiffchaffs.

Sunday 2nd March [A cold start but sunny and warm throughout the day.]

I met with Mark at 1000 hrs this morning to finish off the first bat box round of the year at the lake. This was mainly to check they are hanging safely on the trees and to clean them out. We found 12 Soprano Pipistrelles and a single Lesser Horsehoe Bat during the day. While at the Pumping Station I saw the wintering Green Sandpiper and four Grey Wagtails. When we’d finished at around 1630 hrs I drove back along the south shore but although I paused briefly, I didn’t spot the Ring-necked Duck or the Chiffchaffs, but I’ll be having a look tomorrow morning, all things being equal. I counted five Great White Egrets as I drove from one end to the other though. It was a lovely day out in the sunshine, but I’m feeeling shattered now!

Great White Egret, Top End © Nigel Milbourne

Saturday 1st March [Cold to start, but a nice sunny day, with a light cool breeze.]

I attended a very interesting talk by Mark Elliott, thanks to an invitation from Bristol Water, this morning. It seems European Beavers are quite likely to be colonising Chew Valley Lake in the near future as they spread in the Bristol Avon catchment area. We were given a very thorough insight into how they became established in the south-west, and how they are spreading rapidly thanks to legal, and illegal, introductions into more river systems. A huge amount of work has been done monitoring their impact, and how solutions are being found to help them thrive alongside humans. With the recent legislative announcement made yesterday there is no doubt they are here to stay (see Blog post today).

Back at Blagdon, I spent the afternoon at Top End watching the Siberian Chiffchaff and, as I was about to go, I spotted the Ring-necked Duck again at the edge of the flooded trees in Top End. I guess that’s where he’s been feeding since I last saw him in Long Bay. I counted five Great White Egrets too. List 38 spp.

Friday 28th February [Light frost overnight, then warm & sunny.]

I birded my way from Lodge Copse to Top End and back over lunchtime. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still present and feeding with Common Chiffchaffs, and I counted at least 16 Great Black-backed Gulls on the lake, as well as four Great White Egrets. I couldn’t see any Gadwall, Shoveler or Wigeon, which I think moved on after the downpour on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, I notched up 40 spp.

Tomorrow, Bristol Water have invited me to join them for a talk on Beavers, so that we are better prepared to look out for signs of their presence on the lakes I already know of two sightings at Chew Valley Lake, which isn’t surprising as they’re fairly well established in the Bristol Avon catchment. Hopefully we might see them at Blagdon in the not too distant future, although that might have to be the result of an introduction rather than them spreading naturally.

Thursday 27th February [Bright & sunny turning cloudy at lunchtime.]

I went out and about with my camera this morning before going to the lake. I caught this picture of a couple of Brown Hares just as they finished a bout of boxing, so Spring must be upon us:

Brown Hares facing off © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Then, I had a look around at the lake. I didn’t see the Common Sandpiper, Ring-necked Duck or any Sand Martins, but I did see 4 Great White Egrets, 3 Chiffchaffs and the Siberian Chiffchaff again. 38 spp.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Flower Corner © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Wednesday 26th February [Heavy overnight rain, turned into a sunny, but cool, afternoon.]

It was very wet and muddy around the lake this afternoon, and I chose to bird from the car to start with. The Common Sandpiper was on the dam and there was little else of note, so I went back to where I thought I may have seen a Siberian Chiffchaff yesterday. Sure enough I spotted the same very pale grey bird again and there is little doubt that’s what it was, so I got out my camera and got the shots below. My day list was 40 spp.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Flower Corner © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Tuesday 25th February [Mainly bright & sunny. Cooler.]

I birded from Lodge Copse to Flower Corner and back, having filled the feeder and watched it for a while. A pair of Siskins and a Jay came in to join the Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Robins and Dunnocks (& Philip, of course). There was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck, but at Flower Corner I came across at least four Chiffchaffs feeding in a hedge with a Goldcrest. Three Great White Egrets were present too. 38 spp.

Common Chiffchaff, Flower Corner © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Monday 24th February [Very wet overnight, but it turned out nice.]

I only had time for an hour late morning, but saw the Greylag at Rainbow Point, a Water Rail at Flower Corner, four Great White Egrets, and five Great Black-backed Gulls of note. Then, as dusk fell I walked down the hill and over the dam and back. I met Christine O’C. who had her bins with her and saw three pairs of Goosanders off the dam. I pointed out the Common Sandpiper as it flew along the dam while we were chatting. 39 spp.

Adult Greylag Goose, Rainbow Point © Nigel Milbourne 2025

Sunday 23rd February [Gales & rain. Horrible out there.]

I drove down to the lake just before midday when the rain eased slightly. There’s not much to report back I’m afraid. List 28 spp. I didn’t find the drake Ring-necked Duck, but counted six Great White Egrets, and saw a female Scaup which was with the Aythya hybrid / 1-w Scaup. I want the male bird to be a Scaup, but it’s moult is exceedingly slow, almost suspended during December and January. It may have hatched quite late in the breeding season perhaps? What I find a bit puzzling is that the head moult, superficially at least, is nowhere near complete even though it is normally one of the first parts of the plumage to be moulted in the first pre-breeding moult – there are still creamy patches at the base of the bill, and today, in less than ideal conditions, the head still appeared to be brown. Also, the head shape appeared quite angular while I watched it preening. The slow, delayed, moult and a possible late hatching date might be a factor in confusion over it’s appearance and identity. Could it even be an example of the subspecies nearctica? They are generally slightly smaller than ssp. marila with a different head shape and have a different moult strategy. If it sticks around, we might get an idea, but it may depart smartly around the end of March / beginning of April now it’s in company with the female. I’ll try and get some more pictures of it alongside the female Scaup and Tufted Ducks tomorrow if I can.

Saturday 22nd February [A lovely warm & sunny day – is Spring around the corner?]

I met Mark and Ken to check, rehang, and clean some of the Blagdon Lake bat boxes late this morning. We had a great time in the warm sunshine, found quite a few Soprano Pipistrelles and, for the first time, two Noctules together in one of the boxes. While doing the bat work we heard two Cetti’s Warblers singing (one each at Pipe and Home Bays), a Water Rail squealing at Home Bay, and a Greylag with Canada Geese at Rainbow Point. Then, when we’d finished I got back in my car and had a quick look for the drake Ring-necked Duck – I didn’t find him though. There were at least six Great White Egrets at the lake today. List was 37 bird spp.

Noctule Bats, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2025

This is a phone picture taken to help us identify the bats without the need to handle them, thereby minimising disturbance. The bat on the left has got bird poo on it suggesting they have roosted with a bird, probably a Blue Tit. We were worried it might be a fungal infection – happily it wasn’t.

Friday 21st February [Mild. Windy. Drizzle at times.]

The drake Ring-necked duck was still in residence today, and I heard a (wintering) Chiffchaff calling but, unlike Shapwick Heath where there was a Sand Martin reported, I didn’t see or here anything new. There were eight Goldeneye at Top End, and seven Great White Egrets around the lake. I’m pleased to report that the screen that blew down next to Top End hide has been replaced this week, and an extra one put up on the right side too. This makes a stealthy approach a little less likely to spook birds close by. Day list 42 spp.

I was saddened to learn that Steve Hale passed away last night. He birded BL a bit when he lived in the area and was always happy to share his sightings. He also set up and managed the Avon Birds blog in the early years, before moving away to Norfolk. RIP Steve.

Thursday 20th February [Overcast with periods of drizzle. Warmer than of late.]

I wasn’t expecting much when I birded my way from Lodge Copse to Top End gate and back but, although not entirely unexpected, what should I spot feeding on his lonesome in Long Bay, but the drake Ring-necked Duck. The rest of my walk was pretty uneventful to honest, as the wind got up and the drizzle set in. There were at least five Great White Egrets moving around the waterside, 40+ Redwings, a few Fieldfares, and 7+ Goldeneye still at Top End. I saw my first Lesser Celandine flower of the year, and noticed that the Primroses are beginning to show themselves more widely as well, although I saw my first of the year at least a fortnight ago. Day list 43 spp.

Wednesday 19th February [Mixed weather, some drizzle.]

I spent an hour at the lake mid-afternoon. There was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck or Scaup again, but I saw a Marsh Harrier and four Great White Egrets of note in a list of 41 spp.

Tuesday 18th February [A beautiful day – out of the wind]

I went walking with friends Ann and Trevor today. I didn’t get back until mid-afternoon and was at the lake from 1630-1730 hrs. There was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck again, athough I was birding mainly from my car. I didn’t see the pair of Scaup either, but I’ll have a walk tomorrow with my scope. My best sightings were 13 Lapwings on Green Lawn, and six Great White Egrets, in a list of 36 spp. The first Wheatear arrived in the area at Northwick Warth today – stand by your beds!

Monday 17th February [A chilly start with some intermittent sunshine later]

I met Phil at the dam at 0920 hrs to do the WeBS count. We started as usual along Butcome Bank, with the easterly wind blowing straight down the lake into our faces. Phil reckoned it was 1°C and it certainly felt a little fresh. We saw the Common Sandpiper below the overspill, but couldn’t locate the Ring-necked Duck at all. New in was an adult drake Scaup which was with the adult female off Rugmoor Point, and seven Great White and one Little Egret were the best of the rest. Counts were as follows: Canada Goose 61, Mute Swan 15 adults, Shoveler 32, Gadwall 8, Wigeon 5, Mallard 48, Teal 21, Pochard 22, Tufted Duck 450, Scaup 2, Aythya hybrid 1, Goldeneye 13 (6 drakes), Moorhen 19, Coot 710, Little Grebe 8, Great Crested Grebe 19, Snipe 34, Common Sandpiper 1, Black-headed Gull 20+, Common Gull 20, Herring Gull 2, Great Black-backed Gull 6, Cormorant 55, Little Egret 1, Great White Egret 7, Grey Heron 4, Sparrowhawk 1, Red Kite 1, Buzzard 3. I noted 47 spp.

Sunday 16th February [Quite a pleasant day, if a little cool in the breeze.]

My day started with an easy run across the fields and through the woods, walking up the steeper slopes to prevent hurting my dodgy achilles tendon. It went okay, although the ankle stiffened up later. After a shower it was off into Bristol to the Bristol Moth Group annual meeting at the Museum. As usual, there were some fascinating and inspiring talks. This spring we’re going to have a daytime meeting at the lake, porbably on 11th May, and may have a night moth & bat meeting, either the same weekend, or,+ a little later in the year. Details haven’t been finalised just yet though. More immediate is the monthly WeBS count tomorrow morning with Phil. I got back from Bristol a little too late to go to the lake for a look around. I’m not aware of any reports from there today.

Saturday 15th February [Near flat calm though drizzly until late afternoon]

I spent some time along the south side of the lake with my camera using the car rather than stalking on foot. The drake Ring-necked Duck was in Long Bay but, once again, there was no sign of the female Scaup. I saw six Great White Egrets, three Grey Herons and a Little Egret. Some of the Great White’s are starting to attain breeding plumage with green lores, yellow bills darkening, long whispy aigrettes, and reddish thighs. They have yet to breed at Blagdon, but I suppose they might do, if they choose to use trees rather than on the ground in marginal vegetation where they’d likely be predated or disturbed by humans. Generally, they attain breeding plumage and leave the lake, presumably to fly over the Mendips to the the Somerset Levels. Grey Herons, on the other hand, start to nest in March and breed earlier than the GWE. There are a few local, very old, heronries and I remember watching herons flying to and fro over our house in Cleeve, between Brockley and the North Somerset Levels when I were a lad in the sixties. Herons have bred at Blagdon on and off over the years – it would be good if a heronry really became established at the lake, it might just attract egrets too.

Friday 14th February [Another mainly grey day with a biting easterly breeze]

I birded on foot from Home Bay to Top End gate & back this afternoon. I saw the drake Ring-necked Duck in Long Bay, six Great White Egrets, one Little Egret, and quite a lot of large gulls, especially Lesser Black-backed, in the evening roost. There were no Goosanders at the dam end, or sightings of the female Scaup at the Top End before I left for home. Waterfowl numbers are generally falling away now, as winter visitors leave, but with warmer weather and southerly winds forecast for the end of next week, perhaps a few spring migrants might start to appear in southern England. May be some more birdsong will be in the air too. I noticed that conservation work has commenced in the recently felled areas, with a number of native trees/shrubs having already been planted in Holt Copse. I will take some fixed point photographs, for as long as I’m able, so we can see how things develop over the coming years. My day list was just 39 spp.

Wednesday 12th February [Overcast]

I had time for an hour at the lake over lunchtime today and saw the drake Ring-necked Duck back in Long Bay, but there was no sign of the female Scaup at Top End, although the water was fairly coloured after recent rain, so she may have moved back along the south side somewhere. The drake Aythya hybrid / Scaup was still at the dam end with Tufties, and there were nine Great White Egrets, but I didn’t see anything else worthy of comment in a list of 37 spp.

Sunday 9th February [Mainly overcast & a bit warmer]

I couldn’t face the lake yesterday, in the dismal and freezing conditions, so after breakfast with mates Mark H. and Ken A., who I met with for a catch up and to discuss bat plans for the year, I plonked myself in my armchair and watched the rugby. Feeling a bit guilty this morning, I decided I had to get back down there. I topped-up the feeder, having already been ambushed by Phil the Pheasant, and set out for Rainbow Point in my car. I received a text from Ross F. who’d seen a Marsh Harrier at Pipe Bay reeds 25 minutes earlier. There was no sign of the drake Ring-necked Duck in Long Bay or the harrier, but I came across a parked car at Rainbow Point, so drove on to catch up with the occupants and met Jean and Rodger S. They had already met someone who said the RND was near the Top End hide and they were looking for it at Flower Corner. We spotted it sitting quietly on the water in the flooded trees, but it quickly moved out of sight. We went and found the female Scaup at Top End and looked again for the RND but Rodger didn’t get the scope view he’d hoped for. I walked back to Rainbow Point with them but still no luck, so I headed back to Top End on my own and there it was asleep in full view where we’d first glimpsed it, at Flower Corner (sorry Rodge). I saw a calling Chiffchaff at Bell’s Bush barrier, nine Great White Egrets, a Little Egret, and heard a Tawny Owl call, in a list of 47 spp. before heading home to watch Scotland v Ireland in the Six Nations. After the rugby I went for a short run through the woods and back home across the fields where I saw a Barn Owl hunting near Yeo Valley HQ.

Friday 7th February [A dull day with a bitterly cold north easterly wind, and sleet later in the afternoon.]

I got down to the lake at midday and filled the feeder. I also put some food on the ground for ‘Phillip the Pheasant’ who was running around my feet! I got back in the car and loads of Coal, Blue and Great Tits flooded in to get at the sunflower hearts in the feeder, and on the ground there were lots of Chaffinches, at least six Dunnocks, and several Robins squabbling for the hearts Phil hadn’t eaten yet. Marc H. had already been at the lake since early morning, hoping to see the Grey Partridges, but sadly they didn’t put in an appearance. He also missed the drake Ring-necked Duck, as I did on the way to Top End. However, when I got there I spotted the adult female Scaup, and on the way back with a last look from the bridge, I saw the Ring-necked Duck swim into view at the mouth of the bay. I counted five Great White Egrets in a list of 39 spp. noted from my car. I also met Simon H. of BW at Holt Copse and had an interesting chat with him about his plans for the tree work. We discussed things he might do to improve the woodland for bats and birds, and how he might measure, into the future, the hoped for benefits of the work that is being carried out. There are at least a couple of notable species that I’ll be looking out for each year that may well benefit from the changes, and Simon is especially interested in seeing how the fungi flourish. So, if you think it looks like a scene of destruction now, be aware, that dead wood is being left on the ground, some trunks will be left standing and modified to provide homes for wildlife, and new native tree planting, it is hoped, should begin in the next couple of weeks, including Oak, Hazel, and Field Maple. Although, I won’t witness the improvement in the woodland structure for wildlife that is being carried out by Simon and BW now, I sincerely hope the legacy of his vision will bear fruit in 40-50 years. After all, the impoverished biodiversity of our little island needs all the help it can get. Chapeau that man!

Thursday 6th February [Bright blue sky & sunshine, with a piercing easterly wind]

I walked from home to Top End and back again today. The Ring-necked Duck was in Long Bay, but I couldn’t find the female Scaup at Top End. Perhaps, it was in the flooded trees keeping a low profile. More interestingly, l came upon a covey of at least seven Grey Partridges (a first at the lake for me – although almost certainly released locally). Three Great White and one Little Egret were stalking the lakeside margins as usual, and 17+ Snipe were visible from the Top End hide, in a day list of 52 spp. I haven’t seen the Common Sandpiper since I got back from Scotland, but it’s probably still around the Spillway, and Mark H. told me there is a Green Sandpiper at the Pumping Station, which in all probability is the same bird that spent last winter there too.

Wednesday 5th February [A lovely day]

I enjoyed a cracking walk from home to Top End gate and back birding my way as I went. It was great to hear a few birds singing, including Robin, Great Tit, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, and Chaffinch. I didn’t see the drake Ring-necked Duck on the way out, but it was in Long Bay, as usual, on the way back. Also, at Top End, the adult female Scaup was still present after all. I counted four Great White Egrets, a Little Egret, five Snipe, and the same 26 Canada Geese as yesterday, in a list of 45 spp.

Tuesday 4th February [A bit wet & windy during my afternoon visit]

It’s good to be back home although, apart from the tree work, not too much appears to have changed. I saw four Goosanders, 15 Snipe, 26 Canada Geese, and the adult drake Ring-necked Duck, and although I looked through the water fowl fairly carefully, I didn’t spot the adult female Scaup at Top End. Also noted were three Great White and one Little Egret. I only noted 38 spp.

Sunday 2nd February

News from Andy M. that the drake Ring-necked Duck is still in Long Bay today. My quest for the White-winged Scoter in the Firth of Forth continues, but with the way things are going, I’m likely to call it a day very soon. I went to Gullane Bay where the bird in Lothian was seen late morning, but nearly all the 2000+ Scoter were a long way off and in poor light there was very little chance of picking out the White-winged Scoter in the throng. There were a few Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers in a bit closer, with a small group of Velvet Scoter.