Friday 31st October [Some heavy showers]
When I got to the dam this afternoon, I bumped into Brian T. who was looking for the Black-necked Grebe. I spent the best part of an hour looking for it too around the Lodge, Pipe Bay and the dam, but there was no sign, just a group of about eight Little Grebes. I checked the lake as I drove towards Wood Bay Point, but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, and that included two searches through the large number of birds in mid-lake. There were seven Egyptian Geese at Cheddar Water, a Kingfisher in flight, two Little Egrets and 30 Great White Egrets worthy of note. 33 spp.
Later: Nick P. reported to Avon Birds that the Black-necked Grebe was still present, and he counted 32 Great White Egrets and 49 Lapwings.
Thursday 30th October [A grey day with showers]
I didn’t get to the lake today, but Andy M. reported that the Black-necked Grebe was in front of the Lodge again, and Avon Birds reported a sighting of three (introduced) Grey Partridges.
Wednesday 29th October [A murky, misty, morning. Showers later.]
I had an hour and a quarter by the lake mid-morning, but I didn’t do very well. No sign of the Black-necked Grebe or Scaup! The mid-lake basin had a few more Pochard in it today, but waterfowl were scattered pretty evenly all over the place. I saw a pair of Red-legged Partridges where I saw four Grey Partridges on Saturday, 16 Great White and two Little Egrets, three Egyptian Geese, a drake Goldeneye, plus a few Lapwings. 39 spp.
Tuesday 28th October [Dry & mainly sunny with a cool breeze].
I was out all day on Sunday, and yesterday morning I was helping Mark H. and Ken A. rehang some of the bat boxes at Chew (for safety reasons). So, apologies for the lack of news over the last couple of days. Today, I spent all afternoon at the lake. There have been reports of around a thousand Cormorants at t’other place recently, so I suppose it was little surprise that they would eventually start to impact Blagdon – and what an impact it was today. I counted 589 along the North Shore alone, which is by far and away the biggest count ever made at the lake (don’t tell Jeff H. though). It was an astonishing sight. The Black-necked Grebe was present in Pipe Bay, and easily visible from the dam, or over the gate along Park Lane, and remember it usually feeds very close to the water’s edge, so look there first. Again, there was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck, but I did find a Scaup. It was a fair way out, and either an adult female or juvenile (probably the former). Other notable sightings included the Common Sandpiper on the dam, seven Egyptian Geese, ten Great White and two Little Egrets, and 20 Grey Herons. There are still a few Lapwings around but I didn’t see any other waders at Top End. While chatting to Mark H. at Rainbow Point, a Migrant Hawker was feeding around the trees over our heads. 43 spp.
I’ve been told the water level is around 30%, and although water has been flowing in after the rain showers, the lake’s still being pumped, which means the level has been holding steady for the last week or two.
Saturday 25th October [Cool & sunny, but getting breezy in the afternoon.]
This afternoon I had another look for the Ring-necked Duck, but couldn’t find it. Perhaps it has moved on after all – it might be worth checking Chew or the other reservoirs. All the small waders seem to have moved on as well, although I counted 163 Lapwings still present. The Black-necked Grebe was in the usual place off the west (dam) end of Green Lawn, and I counted seven Egyptian Geese at Cheddar Water, plus 33 Great White and two Little Egrets around the lake (although Mark H. told me he’d counted 35 GWE earlier in the day). The first Redwing of the winter passed over while I was there too. Now then, I saw four Grey Partridges, and they have also been seen by Skip H. while doing a BTO survey recently, and Mark told me he and several of the fisheries team have seen them as well. Recently, Chris P. told me where they were released, so they are definitely local introductions that have arrived at the lake. It would be great if they were able to establish themselves, but I won’t be holding my breath. 41 spp.
UPDATE: I have been keeping an eye on the ‘putative’ Lesser Scaup, and had another good look at it again yesterday. As I’d expect, the head has been in moult since my earlier photos on 10th and 12th October, and aside from there being little change to the two white facial ‘lozenges’, the head shape has become more Tuftie-like. There is still no sign of any grey feathering coming through on the mantle, although this could occur as late as January-February. Rich M. and Andy D. have been back to look at it as well, and I believe the general consensus now is that it isn’t a Lesser Scaup after all.
Friday 24th October [Mixed sunshine & showers. Cool.]
This afternoon I spent quite some time looking for the drake Ring-necked Duck but couldn’t find him, although I’ll admit I didn’t look at every Aythya duck on the lake, so he may be still be present. At Burmah Road, I looked through the waders that included 16 Dunlin and two Curlew Sandpipers. There were still plenty of Lapwings scattered around the lake, and I counted 13 Great White and two Little Egrets. Two Stonechats (a pair) were working along Burmah Road bankside vegetation, and while going through the waterfowl at the mid-lake basin, I spotted two Goldeneye, an adult drake and brownhead. On my way back to the Lodge, I had another look for the Black-necked Grebe that I’d missed earlier, and found it in the usual place between Green Lawn and Tiny’s Shallow – it was feeding in the patch of weed there, with some waterfowl and a ‘dabbling’ of eight or nine Little Grebes. 41 spp.
Wednesday 22nd October [A warm & sunny autumn day]
I walked around Butcombe, West Town & Nempnett Thrubwell with friends this morning. In the afternoon, I had a look around the lake. Rich M. reported seeing the RING-NECKED DUCK asleep from Rainbow Point in the morning, and it was still feeding in the mid-lake basin this afternoon. At the east end of the lake, the extent of the water is opposite Burmah Road now, and from there I saw 16 Dunlin and two Curlew Sandpipers, but there may have been more because the birds were feeding in new channels created by incoming water in the last few days. Other notable birds included a Common Sandpiper at the dam, a Black-necked Grebe in front of the Lodge, and a brief visit by a juvenile Goosander. I counted 126 Lapwings, eight Egyptian Geese, 17 Pintail, five Pochard, four Little Egrets, 26 Great White Egrets and 19 Grey Herons. 48 spp.
Tuesday 21st October
No news from the lake today. I went to Dorset to see the Baikal Teal at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Monday 20th October [Showers]
As I hadn’t been to the lake yesterday, I went to see what was new this morning. In truth, the answer was not a lot, but I really enjoyed going through everything to see what I could find. The Black-necked Grebe was still between Tiny’s Shallow and Green Lawn viewed from the Lodge, and the drake RING-NECKED DUCK was back in the mid-lake basin viewed from Rainbow Point. At Top End I counted 102 Lapwings, and 27 small waders, which I think were all Dunlin bar a handful of Curlew Sandpipers (at least three). When I arrived there were an extraordinary 48 Great White Egrets from the spillway around Butcombe Bay, but when I left at around 1315 hrs, I decided to count again as I drove back from Rainbow Point to the dam, and totalled 54 Great White and two Little Egrets – I’m pretty sure the Great White count is the first over fifty, and a site record. 42 spp.
Great White Egrets, Holt Bay, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Saturday 18th October [A quiet morning with a gathering breeze in the afternoon. The weather is on the change.]
After smashing my Parkrun best time this morning, I set off for the lake in the afternoon in a positive frame of mind. I decided to go to Top End first, where I found some small waders, five Curlew Sandpipers and twelve Dunlin, among ten Golden Plover and 137 Lapwings. Next, I counted egrets, 48 Great White and four Little Egrets, plus an impressive 26 Grey Herons. With the water level still dropping, an imposing concentration of some 2000 waterfowl had gathered in the mid-lake basin between Rainbow Point and Rugmoor. I must have spent at least an hour going through them a couple of times but couldn’t spot the drake Ring-necked Duck in the throng. So, I made my way back towards the Lodge, and at the west end of Green Lawn I spotted a Black-necked Grebe from the car with my bins. I decided to get out and scope it, and while doing that what should happen but the RING-NECKED DUCK came up right beside it! 37 spp.
Friday 17th October [Grey in the morning & the sun came out after lunch]
I spent an interesting couple of hours at the lake just before lunch. Some of the Golden Plover had, indeed, stayed overnight and I counted six of them among the 108 Lapwings – it was almost like the old days! Other waders included 15 12 Dunlin and two five Curlew Sandpipers. There were lots of piscivores too, I counted 154+ Cormorants, 35 Great White Egrets, eleven Little Egrets, and 22 Grey Herons. The first Goldeneye of the winter was feeding off of Rugmoor Point and the RING-NECKED DUCK was off Rainbow Point.
Having just had a bite to eat for lunch, and with the sun having come out, I think I’ll go back to the lake for the afternoon to see what else might be lurking around my patch – I enjoyed my walk and saw a flock of about 40 Linnets at Green Lawn, my first of the year, and I had a magical encounter with another piscivore, an Otter, that I watched flush some waterfowl then lope along the bank away from the water towards cover. I even had time to video it on my phone camera! 52 spp.
Thursday 16th October [A quiet, mainly overcast day]
I haven’t managed to get to the lake for the last two days, so I don’t have any news other than the following for today courtesy of Rich M., Andy D. and Avon Birds: The drake RING-NECKED DUCK, 20 Golden Plover, 15 Dunlin, 27 Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. Thanks to all concerned. I’m planning to spend a good deal of my time at the lake tomorrow – I hope the Goldies stick overnight!
Tuesday 14th October [Overcast most of the day]
I had a chat with Rich M. this morning who told me he’d seen the RING-NECKED DUCK, and had counted 76 (I think it was) Lapwings. He couldn’t find the ‘putative’ Lesser Scaup though. I had a look this afternoon didn’t see the Ringer, but the Aythya ducks were pretty well spread over the lake. The possible Lesser Scaup was in Wood Bay, but having set up with my camera gear, I began to doubt I had the right bird, so moved on. With little time before I had to leave, I went to look for small waders at the east end of the lake, where I counted eleven Dunlin and two Curlew Sandpipers. I also counted 29 Great White Egrets, three Little Egrets and six Egyptian Geese. 38 spp.
Monday 13th October [Drizzly and overcast first thing but gradually brightening]
Rob, Skip, Dave and I did the WeBS count this morning, with totals as follows: Canada Goose 6, Mute Swan 50 (inc. 3 juvs.), Egyptian Goose 7, Shoveler 257, Gadwall 397, Wigeon 137, Mallard 241, Pintail 12, Teal 1387, Pochard 1, RING-NECKED DUCK 1, Tufted Duck 413, Moorhen 35, Coot 692, Little Grebe 15, Great Crested Grebe 72, Lapwing 44, Common Sandpiper 2, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Dunlin 8, Herring Gull c. 60, Great Black-backed Gull 19, Lesser Black-backed Gull c. 19, Cormorant 161, Little Egret 14, Great White Egret 29, & Grey Heron 21. Water level <40%. 0948-1316hrs. 37 spp. The ‘putative’ Lesser Scaup and Black-necked Grebe weren’t seen during the count, and I didn’t have time to look for the possible LS after we’d finished today.
Sunday 12th October [Mainly overcast with a cool north-easterly breeze]
I spent the afternoon at the lake where I counted eight Dunlin, two Curlew Sandpipers, eleven Pintail, three Pochard, the drake RING-NECKED DUCK, sixteen Little Grebes, forty-four Lapwings, 115 Cormorants, eight Little Egrets and 27 Great White Egrets. I looked for the Black-necked Grebe, but didn’t find it. I did, however, find the ‘putative’ Lesser Scaup at Wood Bay Point, and have posted some pictures below. I’m no clearer about its identity because I didn’t get any wing flap shots to help. I’ll try again tomorrow after the WeBS count if I have time. 35 spp.
‘Putative’ Lesser Scaup, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Saturday 11th October [Mostly overcast. The sun came out late afternoon.]
I spent the morning with Mark H., Ken A., and some of the Avon Bat Group checking bat boxes. We found 37 Soprano Pipistrelles spread around the lake and seven Natterer’s in a box where we’ve not found them before. I stayed on after the bat work and got my binoculars out for a look around. At Top End, I saw four Dunlin, two Curlew Sandpipers, a Snipe and the flock of Lapwings (although when these were put to flight by two hot air balloons, I’m sure there were more waders in the flock). There was a huge gulp of at least 178 Cormorants between Rugmoor and Top End that were driving fish towards the south bank, where there were 23 Great White Egrets and six Little Egrets making the most of the food that was being pushed towards them. I moved on to Rainbow Point where I spotted the drake RING-NECKED DUCK, and ‘putative’ Lesser Scaup that was right over towards Rugmoor Point. I drove on again to check out Holt Bay, and spent some time looking through the ducks there before going home. I didn’t look for the Black-necked Grebe today. 34 spp.
Friday 10th October [Mainly overcast]
I spent most of the day up in the Cotswolds walking with friends today, but received a number of messages about a putative female/juvenile Lesser Scaup that had been found. I managed to spend an hour or so later in the afternoon watching the bird and can see why it drew attention to itself. However, at the moment, on the views I had, I suspect it may actually be a hybrid Aythya. I got some poor shots of a wing flap (shutter speed too slow) and saw one flap through the scope that suggested the white in the secondaries bled through in to the primaries, but I’m not saying I had a definitive view. To me, the facial pattern looked good, but something about the overall appearance and head shape didn’t look quite right alongside the Tufties. I hope we get another opportunity to look at it again tomorrow – it’s certainly an interesting bird. During my limited time at the lake, I saw the Black-necked Grebe and five Egyptian Geese at Cheddar Water, and heard a Green Sandpiper calling several times at the dam. I received news from Rich M. that the drake RING-NECKED DUCK was still present off Wood Bay Point, and between Rainbow and Rugmoor Points when further out. He and Merv P. also told me there was a Stonechat, eight Dunlin, nine Ringed Plover, 43 Lapwing and a Curlew Sandpiper at Top End. Thanks for the messages today guys. Tomorrow morning, we will be checking the bat boxes at the lake.
Black-necked Grebe, Cheddar Water, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Thursday 9th October [Sunny, then turning cloudy later in the day]
I spent an hour at the lake late this morning and saw seven Egyptian Geese, eight Dunlin, three Curlew Sandpipers, seven Little Egrets and six Great White Egrets. I didn’t have time to look for the drake RING-NECKED DUCK or Black-necked Grebe at the time, but they were both reported later from the Lodge. I managed another 50 minute visit after tea, but was unable to see either bird from the Lodge before it got too dark. I did, however, count 55 Great Crested Grebes gathering to roost. 36 spp.
Wednesday 8th October [Sunny spells & drizzle]
I spent an hour at the lake at lunchtime, most of which was searching for the drake Ring-necked Duck, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I didn’t see any waders apart from the Lapwings, probably due to a Merlin seen at Top End a little earlier by Nick P. Later still, Andy M. posted that he’d seen two Curlew Sandpipers at Top End, and the Black-necked Grebe in front of the Lodge, where I’d seen it last Friday. When I arrived, an angler was just coming back from Tiny’s Shallow, having flushed most of the birds from in front of the Lodge. I guess it just wasn’t my day, but thanks Nick and Andy for your sightings – I shall be back tomorrow with renewed hope! Actually, I nearly forgot that I’d counted six Great White and nine Little Egrets while I was there. 29 spp.
Avon Birds reported an additional seven Dunlin and 34 Lapwings and Mike M. emailed me later to say he saw a Green Sandpiper on the dam and 47 Lapwings at Top End.
Tuesday 7th October [Mild, with sunny spells & a light breeze]
The wind had finally dropped today, and after an hour and a half checking the remaining bat boxes at Chew with Ken A., during which we saw the Whooper Swan at Heron’s Green Bay thanks to Chris C., I drove back to Blagdon to spend the afternoon at the lake. It was a very pleasant few hours during which I saw seven Dunlin, 40 Lapwing, seven Pintail, five Pochard and a male Stonechat at Top End, an adult drake RING-NECKED DUCK among the Tufties from Rainbow Point, and another male Stonechat and a Wheatear at Green Lawn. I rather suspect the ‘Ringer’ is probably the one that has wintered at the lake for the last few years, so it may be the start of a long stay, but with the lake level so low (and likely to get lower still), it may leave if feeding conditions dont suit. Five Great White and five Little Egrets completed my counts. 40 spp.
Monday 6th October [Cloudy with a steady breeze]
I spent an hour over lunchtime at the lake, but didn’t see a great deal compared with previous days. There was a Common Sandpiper at the dam, of course, and 44 Lapwings with two dunlin at Top End. Surprisingly, I saw just a single Canada Goose, and among the wildfowl six Pintail. Egrets included eight Little and five Great Whites. I also saw a Red Admiral butterfly during one of the few sunny spells. 33 spp.
Sunday 5th October [Sunny spells & breezy]
A great little team assembled at PS2, Chew Valley Lake for an 0900 hrs start. It took us about five hours to do everything except the boxes at Nunnery, which we couldn’t get to due to illegal dumping of waste. We saw lots of Soprano Pipistrelles. After tea and cake, we went our separate ways and an hour later I was down at Blagdon having a ‘nosey’. Again, I couldn’t find the Black-necked Grebe seen on Friday, but there was a Common Sandpiper on the dam, three Dunlin off Hellfire Corner, 38 Lapwings, four Pintail, three Little Egrets, and seven Great White Egrets, of note. 33 spp. Nick P. came through in his car and told me he’d counted 73 Meadow Pipits at Top End as well.
Saturday 4th October [Gale force wind – Storm Amy]
What a wild day! The wind was blowing straight up the lake and the Top End was virtually empty of birds. The Glossy ibises had moved on, as had all the waders except 44 Lapwings. It was difficult to see any birds that weren’t in the bays sheltering along the south side of the lake. I couldn’t spot the Black-necked Grebe today either. There were three Great White Egrets and two Little Egrets that spent most of the time I was there with eight Grey Herons at Burmah Road sheltering. Tomorrow morning we will be checking bat boxes at t’other place. 34 spp.
Friday 3rd October [Wet & windy]
A Black-necked Grebe was a cracking welcome back to the lake this afternoon, especially given the meagre pickings on Shetland. I also noted two GLOSSY IBISES, ten Dunlin, a Ruff, 37 Lapwings, four Great White Egrets, two Little Egrets and a Cattle Egret. It seems quite a few Teal have arrived in my absence, and there were reasonable numbers of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails feeding around the lake margins this afternoon. 45 spp.
Thursday 2nd October
News from Andy D. today of two GLOSSY IBISES, seven Dunlin, a Ruff, 41 Lapwings, four Common Gulls, four Great White Egrets and 50 Meadow Pipits at the lake.
NOT SHETLAND
After a pretty unpleasant and very bumpy night on the ferry back to Aberdeen, I faced a ten hour drive home and arrived back at tea time. I’d like to thank Rich M. and Merv P. for their updates from the lake while I’ve been away. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.
Wednesday 1st October
News from Rich M. again today of two GLOSSY IBISES, seven Dunlin, a Ruff and 32 Lapwings.
SHETLAND
It was wet and windy this morning and although I was tempted, I decided not to drive down to Sumburgh and back for the Common Rosefinch that was showing well there. Sid and I were packing to catch the evening ferry back to Aberdeen via Orkney. We spent some time with Mark P. and Chris, before heading out, because they’d virtually abandoned birding for the day by lunchtime as well.