Ring Ouzel at KGV Reservoir, Chingford

Two recent trips to Blows Down in Bedfordshire and Wanstead Flats in London had failed to locate any Ring Ouzels.

This morning, another Ring Ouzel was found at KGV Reservoir in Chingford. Having parked up in the car park, I was uncertain which area the Ring Ouzel had been found in. We headed around the South end of South Basin, and two Little Ringed Plovers were seen flying from the near bank, and three Wheatear were found in the grass banks as we approached the causeway. 

I headed off around the West side of North Basin, only to be told that the Ring Ouzel that had been quite happily feeding below the grass bank along the fence line had been flushed by two guys in a Land Rover, who had parked on the grass bank right where the Ring Ouzel had been feeding! Having scanned the sheep fields and the surrounding area, I failed to re-locate the bird.

The walk back produced several more Wheatear, a white Wagtail, and a year tick in the form of a Willow Warbler. 

We left the site and were heading for home when a phone call from Neville Smith saying he had re-found the Ring Ouzel made us turn round and head for the back of the sheep fields. Shortly before we arrived, a brief shower had pushed the bird into cover, and it was not visible when we arrived. Scanning the area, a bird flew from a nearby tree and landed at the bottom of the grass slope, and bingo! Ring Ouzel added to the year list.

Thanks to Neville for the phone call and for sending the photos below.