Lee Valley, Epping Forest and local birding

A trip to Lee Valley started well when I added Red-legged Partridge to my year list. Five birds were seen in fields before reaching the farm. The trees bordering the farm held a nice flock of Chaffinch and within that flock were at least five Brambling, for another year tick. Redwing and Fieldfare had been two glaring misses, but today both were seen together in trees around the farm.

Seventy Acres Lake proved less productive, There was no sign of the Bittern or the redhead Smew even after a fairly lengthy search. The only addition to the list was a Water Rail from the New Wildlife Discovery Centre.

A very smart-looking Silver Wood Duck was found along the River Lea.

Silver Wood Duck

Before heading home we stopped at one of the Epping Forest car parks and very quickly found several Mandarin Ducks. A Treecreeper was also added to the year list. 

January 6th

Brian still needed Red-necked Grebe, so I offered to go with him to King George V Reservoir, hoping it would still be at the site. The first bird found was the juvenile Great Northern Diver.

Great Northern Diver

The Red-necked Grebe proved more difficult, usually, it is found in the south end of the South Basin but it was nowhere to be seen. Walking towards the causeway we found several Little Grebes and Great Crested Grebes and another scan from the causeway gate eventually located the Red-necked Grebe. We scanned through large rafts of Tufted Ducks and found a smart drake Scaup among them.

Scaup

After arriving home dad said he had a job to do in Wanstead and with the now regular Caspian Gull just around the corner in Snaresbrook we jumped in the car with him. The bird was spotted while driving past Eagle Pond. We parked the car and enjoyed watching it for a short while before returning home.

Caspian Gull