KGV Reservoir and Wanstead Flats

On the 9th of March, a Drake Garganey was reported on the north basin of the KGV Reservoir. When it was still being reported on the 12th, Brian and I walked the four miles around the south and north basins, but the Garganey proved very elusive and we failed to locate it. On the south basin, we found one of the Great Northern Divers and as we reached the causeway, we spotted one of the Black-necked Grebes. The north basin was more productive, we managed to find the other Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe along with the Slavonian Grebe. A drake Smew was showing relatively close as we approached the northern end. I managed to add two-year ticks from here, those being four Sand Martin seen flying across the bottom edge of the reservoir and a Raven was seen flying toward one of the buildings on the west side. It eventually landed on the tower platform. We could hear Red Kites calling from the trees on the opposite side of the River Lea and I took a photo of one of them through the scope. On the walk back we had good if distant views of a Black-throated Diver.

12th March

The Garganey was still being reported each day since our visit, so Brian and I revisited the site on the 12th. We saw a Great Northern Diver, Drake Scaup, and a Black-necked Grebe on the south basin on the walk up towards the causeway. As we approached the north end of the north basin we met three other birders who said they had seen the Garganey but that it had disappeared and not been refound since. We scanned every bird as we walked around the reservoir, but there was no sign of the Garganey. As we approached the causeway on the walk back we spotted the Slavonian Grebe and then as we scanned the south bank, there was the Garganey! It was asleep among a mixed group of Tufted Duck, Teal, and Gadwall. A Dunlin was also seen feeding along the edge of the causeway bank.

 

Garganey (centre of photo)

19th March

This morning Dad wanted to try to see a Little Owl, so with limited time we popped over to Wanstead and with some help from Marco we eventually managed to locate one among the ivy-clad trees. At first, it was well hidden among the leaves but it soon moved out onto the open branches.