Brian hadn't been feeling 100% recently, so we delayed our start of the new birding year until today. A trip to Abberton Reservoir was our choice, as it was relatively close to home.
We arrived at Layer Breton causeway around 8am, and were soon watching three drake Smew, quickly followed by several Goldeneye and Goosander. We walked south and scanned the nearby field to find the three Tundra Bean Geese among a sizeable flock of Greylag Geese.
In a field opposite Billets Farm, we found the White-fronted Geese, before parking along Layer de la Haye causeway to scan the main reservoir. Two Little Stints, several Black-tailed Godwits, and a single Green sandpiper were seen feeding at the southern end. Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes were also seen. Having crossed the road, we found a Rock Pipit feeding along the water's edge and a Kingfisher perched among the overhanging branches. From here, we parked up at the start of Lodge Lane and walked out to view the reservoir, where I managed to locate the Lesser Scaup among the raft of Tufted Ducks and Greater Scaup.
On the way home, we made a brief stop at Ardleigh Reservoir and quickly found the reported Red-necked Grebe.
I finished the day having seen fifty species, and after adding the fifteen species seen from the garden the previous day, my year list stands at 75.
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| Drake Smew |
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