Friday 2 January 2015

A SCAUP brings in the New Year

FRIDAY 2 JANUARY (2015)
 
A day that started off fine and dry with clear blue skies; temperatures hovering around 5 degrees C but then with a strengthening wind from the Northwest, felt much colder...
 
The highlight of today's first stab at New Year watching at TRING RESERVOIRS was a female GREATER SCAUP - showing well from the jetty on WILSTONE and present for a second day (per DB).
 
Also at WILSTONE today were still large numbers of waterfowl (due to the continuing rise of the water level, now almost normal for January) with 56 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 51 Sinensis, 1 Little Egret, 20 Atlantic Canada Geese, 270 Wigeon, 300+ Teal, 35 Gadwall, 147 Shoveler, 204 Tufted Duck, 190 Pochard, 4 COMMON GOLDENEYE (including a drake) and 379 Coot present. Also 70 Lapwing, Common Kingfisher, 45 Fieldfare, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Yellowhammer and a ringed MARSH TIT of note.
 

Over at TRINGFORD, 4 RED-CRESTED POCHARD had returned following the thaw (2 drakes), with 2 Little Egrets there, with 26 Great Crested Grebe, 73 Tufted Duck, 50 Pochard, 5 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes and 190 Coot on STARTOP'S and an unusual 9 Grey Heron together on the SEWAGE WORKS.



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