AVOCETS and a deluge of rain

PIED AVOCETS arrive with a deluge of rain - Monday 16 February

 

From around 10 o'clock onwards today, it rained all day, bringing with it 3 passage PIED AVOCETS locally...

 

First off, 8 year-old Tom Bacon and his father Gary stumbled upon one on the main marsh at COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT late morning before a pair made landfall at TYTTENHANGER MAIN PIT in the afternoon

 

Following Gary's phone call, David Hutchinson & 1 quickly arrived, confirming their suspicions - the bird showing well from the Octagon Hide. No fewer than 32 Common Snipe were also present on the marsh, as well as the first Common Redshank of the year, along with 18 Mute Swan, 215 Wigeon & 2 Teal. Up to 3 WATER RAILS were showing well in the first bay as you walk down to Octagon, while the Deep Pit held 3 Red-crested Pochard, a Little Grebe and the first Great Crested Grebe of the year. At the feeding station, 20 Chaffinch and 2 Reed Bunting were noted.

 

At TRING RESERVOIRS, highlight at TRINGFORD was a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK, while on WILSTONE RESERVOIR, the first-winter female GREATER SCAUP was still present, 8 COMMON GOLDENEYE (including a single drake), an impressive 184 Shoveler, 170 Wigeon, 30 Gadwall, 100 Teal, 12 Common Snipe in flight & 140 Common Starlings

 

The PIED AVOCET pair at TYTTENHANGER GP remained on view until 1700 hours at least, at the end of the spit with 450 Lapwings