Friday 3 January 2014

Two Staffs ticks

I headed out to Aqualate Mere this morning to see the female Velvet Scoter that was seen yesterday. Most of the birds were down the far west end of the lake, but after scoping the birds for almost two hours I finally found it feeding quite actively, along with a nice redhead Smew. The Long-tailed Duck had also been seen earlier in the morning, but that seemed to have disappeared by the time I got there, although there were hundreds of birds there, so if it was feeding I could have easily missed it. Both Marsh and Willow Tit were visiting the feeders in front of the hide.

After I'd finished at Aqualate I dashed off to Gailey Res., where a Great White Egret, another Staffs tick had just turned up. Although it was hammering it down with rain when I got there, the bird was easy to see as it sat on the bank of the reservoir next to the A5 in the open. A Great Northern Diver also showed well in front of the sailing club.

Willow Tit, Aqualate Mere, Staffs

Willow Tit, Aqualate Mere, Staffs

Willow Tit, Aqualate Mere, Staffs

Willow Tit, Aqualate Mere, Staffs

Marsh Tit, Aqualate Mere, Staffs

Great White Egret, Gailey Reservoir, Staffs

Great White Egret, Gailey Reservoir, Staffs

Great White Egret, Gailey Reservoir, Staffs

Great White Egret, Gailey Reservoir, Staffs

Great White Egret, Gailey Reservoir, Staffs

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