Afternoon at the Aquadrome

My daughter and I braved the cool drizzly weather and walked from Bury Lake to Batchworth Lake and then followed the riverside path to the causeway at Stockers.
Birds of note included a large mobile flock of c200 Siskin at Batchworth Lake and 5 Red-crested Pochard at Stockers.

Illegal Killing of migrating birds continues in Cyprus!

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Glossy Ibis at Horton Village

Geoff Lapworth and I paid a brief visit to the Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve near the village of Horton located in the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. A single Glossy Ibis had been reported earlier in the day and we arrived around 14:40. We met a 2 other birders who had already seen the bird but it had disappeared from view behind an island just before our arrival. Geoff headed off to try and gain another view point while I waited for any movement. Several minutes later I spotted the Ibis as it flew out from behind the island and headed off to the west disappearing from view seconds later. As the bird had been present since Saturday I am hopefull it may return within the next few days. 

Afternoon visit to Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

Steve Carter and I made a brief afternoon visit to the reserve where water levels remain low. From all but the Clubhouse Hide much of the water has disappeared creating stony islands and mud bars, ideal feeding areas for waders. From the Long Hedge Hide the following species were observed:-
Little Grebe (2), Teal (c25), Northern Shoveler (3), Kestrel (pair), Sparrowhawk (1 over briefly flushing the Teal), Green Sandpiper (2), Common Snipe (8), Black-headed Gull (c50), Kingfisher (2), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (1).

                                                     
                                                       Kingfisher from Long Hedge Hide.

Cetti's Warbler still at Stockers Lake

While conducting an early morning wetland bird survey count at Stockers & Bury Lake I noted a singing male Cetti's Warbler at the causeway. Also 5 Lesser Redpoll put in a brief appearance at the causeway before being flushed. Weather conditions were poor with fog remaining throughout my visit making it very difficult to accurately count the waterfowl.

Arrivals and departures

Steve Carter and I visited Stockers Lake mid-morning with weather conditions much the same as yesterday, mild with a strong wind. We made our way towards Kingfisher Hide where Geoff Lapworth and Tony Hulls were already busily "grilling" the waterfowl.
A combined effort produced the following species of note :-
Little Grebe (1), Greylag Goose (c30), Egyptian Goose (2), Goldeneye (female from the tern hide, new arrival present for it's second day, busily feeding), Sparrowhawk (1), Water Rail (1 heard calling), Kingfisher (2 very mobile).
I then visited Maple Lodge Nature Reserve briefly where the following species of note were observed :-
Common Snipe (1 from teal hide), Kingfisher (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Jay (3), House Martin (c30 feeding above long hedge before drifting south).
From Lynsters Hide 2 Egyptian Geese and 54 Jackdaw were observed feeding on the cattle field.
 


   
 

Broadwater Gravel Pit, Harefield

A late morning visit to Broadwater Gravel Pit in mild but windy conditions produced the following species:-
Great-crested Grebe (c40), Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret (1), Mute Swan, Canada Goose (4), Egyptian Goose (5), Wigeon (30), Gadwall (3), Teal (1), Mallard, Northern Shoveler (35), Pochard (121), Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk (1 mobbed by Lesser Black-backed Gull), Moorhen (3), Coot, Black-headed Gull (c80), Lesser Black-backed Gull (11), Herring Gull (3), Woodpigeon (20), Kingfisher (2), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Chiffchaff (3), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper (3), Jay (2), Magpie (2), Jackdaw (2 over), Rook (1 over), Carrion Crow (4), Chaffinch, Greenfinch (2), Siskin (1), Lesser Redpoll (6 over calling).
Butterflies;
Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.  

New Arrivals

While watching 6 Egyptian Geese fly over Denham Way heading towards Lynsters Farm I was alerted to a small flock of winter thrushes flying in to a Laurel. On closer inspection I noted 12 Redwing hungrily feeding on Laurel berries, my first of the Autumn. Getting back to the Geese, yesterday Chris Bessant noted an incredible 29 Egyptian Geese feeding on the fields west of Maple Cross early morning accompanied by Greylag and Canadian Geese.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

An afternoon visit provided the following species of interest :-
Egyptian Goose (2 over briefly), Green Sandpiper (2 from Teal Hide), Sparrowhawk (2 including one bird being mobbed by 4 Ring-necked Parakeet), Ring-necked Parakeet (8), Kingfisher (1 from Lynsters Hide), Green Woodpecker (1), Chiffchaff (1 in Long Hedge), Song Thrush (2), Treecreeper (1 in Long Hedge), Jay (2), Rook (4 over briefly).

                                          Green Sandpiper from Teal Hide.
  

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A late afternoon visit produced the following species count:-
Little Grebe (7), Cormorant (1 over), Grey Heron (4), Canada Goose (40 over), Teal (10), Mallard (23), Northern Shoveler (10), Moorhen (15), Coot (5), Black-headed Gull (11), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 over), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (6 over), Stock Dove (3), Woodpigeon (8), Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren (1), Dunnock (2), Robin (3), Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (2), Blackcap (2), Chiffchaff (1), Goldcrest (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper (2), Jay (2), Magpie (6), Jackdaw (1 over), Rook (2 over), Carrion Crow, Chaffinch (3), Goldfinch (1), Reed Bunting (1).


From Lynsters Hide Great-crested Grebe,Mute Swan and Tufted Duck were all noted on Lynsters Gravel Pit. Also observed was the carcass of a drake Mallard undoubtedly the result of this mornings shooting that took place at the farm! Shooting has taken place here early Saturday morning for several weeks now so best to keep away from that area if you plan an early visit.

Other interesting sightings included Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies from Long Hedge and a Grass Snake swimming from Teal Hide. A large shoal of c200 Rudd were also noted from Teal Hide with another large shoal noted from Shell Hide.

While walking back to the clubhouse I bumped into Chris Bessant who informed me of a Common Snipe that was present from Teal Hide briefly, the first of the Autumn!

Woodoaks Farm

A late morning visit with Steve Carter and his dog Ted provided the following species of note:-
Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (3) hawking above the manure pile, Sparrowhawk (2) hunting in the old orchard, Little Owl (1) in old orchard, Yellow Wagtail (3) feeding among cattle on lower pasture, Grey Wagtail (2), Pied wagtail (c7), Skylark (7), Meadow Pipit (2).