A Small Lead

When I set out today I had a couple of goals in mind, a few species I thought I should be able to see and catch up on my rival these were – Little Grebe (resident on the lake), Common Gull (often seen on the lake), Rook (really shouldn’t be that hard) and Little Egret (usually pretty easy but high water levels have held this one back) – What I wasn’t expecting was to take the lead (especially after Simon had had his 2nd and 3rd Goosander for the patch that morning flying through).

A Small Lead

The day started pretty well, my second bird seen through the binoculars was indeed a Common Gull, one of the target species down, swimming with the usual Black Headed Gull flock, but there was little else of note on the lake, so I decided to skirt the edge of the patch and go round the back of the smaller lake, I was quite please I had when species number 2 of my target list fell, a Little Egret flew over head and out of site.

Not being cruel I let Simon know that the egret was about (it had landed just be the fishermens island), and I found him watching it from the Car-park, while chatting with him we were lucky enough to both add Grey Wagtail to our lists, and Simon let me know where he had seen and heard Coal tit the previous day. We parted company, and I headed right to the location (in the pine belt) he mentioned and was lucky enough to also find the singing Coal Tit (they are not rare just hard to find sometimes) So my luck was still in, I was tempted to wander the woods and see what else might be in there but evidence of drug use put me off so I wandered back down to the River to continue on to Bradwell Abbey.

Blue Tit (and one of my sharpest ever images!!)

Buzzards

Grey Heron

Kingfisher and Kites

Red Kite poorly lit.

Whilst talking to Simon about the Kite and advising him which way it was headed, I stumbled across 2 Eurasian Jays calling to each other as they made their way along the river (yet another grab back on Simon, it was really looking up and I believe this bird put us on equal terms!). While chatting (on the phone) Simon let me know that there was a Kestrel in the direction I was headed, and once I connected with this, the lead was Mine!

Grebes

But I wasn’t done there, I knew there had to be a little grebe about somewhere so decided to stake out the usual location and I was almost instantly rewarded by seeing a winter plumage Little Grebe diving at the edge of the lake, it later came out and allowed me some lovely views (a bit dark for great photos). And with a couple of great photos of Great Crested Grebes to add to my haul of images I set off home happy I was 2 ahead, my first lead of the year, I’m not sure it will last long though.

Little Grebe at the very edge of the lake

Great Crested Grebe looking stunning

A Small Lead – Day list

Swimming Great Crested Grebe

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