Alan Hobson
Well-known member
I had four extremely enjoyable birding days over the Easter long weekend [managed to fit in some marking too, I should stress, in case any of my students are reading this!], with many excellent birds more than making up for one big disappointment.
On the first day, Good Friday, went off for what proved to be a surprisingly leisurely trip round some top sites in Essex. Saw Scaup and Yellow Wagtails [including one with superbly bright plumage] at Abberton Reservoir, having already picked up Ruff, Avocets, and Spotted Redshank at Old Hall Marsh.
At Fingringhoe Wick, saw Little Egrets, Bar-tailed Godwits and a delightful [presumably escaped] Flamingo. Finally, to Haningfield Reservoir, and came across Slavonian Grebes [attractive summer plumage] and Red-crested Pochards.
On the Saturday I just made a brief, flying trip out to Haningfield Reservoir [note to my students: because I was doing so much marking...] to catch the Red-necked Grebe which had just arrived. It was rather impressive in its summer plumage. Also Red-crested Pochards again.
Easter Sunday - a report of the Hoopoe at White Lodge farm, Northants, still there today! Do I go on the long, long trip up there? Well, I do love Hoopoes, and I've only ever seen one in the UK, so off I went....and when I got there, found it was an erroneous report, and it hadn't been seen all day. So, if you are the person who put out that false report, which caused some of us to journey long distances to see this impressive bird...I forgive you [he growled].
All the more easier to forgive, though, as I saw Marsh Tits there, plus (well, whilst I was up there...) Yellow and White Wagtails at Eye Brook Reservoir - and Black-necked Grebes there. This made three lovely species of uncommon Grebe in three days. Also saw Red Kites nearby, and journeyed to view the splendid Eleanor Cross at Geddington on the way back. So what started out as a huge disappointment turned into another good day.
And then, yesterday, on the last of the four, having ventured up to the wilds of Bradwell-on-Sea (where saw Little Egret, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Golden Plovers) I went to Abberton to try and see the elusive Long-tailed Duck. It had only been seen once all day, first thing (unless someone had seen it and kept quiet). A lot of birders gave up, but after much travelling round the reservoir (including up by Abberton church for a long distance view of one bit) - and spotting more Slavonian Grebes - I located it. Yes!!! A birder who was with me in the hide came over and saw it too, and then after a few minutes, it disappeared again into a blind spot on the reservoir which isn't readily viewed from anywhere. Ah well, a few minutes is good enough...But apparently it came out again later anyway.
And so endeth the tale. It made for a hugely enjoyable long weekend. But here I am now, back at work [he sighed].......
On the first day, Good Friday, went off for what proved to be a surprisingly leisurely trip round some top sites in Essex. Saw Scaup and Yellow Wagtails [including one with superbly bright plumage] at Abberton Reservoir, having already picked up Ruff, Avocets, and Spotted Redshank at Old Hall Marsh.
At Fingringhoe Wick, saw Little Egrets, Bar-tailed Godwits and a delightful [presumably escaped] Flamingo. Finally, to Haningfield Reservoir, and came across Slavonian Grebes [attractive summer plumage] and Red-crested Pochards.
On the Saturday I just made a brief, flying trip out to Haningfield Reservoir [note to my students: because I was doing so much marking...] to catch the Red-necked Grebe which had just arrived. It was rather impressive in its summer plumage. Also Red-crested Pochards again.
Easter Sunday - a report of the Hoopoe at White Lodge farm, Northants, still there today! Do I go on the long, long trip up there? Well, I do love Hoopoes, and I've only ever seen one in the UK, so off I went....and when I got there, found it was an erroneous report, and it hadn't been seen all day. So, if you are the person who put out that false report, which caused some of us to journey long distances to see this impressive bird...I forgive you [he growled].
All the more easier to forgive, though, as I saw Marsh Tits there, plus (well, whilst I was up there...) Yellow and White Wagtails at Eye Brook Reservoir - and Black-necked Grebes there. This made three lovely species of uncommon Grebe in three days. Also saw Red Kites nearby, and journeyed to view the splendid Eleanor Cross at Geddington on the way back. So what started out as a huge disappointment turned into another good day.
And then, yesterday, on the last of the four, having ventured up to the wilds of Bradwell-on-Sea (where saw Little Egret, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Golden Plovers) I went to Abberton to try and see the elusive Long-tailed Duck. It had only been seen once all day, first thing (unless someone had seen it and kept quiet). A lot of birders gave up, but after much travelling round the reservoir (including up by Abberton church for a long distance view of one bit) - and spotting more Slavonian Grebes - I located it. Yes!!! A birder who was with me in the hide came over and saw it too, and then after a few minutes, it disappeared again into a blind spot on the reservoir which isn't readily viewed from anywhere. Ah well, a few minutes is good enough...But apparently it came out again later anyway.
And so endeth the tale. It made for a hugely enjoyable long weekend. But here I am now, back at work [he sighed].......
