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Bittell Reservoirs and Hopwood area (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter wmtlynx
- Start date
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Monday 25th.....
Hearsay "spots"...two locals at Lower were reporting a Male to go with the female Goldeneye as well as the Male Smew still present.
Also asked me if I have heard of/seen the RED KITE.....when I asked where they said over the Blues training ground at Wast Hills.
I hadn't - but live just down the road- hope its still around in the morning,but won't hold my breath.
Keith
Hearsay "spots"...two locals at Lower were reporting a Male to go with the female Goldeneye as well as the Male Smew still present.
Also asked me if I have heard of/seen the RED KITE.....when I asked where they said over the Blues training ground at Wast Hills.
I hadn't - but live just down the road- hope its still around in the morning,but won't hold my breath.
Keith
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Well spotted Brian...he is really tiny on that back shore....was there a lot around lunchtime as well.
When I did my daily visit (on way to work) some locals were there as well as another couple of visitors......it's been busy since old Smewy has been there.
Everyone left around 12.45ish and I was hoping the Smew would think it was safe to come nearer - but wisely he did not.
Wisely because while I was watching the Grebes come closer then out into the middle again something caught my eye coming out of the scrubby reeds on teh left....it was leaving a huge wash and I thought "whats that duck doing" as it was 1/2 submerged....camera came up and GOD it was one of THEM- a MINK.
It was coming towards the concrete sluice so I ran towards there to get these pics.
The amazing thing that I saw next was straight out of the Penguin prog on BBC this week where the different species helped to see of a large seabird from having the young penguins...this time it was the 2 Grebes ...2 Coot and 2 Canada geese had come from nowhere and were seeing the Mink was out of the way with the Coot making a hell of a row.The Mink which had veered off when it saw me had gone into the reeds and must have done something because the Grebe suddenly flew off rapidly followed by the Coot till they got a safe distance away.
Not the easiest place to get pics as all the temporary wire mesh is STILL in place from the non-existent road repair work.
The day before I thought one of the pair of Grebe were going to do the "dance" as they came close and then dived together for ages....one came up way off into the middle and then swan toward the bend on the left...the other was still under but then came up eventually (pic 1) before immediately calling and lying flat on the water(pic 2) and calling again but (she)was gone by now.
I just hope one of the maybe 3 pair of Grebe perfore shortly and in a nice place in the light and near to me....lol
Keith :t:
1 and 2...grebe looking for his wife.
3 and 4 MINK
5 Grebe watching Mink
When I did my daily visit (on way to work) some locals were there as well as another couple of visitors......it's been busy since old Smewy has been there.
Everyone left around 12.45ish and I was hoping the Smew would think it was safe to come nearer - but wisely he did not.
Wisely because while I was watching the Grebes come closer then out into the middle again something caught my eye coming out of the scrubby reeds on teh left....it was leaving a huge wash and I thought "whats that duck doing" as it was 1/2 submerged....camera came up and GOD it was one of THEM- a MINK.
It was coming towards the concrete sluice so I ran towards there to get these pics.
The amazing thing that I saw next was straight out of the Penguin prog on BBC this week where the different species helped to see of a large seabird from having the young penguins...this time it was the 2 Grebes ...2 Coot and 2 Canada geese had come from nowhere and were seeing the Mink was out of the way with the Coot making a hell of a row.The Mink which had veered off when it saw me had gone into the reeds and must have done something because the Grebe suddenly flew off rapidly followed by the Coot till they got a safe distance away.
Not the easiest place to get pics as all the temporary wire mesh is STILL in place from the non-existent road repair work.
The day before I thought one of the pair of Grebe were going to do the "dance" as they came close and then dived together for ages....one came up way off into the middle and then swan toward the bend on the left...the other was still under but then came up eventually (pic 1) before immediately calling and lying flat on the water(pic 2) and calling again but (she)was gone by now.
I just hope one of the maybe 3 pair of Grebe perfore shortly and in a nice place in the light and near to me....lol
Keith :t:
1 and 2...grebe looking for his wife.
3 and 4 MINK
5 Grebe watching Mink
Attachments
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Saturday 2nd March....
The Smew was joined by 1/2 a dozen Goosander today.
One pair of Grebe collecting sticks/weed and have a nest right in middle of Lower.
Me and Buzzard watching each other...he was on left side of Mill shrub in tall tree.
Flock of eventually 40-50 Siskin still finding food in tree tops and GSWoody flew over then drumming by stream on left of Lower.
Keith :t:
The Smew was joined by 1/2 a dozen Goosander today.
One pair of Grebe collecting sticks/weed and have a nest right in middle of Lower.
Me and Buzzard watching each other...he was on left side of Mill shrub in tall tree.
Flock of eventually 40-50 Siskin still finding food in tree tops and GSWoody flew over then drumming by stream on left of Lower.
Keith :t:
DaveJones
Well-known member
Hate putting the downer on this, but if lower Bittell, then Shelduck?
If confirmed, im there later!B
Brian Stretch
Well-known member
Hate putting the downer on this, but if lower Bittell, then Shelduck?
If confirmed, im there later!B
The Avocet was a confirmed sighting at Lower Bittell yesterday by a reliable birder. The great thing about this species is it does not need a shoreline to feed. They will quite happily swim in deeper water.
There are now 10 Avocets at Upton Warren this morning so may be the Bittell bird has returned there.
Brian
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Hate putting the downer on this, but if lower Bittell, then Shelduck?
If confirmed, im there later!B
Thanks and well done to the birders...
Keith :t:
p.s. bloody work !!
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Despite the rain I just HAD to have a look at Lower - even though it was 5pm.
All I got was WET....
So hard to make out anything at a distance so no idea if any of the recent spots were still about - could not even tell if the Smew was here.
Here's some snaps of him from Wednesday at 5.30pm.....again crap light and far off.
Keith :t:
All I got was WET....
So hard to make out anything at a distance so no idea if any of the recent spots were still about - could not even tell if the Smew was here.
Here's some snaps of him from Wednesday at 5.30pm.....again crap light and far off.
Keith :t:
Attachments
DaveJones
Well-known member
Despite the rain I just HAD to have a look at Lower - even though it was 5pm.
All I got was WET....
So hard to make out anything at a distance so no idea if any of the recent spots were still about - could not even tell if the Smew was here.
Here's some snaps of him from Wednesday at 5.30pm.....again crap light and far off.
Keith :t:
Nice!:t:
Was the Avocet still there?
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
As I say Dave it was not good visibility wise...bins only and them soaked to boot.:eek!:
I gave it 1/2 hour and did not see the Avocet though.:-C
Cheers
Keith :t:
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Weekend of 9-10th ...lots of very cold winds and snow but the Smew put on a couple of flypasts from Lower to Mill Shrub and back again...no good for photos though.
Monday 11th...even windier and colder...just popped in for 10 mins ...Smew hiding but seen earlier in day.A few Tits and Siskin in trees around stream.
Keith :t:
A few of a Gull from a previous visit.
Monday 11th...even windier and colder...just popped in for 10 mins ...Smew hiding but seen earlier in day.A few Tits and Siskin in trees around stream.
Keith :t:
A few of a Gull from a previous visit.
Attachments
Duck_Pond
Professional Wildlife Photographer And Guide
Popped over to Bittell on Sunday and found the smew on Shrub Mill Pool, albeit briefly. Never came close enough for anything other than a record shot, and soon returned to the far end of the other pool when, perhaps like me, it got fed up of the amount of traffic on that road.
Record shot below.
Record shot below.
Attachments
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Thursday 14th....
Lower and Shrub Mill were almost totally frozen so not a lot about...Hopefully the Smew was just out of site either on right or left at far end and not gone off before I get a close up !!!
Wish he would come as close as this Tufted from Wednesday.
A couple of Cormorant were fishing on Shrub mill as well.
Keith :t:
Lower and Shrub Mill were almost totally frozen so not a lot about...Hopefully the Smew was just out of site either on right or left at far end and not gone off before I get a close up !!!
Wish he would come as close as this Tufted from Wednesday.
A couple of Cormorant were fishing on Shrub mill as well.
Keith :t:
Attachments
keithr
Relapsus resurgam
Lower was like the Artic yesterday and the North Sea today-with white horses and long trails of foam along the length.A few brave Tufteds and Gulls bobbing up and down....I was being blown away as I tried to see owt on far bank...not a lot to see though.
Shrub Mill was sheltered in near 1/2 and a dozen Tufted were sleeping in the comparative calm.
Not a day to linger but had to get off to work anyway.
Keith :t:
Shrub Mill was sheltered in near 1/2 and a dozen Tufted were sleeping in the comparative calm.
Not a day to linger but had to get off to work anyway.
Keith :t:
