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The Land of the Smew – 29th January 2012

2012, Birds, Birds of 2012, Year No Responses »

Jan 292012

The Land of the Smew - 29th January 2012

Winter birding at Eyebrook Reservoir & Rutland Water generally produces a good selection of wildfowl and to-day was no exception. These are probably the best two waters in the midlands to see Smew. We had 3 “White Nuns” (drakes) and 6 Redheads, 2 drakes at Eyebrook and 1 drake 6 Redheads at Rutland. Unfortunately we were not able to locate the drake Green-winged Teal at Eyebrook, having spent some 2 hours searching through the numerous Common Teal. We did have 3 Redshank, 3 Egyptian Geese and a fly over Red Kite. At Rutland there were hundreds of […]

A New Birding Year – 1st January 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Jan 012011

The first bird for 2011 was a Wood Pigeon, rapidly followed by Collard Dove, House Sparrow, Black-headed Gull, Starling and Blackbird all in the garden and so the new years Bird List began. Throughout the day a total of 67 species was seen. Highlights included – Yellow-legged Gull; Caspian Gull, Goldeneye and Yellowhammer all at Staunton Harold Reservoir. White-fronted Goose & Little Owl at Ambaston. Kingfisher, Water Rail and Peregrine at Willington. Redhead Smew, Curlew, Goosander and Dunlin at Foremark Reservoir.