St Aidans RSPB with up to 11 Black-necked Grebes seen on site, 3 for me today, always a great bird to see with the striking plumage and the gorgeous red eyes, and always at the far side of the reserve. Reed Buntings were a plenty around the site, with many a male calling, the explosive calls of the few Cettis Warbler gave away the location of these birds but are always difficult to get a viewing, I did manage a few glimpses of a couple of birds as they moved around the reeds. Bearded Tits are another favourite of the reed beds and today i did manage, to see a couple, giving themselves away at first with the distinctive “ping” calls and then seen briefly in flight as they moved from one location of the reed bed to another.
Meadow Pipits were on site in good numbers, giving good views along with the “parachute” display fight, in the same area were a few Skylarks, Redshank and lots of Lapwing. Wildfowl highlights were a pair of Goldeneye along with the usual Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Wigeon and Tufted Duck.
Around the far side of the reserve were plenty of Black headed Gull, Linnets on the gorse bushes, fly over Cormorant and Grey Heron
Back at the start near the visitor was a single Kestrel, hunting the nearby field. On the drag line I found the usual Little Owl, which takes residence here, which give me a nice ending to a wonderful few hours at a top reserve
Bird List :- Bearded Tit, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black necked Grebe, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Shoveler, Skylark, Stock Dove, teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (41)
Huddsbirder 