A Long tailed Duck was the draw down to Pugneys CP after the work shift, it was last seen on the main lake down near the beach area the previous day, so I was in high hopes.
After getting my gear together I bumped into a couple, birders by the looks, coming in my direction, I asked if they had seen the Long tailed Duck, but alas they hadn’t in the time they had been there, not to be deterred I set off in the direction of the beach. On the journey I saw Mute Swan, Wigeon, Black headed Gull, Common Gull, Mallards, Pied Wagtail, Canada Geese, Coots, Tufted Duck, and Lapwing.
Arriving at the beach area I scanned thro the assembled Black headed Gulls and soon enough I found the Long tailed Duck, a relatively small bird in appearance, this one looked like a winter plumage female, it was very busy diving and preening whilst I was watching it. I hung around this area for a while taking photos and video, mainly of the Black headed Gulls that were here.
After here I moved off towards the main lake hide, hoping for a Water Rail, which wasn’t to be today, but it was nice to find and watch a couple of Goldeneye from here. As I came back the same way away from the hide there were a few Blackbirds near the hedgerow. I made one last visit to the beach I watched the Long tailed Duck for a little while longer, then I hit the cafe for coffee and cake.
After the coffee and cake, I stuck around the car park area a little while longer taking photos of Pied Wagtails before setting off home.
A short video of the birds from my visit press HERE
Bird List : Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Long tailed Duck, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Robin, Starling, |Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Wigeon
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