Velvet Scoter

On Thursday (19/12) I finally caved and took a trip over to Eyebrook Reservoir just into Leicestershire in the hope of getting some photos of the drake Velvet Scoter that had been present for a fair old while now. On arrival I signed in at the fishing lodge and quickly got onto the bird fairly close to the dam. I enjoyed him for a while from near to the fishing lodge, and also enjoying some decent views of a female Smew.

I then moved onto the dam. Here, with the sun behind me I managed to get some brilliant views of the Scoter cruising around and diving occasionally. It really was a treat to see such a bird so well and so close. The normal view of one of these would be a little black blob half a mile out to sea!

After enjoying well received cup of tea, I headed back across the border and over to Ditchford GPs to do some more gulling. Ditchford really has to be one of the best places in the country for gulls and recently has been no exception with a probable American Herring Gull, several Iceland and a Glaucous Gull, as well as several Caspian & Yellow Legged thrown in for good measure. The pits were initially rather devoid of gulls but as the day went on, more and more appeared. For much of the day it was extremely hard work finding anything unusual. Best birds were 1-2 Egyptian Geese, an Aythya hybrid (Scaup X Tuftie?), a Grey Wagtail and great numbers of Red Kites.

Eventually, around 15:20pm after what seemed like forever, I finally found something decent as quite a dark coloured 1st winter Iceland Gull appeared amongst the large numbers on the waterski pit as well as an adult Yellow-Legged Gull and a very vocal Green Sandpiper. After that the drop in temperature got the better of me, ending a decent days birding producing quality rather than quantity!