April 11th 2009

I was at the pond by 6:20am and enjoyed 40 minutes of tranquility before the lica brigade arrived and observed the reservoir from farborough spit 6:30 to 9:30am then from rainbow corner 10:30am to 12pm finally arriving back at the hide 1300hrs and leaving shortly after. Plenty of activity in the morning due to the overcast conditions keeping the flies down low and they were being enjoyed by the gull, terns and duck before brighter weather early afternoon dispersed some of the birds as the wind varied in direction from NW to NE remaining light with the odd rain shower.

O so peaceful - looking west from farborough spit 6:30am - the clear skies from the west never arrived till this evening (scroll down)

No sign of Red-necked Grebe for the 2nd day running so it may have finally left and no sign of yesterdays Black-necked Grebe.

Sandwich Tern: I was showing a visiting birder the Little Gulls when one flew over our head towards the centre of reservoir before it returned and left to the north east at 8am
Green-winged Teal: today it has been showing well especially in the afternoon, right of hide in toft shallows and out in the open more often than not at 1pm.
Little Gull: there were 16 immatures off farborough spit at 6:30am with 6 remaining joined by an adult in partial summer plumage. By mid-morning they were on the surface feeding on the insects.
Artic Tern: Peter Findon found 3 off farborough bank out towards rainbow / inlet area and later there were at least 5 present from rainbow corner.
Common Tern: 2 with the Artic Terns.
Great-northern Diver: still 2 present out in centre and heard calling
Little Ringed Plover: one flew in to rainbow corner 11am.
Common Sandpiper: 2
Yellow Wagtail: 5 on farborough bank being kicked about by the crowds.
Red-legged Partridge: a very unusual record these days of one actually on the reservoir with one on the perimeter wall of farborough bank at 6:30am. It soon left when lica man raced past.
Black-headed Gull: 800 plus spent most of the visit out in centre
Sedge Warbler: one in sewage farm

Also seen were Shelduck 2, Shoveler 10 males and one female in toft bay, 10 Teal in toft shallows, male Wigeon, male Pochard toft bay, female Goldeneye toft shallows, 2 Oystercatcher by valve tower, Buzzard: 4, plenty of Swallows and Sand Martins while House Martins are already inspecting last years nesting site.

Green-winged Teal - record shot of it in the rain and gloom


Evening sunset at the pond tonight by Mason Phillips

Swallow over garden this evening

Richard