Stocks Reservoir - 29th August 2009

Another new site for us and a friend and fellow birder, Howard joined us for a few hours in the rain. We weren’t really sure what to expect as we sat in the first hide but a quick glance around with the bins and Reece got a lifer when he spotted 5 Red Grouse at the far side of the reservoir. There were c30 Cormorant also on the far bank along with both Black Headed, Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gull as well as a Pied Wagtail flitting along the shore. A couple of Teal and Tuffted Duck drifted along the water and Mallard were around in numbers. Out of the right hand window of the hide a Common Sandpiper was feeding at the shores edge and c16 Barnacle Geese were feeding at the far end. It was then we spotted a juvenile Peregrine feeding on a bird, not sure what kind as it was distant even with the scope. It didn’t stay long as the Gulls that brought it to our attention continued to mob it.

A brief stop in the rain and we decided to move along to the other hide. Reece spotted a flock of Tits that included Coal, Long Tailed, Blue and Great moving along the trees as well as a single Willow Warbler and a Wren singing in the scrub.
From the second hide we didn’t see much more as the views were similar though we did spot a female Kestrel perched on a dead branch, probably like us waiting for the rain to stop.

We’d like to say thanks to those who read and leave comments on our blog. Any feedback on sightings or places to visit are greatly received.

                                         Derek & Reece

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