Trip reports

Field Meeting at Seaton Gravel Pit

Thursday, 14 February 2008

Seaton Gravel Pit on a raw, grey day; lots of duck and other water birds. Having scanned carefully but unsuccessfully, Anne and Penny initially came to the rescue with a male Goldeneye and four Smew including one male. Roy pointed out a couple of pairs of Shoveler dabbling in circles head to tail: I thought some sort of display (pair-bonding) - wrong again, BWP gives this behaviour as associated with feeding and not display. Other sightings included very good views of Mistle Thrush on wires, Grey Wagtail (same place as before), brief Kingfisher, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff, and Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. Then Stodmarsh for more woodland birds, with a Water Rail (heard) bringing us up to 51 species.

[BWP stands for "The Birds of the Western Palearctic", a major source of information - ed.]