Trip reports

Annual car trip to Abberton Reservoir & Tollesbury

Sunday, 4 January 2009

Derrick Ling led our annual New Year trip. 19 supporters met up at Abberton, with two more members joining them for festive lunch at "The Point".

The weather was dry, but very cold, cloudy with a light wind.

The highlight of the day for most people was a Cattle Egret at Abberton. Other highlights included drake Smew (at Abberton and Tollesbury), Slavonian Grebe (Abberton and Tollesbury), Red-crested Pochard (Abberton), Velvet Scoter (Tollesbury) and Hen Harrier (ring-tail) at Tollesbury.

80 bird species were recorded:

Red-throated Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye, Smew, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Pheasant (heard), Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin and Reed Bunting.

Mammal :

Common Seal

Many thanks to Derrick for leading this very popular trip.