Trip reports

MINIBUS TRIP TO COTSWOLD WATER PARK SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2008

Saturday, 15 December 2007

This proved to be a very popular trip with 2 buses taking 21 members, with a further 6 meeting us there. Had everyone done their Christmas shopping? With a cloudy, cold but dry day in prospect, we all set off from the Lower Mill car park to initially follow the Thames National Path eastwards past the always reliable Pit 57. This large lake contained most of the common duck - wigeon, shoveler, mallard, gadwall, pochard, tufted duck, and several splendid drake goldeneye, plus great crested and little grebes. A lesser black backed gull toured the area and then joined a herring gull on the water. Later, John Vickerman spotted a second herring type gull, which was stunningly white with a slightly darker mantle - possibly a yellow-legged gull. Unfortunately, we were all looking elsewhere when the bird left the scene. On to lake 41, where both Goosander (several superb males and a female) and 9 Pintail were enjoyed, as a small flock of calling siskin flew over. Turning north past 29, we found 2 distant Red Crested Pochard on lake 35 - a new species for 2 members - and a CWP speciality.
On our way back to the Spine Road, the elusive red head Smew known to be in the area, was found, again by john, on lake 43. The short afternoon session started at Twitchers' Gate, overlooking Pit 74. Although the reported red-necked grebe could not be located, a ruddy duck and a kestrel were added. Finishing at Waterhay, Redwing, Fieldfare and Lapwing were enjoyed at close quarters. A flock of 11 Snipe overflew; 5 Teal were seen from the hide overlooking 68c, and a Water Rail was heard but not seen. As we left, dusk was descending and about 1000 starlings were gathering to roost in the Waterhay reedbeds. Altogether, some 64 species were recorded.

GC Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall,
Pintail, Ruddy Duck, Tufted Duck, Red Crested Pochard, Pochard, Goldeneye, Smew, Goosander, Pheasant, Water Rail, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Snipe, BH Gull, Common Gull, LBB Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler(h), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, LT Tit, Starling, Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting.

Reported by Steve Oakes