Shaggy has got bigger

Due to the heavy shore-line disturbance at the pond this morning I managed to record at least 500 Tufted Duck in toft shallows with another 200 in biggen and hensborough areas reported by Bob so that’s not a bad number for here theses days. Very reluctant to fly off preferring to drift away from the duck feeders and fishermen so presumed majority are recent arrivals needing a nap before they realise where they have ended up and clear off.

Managed to locate the Black-necked Grebe drifting towards gray’s barn where it fed amongst the shore-line weed disappearing out of view while the male Common Scoter commutes between dunns bay and draycote bank.

Around mid-day as the cloud came in there was a small passage of mipits and wagtails going west and included 4 Siskin plus 3 Buzzard very high up going directly south (also ten local birds around the reservoir). Not much else around with Treecreeper, 17 Wigeon, 20+ Meadow Pipit in the cattle field along with 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Whimbrel head calling as it went over but could not be seen.

The rain has certainly helped Shaggy get bigger - almost doubled in size with another 3 found while insects included 6 Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Migrant Hawker. Southern Hawker and 2 Common Darter.