Abberton Reservoir visit: 22.01.23

 As Wendy had some work in Witham, I dropped her off at 10am and headed to Abberton, just south of Colchester.

Coffee in the wonderful Visitors' Centre and then around to the 3 hides overlooking the water. All birds are distant so a scope is fairly essential. Distant views of Long tailed duck, Caspian gull and a Great Northern diver along with thousands of wildfowl, including 2 Bewick's swans and a pair of Goosander.

Once I have completed the circuit, off to the 1st of 2 causways that cross the reservoir. From here, great views of plenty more Goosanders, Pochards, Black necked grebe before I encountered a distant female Smew.

Then, round to the Layer Breton Causeway where most of the water was frozen. Here, 100's of shovelers along with 10's of Pochards.

Super time with many year listers and some pleasing photos in good light.

Species List (YL = year lister.)

1. Great crested grebe
2. Little grebe
3. Black necked grebe (YL)
4. Great Northern diver (YL)
5. Cormorant
6. Grey heron
7. Great white egret
8. Mute swan
9. Bewick's swan (YL)
10. Greylag goose
11. Canada goose
12. Egyptian goose
13. Mallard
14. Gadwall
15. Wigeon
16. Teal
17. Shoveler
18. Tufted duck
19. Pochard
20. Goldeneye (YL)
21. Long tailed duck (YL)
22. Goosander (YL)
23. Smew (YL)
24. Red Kite
25. Common buzzard
26. Kestrel
27. Moorhen
28. Coot
29. Ringed plover (YL)
30. Lapwing
31. Dunlin (YL)
32. Redshank (YL)
33. Black tailed godwit (YL)
34. Black headed gull
35. Herring gull
36. Common gull
37. Lesser black backed gull
38. Great Black backed gull (YL)
39. Caspian gull (YL)
40. Wood pigeon
41. Skylark
42. Meadow pipit
43. Pied wagtail
44. Robin
45. Stonechat (YL)
46. Blackbird
47. Redwing
48. Long tailed tit
49. Great tit
50. Blue tit
51. Wren
52. Chaffinch
53. Goldfinch
54. House sparrow
55. Starling
56. Jay
57. Magpie
58. Jackdaw
59. Carrion crow
60. Rook

Robin in the car park being used to check settings on the camera.

Stonechat, photo directly into the sun.

Very distant Grey heron

Black tailed godwit

Great white egret in a distant tree.

Great crested grebe

Great white egret

drake Goosander

Goosander pair

Female Goosander

Same bird

Another drake Goosander

Great crested grebe

Bewick's Swan

Bewick's with a wigeon

Female Goldeneye

Another shot of a Bewick's

Wigeon drake

Very distant Caspian gull. Huge crop

sleeping Smew, female.

Drake pochard

Egyptian goose

Another Bewick's swan

Female Smew

Smew and Egyptian goose

Dunlin with female Teal

Shovelers on ice

Drake shoveler

Black headed gull on ice

A very distant Fox. About 3/4 of a mile away

Drake Teal