Iceland Gull, Chard Res

Super bird for the res, found by Kevin Harris a week ago and returned today for its third visit:

It's a gull thing...1st Winter Caspian Gull, Axmouth, Devon

I've been trying to catch up with this beauty for a while now and finally managed to get a few shots of it on the river near the tram sheds...

Also an adult summer med at Coronation corner along with a decent smattering of waders including black and bar-tailed godwits, some in full breeding plumage.

Chard Reservoir, Tuesday 6 March 2012

Well, it isn't every day you go to Chard Res and see something special...and today was no exception. Despite sand martins and swallows being seen all around us, there was no sign of any in Chard today. The res was very quiet, the only birds of note were 18 Little egret, 17 Teal and at least 4 reed buntings by the duck feeding area. Very obliging they were too.

As was this great crested grebe...

...and this very smart lesser black-backed gull

America Wigeon, Exminster Marsh, Devon

Showing well....earlier in the day. Actually it was showing well through a scope but too distant for anything other than a poor record shot through my 400mm lens.

It's the one bang in the middle, front

Cropped but a little easier to see...

Lovely bird though and well worth another look if it hangs around a bit longer.

Blashford Lakes Bittern

My work took me out of area today (perhaps I should call this Four Counties Wildlife?) so took advantage and dropped in to Blashford Lakes in Hampshire to see if the Bittern was showing. It took a while but eventually appeared...

Lovely bird, plenty of ducks around too:

Drake Gadwall

..and his partner

Loads of Pochard, including this obliging duck

Close by (although distant) at Harbridge...

One of six Bewick's Swans

The whooper

...and a few of the Greylags present

I'm almost ashamed to put this photo up but it's still a record shot of the drake Garganey on the river just south of the church at Shapwick in Dorset. The light was poor (drizzling too) and the birds were very nervous, which added up to a few grabbed shots before they sped off down river and out of sight. Could be an escape but there have been a few around and sightings of summer migrants already. That and its nervous behaviour make me think it could be a genuine bird - well worth seeing.

Iceland Gull, Axmouth - Saturday 18th February 2012

Found by the local team around Midday and still sitting there happily when I managed to get down there at 2pm. A very pale 2nd winter bird and a lovely sight.

So this is why they're called 'white-winged' gulls

More Yellow-browed photos

More pictures of the Pudleigh Yellow-browed on the dedicated page.

Yellow-browed Warbler and tristis Chiff Chaff at Pudleigh Sewage works

Yellow-browed warbler - found late on Saturday by Henry Squire

I also found this tristis type chiff chaff - good day for Chard!

1st Winter Glossy Ibis, Exminster Marsh, Devon

This bird has been present for a while and is associating with a flock of Canada geese. Quite obliging but crap weather for photography!

This little beauty is still is still kicking about too.

The day after this I found a cracking male merlin on the fields above Snowdon Park in Chard - poor record shots:

Gulls at Chard Res...31st December 2011

1st winter Black-headed Gull

Adult winter Common Gull

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull

Gulls, gulls, gulls. There have been quite a few recently including a small flock of Common gulls (26), the usual Black-headed gulls and best of all a 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull which put in a brief appearance in the south-east corner and was the first record for the res.

Ring-necked Ducks, Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve 14th December 2011

Two cracking drakes found by Kevin Harris

Spotted Sandpiper, Lyme Regis, Devon

Sitting with Purple Sandpipers off the end of the Cobb (too far for photos), however good close views of Black Redstart (slightly odd looking individual with orange wash to the underside - eastern poss?) and Rock Pipit below the museum.