We had a day out with Derek again today at Chew Valley Lakes and the Somerset Levels. What can I say? “THANK YOU” (again) Derek. I had a fabulous day with FOUR more life ticks, one of which was the Ruddy Duck, which I was thrilled to see as I may never get the chance to see them again here, given that they are all to be destroyed. We also had Glossy Ibis, Red-Crested Pochard and Smew. We also raised my highest recorded day list of species from 67 to 74!

We saw plenty of other wildlife too, including Highland Cattle, Sheep, Alpacas, Fox, Roe Deer, Goats and Rat-Bats! (Rabbits) – I couldn’t resist that one D :-)

I took over 400 photos, so forgive me if I don’t go through them all tonight, but I’ve been up since 3.40am and I need my bed. I have put a few up, along with my day list. Thanks again Derek.

1. Little Grebe
2. Great Crested Grebe
3. Cormorant
4. Bittern
5. Grey Heron
6. Glossy Ibis x 3 (life tick)
7. Mute Swan
8. Whooper Swan
9. Bewick’s Swan
10. Greylag Goose
11. Canada Goose
12. Shelduck
13. Mallard
14. Gadwall
15. Pintail
16. Shoveler
17. Wigeon
18. Teal
19. Pochard
20. Red-Crested Pochard (life tick)
21. Tufted Duck
22. Long-Tailed Duck
23. Goldeneye
24. Smew (life tick)
25. Goosander
26. Ruddy Duck (life tick)
27. Common Buzzard
28. Sparrowhawk
29. Kestrel
30. Peregrine Falcon
31. Pheasant
32. Water Rail
33. Moorhen
34. Coot
35. Ringed Plover
36. Lapwing
37. Dunlin
38. Redshank
39. Curlew
40. Snipe
41. Black-Headed Gull
42. Common Gull (300+)
43. Herring Gull
44. Lesser Black-Backed Gull
45. Great Black-Backed Gull
46. Feral Pigeon
47. Stock Dove
48. Woodpigeon
49. Collared Dove
50. Great Spotted Woodpecker
51. Pied Wagtail
52. Wren
53. Dunnock
54. Robin
55. Stonechat
56. Songthrush
57. Redwing
58. Fieldfare
59. Blackbird
60. Cetti’s Warbler
61. Great Tit
62. Blue Tit
63. Long-Tailed Tit
64. Magpie
65. Jay
66. Jackdaw
67. Rook
68. Carrion Crow
69. Starling (lots)
70. House Sparrow
71. Chaffinch
72. Goldfinch
73. Bullfinch
74. Reed Bunting

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Chew Valley Lakes

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Frost on the feathers of a Mute Swan...

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The Mute Swan with the frosty feathers...

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A strange looking meal for a Great Black-Backed Gull...

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Frosty Wigeon...

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Kestrel...

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Great Crested Grebe...

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Robin...

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The perfect end to a perfect day - The Moon over The Eden Project...

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Ten minutes in the life of a...

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I love all the Corvids. Taken at Drift last Sunday morning...
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A little friend I made in Gloucestershire outside the hotel... There's nothing like the songful tune of a Robin and a cold frosty morning to cure a slightly hungover head :-)
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My first full day out with Trevor since well before Christmas, as I was trying to improve the situation with my circulation in readiness for the weekend away last week with Derek, Sam & Ben, and as that was a success I was really looking forward to today. They have changed my medication and it seems to be working better! I'm still mad though :-)

It has been a good day and I must say THANK YOU to STEVE for the advice and guidance.

My images for the day are not what I had hoped for, but I had three life ticks. It would have been four, as Steve had told me there was a Red-Throated Diver reported at Sennen in the Bay and I was CONVINCED I had seen it in the scope (along with the Long-Tailed Duck) until I saw John who said he had only seen a Black-Throated Diver (and Long-Tailed Duck) at Sennen. Thanks John – it was lovely to see you. I feel it best that I do not tick the RTD (just in case). I shall wait for the next opportunity.

A nice (but short) session at Marazion produced not one, but two Bittern. Thanks to Rachel, Ash & Kay and the gentleman I did not know. Nice to see you all.

My day list is 67 and I think I have beaten my record, which I believe is 65 from a quick glance at the records!

No time to go through my pictures, but I have plenty left from Slimbridge, so here's a few more...


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Surprise, surprise... more Slimbridge :-)

Smew at Slimbridge. Beautiful birds...


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More Slimbridge - Sorry! I just hope I've ID'd them all correctly. I was too excited to write everything down. Now I know why Derek recommended the "Peter Scott's coloured key to the Wildfowl of the World" - thanks to Trevor for buying it for me!


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A little bit more of Slimbridge...
I absolutely love these White-Faced Whistling Ducks. My pictures do not do them the justice they deserve. They are gorgeous and I could watch them for hours. They seem to specialise in mutual preening! If I was going to be a Duck - This is the one I'd like to be!


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