19.12.15. Birdlog
The Green-winged Teal was a good find within the huge numbers of Common Teal.
The area of mitigation on No.3 tank produced 600 Lapwing. There were 3 Black-tailed Godwit on No.6 tank with another flock of 200 Lapwing. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing on by the Splashing pool. The 1st winter Marsh Harrier flew straight across the track in front of us near the shooters pools and 15 Curlew were in the fields along Lordship Lane. There were also some big mixed flocks of Linnet and Chaffinch along Lordship Lane. A Stonechat was along the pipes on No.1 tank.
Observers: Nigel Wilde & Findlay Wilde (images 2-3 & 6).
While Nigel and Findlay were out and about I was positioned overlooking No.6 tank when an unseen threat sent the teal flock into panic mode. There were in excess of 1,000 birds rising above the water and daisy beds to swirl around the tank like a Starling murmuration. A very impressive sight indeed. Also present with the teal were 34 Common Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 24 Mallard, 2 Common Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 6 Wigeon, and 23 Shoveler.
Shortly after I was joined by Frank et al and some distractions from attempting to relocate the teal produced an immature Marsh Harrier, 13 Black-tailed Godwit and the Peregrine over at Weston Point. The Green-winged Teal reappeared eventually and was watched displaying to other teal in a tight little assembly of drakes courting the shy females (see video here: https://vimeo.com/149498485 of the Green-winged Teal and here for 1000 Common Teal in panic flight: https://vimeo.com/149501705).
Observers: Frank Duff, Al Orton, WSM (images 1 & 4-5 & 7-8 and videos).
A small milestone with 250,000 views tonight. A big thanks for tuning in.
