13/01/2015 Bough Beech Reservoir Mandarins at third time of asking!

Tuesday 13th January 2015
Bough Beech Reservoir near Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

With an unsettled weather situation I decided to stay close to home and took the opportunity to make a overdue return visit to Bough Beech. Top of my list was Mandarin ducks - this would be my third attempt this year having failed to make a sighting at Arundel and at Weir Wood .  It was mid afternoon before I was able to get going.

Initially there were no Mandarins to be seen but as dusk approached I could see a single drake which was stationary in the water but well camouflaged by the overhanging trees.   As it started to get dark another 9 of them took to the air from the trees.  More followed and the final total was around 15.  Apparently this relocation to other parts of the reserve is a nightly ritual. which local birders come to witness.  Their "puffin like" flight pattern with it's rapid wing beats made them easy to recognise, I was reliably informed.

I spotted 6 Snipe at the waters edge about 50 metres from where I was.  Soon afterwards all the birds in the area took to the air in panic and we  were able count 19 Snipe among the fleeing flock.

The other noteworthy species was Goosander which came in to roost just before dusk.  Numbers started with a modest 5, grew to 8 and finally exceeded 15 before I called it a day and went home.  The locals were disappointed with this total with numbers of over 30 frequently seen.



Additions to 2015 UK Bird List:
Mandarin Duck  (92)
Snipe   (93)



This afternoon's species list:
Tufted Duck
Mandarin Duck
Goosander
Black-headed Gulls
Herring Gulls
Gadwall
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch   (10)
Snipe
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Woodpigeon
Robin
Blackbird
Mallard
Mute Swan
Coot   (20) 
Moorhen  
Great-crested Grebe
Canada Goose
Pochard
Fieldfare