05/01/2016 Arlington Reservoir in the rain a.m. Weir Wood Reservoir in the rain p.m. 9 Mandarin Ducks

Tuesday 5th January 2016 
Arlington Reservoir

Today's weather was even worse than yesterday's so I made another early start, this time to Arlington Reservoir just down the A22 from my home.

As you would expect, there were fewer birds than usual around. Pick of the small bunch was a Common Sandpiper seen on the wall by the water just south of Pollit's Farm and a single Brent Goose seen in the water at the SE corner of the reservoir.




Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
69   Rook
70   Jackdaw
71   Wigeon
72   Brent Goose
73   Common Sandpiper
74   Brent Goose

Other birds seen included Canada Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Robin, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Cow, Magpie, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Wren, Blackbird, Tufted Duck, Cormorant and Grey Heron











Evening visit to Weir Wood Reservoir
Joined Bob Johnson and Alastair Gray for the roost at Weir Wood Reservoir.  The weather was still awful but we managed to see a good selection of birds.  

• Pick of the bunch and one of my favourites - the Mandarin Ducks (9 of them in total)

Mandarin Ducks
Courtesy of Friends of Weir Wood 

• Other highlights included a group of 100+ Starlings and another group of 100+ Fieldfare.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
75   Mandarin Duck


Other birds seen included Pochard, Coot, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Gadwall.