Abberton Reservoir - Canvasback

The autumn that keeps on giving. There is no way I would have predicted that canvasback would be the next new bird I see in the UK. It didn't start particularly well though. Arriving at the Billet Farm watchpoint at around 10am and a large congregation of twitchy twitchers had already assembled in a kind of queuing system that would have satisfied many. I was a bit miffed as from my vantage point, I could only see a narrow band of water. No chance of seeing anything really. So I left, and headed for the causeway. It was grey, and rain had started to fall. All a bit bleak but Abberton is actually very nice and having parked at the Layer de la Haye causeway, got chatting to a couple of birders and well, it was all very convivial. 

Not really knowing what to do, coffee and cake at the visitor centre beckoned. This was all very enjoyable, not much birding really, just nice views across the reservoir. The common pochard flock was out of view behind the spit distantly from the visitor centre, but not for long. The group started to swim out and for the first time today there was a bit of optimism at seeing this vagrant American duck.

In almost single file they began to appear, but no sign. And then they all took off, and after completing a tight circuit over the reservoir, they headed east across the causeway and seemingly plopped down onto the water. Heading down onto the causeway, I bumped into Ed and Andy and immediately heard that the bird was viewable from the Layer Breton causeway. They kindly allowed me to bundle into the back of their car and we steamed over. Rolling out of the car, there were already an impressive line of birders - it took a while to connect but watching the canvasback in brilliant light was really satisfying.