randombirder

A quick trip to the dystopian world of Staines Reservoir that once again provided a lot of quality. It took a few minutes to get my eye in but a little ringed plover along the shore of the south basin set things up with a couple great northern diver distantly on the north basin and at least four lingering goldeneye . The continuing black-necked grebe looked prime in their summer plumage, a total of three were relatively close in on the south basin. The long-staying Slavonian grebe was also in mid-moult and too looked mighty fine associating with the black-necked grebes. At the western end, a moulting water pipit also looked rather nice as the subtle blue hues were evident on a single bird feeding along the bank. A common sandpiper was also in the area.

A quick dash over to the reservoir this evening to get my mind off work and settle myself down with some bird therapy. The south basin yielded the continuing 11 Black Tern that had been present for much of the day.  Two adult summer Dunlin were trotting along the causeway.

A decent late afternoon visit to Staines Reservoir where a distant Black-necked Grebe was present on the west side of the south basin. My first terns of the year were met by a cloud of whirling and boisterous group of Common Tern that wheeled over the causeway from the south to the north basin.  There were at least two classic Arctic Tern  feeding on the south side but could perhaps have been more. The continuing Greater Scaup was present close to the Causeway on the north basin. A surprise Whimbrel plodded along the grassy bank of the south basin with a Little Ringed Plover that flew in onto the shoreline. Three Swallow were feeding along the causeway.

A quick trip over to the reservoirs where a possibly new Grey Phalarope  had once again made an appearance onto the south basin.  This time the weather is stunning, a crisp morning with blue skies and a radiant sun, a real contrast to Saturday and the weekend in general. The bird was closer in this time, and with the improved weather, the views were much more favorable.  A single Black Tern had lingered on while passerines included three Yellow Wagtail , plenty of Meadow Pipit , and a Skylark .  Around a 100 House Martin were feeding over the causeway that disappeared with a quarter of an hour of arriving. Two Goldeneye and four Wigeon  were also present.

A really great morning at the reservoirs before the rain set in.  The highlight today was the Grey Phalarope that never got anywhere near to taking a photograph but was fine through the scope as it fed busily three-quarters of the way out on the south basin. There was plenty around with four Black Tern , six Common Tern , two juvenile Ringed Plover , two Black-necked Grebe , three Goldeneye , and three Yellow Wagtail on the move. A truly outstanding sight were the huge numbers of House Martin , over a thousand, maybe two thousand, I haven't a clue, but lots, feeding low over the reservoir particularly on the south side.

The reservoir was like a millpond this morning.  With clear blue skies and the warm sunshine, the transformation was almost Grecian. A count of 13 Black Tern were feeding over the South Basin that was joined by a 1st-year Little Gull .  A Yellow Wagtail flew along the causeway.

A really productive day despite the Phalarope's short stay at the reservoir on Friday.  A particularly spirited arrival on site where the morning sun blazed across the open water. An initial count of 17 Black Tern then turned into 21.  By late morning more had arrived increasing to 31.  By midday this had risen again to 36 birds, frequently seen clustered together in a group as they rose up from the water only to return back down to continue their elegant undulating flight across the water. Black Tern Seven Common Swift were wheeling over the south basin with reasonable numbers of House Martin . A winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe drifted across the north basin.  There were five Common Sandpiper hugging the margins. An adult winter Sandwich Tern flew low over the causeway and continued on north.  Ten minutes later, two Turnstone flew a circuit around the reservoir and again failed to settle. A Hobby was seen flying slowly th...

A quick visit to Staines Reservoir to make the most of a balmy evening where the temperature rose to a crazy 28C. It was generally quiet but the return was pretty respectable with a Black-necked Grebe seen on the west side of the south basin.  Waders were sparse, but was made up by singles of Ringed Plover , Little Ringed Plover , and two Common Sandpiper on the north basin. A juvenile Yellow Wagtail was in amongst around sixty Pied/White Wagtail along the causeway.

A mild breeze swept through the reservoirs under leaden grey skies.  There was barely a soul around as I made my way along the causeway. The highlight was a way overdue London first, a roosting moulting adult Sanderling on the North basin accompanied by an adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plover . There were six flighty Common Sandpiper scampering along the shoreline of the South basin. Hirundines were sparse, but for a single Swallow , three House Martin , and four Swift powering low past and always a pleasure to watch. Common Tern have successfully bred here with around a dozen including young either flying or settled down on the rafts. A single eclipse drake Shoveler  was present as was a juvenile Shelduck and an Egyptian Goose .   

Another gloomy cold evening in Staines but the skies were full of hirundines.  Common Swift swooping low over the causeway, Swallow in large groups fluttering close over the water with small clouds of House Martin and a few Sand Martin . There were at least two Arctic Tern this evening seen on the North Basin associating with at least 30 Common Tern .  A single Common Sandpiper scampered along the causeway, where later, two Little Ringed Plover were found.

Well it was a gloomy old day but there was a window around mid-morning where a brief hiatus in the rainfall prompted me to head over to Staines. I've never really liked Staines Reservoirs to be honest.  The large waterbodies do draw in real interest during the migratory seasons, but it is ostensibly a god forsaken place having also to put up with the constant fear that my car could at any moment be broken in to. Anyway, I headed along the causeway.  There were plenty of midgies trying to forcefully work their way into any orifice they could find but I fought them away with great skill and fortitude. There were plenty of Black Headed Gull on the South Basin but a few goodies to be found within the congregation.  Most notably, three Little Gull (2 1cy, and an adult winter), an Arctic Tern , two Common, Tern , four smart Black-necked Grebe , a pair of Goldeneye , and the continuing American Horned Lark . Small groups of Wigeon and Shoveler were still present, a...