Headed up to Big Waters early arriving at 0710. Still Dull but immediately saw 7 Whooper Swans and could make out a few Goldeneye from the Car Park. Headed up to the hides where the pond was not exactly full but it was busy, specially with the nearly 200 Black Headed Gulls up and down like yoyos' as the planes from the airport were taking off West to East and throwing out some mean Decibels. 2 Oystercatchers arrived on the Island then about 20mins later another one arrived which after about 5 mins was unceremoniously chased by the first 2 around the pond then went off in a Northerly direction. 2 more Whoopers arrived and immediately the Whooping started, lasted for a couple of minutes as they passed the gossip to each other and where they had been then they settled down for a quick breakfast (see video) The Goldeneye were numbering about 8 Males and 3 Females when some of them started an anti clockwise displaying swim around the lake in line (great to watch - see video again). Willow Tits and Yellowhammers in the Feeding station were a couple of highlights also. Plenty to read in the Book but mainly only from a few regulars although I see plenty of people coming and going and nothing entered so please take 2 minutes just to enter anything you see (enter only unusual things if you have not done counts - remember sitting there a couple of years ago when someone said wouldn't it be nice if we had a Little Egret and a guy sitting there got up and showed us his picture of one taken on the scrape a few days earlier) this applies to any other hide you visit, thanking you in anticipation.
Anyway must go and count my moths from the trap (still waiting in hope for anything other than a Common Quaker or a Hebrew Character) so here are a few pics and a quickly knocked together video.
Mute Swan letting me know that this is their nest - Last Year there was no successful breeding on
Big Waters for the first time that I can remember in the last 8 years
(This one wasn't at Big Waters unfortunately)
The most Cormorants I have seen on the tree so far
Mute Swan hurtling at the Whoopers then when he gets there.......
he realises that there a re a few too many so retires back to the public end
Whooper
4 of the 6 Goldeneye that did nearly a full lap around the pond displaying
Couple of Oystercatchers looking for a bit of shuteye on the island which is filled with BHGs
Couple more Whoopers
Yellowhammer poking around on the still saturated Feeding Station
Lovely looking Reed Bunting
Stunning Willow Tit
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