An Afternoon Visit to Abberton Reservoir

25th February 2020

After a very successful morning visit to Mistley, time for a quick call in to Abberton on the way home.

So where have all the Great White Egrets gone? During the last two winters numbers built up to double figures and there was lots of speculation over whether they had bred or not. But this winter numbers have been restricted to a handful of individuals and today only one bird was visible, sitting on the concrete wall west of Layer Breton causeway.

The rather confiding female Goldeneye was still there and gave some great performances just off the bank, including some dive sequences.

The previous totals of 30-40 Goosanders have now dwindled and we are down to just one or two drakes. Luckily they are still coming into the sluice to feed on the large shoal of Perch.

But the stars of the show today were the two females and one male Long-tailed Ducks. These have been present east of the Layer-de-la-Haye causeway earlier in the year but kept to the middle of the reservoir by the tern raft. However, over the last couple of weeks they have been coming in closer and today was our first opportunity to get some close-ups.

That's better!!!