A New Year's Visit to Abberton

2nd January 2023

Our first outing of the year and what better place to start than my favourite Abberton Reservoir. As tradition dictates the first stop was the south end of the Layer Breton causeway and two old friends were on hand to greet us, the weir Heron and the long-staying Baikal Teal hybrid.. I'm sure the Heron had moved at least 6 inches since I last photographed it!!

The huge flotilla of Aythya ducks had moved from east of the Layer de la Haye causeway to east of the Layer Breton causeway and were particularly tightly packed. You can pick out the red heads of the drake Pochards

Along the bank of the causeway a Pied Wagtail was strutting its stuff.

Not huge numbers of other ducks around but the drake Teal and Shoveler were looking their best in the glorious sunshine.

A red-head Smew had appeared in its usual position just off the reed bed by the weir, but didn't come as close as it has in the past. Perhaps more luck next time.

The Goldeneye were obviously full of the joys of spring and this male had the breeding season on its mind and was displaying to the females which looked on with apparent total disinterest.................

.................although this pair seemed to have bonded.

In recent years the Goosanders have concentrated to the east of the Layer de la Haye causeway and made several sorties into the sluice where a large shoal of Perch take up residence. However, this year the main reservoir is incredibly low and the birds are far more spread out with probably the largest concentration east of the Layer Breton causeway.

This female seemed to have a punk hair-do.

Always love a fly-by.

Now on to the Layer de la Haye causeway and an immdeidiate fly-by Great White Egret. It is very noticeable that many of the local birders don't even bother to lift their cameras when a Great White flies over, but I still can't resist photographing these most majestic birds especially against a darker background.

There were a few Black-tailed Godwits feeding along the spit but only this individual came close enough for a shot. The Redshanks, however, were far more obliging and seem to be more tame this winter.

The elusive Black-necked Grebe was certainly living up to its name and was keeping way out by the tern raft. However, after an hour or so it drifted in close enough for a few record shots.

But the stars of the show today were the nine or so Scaup that were present. Unfortunately the males were asleep all the time, but the females were a bit more active and showing off that amazing white blaze.

This female stole the show with a very public bath time. Just how good is that?