Early Spring at Abberton Reservoir

2nd April 2023

An opportunity to grab a sunny day in between the never-ending days of rain and gloom, so off to Abberton to see what is going on. There were the usual supects at the Layer Breton breakfast stop including the now resident Baikal Teal hybrid, a handful of Egyptian Geese looking resplendent in their breeding attire and a flyover Buzzard,

There were just a couple of Goldeneye hanging on and it won't be long now before they fly north to their breeding grounds.

Fairly quiet round the reserve although plenty of newly arrived Chiffchaffs in song and this female Kestrel hunting over the meadows.

Unfortunately the pair of Little Ringed Plovers had flown off at 11.00am and hadn't returned by the time I left at 3pm so I had to make do with a Pied Wagtail and the injured Wigeon which seems to be doing very well.

At Billets Farm a couple of Sky Larks were feeding quite close by.....................

........................and this one was singing from the ground!!!

But the stars of the show today were the Yellow Wagtails which on this occasion were feeding fairly close. What absolutely stunning birds.

Well spring has certainly arrived at Abberton and we can expect a lot more migrants and summer visitors in the coming weeks.