An Afternoon at Abberton Reservoir

17th October 2024

After a successful morning at Old Hall Marshes, time for a vist to Abberton Reservoir. As we peered over the wall by the Layer de la Haye sluice the first bird to greet us was a rather showy Grey Wagtail. Grey Wagtails can be very flighty, but this one was more intent on feeding on the many flies by the water's edge than worrying about us taking photos.

At that point 5-6 Meadow Pipits flew in and started feeding on the slope. Why can't it always be this well organised?

And then to round things off nicely they were joined by possibly the first Rock Pipit of the winter.

Well that was a good start so now on to the Layer Breton causeway. On the slightly exposed old road a flock of Shoveler and a single Wigeon were having a snooze, with the male Shovelers looking a bit tatty as they come out of eclipse plumage.

The Kingfisher was very active down the north-east end of the causeway but spent most of its time hidden in the bushes, This was a brief appearance in the open.

The appearance of a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling high up in a dead tree was a bit of a surprise as they are not particularly common at Abberton. It sat up there for five minutes surveying the scene.

It is hard to imagine that 10 years ago you would never have referred to a Great White Egret as a "usual suspect", but now they are regulars at Abberton and no longer wary of the public.

Just look at that snake-like neck.

You often see Herons catching 14"long Pike and managing to swallow them, but Great Whites seem a little more refined and tend to concentrate on catching tiddlers!!!

While we were standing there two female Goldeneyes flew in and then swam away just as quickly as they arrived. Obviously the start of the winter build-up.

There were also two female Goosanders, my first of the winter.

What smart birds.

But the stars of the show today was a flock of five Black-tailed Godwits. I have been coming to Abberton for 50 years and I don't recall ever seeing Black-tails on the Layer Breton causeway, only on the mud from the Layer de la Haye causeway.

Black-tailed Godwits often feed in flocks but this is the first time I have seen this behaviour where they are feeding in the same square inch of mud!!!!

And time for a stretch.

Well a great afternoon at Abberton and not long now before the winter build-up and hope it brings some rare grebes. Two Black-necked were present today but miles out.