A Kingfisher Photo-shoot at the St Albans Watercress Beds

13th December 2025

This was my first visit to this suburban reserve this winter and intended to see how the winter finch numbers were building up. As I approached the Water Rail pond a Goldcrest was flitting around in the Sallows which was a good start.

I then set up camp by the central feeder hoping for some winter finches to appear. After an hour I had not seen any Siskins or Redolls let alone Bramblings, in fact the only finches I saw were a couple of Chaffinches. So time for a walk around and I did eventually hear some Redpolls and managed to trace them to some tall Alders.

This bird couldn't be bothered to fly, so just hopped from one tree to another.

At that moment a couple of Siskins appeared, but were more tricky to photograph.

I then decided to call it a day and started to walk back to the entrance. As I approached the bridge over the main pond I saw a flash of blue shoot past and land on the bridge, a gorgeous adult male Kingfisher. For the next 10 minutes or so it posed in various locations around the small pond by the hide, and was best viewed from the bridge.

At that point it took off and put on a flying display....................

...................and finished the show with a hover.

I have seen Kingfishers here a few times but this is the first time I have seen one perched, let alone put on a flying display!!!!!

Winter Visitors at Abberton Reservoir

11th December 2025

A mid-December visit to Abberton starting at the Layer Breton causeway. This causeway has been very disappointing this year and is still very quiet with just a few Shoveler, some still emerging from their moult, and some Lapwings.

At the Hide Bay Hide the water levels are still low which is attracting good numbers of Wigeon and Lapwings. There was obviously a bird of prey in the area as both Wigeon and Lapwings were getting spooked. Here are the Wigeon taking flight.

And then the Lapwings. It was only when I got home and was looking at my photos that I noticed the small wader at the bottom and slightly left of centre of the flock.

When I enlarged the shot it was clearly one of the five Little Stints that had been in the area. for a while.

Here is another shot.

Now on to the Layer de la Haye causeway for some winter visitors. The numbers of wildfowl are swelled each winter by birds moving down from the north, but there are also some winter-specific species. The first of these today was this Scandinavian Rock Pipit. Normally get one or two each year on this section of the causeway bank.

The second winter visitor was a male Goldeneye which was diving quite close to the bank. Surely one of our most attractive ducks.

And then the more sombre female, but still photogenic with its mix of pastel colours.

The third winter visitor was a male Goosander, part of a group of some 50 birds that are usually centred on the east of the causeway by the sluice.

And then the females.

And a lot of action today with quite a few birds still flying in.

The fourth winter visitor was the female Scaup that has been present for quite a few weeks now.

The fifth winter visitor was the Black-necked Grebe of which there are currently three present. Note the high crown, the smudgy black cap which extends just below the eye and the slightly up-turned bill.

And finally the sixth winter visitor was the Slavonian Grebe of which there were also three present but today were keeping fairly separated. Note the sharp demarcation between the black cap and the white cheek, which passes through the eye, and a straight bill.

Always nice to see so many winter species on site all at once.