Long-tailed Duck at CWP

Saturday 2nd April 2011

I spent the morning on Saturday at Dudgrove, pit 114, in the eastern section of the Cotswold Water Park studying the LONG-TAILED DUCK. It was always rather distant, and I only managed a rubbish record shot (above) but a nice bird for the county. The supporting cast included two White Wagtails (below), 10 Sand Martins and two singing Willow Warblers, that's four county year ticks in one morning; plus more songsters: three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, and a Treecreeper. Also a Raven, five Goldeneyes, 11 Red Crested Pochards, a pair of Teal, six Pochard, 13 Shoveler and a pair of Reed Buntings.

During the week I managed to get in a bit of birding after work in the western part of the CWP, with Four Little Ringed Plovers (below), two Green Sandpipers and a Redshank being the highlight, in the Shorncote area.

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