Common Scoter Closer.

 On Wednesday the Common Scoter was closer to the bank.

 She was still busy feeding.

There were also three Goldeneye briefly on Wednesday.

Common Scoter still and a Returnee.

 The female Common Scoter was again present for its third day.(24/11)

 It had moved to a more central area of the reservoir and was still busy feeding.

 I first recorded this Black-headed Gull on 16/12/2014. I was able to read its ring using my telescope. The code was 5426233, HELGOLAND, GERMANA.

Today I was reading the ring of this adult Black-headed Gull and realised that it was the same bird. Perhaps it returned to Helgoland to breed this summer and has returned to Thornton for the winter. I will pass on this record to the German ringing scheme. By being able to identify an individual it is possible to discover the movements of bird species, and better understand their conservation needs.

Cold Snap brings some visitors.

On Saturday there were 5 Goosander, 2 males and 3 females. Today , Sunday, a single female Common Scoter was feeding near the car park. Her dives lasted approximately  40 seconds. There were also 7 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 69 Lapwing and two Kingfishers. A developing raft of Great -crested Grebes had reached 18.

November Update.

Recent sightings have included a male Brambling with the Chaffinch flock on October 28th, and two Kingfishers on the 29th. By 6th November the Lapwing flock had increased to 50. There were two Snipe at Brown's Wood on 8th November. On the 11th November 40 Cormorants were feeding on the reservoir and seemed to be catching mainly Perch. Todays Webs count was completed in very windy conditions. Numbers were down with only 69 Mallard and 19 Coot. Little Grebe numbers were still good with 18 counted. There were 53 Lapwing on the dam and a single flyover Raven.