18 Mar 25

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

It was a change of scenery today with a 2 hour long visit to Lodmoor RSPB Reserve. Main highlights on a very very chilly day were 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Redshank and a Common Sandpiper. All firsts for the year.

Another highlight was what I initially thought was a Ruddy Shelduck. Until it lifted its head that is. It had all the features for a Ruddy Shelduck apart from its head colouring, which was predominantly black with rufous cheeks. Possibly a Ruddy Shelduck x Common Shelduck hybrid like this one here.


Birds Recorded:
2 Cormorant
6 Little Egret
8 Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
20+ Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler

Peregrine Falcon
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
2 Ringed Plover
26 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Cetti's Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

One of at least 6 Little Egrets seen on the reserve this morning.

Here's another one feeding in the shallows. A little later..........

.............it stopped feeding for a preen.

There were dozens of Shelduck here today.

This one was having a good stretch

And this one on the right is sat next to what I initially thought was a Ruddy Duck, but that head colouration I think suggests that it is a hybrid, possibly crossed with a Common Shelduck.

In flight we have a pair of Mallard with a drake Gadwall at the rear.

A Peregrine Falcon flew past and as it did so, all these Wigeon, which were on the bank behind, made a hasty retreat to the water.

A pair of Oystercatchers over the reedbeds.

Two Ringed Plovers came into land, but didn't stay long.

On the far side of the reserve were these 26 Black-tailed Godwits.

I'm not sure what spooked them..........

...........but they all took off, circled the reserve and landed back where they took off from.

Just behind these Shelduck are...............

............three Redshank.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
1 Ruddy Shelduck hybrid


Bees Recorded:
1 Bumblebee sp.


Plants:

Along one of the sheltered paths were............

............these flowering Sweet Violets (Viola odorata)

Ted:

Sorry Ted, but...........

.............dogs have to have leads on in the reserve.