Mother's Day Birding at Longham Lakes

Despite a delayed start due to the closure of Longham Bridge causing a detour and asking police for access it was a cold but birdy morning.  As we waited for everyone to arrive a Raven flew over announcing his presence with his "cronking" call.  

Walking down the footpath to the lakes we had chattering House Sparrow and Starlings.  Coming out to the lake the sight of around 50 Sand Martins hawking over the water was delightful and Joe was first to spot a single Swallow with them.  We expected to see Sand Martin at this time of year but the Swallow was very early.  Another spring migrant were a few Chiffchaffs scattered around including one singing.

On the water were a large number of Tufted Ducks spread over both lakes, one Wigeon, a few Teal and Shoveler.  As we wandered round looking over the water and over the hedges, trees and fields.  Many of the small birds were singing with Greenfinch, Dunnocks and Robin, though a couple of Reed Bunting males were struggling to have their fairly weak song heard in the cold wind.  Reed Buntings were quite evident and I counted 10 on the walk.  A Grey Wagtail flew over to the shoreline calling but it didn't stay long, whereas Pied Wagtails were everywhere, with one flock of 16 across the path at one stage.  A few Meadow Pipits were mixed in with the wagtails.

Looking through the Tufted Ducks Nick picked up the female Scaup asleep on the water, but easily distinguished from the female tufted with her slightly larger size and rounded smooth head (no tuft) and as it was a first year bird it had an off white face.

There were a few Gadwall, Mallard and Little Grebes and lots of Coot.  Though we did see Great Crested Grebes on the south lake it was the north lake where we found them doing some head shaking but not a full display.  

A couple of Green Woodpeckers gave their "yaffling" call and we did catch sight of one as it flew past us, though a Great Spotted Woodpecker was only seen by a few.  A Buzzard flew over high being mobbed by gulls and a Kestrel hunted over the fields.  In the fields were the usual Mute Swans, Canada and Greylag Geese, also Grey Heron and Little Egret flew across.  Long-tailed Tits, Wren and Goldfinch were then added to the list.   We finished with a Redshank found on the island, our only wader of the day and brought our tally up to 54 bird species seen.

Pair of Mallard on Longham Lakes © Nick Hull