Boddington Reservoir and Temple Pool :: 07 October 2018

The weather had been suspect and so I thought that there might be something worth seeing at Boddington Reservoir. I walked from the car and chatted to a birder coming the other way, asking if he had seen anything of note. Rather grumpily he said not. The water was very low and the island had actually joined onto the mainland. Not a wader in sight. Around 80 greylag geese rested on the left hand side, with 24 black-headed gulls. Behind were five grey herons fishing and behind them again were two little egrets.

Great crested grebes (8) swam above and dived below the water. Numbers of mallard (33) rested on the rocky edge. This was going to be hard going I thought.

One of the little egrets fished close by and allowed a couple of photos, so not a waste of time, but soon I was past the fishermen and their match and on the high slope to the right of the reservoir. I stopped and talked with a chap who volunteers at Brandon Marsh - nice guy. As we watched the far hedge we had bullfinch, chiffchaff, goldfinch and blackbirds. Turned out we had both been to see the grey phalarope at Napton almost at the same time but not met then. As we stood a small flock of what appeared to be golden plover passed over. There were reports of redwing over Grimsbury but none to be seen here.

Moving on I found 18 red-legged partridge (#143) near two pheasant - these had eluded me for the whole year. I'd like to find some greys but never seem to have the luck. Turning for home I passed the water sluice at the far end and entered the trees. A mixed flock of tits made some commotion and I luckily picked out a couple of marsh tit amongst them.

A pleasant visit but disappointing given the expanse of mud along the edge of the water.

After lunch, Charlotte agreed to a short walk down to Temple Pool. I was hoping to show her the mandarin ducks but they didn't show. We did though see three jays fly off ahead of us as we got to the entrance to the pool from the footpath. Then great-spotted woodpecker and nuthatch showed but not close enough for a good photo. On the way back up the hill I saw what I first thought was a kestrel but turned out to be a sparrowhawk, being mobbed by a crow.

Sightings included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, bullfinch, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, coal tit, dunnock, goldfinch, great crested grebe, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, grey heron, greylag goose, jackdaw, jay, kestrel, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, long-tailed tit, mallard, marsh tit, moorhen, mute swan, nuthatch, pheasant, red kite, red-legged partridge, reed bunting, robin, rook, sparrowhawk, woodpigeon and wren.