Sunday 27 December 2020

Grimsbury Reservoir :: 27 December 2020

The sun was out in a clear blue sky and so we decided to go for another exercise walk, this time choosing Grimsbury Reservoir. Having entered Tier 4 yesterday we had to stay local in any case. I picked up my camera and bins with the hope that we might see something on our circuit.

The reservoir entrance had been submerged a couple of days ago but the water had largely receded. The Spiceball Park car park had obviously been under water but two-thirds of it was now free from the standing water - the sign on the entrance is correct "liable to flood".

We started our circuit and soon were being followed by a number of people who had thought the same as us. As we reached the far end we could see a pair of goosander - not something I've seen here often. There were eight mute swans and a single Canada goose. We tried to head through the woods, and round to the canal but in each direction there were significant pools of water.

Goosander

Goosander

We returned to our circuit and saw 37 rook, c.70 jackdaw and c.44 black-headed gull in the cattle field. c.17 fieldfare travelled between the trees on the distant hedge line and two redwing joined a flock of c.35 starling. Five cormorant fed on the water and as we reached the pontoons another dropped in.

Unfortunately a kingfisher saw me before I saw it below the railings of the concrete pontoon sticking out into the water. Not the most exciting visit but good to be in the fresh air.

Sightings (25) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, cormorant, fieldfare, goosander, great crested grebe, jackdaw, kingfisher, lesser black-backed gull, magpie, mallard, mute swan, pied wagtail, redwing, robin, rook, song thrush, starling, woodpigeon and wren.

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