Reservoir Woods

I took a walk around one of my favourite reservoirs and it's woodland last week, and it was alive with birdsong and wildlife. There was plenty to see, even if some of my subjects didn't make it easy. Their song always gave them away, and helped me locate them. 

There were Pied Flycatchers and Common Redstarts, plus some bonus birds like the Garden Warbler, Sparrowhawk and Common Sandpipers. It was a lovely sunny day, and the temperature lifted nicely too. 

I found some nesting birds, and others in good locations. So that all bodes well for when I return in a few weeks time, to hopefully find some of them feeding young.

Common Sandpiper

Great Crested Grebe

Mandarin Duck

Nuthatch

Pied Flycatcher

Common Redstart

Sparrowhawk

Patch Birding

Saturday started off misty and gloomy, but I still went out armed with the camera. This sort of weather is never conducive to nice pictures.
In the gloom, I picked out a pair of Mandarin ducks on my local flooded field. Initially I thought it may have been a Garganey, with the white over the eye, but as it swam out of the mist it was clear it was a male Mandarin. Never mind, a year tick all the same.

Female (left) and male Mandarin

There was a very vocal group of 75+ Fieldfares. I was surprised that they were still around, but pleased to see them once again before they head off to their breeding grounds in the north.

One of the most vocal birds of the morning was the Wren. They're very active at the moment and they make it easy to see them at this time of year. 

Mandarin Duck - Macclesfield

I found this very smart looking male Mandarin duck on the banks of Bottoms reservoir in Macclesfield. They have been in the area for a number of years and although not native to this country, they are quite pretty to look at.

Very photogenic and colourful.

Connaught Waters - Epping Forest

An early morning drive into the heart of Epping Forest and Connaught Water in search of Nightingale proved to be fruitless. The weather was kind to me though, with the sun up and warm too. There were plenty of other birds up and about though, with Blackcaps in good voice especially.
Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were in attendance too, as were Nuthatch and a few Chiffchaff.
A nice surprise on the water were a pair of Common Tern. One was sat on a post while the other was engaging in courtship feeding, whereby the male (usually) goes and catches fish and then presents it to the female. It was quite interesting to watch, as she didn't seem that impressed. I guess it's like when a guy tries to buy a lady a drink in a bar, to woo her. Sometimes it might take a few drinks for her to see his good nature.

Common Tern.

Waiting for that second or third drink.

Some very cute goslings.

Just look how much bigger they will get.

The stripy headed juvenile Great Crested Grebe.

The very colourful male Mandarin Duck.

I wasn't expecting to see this Whistling Duck in Epping Forest.

Mandarin Duck

The area between Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall is a great little habitat, and at this time of year there is usually quite a lot to see. There were plenty of Chiffchaffs calling, my first Blackcap of the year, Grey Wagtail on the river and Herons on their nests. Then I spotted a duck on the river that I was hoping I would see, having not seen one for a while. The really colourful Mandarin Duck. It's not a native species and was introduced in the 20th century here, although the feral population seems to have established itself quite well. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I think its quite a nice duck to look at. A break from the norm.

A good looking male.

The less colourful female.

Etherow Park

I took advantage of the good weather again this morning by making a trip to Etherow Park. There's always lots to see and a good range of birds. I particularly like watching the Dippers skimming up and down stream, and today one individual posed nicely for a few minutes for me.
The hide also allows good opportunities for birds at close quarters. While I was there this morning a Coal Tit came and sat on the window ledge no more that a foot away, while I froze and stared straight back at it, it must have wondered what I was up to.
Mandarin ducks seem to be everywhere you look at Etherow these days. On the lake, on the canal, in the woods on the grass. They're not a favourite by any stretch of the imagination but they are particularly colourful. I just hope they don't become like Himalayan balsam and take over our parks and waterways.

Nuthatch at the hide

Dipper

Grey Heron

Mandarin (one of many)

Macclesfield Forest

Some more shots from Macclesfield Forest. A nice mix of birds seen last weekend. Another Crossbill below here and a Siskin.

I found a pair of Mandarin ducks sat up in a tree. Not really where I thought I might find them, when I was looking for Redstart and Flycatchers. I think this site will only get better in the coming weeks with the hopeful return of these two species.

Female Crossbill

Look at that bill.(please excuse the branch in the way)

Siskin

A pair of Mandarin ducks in a tree. Not where I expected to find them.

Just when you think it might be something interesting, it's usually a Chaffinch.

Etherow Park

A nice couple of hours spent at Etherow Park in Stockport this morning. Cold, crisp and sunny. Perfect conditions. A great site, if a little too busy later in the day, hence me getting there at first light. I managed to see a few Dippers on the river Goyt and a good twenty plus Mandarin ducks. I made my way to the hide and was soon joined by a very friendly Robin that was intent on joining me in the hide. So I took advantage and took some really nice shots. A Kingfisher went past me on four occasions, but never stopped close enough for a good shot. Lots of Nuthatch around and a flock of Siskins. Teal, Tufted Ducks, Cormorants and even more Mandarins. Lots of drumming from the Woodpeckers and then one put in an appearance next to the hide. A good mornings birding.

Blue Tit

Nuthatch

Mandarin Duck

This cheeky little Robin came and joined me in the hide with a look that said, "What are you doing here?"