Last weekend, I stopped briefly at Alvecote Pools in Warwickshire on my way down to Oxfordshire to see a female Hooded Merganser.
The bird was first reported in Warwickshire on 5th April and is thought to be the same individual previously seen at Pilning Wetlands in Avon, where it was last recorded on 10th March before moving north-east.
If accepted, this would be the first record for the West Midlands area.
Mid-week, after finishing work, I had an evening walk and called in at Standlake in Oxfordshire to see a Ruddy Duck.
I haven’t seen one for years, so it was nice to catch up with this species again.
Today I drove down into Dorset to see a Bluethroat at Swineham Gravel Pits.
On arrival, the bird was showing really well and a flyover Osprey was a nice addition to the yearlist.
