Alton Water - 4/4/2019

 A pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE (they are an escaped bird that has naturalised)

 

As the year moves into April expectations are high. Spring migration is getting into gear and anything is possible. Also at this time the breeding season is also gearing up and everywhere is alive with bird song. Why I chose to go to Alton Water I don't know, but I had the idea that anywhere could produce anything at this time of year. But with Alton the exact opposite is also possible and today turned out to be a disappointment.
The main bird out on the reservoir was the GREAT CRESTED GREBE, which was present in large numbers. It seems Alton has a large non-nesting population on its waters, just hanging out for the summer, not bothered with any of that breeding malarkey. There was the odd pair of SWAN and COOT around, but with the shape of the reservoir, with many sheltered inlets, meant that there could have been more about. DUCK wise apart from a few MALLARD about there was a small number of TUFTED DUCK, in the more out of the way places. Because they nest later, TUFTIES often hang around in large numbers into May, later than other species. In addition there was a pair of SHOVELLER, which is quite a rare bird on the reservoir.

 A pair of TUFTIES

 

By the dam there was a population of eight EGYPTIAN GEESE, and a pair of OYSTERCATCHER at the water treatment works nearby.
There was a small passage of SAND MARTINS, flying high in the air, catching insects on the wing, and a couple of SWALLOWS passed through, the proverbial  bringer of summer.

The Dam

 



The woods around the reservoir were full of bird song, the residents joined by CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP (although chances are a lot of those two species had over wintered with us).
A YELLOWHAMMER was down by the main car park , a species I haven't seen here before, it could be a migrant.
As you can see nothing much to really report from today, just the usual species expected for an early Spring visit. Its just annoying with so much happening I can only get limited time off work, its all about being in the right place at the right time, and it wasn't the case today. However I shouldn't really complain because I still enjoy bird watching, even at the uneventful times. Its just amazing how much wildlife there is out there, even during the worst period of species extinction in all of history, some species still hang on against the odds.