Bough Beech Reservoir, 03/01/2017

An attempt to make 200 different bird species this year led me to take a trip out to Bough Beech Reservoir again. And, sure enough, the goods were delivered. I didn't make 200 that day, of course, but several 'good' birds were added to the list. I have to admit here that some debatable bird species were added to the list, including the introduced Mandarin, of which there were at least two pairs. Ducks were plentiful along the shores of the reservoir, and I saw Mallard, Tufted Duck, and also, to my delight, a male Pochard, which I only found by careful scanning of the long line of ducks. At least six Mute Swans were on the bank some way down the reservoir, and there were a few Canada Geese to go with them. Waders were not absent, and I saw a single Green Sandpiper, which flew from the main reservoir side onto the mud (quite wet at this time of year) on the other side of the causeway, although I quickly lost it as it disappeared behind the island.