Wednesday 28 October 2009 - Red-crested Pochard at Alvecote Pools SSSI - 27/10/2009

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Red-crested Pochard at Alvecote Pools SSSI

An early morning trip to the patch proved pretty worthwhile when a female Red-crested Pochard was located on Mill Pool.  Also present were 4 Little Egrets, with three on Mill Pool and another over on Upper Pool.  A further pleasant surprise was a male Northern Pintail on Upper Pool where there were also 47 Gadwall, 60 Eurasian Wigeon and a Common Kingfisher.  Other wildfowl included 22 Northern Shoveler, 52 Common Teal, 56 Mallard, 22 Tufted Duck and 88 Common Coot.  Other species included 8 Northern Lapwing, 10 Common Snipe and the odd Eurasian Skylark, Redwing and Meadow Pipit migrating south.  

Red-crested Pochard (female) - Mill Pool, Alvecote Pools, Warwickshire - October 2009

South View, Polesworth

Around the house today up to 8 Common Pheasants frequented the feeders as did a single Coal Tit and a single European Goldfinch amongst the usual species.  A pair of Goldcrests were also spotted nearby and a Common Buzzard lingered to the north of the house.