We set off at about 3:30pm and a journey that should have only taken one hour and a half actually ended up taking about two hours. We joined onto the M6 motorway and at first glance things were running smoothly but after a matter of minutes the motorway was at a stand still. The strange thing was there wasn't a constant stand still on occasion it would stop and start.
We instantly became worried that the bird will have gone by the time we got there but on the way we received regular texts stating the bird was still around on the reservoir. After a long journey on the motorway we eventually got onto the A523, and after receiving direction that basically extended a route we were already on (thanks random person) we arrived at the reservoir.
On arrival I remembered that the TV show Top Gear had based their first ever amphibious car challenge at this reservoir so it was a great location to look around. We walked about a hundred yards to the viewing point being used by other birders, we were then presented with quite good views of the bird sitting on mud with Black headed gulls.
Almost as we arrived the bird decided it wanted to fly away, it flew off and landed on rocks a little further from where we were offering very difficult views, the bird then returned closer to us and offered very good and easy views through the scope.
We managed to see the bird fishing, coughing up pellets, and flying, which really gave us a good chance to observe the bird in different ways which was very enjoyable. We watched the bird for about an hour or so and left with it still sitting on the mud with other birders watching it.
I returning home I read information explaining that this bird was only the 9th record for Staffordshire and was in fact the first bird seen in the county since 1999 which makes it a quite significant bird and one that was brilliant to see. I got some very bad pictures of the bird but they work well as record shots, there they are bellow,
 |
| Caspian Tern Rudyard Reservoir |
 |
| Caspian Tern Rudyard Reservoir |
The bird was brilliant to watch and being such a rarity for the county and in fact the entire country it was something that may not come around to often. I have to say thank you to John for taking me along for this twitch, it was great to see the bird and without his offer I would have most likely not seen the bird. Although most of our time was spent watching the CASPIAN TERN there were a few other birds around that were worth noting down, here's the main sightings,
Rudyard Reservoir- CASPIAN TERN x1, Common Gull x2, Oystercatcher x1, Grey Heron x3, Pied Wagtail (multiple), Black headed Gull 10+, Lapwing 5+, Canada Goose 10+.
The bird was interesting to look at because it had already began changing into its winter plumage, however early it may be the bird was doing it making it interesting to watch for observational reasons. We looked in detail at the bird highlighting its obvious large red bill, the white tip to its bill, and the well built figure of the bird although many people highlighted that it was a little small but to be honest it was still a quite large Tern and birds are living things and don't always have to have a perfect set size they can vary.
So a very successful birding afternoon/ evening, it was great watching the bird and the fact that the bird is so rare means it was something great to see as it may not turn up again for a while. And again thank you to John for the trip to the bird I would not have seen it otherwise and I am very grateful.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the weekend all- WMBB
No comments:
Post a Comment