Up early, and rushing

Hi readers, there's one thing I often moan about and that's getting up early, 6:00am was today's early rise time, as John Holian offered a trip over to Belvide to get the various rarer species that have been around for weeks now some may have called us crazy for getting up so early but others had got up before us! At 6:30am we set off on our way to Belvide, it was still quite dark as the sun hadn't even begun to rise yet. On arrival we got our stuff out and began walking in the dark through some creepy woods, which I have to admit had me worried for a moment. It as the Gull roost was still full and present we could here the waking gulls calling in the distance which calmed the nerves a little. 

We arrived in the first hide and took a seat. As you can imagine visibility was to start with not there, we were still I. The dark so we had to wait for the sun to rise, which took an hour or so to happen. The Gull roost then began to take off. We missed the full starling roost as we wanted to go and have a look at the Greenland- White fronted Goose, which hadn't turned up by the time we arrived. So we returned back to the first hide on a long a rushing walk back. A couple of Water Rail made appearances throughout the hour or two in the hide, and John got a 4 second view of the Bittern but it didn't return for me to get a look. The two immature drake Long Tailed Ducks were also near the dam to the left of the hide which was a nice species to see. 

There were tones of Goldeneye about around 20 or so that I could see. After a while in the hide we received a phone call explaining that the White fronted Goose (Greenland type) had flown in, so began a very fast and rushed walk back to the far hide, which even tired me out after the early morning wake up. We the. Had to turn back around after almost getting to the hide after being informed I had missed a call saying the bird was better to be seen from the Gazebo hide, bring on a second rushed walk I believe. We then rushed to the Gazebo Hide and after a couple of minutes we had got the Greenland type White fronted Goose. 

Although the bird is a sub species it was something good to see and it could become a separate species sooner or later anyway as it is a bit more different for a White fronted Goose. But it was an interesting bird to study. We then had to rush back as John had things to do this afternoon, but we had seen the bird we came out for so can call the morning a success. Here's the main sightings from the morning, 

Belvide Reservoir- Greenland White fronted Goose x1, Water Rail x2, Long Tailed Duck x2, Pochard 20+, Canada Goose 20+, Greylag Goose 5+, Goldeneye 20+, Wigeon 10+, Greater black backed Gull 10+, Lesser Black backed Gull 50+, Herring Gull 10+, Cormorant x1, Common Gull x1, Tufted Duck 20+, Nuthatch x2, Chaffinch (multiple), Black headed Gull 50+. 

So not the worst of mornings for birding a few good birds seen and the bird we went for was also seen which can only be judged a success in my eyes. I enjoyed the birding to, it was as me and John said a little rushed a hectic but in the end the hard work paid off and we saw the Goose. There should be a post tomorrow also so it's a full weekend of birding for me hopefully. And thanks to John for the trip out this morning. 

Thanks for reading enjoy the weekend all- WMBB