Long-tailed Duck awaits my return

We've had a few days away in Plymouth this week. The weather wasn't too kind to us but I did manage to see the Lesser Yellowlegs amongst Redshanks and Greenshanks at Ernesettle Creek. Walks on the coast at Hope Cove and Wembury didn't turn up anything special even though we seemed to be surrrounded by reports of Black Redstarts but it was very enjoyable all the same (apart from being shot-blasted by a hail-storm when on the most exposed part of the walk). Our B&B was on Plymouth Hoe so we certainly ate well in the restaurants along the Barbican.

At Rishton Reservoir, this-morning, I had two species that I can't recall seeing there before. A Crossbill was calling as it flew high overhead and I had three Rooks flying east over the dam wall. There are always plenty of Crows around but Rooks are very scarce over Rishton. On the water there were the first four Goosander of the winter - all juveniles/females - and seven Cormorants. Sixty-two Lapwings fed on the western fields and gull numbers are starting to increase.

At home, there were six Lesser Redpolls on the Apple tree and lots of Chaffinches and Goldfinches. But next was a trip to Stocks Reservoir to see the Long-tailed Duck that had been in residence for a few days. It wasn't difficult to find, feeding actively below the hides though a bit too distant for a decent image. A flock of around 40 Siskins were in the alders next to the 'old' hide. Next it was time to check out the mega-late Willow Warbler in the car park sycamores - by far the latest east Lancashire record and if it stays another fornight, the latest for Lancashire.

A very late Willow Warbler

Long-tailed Duck

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