Devon, mid January 2024

A few days down in Seaton, with a side trip to WWT Arundel on the way down, plus Portbury Wharf and WWT Slimbridge on the way back.

WWT Arundel

My first visit to the WWT site at Arundel. It may not be ‘birding’ but I’m unlikely to see fantastic birds like the huge Dalmatian Pelican (eastern Med to Taiwan), Spectacled Eider (Alaska/Siberia), Scaly-sided Merganser (East Russia) and Harlequin duck (North America, Greenland etc) outside of a curated collection. Although the Harlequin duck is occasionally/very rarely spotted in the north of the UK.  The had a small group of Long tailed Duck, and there was a showy Little Grebe visiting one of the outside pools.





















Branscome

Goldcrests were busy this morning in the fir trees. Also, what I think must be an overwintering Chiffchaff (?) - just as busy as the Goldcrests in the cold, looking for food.



BOPH Winter Cruise, Poole

10+ Great Northern Divers seen on the cruise round the harbour, plus a larger number of Red Breasted Merganser.  I also spotted this Red Breasted Merganser feeding in the shadows around Ferrybridge on the way back to Seaton.  There can't be many places better than RSPB Lodmoor (also Weymouth) to see Common Snipe.






Chard Reservoir

Quick walk at Chard Reservoir to discover that the hide was closed, so I couldn't get closer to the GC Grebes. No sign of a Nuthatch in the wooded areas either, but that is probably down to my inept spotting.


Portbury Wharf NR

I went looking for the Black necked Grebe at Portbury Wharf, on my way to Slimbridge this pm. Instead, I believe this is a Slavonian Grebe on the North Pool, so definitely a different bird.



 

WWT Slimbridge

Nothing new on this winter visit but the Bewick's Swans were showing well on Rushy Pen.




 

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