01/11/2016 Pennington Flash

Red-throated Diver: Autumn was in full swing at Penny today which made for a lovely morning, it was crisp and bright with plenty of Autumn migrants such as Redwing and the RTD, a great find by Bill Harrison who struck lucky yesterday.

Great-crested Grebe: Unfortunately and typically the RTD stayed pretty much out in the middle of the lake between the Rucks and the Yacht club, best views from the western end.  

I spent most of the morning walking and driving around the flash and still the bird kept its distance, unlike yesterday when Colin Davies got some great shots.

http://birdingsthelens.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/pennington-flash-halloween-special_31.html

After getting frustrated with the diver I got distracted by this GCG which was happily feeding in a small pond behind the Flash and posed for pictures.

01/12/2015 West Kirby Marina Lake

Great Crested Grebe: After yesterdays dreadful weather I was keen to get out of the house and do a spot of birding.

So after a quick ramble around my local patch, Kingsdown Flash and with not much showing I decided to pay the toll and go across to the Wirral.

Red Breasted Merganser: Once I arrived I immediately spotted the mergs, one stunning male and 4 windswept females.

They came relatively close but it was the GCG that stole the show. 

As I wandered across to the far side of the lake one GCG came right up to me and started fishing, it eventually caught one and chugged it down.

Brilliant behaviour to watch.

Red-throated Diver: The RTD on the other hand kept its distant and floated about pretty much in the middle of the lake.

Even when the wind surfers came out it still stayed out of reach.

Cormorant: The lake must be rich in food stuffs as this guy was also catching and eating fish and before I left I saw the mergs catching some kind shrimp.

17/01/2013 Shear Water

Great Crested Grebe: Back at Longleat Center Parcs I decided to take another trip to a local park just a short walk though Longleats beautiful pine woods called Shear Water.

This is a huge lake with a local bowling club and park, there was not much knocking about I saw a Grey Wagtail near the bowling club, Kingfisher whizzing across the lake and 8 Great Crested Grebe and a load of Mallards. On the way though through the woods I did see a lovely Roe Deer jumping through the forest. Worth a visit but only of you want a nice walk or something rare turns up!

www.wiltshirebirds.co.uk - Details of some good birding sites in Wiltshire are provided here, a great site with good up to date sightings.