17 January 2011

Winter Duck

After the recent stormy weather I was keen to find out if anything had been blown into Baglan Bay. Got to Aberavon Beach for 8ish and there was hardly anything to see, except a few Great Crested Grebes. It really is a sleepy bay! By about 10:30 there were 300+ Great Crested Grebes along the shore with 4 Red-throated Diver and a drake Common Scoter mixed in. Much further out in the shipping channel leading to the Neath river there were 2 Velvet Scoter. Possibly left over from the 6 here a few days back? Also 3 Teal kept flying through the field of view undecided which part of the bay was best(or worst?).

On to Eglwys where the water was flat calm and offered good duck counting conditions although the light wasn't great. 48 Goldeneye today is a personal best for me here. A lingering female Gadwall and more Great Crested Grebe here than in a while with 13 counted.


This fine drake Scaup alongside 1stw drake Scaup were showing well today.

The water level of the reservoir were much higher today and it will be interesting to know whether the Bittern is seen again following this change.

1 comment:

Neil Donaghy said...

Mark - a first winter drake Scaup was on Kenfig Pool yesertday - presumed to be the same bird?