A new raptor watchpoint

Only been out today over this weekend.  Starting the birding off at Uttoxeter Quarry, the place contained a Dunlin, 4 Common and 2 Green Sands, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Goosander, 2 Shoveler, 15 Teal and a Kingfisher.  Also present were the family party of Egyptian Geese.  Five fast-growing goslings here as was a separate adult bird to this pair.

But to tell the truth, when you're digiscoping Egyptian Geese, that's a sign that it's all a bit quiet.  So it was time to move to a new raptor watchpoint site!  Move over Welbeck, Haldon and Wykeham, it's called,er, Blithfield Reservoir.

But not all birds of prey to begin with though.  From the causeway were 6 Black Terns, 9 Common Terns and singles each of Common Sand and Redshank.

During the course of the afternoon from the raptor watchpoint, er, I mean Tad Bay.  Wildfowl included an early-returning Goldeneye and 7 Wigeon, also a Snipe and an adult Great Black-backed Gull.  Eventually the juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over from Stansley Wood and landed in the willows opposite the hide.  The brown blob in the tree really is the Marsh Harrier, honest!  Oh eck, it's like the Purple Heron at Ogston all over again.

Eventually the Harrier took off and quartered the land behind Tad Bay.  If that wasn't enough, about 90 minutes later the Osprey appeared, flying through the bay and heading for the causeway.  That's the first time I've had a Blithers Marsh Harrier/Osprey double. 

Add to all this a friendly Peregrine, Buzzards and Kestrels of course to complete the raptors, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Little Egrets at the deep end, ended an enjoyable day.