Farmoor Réservoir

A Red-necked Grebe had been seen recently at Farmoor Reservoir recently so I took a trip to see if i could locate this rare Grebe.  Arrived at Farmoor and I took the walk along the Causeway between F1 and F2 Here I photographed a few Little Grebes and a showy cormorant that was drying itself on a buoy.  

I carried on around F1 and the usual suspects were around the Reservoir.  There was a huge flock of small birds in some Hawthorns these turned out to be Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits and 5+ Chiffchaffs

 Heading back towards the Car Park i found 2 Common Sandpipers and amongst the duck flock was a Female Shoveler and a Female Teal these gave pretty good views feeding on the edge of the reservoir.

Female Shoveler

Shoveler, Farmoor Reservoir, October 2014

Female Teal

Teal, Farmoor Reservoir, October 2014

I then headed across to F1 to look for the Red-necked Grebe which had been reported earlier in the morning.  There was a lot of Little Grebes and Coots about but no sign of the Red-necked Grebe.  A Large flock of Greylag Geese were feeding on the Grass and a lone Kestrel sat on the Fence post.

A Tuffed Duck caught my eye and bingo next to the Tuffed Duck was the Red-necked Grebe i then spent the next two hours watching this bird and on the few times it came in close to shore feeding i managed a few decent shots.  Unfortunately the sun had now gone and had been replaced by dull clouds.-crested GrebeOther birds of note were about 20 plus Great  Red-necked Grebe, Farmoor Reservoir, October 2014

Other birds of note were about 20 plus Great-crested Grebe, 2 Flyover Ravens, Rock Pipit and a fly over Red Kite.  The drive back to Bristol produced at least 10 Red Kites.