Grafham Water - 19 October 2012

Red-necked Grebe

A calm cloudy mild morning with a very light SE breeze - five hours along the dam and adjacent areas from 07:20

The highlight was a  Red-necked Grebe which flew in from the west of the reservoir landing quite close to the dam until disturbed by fishing boats 15 minutes later when it flew off low back towards the west end. Otherwise an adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 12 Little Egrets and 4 very flighty Rock Pipits were the only notable sightings on or near the water.

Visible migration was quite good until mid morning with 42 Lapwings S, 7 alba wagtails S, 35 Meadow Pipits mostly S with c. 70 along the dam bank, 2 Fieldfares S, 1 Tree Sparrow S, 27 Goldfinches S, 11 Siskins S, 117 Lesser Redpolls S, 72 Linnets S, 52 Chaffinches W and 5 Reed Buntings SW.

Red-necked Grebe