A great day at Greylake 6/03/2015 the mist was still covering the reserve when I arrived allowing some atmospheric photos of the sun appearing though the mist,on to the hide, a pair of Garganey were padding around a little way to the right, Redshanks, three Little Grebe ,a few Teal ,Shoveler,Widgeon and Gadwall ,Moorhen and Coots, a Pair of Swans have set up home close in front of the hide, pair of Marsh Harrier seen on patrol but the prize of the day, thanks to Brain Gibbs powers of observation goes to the Green- winged- Teal ,this is new species for me.Yippee.on the way across Tealham a Kingfisher seen at the North Drain bridge.
Photos on Website when time permits.

2 males and 1 female Garganey this afternoon.

Drake Green-winged Teal showing still at 1000hrs this morning.

A misty morning at Greylake 8/04/2015, Green winged teal present, and a Black-tailed -Godwit in summer finery ,the ringed birds colour combination very clearly showing on photos if any one is interested. Yesterday passing along Jacks Drove, Tealham Moor from the bridge a pair of Mink seen mating.Photo on website.

Green Winged Teal seen briefly four times this afternoon during a two hour visit from the raised left hand hide, seen right at back in small separate lagoon on right hand side of reserve. Also two Gargany, one Black Tailed Godwit, two little ringed Plover and plenty of sand martins.

Green Winged Teal showing in front of hide this morning together with a Bittern and 2 Reed Warblers by car park

Drake GreenWinged Teal was showing well at 8am this morning

This afternoon 2 male gargany 2 Ruff yellow wagtail and Peregrine falcon

Should anyone be interested, I sent off detail re the colour ringed Black Tailed Godwit showing at Greylake last week, details back are, the bird was ringed in the Netherlands as a nestling on 11/06/2013 at Goutum, Wirdumervaart, Hounsdyk, was seen again 4/7/2013 at Suwald, again in the Netherlands & then at Greylake, last week on 8th April

GWT present this evening near the back right hand corner as viewed from the No 1 Hide.

Osprey through heading west mobbed by corvids and a herring gull at 1145. Also a partridge ( grey I think - it took me by surprise and soon vanished) flushed from the viewing screen.

Green-winged Teal showed briefly this morning, after being flushed by a low-flying Little Egret!

Also:

2 Yellow Wagtails
2 Garganey (1M 1F)
Marsh Harrier
Snipe
Plus the usual

Three hours at Greylake this morning produced male Green-winged Teal; male & female Garganey; a Water Rail that ran across the path to the hides; one Little Ringed Plover; one Ruff and a male Yellow Wagtail. Also good numbers of Reed & Sedge Warblers have now arrived and are singing well.

Hi Everyone.

Please could I have confirmation that this is a Ruff, as it doesn't quite match the images in my bird book. Spotted at Greylake early this morning.

many thanks

Robin

It's a ruff. Looks very similar to the one at Meare Heath this morning!

Hi Stuart, many thanks for the prompt reply

This bird left Greylake and 7:24 and I did not see it return before I left at 8:30.

That would fit with the Meare Heath bird. I don't know when it arrived but I'm fairly sure it wasn't there at 0630 and it was definitely there by 0840.

Green-Winged Teal showed well but distantly early afternoon from hide. Also 2M Garganey, c.3 yellow wagtail, 1 white wagtail, 2 redshank, 1 marsh harrier.

There were actually three male garganey at Greylake this morning (18/4) plus the female - supporting pics on my Flickr pages.

Also slightly better views of the green-winged teal.

Last but not least a red kite flew over at about 10:05, first I've seen at Greylake or indeed anywhere in the area.

Visited about 6pm,and after a good hr,i found the GW teal,over to the left,it showed well,also 3 Garganey,a Peregrine,about 6 Yellow wags,1 cettis,1 sedge wblr.The Teal was I think initially hidden by the suns glare on the marsh.

Superb early morning at Greylake today 16th May.

Highlights :

Red Kite
Redshank and chicks
Lapwing and chicks
Cuckoo
Bittern

Cheers, Robin

Bittern was booming and seen in flight yesterday afternoon.

Cuckoo was calling and flew close enough for a photo over the pond with the 'floating' seat.
This bird (I assume it's the same one!) has been calling from different parts of the reserve for the last week, hope it finds a mate!

A few baby Lapwings walking about in front of the high hide, getting bigger every day, the parents have done a great job in driving away any passing predators!

Yellow Wagtail was seen in the distance on the bordering fence.

Female Marsh Harrier seen patrolling the reserve and surrounding fields regularly.

Some pics on my blog.

Sunday mid-day visit brought;

Bittern in flight,
Hunting Hobbies,
Cute Mute Swan family, the male of which didn't like my presence!
Posing Reed Warbler,
Many Yellow Wagtails (Distant!),
Cuckoo by the hides,
Marsh Harrier,
Buzzard,
Gadwall,
Loud Redshanks,
Curlew,
Lapwings chasing everything,
Snipe,
Baby Moorhens and Coots,
Screeching Water Rails,
Calling Cetti's Warblers!

Some pics on my blog.

Sat 20th June

Lovely to see 2 cuckoo flying all over the place.

Also, Marsh Harrier, Bitterns including a visit to the reeds to the left of hide entrance, Yellow Wagtails, Cygnets growing up quickly, Redshank & Lapwing chicks seen from the open hide and a Hobby. Also let's not forget to mention "Mr Grumpy Swan" who should be very proud of his family by now!!

I was also there but in the afternoon,as I was heading towards the hide my heard a loud plop only to discover that a leveret had fallen the water we watched him to the side and looking very soggy shook himself and hopped off.i was really surprised to see a hare swim.take care 5