55 species - not a bad start to 2014

Missed out on the action on New Years Day, because:

1. The weather was atrocious
2. Dad's van has conked out - the van isn't moving anywhere.

However, Dad has just come back with a hire van to get us out and about for the rest of the school holidays - yipeeeeeeeeeee very pleased.

New Years Day bought 16 species to our garden, so it was a steady start to 2014. But yesterday, Mum, Dad and I went to Alton Water, to see if we could crank up the year list further. We got 55 species, the highlights being Goosander, Goldeneye and a Barnacle Goose? Probably an escape.....

I reckon there was about 60 Great-crested Grebes on the reservoir.

 Plenty of Greylag Geese at The Wonder - this was were the Barnacle Goose was.

A Heron flew over Larchwood

Several Little Grebe were present.

The darker duck on the left I think is a female Pochard, but the the Mallard on the right shows the darkness in contrast between the duck on the left. Possibly a hybrid, or a Pochard????? Poor picture I know.

These were definite Pochards around The Wonder, lingering with the Coots.

A Shelduck was a nice surprise at the Sailing Club.

Several Tufted Duck were present around the reservoir

And Mum hit the Jackpot with a sunlight on water picture. What a range of colours.

Finally, plenty of Wigeon were present to, especially at Larchwood.

Here's how 2014 has gone so far.....

1. Collard Dove
2. Woodpigeon
3. Black-headed Gull
4. Blue Tit
5. Great Tit
6. Common Gull
7. Herring Gull
8. Greenfinch
9. Goldfinch
10. Rook
11. Jackdaw
12. Carrion Crow
13. Starling
14. House Sparrow
15. Chaffinch
16. Robin
17. Magpie
18. Song Thrush
19. Blackbird
20. Mallard
21. Cormorant
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Red-legged Partridge
24. Kestrel
25. Pheasant
26. Great-crested Grebe
27. Coot
28. Moorhen
29. Great Black-backed Gull
30. Lesser Black-backed Gull
31. Tufted Duck
32. Goldeneye
33. Teal
34. Greylag Goose
35. Barnacle Goose
36. Little Grebe
37. Rock Dove (feral pigeon)
38. Pochard
39. Gadwall
40. Long-tailed Tits
41. Wigeon
42. Coal Tit
43. Siskin
44. Goldcrest
45. Lesser Redpoll
46. Bullfinch
47. Yellowhammer
48. Treecreeper
49. Redwing
50. Dunnock
51. Wren
52. Goosander
53. Jay
54. Heron
55. Mute Swan

Not a bad day. Hoping to go out on Sunday, now that we have a new van (it's a heap of junk really). At least we have some wheels to move about in.

Happy Birding and Happy New Year!