wild goosander chase and on the Border with Lewis

Well it was off to Stockers again for the elusive Goosander but it was not around nor was the confiding Smew.Roger Dewey and I scanned to no avail but there was  Wigeon a plenty whistling down the wind.

From the kingfisher hide dabbling Shovelers aim to please and in the distance Grey herons were starting to nest.

Passerines were thin on the ground a few buzzing goldcrests and a great spotted woodpecker on the feeder.

Walking on noting Grey Wagtail and a large party of Red crested Pochards at the west end of the lake.

I saw Joe fishing the Colne he must be 80 odd he had a Robin for company after his maggots.

Did a full circuit tea in the café then home I rang Paul and we decided to cross the border to Ruislip where at the Lido the Jack Snipe one only was very obliging.

Stockers Lake a gem in surburbia

Well you might say the title is well known ,however it is due to all the hard work Friends of Stockers,bailiffs,photographers and birders have put in over the years.More and more people move to newer pastures,we have mourn there expertise in the field people like Joel and Richard Drew and now Andrew Moon.

So 2017 starts with a female Smew seen mostly from the Shell hide as it was again today in company with Gadwall and Wigeon.

The Wigeon whistled as the elegant White nun came close to the hide.

Above them a Kingfisher hunted from a lofty perch.

On to Stockers farm where Little Owl obliged be it distant,so back to Woodoaks Farm where another Little Owl was very obliging.

Finally caked in mud the track to the manure dump produced the wintering Stonechat.

So another day in the suburbs produces some quality birds.