Sightings 10/3/11

Late reports from yesterday: 26 Waxwings at Bradley Stoke and 2 Swallows at Clevedon, see 9/3/11 posting.
No sign of yesterday's Ring Ouzel.

SEVERNSIDE:
Severn Beach: at least 60+ Gannet and 200+ Kittiwake  mid-day (P Bowerman). The Severnside website should be a good read this evening.

PORTBURY WHARF:
At least 3 Sand Martin over the pools this morning (S Hale).

TICKENHAM:
8 Buzzard soaring on the ridge today (D Brooke-Taylor).

ANCHOR HEAD (W-s-M):
Some seabirds in the wind: 5 Fulmar, 6 Gannet and 217 Kittiwake 8.10-9.40am, also 90 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 100 Herring Gull to west (per westonbirds).

DUNDRY:
A Stonechat here today (D Nevitt)

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

10.3.11 the Ferruginous Duck © Rich Mielcarek, many thanks
a fine id portrait, needs little comment

Stratford: the ♂ Ferruginous Duck present, displaying to some Tufted Ducks.

Moreton: a ♂ Stonechat.
Heron's Green: the 1st winter Scaup.
Dam: 2 Sand Martin (R Mielcarek)

BLAGDON LAKE:
8 Sand Martin off the dam (per R Mielcarek).

SOMERSET LEVELS:
All 18 Crane still on the moors this afternoon (D Brooke-Taylor).

21 birds were released in all, 2 perished and a 3rd bird was taken back into care shortly after release. The birds are still very site faithful, so if you see a Crane well away from here, it's almost certainly the genuine article.

At Meare Heath pools: 1 Little Ringed Plover (per SOS), our first spring wader migrant of the season.