Every drop counts at Grafham Water

Had a short visit, via a circuitous A14 diversion to Grafham Water reservoir while the sun was shining, drove home in the rain. Intriguingly, there was a warning sign about not swimming and needed higher-spec buoyancy aids because the water is aerated and so, presumably, of lower, less buoyant density than normal water. Anyway, a few photos. Not of the sign.
Control Tower at Grafham Water
Starling in a tree
Waders
Boat anglers
Birdlife ticked on the morning; Tufted Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Greylag Goose, Mandarin, Shelduck, Linnet, Robin, Wren, Starling, Stonechat, Meadow Pippet, Yellowhammer, Redwing, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Rook, Mute Swan, Common Buzzard (9 together!), Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Red Kite, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Cormorant…Swallows (two, still actively feeding/drinking!)
Yellowhammer shaking off the drips after its bath
Perched Yellowhammer
Wren on fence
Female Stonechat
Male Stonechat
One of a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls
One of nine Common Buzzards in a whirl
A handful of dozen of Meadow Pippit
Even when they’re not watching, they can see you. Eurasian Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
Red Kite
Optimistic female House Sparrow at the picnic tables
Even more optimistic male House Sparrow at the picnic tables
Three species of butterfly: Small Tortoiseshell, European Peacock, Large White.

Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - October 17, 2019 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Sciencebase Source Type: blogs