An excellent afternoon at Fen Drayton. Lots of ducks on Drayton Lagoon and scanning through them I found a couple of male Red-crested Pochards, a bird I've not seen for a couple of years. I then carried on around to Moore Lake where upon entering the hide I was told that a Slavonian Grebe was present as well as several Smew (including a drake). All good and after watching them I left the hide at 3pm to quickly get around to the Gull roost on Ferry Lagoon.
I decided to take the north route and walk along the river (to make my journey for the afternoon circular) and spotting a flock of Greylags in the field west of Drayton Lagoon I was in two minds whether to scan through them or not as I was short of time as the sun was going down fast. But lifting my bins to give a cursory look I was amazed to see what I immediately recognized as a Tundra Been Goose! Although it was loosely associated with the Greylags it was on the edge of the flock and not properly mingling. It was also in long grass and I needed to see the feet to determine it wasn't Pink-footed. Eventually I saw the legs and they were orange, so confirming my initial identification.
After watching for twenty minutes or so, I rushed around to the Gull roost where I found a Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls (all adults).
The day was also notable for the lack of passerines. In particular, I didn't actually see a Thrush all afternoon!
Fen Drayton
20 December 2015 13:03 - 16:42
Overcast 13C 15S
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Bean Goose (rossicus), Greater Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Smew, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow,
