Lesser Scaup at Abberton reservoir.

The Lesser Scaup was reported on Sunday at Abberton reservoir but we couldn't go for it.

On Monday Brian asks if we want to go for it and we meet up with him just before eight am.

It's an easy short drive of just over an hour.

We all need the bird for an Essex tick. As we head towards Lodge lane we spot the group of 

Cattle Egrets are in the sheep field at the top of the road on the way down to the causeway. They are over the back of the field so don't stop for any photos, we find Lodge lane and park in a small lay-by and walk down to scan the water for the target bird. we think we have found it but it's hard to be sure, so we head round to the first viewing screen where we meet up with 5 other birders and we soon pick out the Lesser Scaup among dozens of Tufted and 3 Greater Scaup and 4 Pochard plus a couple of hybrids. Off now to the farm to see if anything is about like Yellow Wagtail, no luck but 2 Spoonbill fly over and head towards Layer-Breton.

We head back to see if we can find where they had landed, no luck in that, but we see 2 Great White Egret and some Goldeneye plus a single Green Sandpiper.

While here we get another year tick as 3 Swallows pass overhead, the boys also saw a Sand Martin that I missed.

Before heading home we find and spend some time with 2 Little-ringed Plover, such a cracking little bird to watch.  

The Lesser Scaup

One of the Little Ringed Plovers