Smew, Brigg Marina

 

A quick trip to Brigg, just 8 miles up the road. Only us there and viewing was only from Cadney Road with no access at all to the marina itself. It favoured the left of the marina, well out of the biting, freezing cold wind so viewing it was almost impossible for me as I could not see above the vegetation. I did just manage fleeting glimpses as it swam between the greenery.  Simon snapped off these pics before we got hypothermia and beat a retreat !

Smew, Covenham Reservoir, Lincs

 

Quite a few years since we had seen a male smew so a trip to Covenham was definately on the cards. An excellent supporting cast of Great Northern Diver, Scaup and Shag made for an excellent day out. So good to catch up with friends we have not seen for years, chatting and catching up, it took us hours to walk round ! A fantastic day ! 

Great Northern Diver and Shag

Good birds, good company, good day out !

White-fronted Geese, East Halton

 

White-fronted Geese in with the Greylags. They were feeding and walking closer until they were all flushed by a low flying helicopter that put the lot up.

And a male Smew from the day before, a mile away in torrential rain and not at East Halton !

Smew, Lincs

 

Never close but well pleased with this smart, male smew. Our 100th bird of the year !

Smew, Slaynes Lane, Misson, Notts

Male Smew on Slaynes Lane. Was suprised to see it still so flooded, very impressive and covered in birds. The smew was distant (but not as distant as when it was on Blaco Pit). A nice local drive out, weather cold and wet, fleeces back on !

and a reed warbler 

Smew, Collingham Pits, Notts

A couple of hours out at Collingham Pits today. The wind was biting cold compared to the last couple of days,  but we saw the smew that have been there for over a week, 2 males and a female, so it was well worth it. The Red Arrows were practicing loopy moves in the distance and our first SAND MARTIN of the year flew past. An excellent couple of hours, now home for a few hours gardening.