Garth Peacock
Abberton Essex

Archive

Friday 4th October - North Norfolk

Monday 7th October 2024

Tanzania Day 8 - The Serengeti

Saturday 5th October 2024

Two trips out with little to show.

Wednesday 25th September 2024

Tanzania Day 7 - The Serengeti

Monday 23rd September 2024

Abberton Reservoir - again

Thursday 19th September 2024

Abberton Essex

Wednesday 11th September 2024

A morning at Grafham Water

Thursday 29th August 2024

After holiday blues

Thursday 22nd August 2024

Trying out a new lens

Monday 5th August 2024

Tanzania Day 5 - Ngorogoro Crater

Saturday 27th July 2024

Kevin Robson's Tawny Owl hide

Thursday 25th July 2024

Local stuff

Saturday 20th July 2024

More local stuff

Saturday 29th June 2024

Catching up with a local rarity

Friday 14th June 2024

Tanzania - Day 1 - Arusha

Monday 13th May 2024

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Wednesday 11th September 2024

It is not often these days that the opportunity to photograph a new species come along - and not too far to drive either. A Canvasback, an American species of wildfowl had been reported at Abberton Reservoir, about  1 hour 20 minutes drive from me so a friend and I decided to have a go.

We found the bird on one of the causeways very quickly but early on when the sun was not in the right direction for good shots but we took some anyway.

That was when the fun started. There was a few other birders/photographers there, about equally split between those that said it was a Canvasback and others that said that it was a Pochard, the british version.

Having checked other photos after getting home, and with others that are far better birders than me, the balance is that these photos are of the Canvasback - if you disagree, let me know.

One surprise was an early returning female Goldeneye.

The Canvasback was still on the causeway so we left for lunch to return when the sun was better positioned. On the way to the reception, we called in at Billets farm. Nothing except these Spoonbills coming in to feed.

Returning to the causeway, at first we though that the Canvasback was still there so took some more photos. Having checked those, it was a different bird and more like the local Pochard so those photos have been discarded.

At the same end of the reservoir, there were a couple of Great White Egrets feeding - worth a shot.

and an adult Common Tern feeding a juvenile.

With little else of interest, it was time to head for home.