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Friday, 14 April 2017

Great Northern Diver at Staines

Got stuck on the M25 Easter traffic yesterday and fortuitously decided to have a look at Staines. Met up with Rob Innes (later Beddington bro Nick Gardner arrived too) who put me on to the summer plumage Great Northern Diver which has been wintering- mainly on King George VI. Its a returning bird that has been wintering for the last three or four years, carries out a complete primary moult (and becomes flightless) before completing the moult into summer plumage and migrates in late April/ early May. 

Also had 3 Oystercatchers, a Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Tern. 




Sandwich Tern 
Oystercatcher- one of three birds 
The Staines famous midges feeding on Angelica (which is common on the causeway- normally a coastal plant) 



An amazingly powerful flyer when it gets going 
at

3 comments:

  1. Arjun Dutta14 April 2017 at 11:51

    Nice one Peter!
    Yesterday I had, although a mystery at first, Merlin which drifted over in overcast conditions, towards Beddington in the afternoon.
    Don't know if anyone saw anything though?
    Arjun

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  2. Peter Alfrey14 April 2017 at 14:59

    Hi Arjun,
    no sightings of Merlin yesterday locally as far as I know. Did you consider a small male Peregrine? Can look very Merlin like especially in silhouette.

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  3. Arjun Dutta14 April 2017 at 17:29

    I've considered a few falcons, but what made me change my mind from a small Hobby was the fact that a Merlin was seen at Holmethorpe SPs.
    Not ruling out anything yet.

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