Holme Pierrepont, 30th Jan

Started the week going for a walk on monday morning at holme pierrepont with michelle and the dogs. It was a beautiful sunny morning although it was very cold. There were plenty of wildfowl about on the ski-tow lake, although i didnt have a proper look at it. At the finger ponds there were more wildfowl including a single Goldeneye and around 45 Gadwall. This site seems to have been excellent for Gadwall this winter, i counted around 150 a few weeks back. It is generally a great site for wildfowl anyway, but the Gadwall seem to be booming this year! More on that later!

We left the finger ponds to walk down the river and on to a little wooded area i hadn't been to before to look for snowdrops. There was indeed some snowdrops out, my first of the year and a few other plants poking through. This area was rammed with birds, including a flock of redwing, some long tailed tits, and my first Song Thrush of the year.

I'd read on Notts Birders that a few Smew had been seen at Blott's pit over nearer the A52 so we popped down to see if we could connect. We pulled up next to the road near the entrance to the lake and a male Bullfinch gave probably the best views i've had of this species. It was seen hovering, not unlike a goldcrest, picking at some vegetation, obviously young shoots or buds, but it was bizarre. Between bouts of hovering, it sat on the plant it was eating, only about 5 metres away, allowing us to see it perfectly from our makeshift hide, the car!

We went down to blott's pit, and i said i'd only have a quick scan, as we needed to be off, and i wasn't expecting to see much without a scope. However, as soon as we got there another birder said there were 3 smew out amongst the other wildfowl! I raised my binoculars to my eyes and almost instantly set eyes on a drake smew, and a few metres further in the distance, another drake! I have seen females twice before but have always wanted to connect with a male in the wild and it was an awesome experience. The second drake was soon lost from view but the first one hung about, swimming amongst the other ducks for some time. I got incredible views from the very helpful man's scope, showing a perfectly formed drake. The impression one gets from a drake smew is that it is extremely smart, with its contrasting black and white plumage and compact form. I described it as 'a very dapper duck' and i think this does it justice, with its 'drawn on' black lines, dark mask, and amazing double crest. I think this duck definately makes it into my favourite birds, though the list is very long!

I haven't posted for a while.... again! Seen quite a bit already this year but won't be back tracking. I will post when i can, and hopefully will start adding photos again!!!