4 JANUARY 2009

Lots of duck at Caldecotte this morning. The north lake was frozen, but the south lake was frozen only round the edges and in patches, and it was here that most of the duck congregated. Unexpected highlight though was a JACK SNIPE (plus 1 Common Snipe) flushed from the ditch just off the "causeway" car park off Monellan Grove. Back on the water, highlights were 16 GOOSANDER (8m 8f), 1 Goldeneye, and high numbers of Pochard & Tufted Duck. Also plenty of gulls loafing on the ice, including a possible Glaucous/Herring hybrid - basically biscuit brown like a GG, with the two-tone pink based bill, gingery coverts, but alas black primaries. I didn't have my scope, otherwise I'd have studied it further. However, at about 11am, a guy on a motorboat whizzed up and down thel ake (to prepare it for the sailing boats), scattering duck hither and thither, and most of the duck flew off north (Rob Hill)