Pochard, 3 Shoveler, 7 Goosander, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker
A pleasant walk this morning, fairly calm, 6°C with some blue sky showing through to begin with. A few gulls on the water but all a bit distant. I was scanning the water from the south-west side and noticed a party of ducks mid-water. These turned out to be Mallard, but next to them was a drake Pochard, only just discernible due to distance. I was messing with my camera and when I looked up it had gone, but I noticed it flying round, and heading towards the reserve .As I reached the Sea Cadet building, there was a young large gull on the roof with Black-headed Gulls. This turned out to be a Herring Gull, with pale inner primaries showing in flight.
In Pavilion Wood, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew and landed low on a tree, but then disappeared. In the same area, a Treecreeper was feeding, which I managed to approach for a few shots. As I reached the reserve I could see that the Pochard had in fact landed there and was feeding on the inner pool. It was just too far away for any decent photos, but a few record shots were taken. A handful of Teal were also present.
I carried on to the road and once again scanning over the water, noticed three ducks flying quite high, and looking elongated. Expecting them to be Goosander, once I got my bins on them was pleasantly surprised to see that they were Shoveler - one adult male and two female/immatures. Also in the air at the same time were 7 Goosanders, including 6 drakes, but neither these nor the Shoveler seemed to land, though it's possible at least one group may have ended up on the reserve.
Herring Gull, 1/500sec F5.6, ISO 800, 220mm
Treecreeper, 1/500sec F5.6, ISO 1250, 220mm
Pochard, 1/500sec F5.6, ISO 640, 220mm