Frosty and foggy birdwatching visit to Abberton Reservoir - mid-January 2025 - with Golden Eyes, Slavonian Grebes and many other birds

I went on a coach trip to Abberton Reservoir in mid-January.  The first stop was at Layer de la Haye causeway where I saw a Black-tailed Godwit searching for food on the frost-covered grass

Misty view from the causeway

Male Pied Wagtail at the edge of the water

Female Golden Eye viewed from the causeway

and a Slavonian Grebe

View of misty reeds from a viewpoint past the LDLH causeway

Row of Lapwings that were barely visible in the fog

Rather attractive rooster sign near the entrance to Billets Farm

and the real thing!

Frost on the wall at the LDLH causeway

Redshank wandering around at the edge of the water

Common Gull with reflection

Goosander in the faint mist

Two male Goosanders and one female

Several Goosanders

Male Golden Eye

Goldeneye and a Common Pochard

Lunchtime was spent sitting outside the visitor centre where I saw a Blue Tit in the reeds

Three Blue Tits were on a bird feeder

and a Goldfinch was perching on a twiggy branch

After lunch we walked along the path round part of Abberton Reservoir 

The mist had cleared and Fieldfares were perching on bare twigs near the water

Gull City was viewed in varying light and heavy mist from one of the bird hides

We convened back at the coach at 15.30 and were then driven to Layer Breton causeway

Mute Swans were standing on ice on one side of the road

There was a small pool of water in the middle of ice and a group of swans had gathered there

The moon was shining above the tranquil unfrozen water on the other side of the road

Male Goldeneye travelling along near the edge of the causeway

The sky was turning pink

and the sun was setting in the distance

Time to leave!!

First birding walk of the New Year - St. James's Park - 3rd January 2025

My walk began at the shrubbery near the entrance to the park where I saw a normal-coloured Great Tit

...and the dark melanistic version

I wouldn't want to cycle in the lake anyway!  Idiot vandals!!!!

Bright yellow eye on this Tufted drake

Millennium wheel viewed from the bridge across the lake

...also the buildings behind Horseguards Parade

Black Swan with her Mute Swan companion, plus a Greylag goose, on a sunny day

Black Swan near her companion's juvenile cygnet as he sails off to confront another swan

White Ross's goose approaching the railings

Grey Squirrel with a snack

Grey Heron enjoying the sunshine

All six Great White Pelicans standing (and shivering) at the edge of the lake

The Pelicans then moved over towards the bridge at Duck Island where two men were throwing fish to them

Red-headed Pochard at the other side of the lake - a member of the waterfowl collection

...also a Eurasian Teal

...and a Hooded Merganser

...and a Shelduck

...and two Barnacle geese

...and a Hawaiin goose

Green Rose-ringed Parakeet on a twiggy branch in front of a tree trunk

Pair of Egyptian geese near the exit to the park - the female is very light-coloured

Blue Tit perching on the edge of a coconut shell