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!!

Visit to Abberton Reservoir nature reserve just after Christmas 2023

During my stay in Brightlingsea during Christmas week 2023, I was lucky enough to get a lift to Abberton Reservoir nature reserve - my first and, probably, last as I can only travel by public transport.

It was a dull day and kept showering every so often.  I was in a bird hide during one of the showers and was treated to distant group of Goldeneyes, plus - somewhere in the crowd - there was a female Smew!

Stonechat on a shrub at the edge of the reservoir

Layer de la Haye church in the distance past a field of sheep

Pair of Gadwells

Male and female Eurasian Teal

Swans on the reservoir in front of an electricity pylon

Male Goosander in the distance