…for some observers anyway. I have spent most of the year stuck in the office, as others have enjoyed the Longham Blue-winged Teal, Smews and Scaup, plus Raven and other goodies. Anyway, here is a summary of the year so far, going backwards…

31 January 2012
The immature drake Scaup still present (Alan Pearce). Its visit to Longham Lakes has obviously done it good, and it has now moulted almost into adult plumage. There was also a pair of Ravens feeding on the carcass of a recently deceased swan.

25 January 2012
Female Smew still around, and other odds and ends included Stonechat, Sparrowhawk and Mediterranean Gull (Pat and Dave Harris).

15 January 2012
The Blue-winged Teal was reported for the last time (Dorset Bird Club website).

14 January 2012
Female Smew, Goosander and the immature male Scaup present (Ian Lewis).

10 January 2012
A complete count at the Lakes produced the following numbers: Mute Swan 4, Mallard 39, Gadwall 23, Teal 34, Wigeon 175, Shoveler 3, Tufted Duck 122, Pochard 33, Greater Scaup 1, Smew 1, Little Grebe 5, Great Crested Grebe 32, Cormorant 65, Little Egret 3, Grey Heron 1, Coot 158, Black-headed Gull 255, Common Gull 32, Herring Gull 24, Lesser Black-back 2, Great Black-back 2. Also 7 Meadow Pipits.

The Common Gull count equals the all-time record.

7 January 2012
James Phillips had a superb visit, nailing every one of the quality ducks: male and female Smew, the female Blue-winged Teal and the Scaup. Also 1 Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler singing.

4 January 2012
Ian Lewis is searching for the Blue-winged Teal when he manages to spot the first drake Smew on Longham Lakes since January 31st 2004.

3 January 2012
Alan Pearce saw a Raven feeding on a carcass left behind by a Buzzard.

2 January 2012
A clean sweep of quality waterfowl for David Taylor, namely: the female Blue-winged Teal, a Smew, the Scaup and a Goosander. Also Bullfinch (never common here) and Grey Wagtail.

The year began with interesting news of a local ringing recovery. A Reed Bunting ringed by Roger Peart at Longham Lakes on 27th June 2011 was caught again at Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour, on 14th December 2011 (per Shaun Robson).

The year 2011 has been spectacular for Longham Lakes.

132 species were recorded in all, including several new for the site: Bittern, Grey Plover, Ortolan Bunting, Wood Warbler, Arctic Tern, Marsh Harrier and Blue-winged Teal, bringing the total number recorded to 159. There was also a fine Blue-headed Wagtail. Good birds previously recorded but also turning up this year included Brent Goose, Red Kite, Bewick’s Swan, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Hawfinch, Garganey, Little Gull, Merlin, Osprey and Redpoll. On the down side, there were no records at all of Spotted Flycatcher, which has been regular in previous years.

Several species reached record numbers, perhaps the most eye-catching being 6 Smew on Longham Reservoir South together. But both Little and Great Crested Grebes, as well as Shoveler and Coot, also did well.

All this proves what excellent potential this site has. It needs more watching, especially by somebody with time on their hands to be a little obsessive and be prepared to visit at all hours of the day.

Sunday 25th December-Tuesday 27th December

The Blue-winged Teal returned on Christmas Day, and was seen again on 26th and 27th December. A good bird for the Festive Season.

Sunday December 4th

The Blue-winged Teal remains on-site to the delight of the many who have gone looking for it. With so many birders present it was no surprise that lots of other birds were found, the pick being a first-winter Scaup picked out by Shaun Robson, plus Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 15 Black-tailed Godwits over. The hybrid (almost Ferruginous) duck is also still there. The Scaup is in fact only the second record for Longham Lakes, so it’s almost as good a bird as a Blue-winged Teal (yeah, right).

On a personal note, early December 2011 has not proved the ideal time to go to Australia for this blog-writer!

 

Saturday December 3rd

All hell broke loose today at Longham Lakes when George Green, Dorset birder of long standing, managed to pick out a female Blue-winged Teal on Longham Reservoir South. The bird was associating with a couple of Shovelers and proving pretty confiding. This quickly caused the site’s biggest ever twitch, and the paths and causeways were thick with lines of optics and cold weather gear. It is so far much the rarest bird to have been found on site – a truly special find and a new county bird for many who saw it.

Also reported today were Water Rail, at least 11 Little Egrets, 2 Ravens, Stonechat and female Goosander. Some extra excitement was generated by a bird looking remarkably like a Ferruginous Duck, but with the wrong sort of bill. Presumably a hybrid.