Ring Necked Duck on the Patch!

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning with the golden sun rising over a frost covered landscape, and I couldn't resist a few photos. A helpful Woodpigeon flew into the frame and I managed this shot which I absolutely love.

Early afternoon Stephen Dunstan found a drake Ring Necked Duck on my local patch at Bispham Marsh, almost certainly the well travelled bird from the Fleetwood area. I had to get down there to get this patch mega, so it was straight out after school on a surprisingly warm afternoon. Walking through Carleton Crematorium I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and sure enough a pair of them flew into view with their bouncing flight, this is the first time I have seen a pair together here so it will be interesting to see if they nest nearby this year. i was the only birder present when I arrived at Bispham Marsh but it didn't take me long to locate the Ring Necked Duck, swimming in the middle of the north half of the lake. Luckily over the next 30 minutes it came closer to the bank providing great views, which was a relief as of all the 5 previous times I have seen this bird it has been quite distant and therefore too far away for photographs.

It was obvious that there had been an influx of ducks to the site since my last visit on Saturday. Along with the Ring Necked Duck there were 4 Tufted Duck, 14 Teal and a pair of Gadwall present compared to just 1 Tufted Duck and 5 Teal on Saturday. The pair of Great Crested Grebes were also present and the usual Mute Swan pair had also returned after going walk abouts on Saturday. A surprise find at the south end was a single female Siskin feeding in a group of alder trees, which I suspect will hold many more in the next few weeks and even a few Redpolls if I'm lucky.