Blagdon Lake Birds

Summary of the Year 2019

Twenty nineteen wasn't one of those years that will go down in the annals of local birding. However, as far as rarities go, a 1st-winter drake Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis (10th record) arrived on the 16th March for a long stay until 6th May, but was eclipsed for rarity value by the bird of the year, a Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii, on the afternoon of 21st May (1st record for the site), an adult female White Stork Ciconia ciconia, albeit one from the Knepp re-introduction scheme on 20th-21st and 23rd-25th September (also a first), Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus heard on 22nd October and 10th November (5th and 6th records) and a Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (7th record) from 24-26th November. So, it wasn't all bad!