Blagdon Lake Birds

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!

/to be continued