World Trip Reports
Shag - Warks,UK
I got up quite early yesturday (well early for me) to try and catch some winter visiters before the dog walkers and joggers were out, list of places to go were draycote reservoir, brandon marsh and napton reservoir. Started with the busiest one - draycote. Nothing out of the ordinary, Goosanders being the most unusual (no sign of saturdays slov. grebe). I went on to Brandon marsh hoping the weather would put the casual walkers off, it hadn't, and disapointed the most interesting bird was a Goldeneye. The paths here were very flooded as the river had burst its banks and determined to see more i tried to wade through with wellies.. and got very wet.
Now cold and wet i just wanted to go home, approaching the turn for Napton reservoir i decided to go and have a quick look, no harm, all i'll see is tuftys and coots and then i'll go home. So i had a quick look round - tuftys, coots, mallards... a cormarant... hang on that looks quite small.. its got a very thin beak.... ITS A SHAG!!! i was well chuffed! it turned out someone else was IDing it at the same time (a little confused by troublesome 1st winter cormarant/shags) and wasn't sure whether to call it, i didnt want to step on his toes so i didn't either but quietly new it was a shag but id keep it to my self. Look at the reports today and its out so i'm very proud of my local rareity, a lifer too 
An excellent bird for Napton, which is a favourite spot in my local patch.
Sadly, I've got no chance of getting down there for the next 10 days or more (all work and no play...) so the patch list stays on 97 - damn.
At least I saw somewhere that the 'RB Merganser' at Napton has now been confirmed as a female Goosander (she's been there for a little while now). I don't think I could have coped with missing two patch ticks in a week.
There's been a Cetti's or two calling there for the last month or so, btw. Either at the back corner, right of the main water, or on the strip between the two.
[QUOTE=hornet]
At least I saw somewhere that the 'RB Merganser' at Napton has now been confirmed as a female Goosander (she's been there for a little while now). I don't think I could have coped with missing two patch ticks in a week.
[/QUOTE]
I know the one at Shustoke had been called as RB Merganser and a few days later reported as a Goosander, maybe the same bird?