Sunday 28th August 2011 - Chelmarsh Reservoir (Shrops)

Today, me and my better half popped 16 miles up the road to Chelmarsh Reservoir near Bridgenorth in Shropshire.  A juvenile Arctic Skua had been there for the past few days but there was no news forthcoming this morning...we thought we would chance it.

We parked just before the private stretch of road to the sailing club and walked the bridle way behind the club that rises up to give you fantastic views across most the length of the Reservoir.  It wasn't long before we picked up the Arctic Skua flying low across the water and it was soon wheeling about acrobatically harassing gulls so they would eventually regurgitate there food (which the Skua then catches in flight).  

A great series of photos of the Skua mugging a Gull can be seen at Jim Almond's Shropshire Birder blog at http://shropshirebirder.blogspot.com/2011/08/chelmarsh-arctic-skua.html

After a while we headed to the other end of the reservoir to check out the scrape.   Things were pretty quiet here but we did see a single Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, c.20 Teal and 4 Grey Heron.  

Two Brown Hawker dragonflies were also noted.

Before we went we spent some time scanning the NW end of the Reservoir from the causeway.  Whilst here we were treated to the sight of  61 Goosander dropping in (at least 25% of them were juvenile birds).

All in all a very enjoyable away day...but its back to my patch again tomorrow.

For the latest sightings news from Chelmarsh check ot the Shropshire Ornithological Society website at:   http://www.shropshirebirds.com/bird_reports.htm