Duck, Duck, Goose

Yearticks just keep turning up, it seems like every time I do the patch I'll get a year tick. That's the way it should be.

I was up on the Airfield when I heard a cry I love to hear from the nearby Aaron Walker 'GEEEEEEESE!!' Instantly my thoughts turned to Lesser Whitefronts or Taiga Beans. I clapped my bins onto the distant birds. Too far to tell. I was following them, trying to get ID when they disappeared behind the tree-line. No! however, I stayed and prayed and soon enough they'd emerged out the other side. There were six of them, six Canada Geese. Quite honestly, I didn't mind a jot. We really struggle with geese and waders at WALBOC because Boldermere is far too deep too quickly with no marshes or muddy fringes so any geese are good.

Other than Boldermere, there are three small ponds that provide the rest of the water at WALBOC. One pond is in the Yellow Marshes and two are at Blackmoor (I'm trying to get a patch map up soon so then you'll know where I'm on about). I was trying for Firecrest without luck in Hookwood when I decided to go have a look for anything at all at one of these ponds. I was in position and could see something moving which turned out to be a Moorhen. They really should be more common but this one will do for now. I moved round to get a better perspective on the pond and bizzarely, endless Mandarins started flying up! I counted 23 in total and was utterly amazed that there were so many in such a small pond. They are stunning ducks and I'll be back with my camera soon.

WALBOC Patchlist: 88
WALBOC Yearlist: 68