Black Throat Disaster

Also today some very shocking news!! I found the 1st winter Black Throated Diver injured on the side of the road next to the harbour slipway with a fractured skull, broken right wing and a fish hook attached to its breast with fishing tackle leading from the hook up to a tangled mess around its bill, but the bird was still alive. Apparently it was seen flying in to a lamp post head first and then falling on to the road by a passer by, I managed to put the bird in to a cardboard box whilst I called the local wildlife rescue officer - Jim Ward to come and take a look at it.

Whilst waiting for Jim the RSPCA turned up (called by the passer by) to which I passed on the bird. Once Jim arrived he took a look at the Diver but it was just a case of putting the poor bird down, the RSPCA took the bird away for a second opinion at there local HQ and that was the last I saw of this magnificent species. The Diver had been in the harbour since early November giving great views and good photographic opportunities (check out my posts of this bird).

Washington Wetland Centre - Part I

Eider Duck

Hooded Merganser

Canvasback

Cinnamon Shoveler

Bufflehead

Chilean Wigeon

Carolina Wood Duck

Smew

Ferruginous Duck

Mandarin Duck

Marbled Duck

Ruddy Shelduck

Whistling Duck

White Headed Duck

Red Breasted Goose

Magpie Goose

Bar Headed Goose

Ne Ne Goose

Pink Footed Goose

Snow Goose

Black Swan

Black Necked Swan

Bewick's Swan

Chilean Flamingo

A great day out at Washington Wetland Centre, Tyne & Wear to take a look at all the different species of waterfowl. Washington has on offer a large collection of captive species but also has a large wild section to the reserve. If you have never visited a WWT reserve then I would advise you to do so, log on to http://www.wwt.org.uk/ to find the nearest reserve to you.

I still have lots of images yet to identify a name to, so once I have sorted them out I will put together - Washington Wetland Centre Part II.

Scalby Lodge Pond

Smew with Pink Footed Goose


Grey Lags, Pink Foot and Smew


Smew and Canada Goose

Pink Footed Goose

Grey Lag Goose

Redshanks

Wigeons


Grey Herons

A dash up to Scalby Lodge Pond as a Redhead Smew had been reported and an Iceland Gull. The Smew was showing well from a distance, but no sign of the Iceland Gull. One individual Pink Footed Goose was present with 48 Grey Lag Geese and 36 Canada Geese. Wigeon were constantly flying on to the pond and a large flock of at least 50+ Redshank was at roost.

On the small pond above Scalby Lodge Pond 9 Grey Herons were perched around the external fence, a fantastic site (see above pic).