Stithians Reservoir (10th November)

Winter weather was really setting in today and the cycle to Stithians Reservoir (my first visit to the site) was not particularly enjoyable.  However, the walk round the reservoir with another third year Exeter student, Jack Shutt, brightened the day up considerably (thanks Jack).  We squelched our way round the east side of the muddy path, coming across nothing interesting.  I'd unfortunately missed Jacks earlier Yellow-legged Gull thanks to myself getting lost.  We staked out both hides for a short while but nothing except a few Wigeon Anas Penelope to report, the odd Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis and Raven Corvus corax.  The biggest surprise was a flock of 8 Snipe Gallinago gallinago circling around the southern end of the reservoir.  From the cut-off section of water (overlooking a small feeding station) we located a single Marsh Tit Parus palustris coming to the feeders (a rather scarce bird down here in Cornwall).  We were about to leave when I suddenly realised that there was a brave Water Rail Rallus aquaticus that had decided to venture out into the open and began feeding under the feeders before it sprinted for cover only seconds later.