A Snowflake at Wilstone Reservoir 21st November 2017

Snow Buntings, colloquially known as snowflakes, are one of my favourite birds and I always look forward to an opportunity to see one or more each winter. Primarily a bird of Britain's east coast in winter, last Friday I saw a typical flock of them on the coast of Norfolk which was really pleasing but when they are in a flock they seem more flighty than if just one bird is on its own, when they can be almost ridiculously confiding.

Therefore it was, with great interest, that I noted a single bird had been present at Wilstone Reservoir in Hertfordshire for the last few days, feeding along the stony north wall of the reservoir. Various commitments to both work and birding confounded any immediate plan to go and see it and I feared it would move on before I could get the time to go but finally, today, a window of opportunity presented itself,  allowing me two hours in its company, if it was still there, before yet another domestic commitment meant I would have to leave it.

Although no one had reported it as present today, I took a chance and drove across country to Wilstone Reservoir and arrived at just before 1030. Having parked the car in the small car park immediately below the reservoir wall, a passing birder informed me that the Snow Bunting was still present and showing very well.

I ascended the steps up the bank to the top and took the grass path that runs along the top of the wall. It was easy to see where the bird was, as about a hundred metres along the bank a cluster of half a dozen birders and photographers  were crouched down on the top of the wall, pointing cameras and bins down at the bunting that was feeding just below on the rough sloping wall of the reservoir that runs down to the water's edge.

The Snow Bunting was totally fearless, busying itself by hopping along and picking up minute seeds amongst the rocks and sparse vegetation growing there. Constantly active and feeding non stop, it moved slowly but steadily along the sloping wall below us, occasionally stopping briefly but for the most part feeding almost frantically.

They really are the most beautiful birds, especially when in winter plumage, possessing, as they do, such a variety of subtle colours and patterns.The brown markings on its white head and breast are almost rust orange such is the intensity of the colouring. The upperparts were a pale mouse brown, streaked darker and fading into chestnut on the tertials and scapulars whilst its tail and wings were black with a prominent and large white patch on the inner parts of both wings and white outer tail feathers. This pleasing ensemble was embellished by a stubby, bright yellow bill and black legs and feet. They are large and chunky too, confirming the impression that they have little problem coping with the rough open terrain or inclement weather that is often their lot.

I followed the bunting from along the top of the wall, as it progressed below me. It spent some time foraging in the small plants growing on the rocky slope, thoroughly examining them, tearing away small leaves and seizing seeds and occasional invertebrate prey that it found in the depths of the plant. Snow Buntings in flocks feed on the move, incessantly and busily moving forward looking for food and not tarrying in any one spot for more than a minute or two. The birds that find themselves as the rear birds in the flock constantly fly to the front of the feeding flock as it progresses along the ground. It was interesting to see that even when on its own this bird adopted the same feeding technique of incessant forward movement.

In the end I felt I had taken enough pictures and just stood a few feet above, admiring and enjoying the bunting as it fed unconcernedly below. 

From whence had it come to find itself in the unlikely surrounds of Wilstone Reservoir in the heart of England? Snow Buntings must regularly pass over inland counties such as Hertfordshire and my own county of Oxfordshire, maybe making a short cut to the east coast of Britain or possibly further south into Europe? I have seen them on occasions at Farmoor Reservoir but not for many years now and they never remain for long. This bird could be either the subspecies insulae which breeds in Norway, Iceland and Scotland or nivalis which is from Greenland and Canada, as both visit Britain in winter. It is sometimes possible to distinguish the two races but it is very difficult and would first require a series of photos showing the various diagnostic plumage features and extended views but I did not have the time for this.

Snow Buntings are an Arctic specialist and have the distinction of being the northernmost breeding passerine in the world with a circumpolar distribution stretching from Arctic Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland. They are the first passerine to arrive in the Arctic to breed each year, the males having to increase their body weight by 30% in order to survive the harsh climate when they first arrive, with temperatures at times dropping to -30 degrees celsius. The females arrive four to six weeks later. It is estimated that the total wintering population of Snow Buntings in Britain each year is between 10,000-15,000 individuals and sixty pairs breed in Scotland, mainly on the Cairngorm Mountains.

The Snow Bunting stretched its wings, revealing large panels of white on its secondaries and white outer tail feathers and from this and various other features of its body plumage and wing feathers I deduced it was probably a first calendar year male.

It stopped feeding and went to the water's edge for a drink and then flew, low, along the wall for fifty metres, to settle once more and continue its urgent feeding. I looked at my phone and saw it was time to leave. Such a shame as I could happily have remained in its company a good while longer.