Today being the Winter Solstice often seems like a watershed in the natural calendar when over the coming weeks we again have just that little bit more light and time to enjoy the wildlife. Today it was certainly a dark start especially as the light drizzle shrouded the reserve in mist, however the birds and wildlife didn't really seem to mind with a nice selection of birds, mammals and an amazing continued emergence of fungi around the reserve. 

(Just a note to say the reserve is open every day apart from Christmas day over the festive period, however the reception building will not be open until the new year)

Last night as we left the office the moon had a fantastic corona (when light reflects on the droplets of water in the clouds to give a night rainbow) 

Bird wise the reserve suddenly seems to have come alive with plenty of water pipits around site, and some nice water rails feeding in the ditch just as you enter the reserve, also quite a few more duck and waders about and off course plenty of marsh harriers.

Adult female marsh harrier from this morning at Ousefleet

Good to see shoveler, gadwall, teal, mallard, wigeon and shelduck all using the reserve with on some mornings about 800 pink footed geese flighting over the reserve, winking as they make their way out onto the farmland.

At last Ousefleet is being used by a few birds after being very quiet for a month or so

Wader wise as per usual at this time of year its lapwing, a few fly over golden plover, and then the odd redshank, curlew, snipe, and black-tailed godwit. Notably over the last couple of days the green sandpiper seems to have returned feed on site, no doubt enjoying the juicy worms. Still a chance of little egret and certainly some nice views of water rail to be had if you are patient along the ditch just as you walk onto the reserve towards the reception hut.

Last weekend there were still 38 hardy avocet at Reads Island among the thousands of other ducks and geese.

Unfortunately it seems for the moment our hen harriers have stopped roosting on site (although they could return at any time) but still up to 20 marsh harriers and often a couple of merlins, buzzards and on calm evenings the barn owls can be active. 

Buzzard at Ousefleet

Only a few tree sparrows around the feeders but also greenfinch and then along the willows a nice pair of bullfinch and still good numbers of reed buntings and the odd stonechat around the reedbed. During the week there were also 500 fieldfare along with a few redwings but numbers have now dwindled as they strip the berries, but certainly notably this morning there were quite a few song thrushes and backbirds along the hedges.

Fieldfare flock

And a bird in good light

A few beardies around the lagoons at the moment, this one was from last week

A good selection of mammals on site with the first sighting of a weasel for a while this morning but then a good chance of roe deer, fox, and hare around the site.

There has also been some fantastic sun rises and landscape shots over the last week, the Humber can really be a beautiful place! 

And the fantastic fungi emergence continues with this wet and mild weather - the best I've seen it for over three years in any month of the year! How strange really to say Santa's due. 

I've yet to identify many of these I found this morning but just thought I'd put up the photo's for you to enjoy.

I know this one but just can't remember its name! It may be a toughshank sp, but I do know its used in Japanese cooking!

This one was my favourite find - and yes the photo's are the right way up, they just don't seem to grow upwards toward the light! Whatever it is its a new species for the reserve, click to enlarge

These two species were under the hedge

No idea what this is! It may just be some oysterlings packed tightly together? 

These two species were on the lagoon bunds on my way to check water levels

And that just leave me to say have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year form me and all the Blacktoft team, its been another great year for the birds on the reserve with highlights such as buff-breasted sandpiper, red-necked phalarope, crane, hawfinch, montagu's harrier, green-winged teal. great white egrets and lots of spoonbills and many more to boot, so lets hope 2019 brings another memorable year!