I don't know about you, but I'm quite glad to see some greenery again! The reserve trails have now completely thawed, and the lagoons are de-icing too, though it's taking a long time. Many of the ducks went somewhere else during the cold snap, but the goldeneyes are lining up in the estuary, waiting to get back on the lagoons. Birds had a tough time, and we were sad to learn that 'our' barn owl was found dead in Tesco car park on Monday, having spent the previous afternoon in our car park. With the prolonged snow cover preventing it from catching mice and voles, it was a sad end to such a beautiful bird. With the mud still frozen, one intrepid black-tailed godwit sought sanctuary in the grass outside the Visitor Centre, where it was pulling worms from the edge of a puddle!
With the berries now stripped bare, the main food source on the reserve - besides what we provide in the feeders - are the alder cones, and a flock of 40 siskins, along with lots of goldfinches, have been taking advantage. There are still plenty of bullfinches around, at least half a dozen this morning, so there must be some berries left somewhere. A mistle thrush has been seen again, and surprise of the week was probably a pink-footed goose that dropped in briefly outside the coffee shop on Monday (27th), and walked round to the door!
A kingfisher has been seen occasionally, despite the frozen conditions, so hopefully they're still finding food somewhere to survive the cold. A peregrine has been seen several times this week, though we haven't spotted any woodcocks since Sunday. Finally, a nice surprise when checking the ponies on Christmas Day was an adult Mediterranean gull flying along the estuary, a scarce species in North Wales this year.
May we wish a Happy New Year to all our visitors, both virtual and real, and we look forward to seeing you at RSPB Conwy in 2011.
Julian HughesSite Manager, Conwy