A good variety of wildfowl has remained on the reserve over the past month with highlights including the long staying female scaup which has been here since 8/11, a drake common scoter on the deep lagoon on 20/1 and 21/1, and a drake pintail (library photo by Ben Hall, RSPB Images) which has been present on the shallow lagoon since 4/2. Pochard have gradually increased in number through the winter with a maximum of nine present on 18/2, shoveler peaked at 24 individuals on 12/2, and 56 gadwall on 22/1 was also a good reserve count. Merganser have been around in small numbers with as maximum of seven birds on 19/2, along with occasional goosander.
Wader highlights have included jack snipe seen on 26/1, 4/2 and 11/2, individual spotted redshank on 21/1, 4/2, 5/2 and two birds on 19/2, and a grey plover on 22/1. Greenshank have been recorded on several dates with a maximum of at least five on 31/1, and black-tailed godwit have also been present in small numbers with a peak count of 18 on 19/2. Lapwing have remained in good numbers, though considerably less than the record counts in December with a maximum of 285 recorded on 26/1.
Other water birds have included a great white egret on 18/2, kingfisher seen on 23/1, 13/2 and 17/2 and regular water rails which are more often heard than seen.
Siskin have been seen regularly with a maximum count of 22 on 24/1, while other passerines have included occasional Cetti’s warbler and stonechat, and regular bullfinch and goldcrest. Starling numbers have been relatively small this year with just a few hundred birds arriving around dusk to roost in the reedbeds over the past few weeks.
Another noteworthy species has been up to two collared doves seen on several dates around the Bridge Pond. Although common throughout the local area the species is surprisingly scarce on the reserve, usually with just one or two records each year.
Raptors have included individual red kites on 26/1 and 17/2, occasional peregrine, often in pursuit of the starling flocks as they come in to roost, and sightings of kestrel on four dates which is another species seen a lot less than might be expected here.