On February 3rd the wings of a dead Short-eared Owl were found in the middle of the reserve. It may have succumbed to the cold weather. On the 6th a Bittern was seen flying from the Benarth hide towards the Coffee shop.
This cold weather increased our duck counts. 14 Gadwall, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck and 4 Pochard graced the deep lagoon.
Our male Kestrel is still on the reserve chasing the Meadow Pipits.
Our first Knot of the year turned up on the 9th. It joined a flock of 7 Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and 17 Ringed Plover. Our Lapwing flock now stands at 225 birds.
A lone Lesser Black-backed Gull joined the Gull roost on the 3rd.
2 Firecrests have been showing occasionally by the board walk. A Blackcap joined them on the 7th.