It’s been a fairly quiet few weeks for sightings, with a typical variety of species for the winter season seen around the reserve. The most notable birds have perhaps been a Siberian chiffchaff on 10/12 and a Scandinavian rock pipit on 13/12, both sub species and scarce winter visitors to the UK.
Whooper swans are also relatively scarce on the reserve, with recent sightings of two birds on the estuary on 19/11, six overhead on 13/12, and three on the deep lagoon on 14/12 (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB Images). Other notable water birds have included another goldeneye present on 1/12, goosander including a female reported on 24/11 and a pair on the estuary on 12/12, regular merganser with a peak of 10 on 8/12, and single great crested grebes on 10/12 and 15/12. Shoveler have been present in good numbers with a maximum of at least 40 birds on 4/12, and up to three pochard have also been present among the more common duck species.
Water rail have been seen regularly, while kingfisher have been seen on four dates, and great white egret on nine dates including two birds on 20/11.
Spotted redshank was the most notable wader with a single bird present with the redshank flocks over three days from 30/11 to 2/12. Greenshank were also seen on three dates including an individual on 19/11, four birds on 2/12, and three on 18/12, while a single black-tailed godwit has been continuously present, joined by a second bird on 4/12. Other waders of note have included regular snipe in good numbers, and a single knot on 2/12.
Other passerines have included regular bullfinch, redwing (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB Images), and goldcrest, along with occasional stonechat and fieldfare.