Plenty to see at close quarters at Fairburn Ings as the weather gets more and more inhospitable. We had our first report this year of a siskin on the feeders outside the visitor centre, so you might not even have to step outside for a glimpse of this gorgeous little winter visitor.
Setting out along the Discovery trail a few visitors have reported stoats, weasels and treecreeper. Unfortunately we haven’t had any sightings of the little owl in the last week or so but do keep an eye on the fence posts across the paddock, if he’s anywhere, he’ll be there!
Not far away at Pickup Hide the brambling’s been back, as well as 30+ redpoll, reed buntings and tree sparrows all frantically feeding around the area.
The kingfisher is showing well at its namesake screen and those characterful redwings and fieldfares are being similarly obliging across the site. All we need now is for those waxwings to get the idea and settle in instead of all these teasing flyovers!
For those venturing further, perhaps across the Riverbank trail to any of the 3 hides dotted along the path to Fairburn village, keep an eye out for the striking smew. We had our first sightings at the weekend so fingers crossed for plenty more throughout the winter.
Regular sightings of marsh harrier and goosander from the flashes.
With the possibility of snow on the horizon, the silver lining (for those who don’t enjoy frozen toes) is the chance of water rail visiting the feeding stations as has happened in previous years, and maybe even the discovery of bitterns made bold by the cold!