The weather has been quite varied over the last couple of days, with snow and mini blizzards one minute to bright sunshine the next! I had an afternoon walk around the reserve and it was very chilly but the birds don’t seem to mind and there are plenty around plus lots of beautiful birdsong in the air.
There is lots of action at the feeders with the usual bunch of blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits, goldfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, blackbirds, robins and tree sparrows. There are still lots of siskins hanging around as well as reed buntings, nuthatches, bullfinches, red poll and a lovely willow tit.
There have been quite a few bird of prey sightings around the reserve including marsh harriers, buzzards, kestrels and red kites. Over the flashes there have been oystercatchers, little egrets, a redshank, a yellow leg gull and the male smew is still about. Two great crested grebes and a little grebe have also been sighted on the main bay and two goldcrests over Cut Lane.
On a none birdy note, a lucky visitor spotted two deer on the riverside. So why not come and see what you can spot!
Lauren Shannon
Visitor Officer Intern - Aire Valley