This Recent Sightings post was written by Bill, one of the visitor centre volunteers at RSPB Fairburn Ings. Next time you're on the reserve on a Friday, come and say hi to him!
The frozen lake usually brings our resident Water Rails out into the open and this week has been no exception with sightings recorded on 3 of the last 4 days. These small, attractive birds have a really vicious streak and when forced up to the Visitor Centre feeders by the lack of food elsewhere they often set about bullying bigger birds with great gusto.
Roe Deer have been seen up on the ridge between the lake and the River Aire three times this week. This deer, our smallest native species, normally secretive and mainly nocturnal, has probably been forced out into the open to forage for food by the prolonged cold spell.
Have just been out for a short break and seen a Green Woodpecker, the largest of our more common woodpeckers. I am always surprised to see this bird during hard winters, as it feeds mainly on ants and surely they must be in short supply.
The weather today is dry but very cold. The light, however, must be good with reflection off the snow making fine conditions for photography as several people have come in with some excellent photographs especially of Bramblings and our ever present Kingfishers.
Whilst sat here writing these notes, there has been great interest in the appearance of a Bank Vole on the dry stone wall outside the office windows. All staff, volunteers and some customers herded into the back for a close up view of this little creature. The most noticeable feature was the (almost) orange patch on his back.
Some other interesting sightings this week have been a Weasel, Redpolls, Woodcock and my first Linnet of the year. The snow has made it easy to see tracks, especially the fox that hangs around the Visitor Centre, and this has prompted us to do a display of animal/bird tracks around the Discovery Trail.