It's been a while since our last blog, but in the new year we'll be welcoming three new volunteers to the Aire Valley. Our social media and blogging volunteers, Gael, Georgina and Phil will be out on site collecting stories and information to share with our visitors and readers. The ducks of St Aidan's may have had their own blog last week but they're showing up in great numbers at Fairburn too! We've had hundreds of shoveler (an easy one to spot, even in silhouette - their bill is almost literally a shovel), pintail, goosander in big numbers, 20 plus goldeneye (with very interesting courtship behaviours to look out for! - see last blog) amongst others. Now is a great time to wrap up, grab your bins and ID book and check out some wildfowl. Hides down by Main Bay and further towards Charlie's hide are a good place to start - and a bit of shelter may come in handy!
That shovel! Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
If you're lucky at Main Bay you may spot a woodcock (we've had a couple sighted over the last week in this area) or one of 5 snipe - the masters of camouflage!
Common snipe - although pretty easy to see in this instance! Photo - Marie Foster
If the Coal Tips trail is you're go-to walk, then you're in for a treat. A bittern was spotted on the tips this morning - and has been occasionally for the last few weeks. Maybe the ice is making them change their usual stealthy fishing strategy? On your way up, keep your eyes peeled for green woodpeckers and roe deer in the mist. The reeds are magical in winter; bearded tits were the warm-up act to a 25,000 strong starling murmuration last week. They've been consistent for the past month - so still great chances. Other dusk highlights are tawny owls, barn owls, gull roosts (including one juvenile Iceland gull) and roe deer.
If you'd like to join us on a dusk guided walk then visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dusk-walk-at-fairburn-ings-tickets-40179413708?aff=es2 for info and booking.
Murmuration on the Coal Tips - a fantastic shot featuring marsh harrier & potential sparrowhawk. Image: Gael Impiazzi
Finally, the feeders. It's my favourite time of year for the visitor centre at the moment. The hot coffee machine is appreciated just that little bit more, the shop is full of baubles and glitter, and the feeders are alive with a diverse array of colour and activity.
We've had all the usual suspects, especially the cottonball long tailed tit variety, groups of confident robins, siskins, nuthatches, treecreepers, goldfinches, bullfinches and our star species - the willow tit.