Wildfowl numbers are uncommonly low around the reserve for the time of year, this is also being experienced at our sister site at St. Aidens, its unknown what the cause of the low numbers are at this moment. Bucking the trend has been a higher number of shelducks with up to 23 noted on one day.
Flashes
A short-eared owl was reported over the flashes on January 1st, raptors noted have been buzzard, red kite and peregrine. Waders recorded have been great egret (two seen on January 4th and 5th), and up to five little egrets. Wildfowl numbers have been low; up to 4 pintail were noted as well as 23 shelduck and two whooper swans. Completing the roundup were eight common gull and a treecreeper and willow tit seen along the path to Lin Dike hide.
Little egret - Pete M
Main Bay and Village Bay
A 1st winter Caspian gull was seen amongst the gull roost on January 2nd, and a lesser black-backed gull in the roost on January 7th. The WeBS count on January 12th recorded 258 greylag geese, sparrowhawk, peregrine and four common gull. Other birds noted have been pochard, gadwall and up to six goldeneye.
Species reported in the Cut Lane area have been two great crested grebe, two little egret, pintail, five goldeneye, 17 goosander and three kingfisher. Also noted were treecreeper, goldcrest, and ten lesser redpoll. The Village Bay WeBS count on January 12th produced 51 teal and 29 pochard.
Kingfisher - Bev Watson
Roy Tailor Trail
Good numbers of fieldfare and redwings were seen around the Roy Tailor trail, as well as goldcrest, green woodpecker, willow tit, skylark and stonechat. Noted on the lagoons were 13 goldeneye, a single bearded tit, and a cetti’s warbler. Two bitterns were seen on 13th January; on the same day 17 common gulls were on Big Hole.
Green woodpecker - Bev Watson
Discovery Trail and Visitor Centre
Kingfishers have been reported at the screen on most days with two being seen together on one occasion. Also noted around the Discovery Trail have been eight siskins, 20 lesser redpoll, great spotted woodpecker, redwing and willow tit. The Visitor Centre feeders have produced two nuthatch, willow tit, reed bunting and a treecreeper has been frequenting the area. Two ring-necked parakeets flew over the visitor centre on January 4th. A little egret was seen from Pick Up hide on January 2nd and 5th.
Redwing - Pete M
Gull roost
A 1st winter caspian gull was noted amongst 3500 herring gull on January 2nd, 750 herring gull were counted on January11th, 3500 herring gull, 700 great black-backed gull on January 13th.
Reports of overflights have included pink-footed geese with 180 flying west on January 10th.
Other
A weasel was seen in the vicinity of the kingfisher screen on January 5th, and a fox was noted in the same location on January 7th.
Turkey tail shelf fungi can be seen growing on some trees along the discovery trail and also Lin Dike, Identification made via the Seek app.
Turkey tail shelf fungi - Pete M