Hello again, I’m going to have another go at a recent sightings blog...

A few things remain the same; bearded tits and green woodpecker can still be heard/seen along Coal Tips trail and goldeneye on the Main Bay, pink footed geese can be seen in the sky, as they head to the coast.

Green woodpecker, Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Everyone has been enjoying the winter migrants, redwings are starting to get here in big numbers and are being seen in large flocks across the reserve, it’s definitely the best time of year to see them!

Goosander, Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

Walking along Cut Lane you’ll see the winter population of goosander beginning to gather on Main Bay, getting fat on fresh water fish. This is also where pintails have been seen, 1 male and two females to be exact.

Pintail, Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)

Whooper swans are also flying in from the North and can been seen on Main Bay, and there has been a white fronted goose on Spoonbill Flash.

Whooper swan, Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)

Always a wonderfully colourful bird to see, plenty of kingfishers are still in full sight, perching and fishing in front of the screen.

Whitebeam blossom, Sally Granger

Frosty Fairburn, Sally Granger

Strangely, the team has come across a whitebeam tree in blossom this week, it’s a bit of a head scratcher for this time of year, but the flowers are no less pleasant! There has also been the first frost of the year this week, so the blossom may not be around for long...