Monthly sightings summary - Feb 2022

February 2022 was a month dominated by storms. The high winds and rainfall meant getting out birding for a lot of the visitors was a bit tricky and there were a number of trees down around the reserve for the warden team to clear. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions a good number of uncommon species were found and some early spring migrants spotted.

• The first Oystercatcher of the 'spring' was back on Moore Lake on 5th February.
• A max of 3 Smew were still present (2 drakes and 1 redhead) on 6th.
• 2 Spoonbill flew over Fen Drayton also on 6th.
• 3 Green Sandpiper just to south of reserve on Springhill (south of Elney Lake) on 6th.
• The first booming Bittern of the year was heard on 16th, an early date.
• 30 Black-tailed Godwit flew over Ferry on 19th.
• The WeBS count on the 19th revealed 11 Great Egret on site - a new record.
• There were still good numbers of duck present with 584 Tufted Duck, 64 Pochard and 45 Goldeneye on 19th.
• An adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Drayton Lagoon gull roost on 24th-25th.
• First 2 Shelduck of the year were on Moore Lake briefly on 26th.
• A Yellow-legged Gull was briefly on Drayton Lagoon on 26th. 
• 350 Shoveler were also on Drayton Lagoon on this date (a very high count for the reserve), with a Cattle Egret flying south.

March should see more first migrants for the year arrive with chances of Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Wheatear and who knows what else!