I checked the starling roost, this afternoon, with the expectation that the numbers would be fewer than recent days. The first birds started to arrive in small numbers, just after 3:15. By 3:40, there were around 4000 in the sky and they put on a reasonably good show until they dropped into the reeds, narrowly avoiding the attentions of the now-regular sparrowhawk. What surprised me, however, was the numbers of late arrivals that came in. Some of the late flocks contained over 500 birds each and these birds dropped straight into the reeds without any circling at all. By the time it was over, an estimated 9000 birds were in the roost. It should be good at first light tomorrow when they all head out on-mass.
Winter ducks have also featured recently. The now long-staying long-tailed duck was still present on Swavesey Lake. This is the first one of its kind in the county since a male showed up at Grafham Water in 2005 and the first at Fen Drayton Lakes since a bird on Far Fen Lake in 2002.
Neil's redhead smew was also still present. It looks likely that the cold weather is starting to push more of these birds across from the continent, as Jacqui found three on Drayton Lagoon at midday.
Other bird species putting in appearances today included a little egret at Swavesey Lake, a nice male stonechat along the Entrance Track, water rail calling from Holywell Lake and kingfishers at Holywell Lake and Drayton Lagoon.