The numbers of wintering waterfowl continued to rise over the weekend. Pick of the bunch were the goosanders, with 4 drakes and 9 redheads on Drayton Lagoon on Sunday. The smew also managed to increase in number and by Sunday there were 3 redheads on Drayton Lagoon, as well as the drake and redhead on Swavesey Lake. The immature male long-tailed duck remained on Ferry Lagoon. On Saturday, we were briefly visited by 16 white-fronted geese, which flew over Swavesey Lake and then away to the north east.
The best birds of prey were a male peregrine on Saturday and a female marsh harrier, flying west over Holywell Lake, on Sunday.
The 2 black-tailed godwits showed again at Swavesey Lake and there were 2 dunlin at Ferry Lagoon.
The freezing conditions usually lead to the best views of bitterns. This year is no exception! On Sunday, there were 2 on Drayton Lagoon; one of which was seen swimming in front of the island. Today, Monday, there were still 2 at Drayton Lagoon and also 2 at Oxholme Lake.
Some starlings are still coming into the roost. On Sunday, there were between 2 and 2.5k, which after much deliberation decided to come down in the reeds at the north west corner of Ferry Lagoon.