With the exception of a singing Cetti's warbler and a pinging bearded tit, the reserve seems to have been rather quiet over Christmas, so it is nice to report some good sightings to start off the New Year.
An otter was seen twice in the mere from Reedbed Hide, once mid morning and again mid afternoon. On the second occasion it caught a reasonably sized fish, probably a pike, which it carried into the willows on the west side of the mere.
Much more unusual at this time of year was the appearance of two marsh harriers, an adult male and what was probably a first-winter bird judging from the photos. They came in and out of the reserve several times during the morning, but the late shift didn't see them come in to roost as the sun set. The latest observers were however rewarded with a hunting merlin, and a male Mandarin that flew in to the mere at dusk.
A barn owl is still visible in the entrance of the nest box; if you stay late, you may see two in their display flight, as did one persistent observer on 28th December.
We have been used to seeing c50 siskins in the alders, but numbers seem to have dropped to about a dozen accompanying the goldfinches near Spring Hide, where a kingfisher was present this morning.
Just outside the reserve there have been two little egrets in one of the ditches, and c500 fieldfares in one of the fields.
Happy New Year!
Doug