Saturday proved another beautiful, clear day for watching birds at Greylake car park up on the viewing platform. Standing here over the weekend large groups of snipe, lapwing, and golden plover could be seen rising up from the distant fields, while ducks rested on the flooded grassland. Despite these sights, the cold wind on Sunday meant many chose instead to stay in the shelter and warmth of their cars, putting out bird seed on the tables and watching the likes of brambling, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, robin, and reed bunting coming down to feed. The occasional linnet also appeared several times. Many species remained similar to the previous week’s sightings (01/12/12), although as the reedbed loop path starts to dry the water rail seems to have moved back into the reedbed from initially feeding out on the path. The raptors too, in general, seemed less active and neither marsh harriers nor hen harriers made any guest appearance. However, not to be left out completely, a highlight for the Saturday (08/12/12) was a sparrowhawk flying low straight through the car park, aimed for one of the trees where many smaller birds were perched. To match this, on the Sunday (09/12/12) two peregrines flew overhead, one circling round the car park, before heading back out towards the hide.
Other than the car park, Greylake reserve continues to be closed off and inaccessible due to the flooding.
The water levels are not going down too quickly!!!