A beautiful, sunny winter's day greeted the WeBS team on Sunday. A lot of the reserve was frozen (hence there being only 1 wetland bird on it) and so the birds were floating around in the few unfrozen areas. Headline news from the count were the 25 goldeneye and 6 whooper swans.
P1
P2
P3
Total
Water rail
1
Canada goose
Gadwall
5
37
42
Grey heron
2
3
Little egret
Mallard
40
105
145
Mute swan
4
7
Pochard
57
58
Teal
470
Tufted duck
24
271
295
Common gull
Black headed gull
46
47
Shoveler
70
Snipe
Whooper swan
6
Wigeon
254
Little grebe
Pintail
Coot
27
Cormorant
60
Goldeneye
25
Great crested grebe
Greylag goose
87
Other birds of note from the past week have included marsh harriers, great white egret, bearded tits (8), barn owls, stonechats and two otters.
Digiscoped bittern (from last week) demonstrating it's impressive camouflage- James Wilkinson