Just a quick one to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our blog readers out there!
With the cold weather returning this week, most of the reserve is once again frozen over. Wildfowl are plentiful on silt lagoon 4 and Phase 3, including around 700 teal, numerous mallard and tufted duck, with beautiful male pintail, wigeon and goldeneye.
The feeding station on Phase 1 has been busy, with a large flock of greenfinches and chaffinches, joined by goldfinches, siskin, brambling and three tree sparrows.
But the highlight of the week - a stunning group of 10 whooper swans, seen flying over the reserve, on nearby fields and on silt lagoon 4. With their pristine white plumage and bright yellow and black bills, they are a real treat for us to see and look beautiful against the snowy and frosty background!