WeBS Count November 2022

Despite the thick mist and a lack of personnel, the diminished WeBS team headed out into the misty wilds of Langford on Sunday morning to carry out the November count. No gorillas were spotted in the mist, however the second highest ever WeBS count of gadwall was made. With the highest count interestingly having been made last November (208 birds).

Having just completed the Langford Lowfields 2021-2022 Annual Report (which covers 1st October to 31st September) I can also confirm that along with the gadwall, during this annual reporting year we have also had the highest ever WeBS counts of tufted duck (506 birds September 2022), greylag geese (1004 birds October 2021), wigeon (450 birds January 2022), Caspian gull (2 birds August 2022) and smew (5 birds January 2022) as well as the first WeBS (and site records) of ring-necked duck (2 birds January 2022), great northern diver (1 bird November) and black-winged stilt (3 birds May 2022).

As well as the swarms of gadwall, the latest count also saw the number of goldeneye starting to build up. Marsh harrier, peregrine and barn owl were spotted too.

Photo of two pintail taken by Commander-in-Chief of the WeBS Team - Stuart Carlton