It was WeBS weekend once again on Sunday and volunteer Rob Werran conducted this month's count. Here are the results....
137 tufted duck
100 wigeon - a good number for Langford
92 teal
47 mallard
10 pochard
7 gadwall
7 goldeneye
4 mute swan
12 Canada goose
4 greylag goose
3 shelduck
10 great crested grebe
1 little grebe
5 cormorant
2 grey heron
1 little egret
102 coot
4 moorhen
10 lapwing
1 oystercatcher
1 redshank
1 green sandpiper
127 black-headed gull
1 common gull
1 great black-backed gull
1 kingfisher
It is clear that some of our winter wildfowl has moved off, with reduced numbers of tufted duck, mallard, gadwall and teal. Shoveler too are notable for their absence, but goldeneye are still with us. However, the presence of oystercatcher is a sign of the coming spring, as are great crested grebes showing off their stunning breeding plumage and lapwing displaying over Phase 3.