Despite the 80% ice coverage the brave WeBS Warriors completed the wetland bird count at the weekend and recorded a good range of species. The 31 snipe were of note along, with the jack snipe and 2 smew. Other recent birds of note have included 3 bitterns, 7 marsh harriers and a pair of mandarin. With the ice now thawing duck numbers should once again start increasing.
Phase 1
Phase 2
TOTAL
Water rail
1
3
4
Black-headed gull
25
29
Coot
15
68
83
Cormorant
30
14
44
Gadwall
226
71
297
Goldeneye
10
13
Great crested grebe
8
Little egret
Little grebe
2
Mallard
22
60
82
Mute swan
5
Pochard
39
Shoveler
20
34
Teal
94
104
Tufted duck
175
108
283
Wigeon
63
67
Canada goose
Common gull
7
Curlew
11
Grey heron
Jack snipe
Lapwing
12
Smew
Snipe
31
Greylag goose
106
As advance warning, work will be happening on the low voltage powerlines that cross our car park access track on 5th January. Vehicles will not be able to drive along the track between about 10am and 3pm and so there will be no vehicle access during this period.
Long-range shot of the pair of mandarin, an uncommon visitor to Langford [Stuart Carlton]
Long-range shot of the two redhead smew - in the background [Carl Cornish]