Great excitement from certain staff and volunteers at the reserve this morning as not only is it safe to park in the car park, and the paths are more or less clear, but there were also birds to be counted.
The warmer wet weather at the weekend has had an amazing effect at the reserve. There are now several patches of open water around the reserve, and the marsh is looking wet, rather than icy. All this has encouraged over 100 Mallard, 250 teal, goldeneye and goosander to return to the reserve, along with the redhead smew, which is very easily seen when in front of Swamp hide as it has been today.
There is also a nice group of wigeon, which have ventured down from the west end to join the flocks of wildfowl on the Swamp lochan, and a flock of around 57 Whooper swans have been in the area, along with some small flocks of greylag geese.
Siskin and treecreeper were seen amongst the chaffinches and tits on the woodland trail, and a brambling was seen near to the reserve, so worth keeping an eye on the feeders.