Good afternoon, anyone got that Friday feeling?
It's been all go here the past couple of week with a number of big projects underway, somewhat hampered by the snow at times.
Life out on the pools proceeds as usual. Our 2 Gadwall have become a constant feature of the view from the Visitor Centre and groups of up to 20 Teal and Wigeon are often nearby. The back of the pools as viwed from Tower Pool Hide has proved good for views of another 20 or so Teal, 2 Shelduck, between 2 and 5 Shoveler Ducks and Varying numbers of Curlew again, often up to 80 on the edge of the back fields. The mixed arable bird cover by the side of the TPH path was excellent on thursday for garden and farmland birds and Mintlaw Primary school received some prime views of Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Reed Bunting.
(Right: Fen Hide board walk taken by Iain Hartshorne)
As for the Airfield Hides a wander down to Fen and Bay Hides over the past week would have been worth a Red Kite, 3 Goosander, 2 Coot, 18 Tufted Ducks, 1 Long Tailed Duck, Water Rail (heard but not seen), frequent views of both Bittern to the sides of Fen hide most mornings, 80 Golden Eye Ducks, 11 Wigeon, 6 Black Headed Gulls, 3 Shelduck, 2 Pintail Ducks and a Red Breasted Merganser.
The Wetland Bird Survey on Monday gave us a total of 120 Whooper Swans, almost as many Golden Eye, just short of 10000 Pink Footed Geese and many of the same species listed above in typical numbers so the dawn and dusk goose flights are still impressive although numbers are likely to decrease over the coming weeks so get on down here if this is something you are yet to experience.
So quite a lot of many different things about on the reserve right now. Thanks for stopping by.
Iain