Don’t worry, Middleton Lakes is still here and hasn't been washed away by the rain yet, when is it going to relent?, it barely feels like we have had a Winter!
However, the birds don't seem to mind and we are still getting some really great sightings lately.
The Starling roost continues to entertain and now seems to have built up to over 5000 birds! They can still be seen murmurating over the silt pool during most calm evenings and they usually have a raptor or 2 in tow, on Tuesday night there was a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine Falcon.
The Herons are moving in to the Heronry with over 10 regularly seen inspecting the nests after leaving them all Winter and over 10 Little egrets are roosting in this area in the evenings.
The feeders are pulling in Great tits, Blue tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Dunnocks, Great spotted woodpeckers regularly and the occasional Lesser redpolls, Nuthatch and Siskin and a male Brambling made a welcome appearance last week.
On the wetlands the ducks are enjoying the water with Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck there most days and Lapwing, Goosander, Goldeneye and Tufted duck all regularly across the site.
Other bird highlights include the continuing presence of 4 Stonechat, several over-wintering Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s warblers, Green woodpeckers and Water rails. Skylark, Yellowhammers and Meadow pipits are also a feature on a nice day, mainly along the hedgerows and the farmland to the West of the site.
Finally, keep an eye out as you go through the woodland as the Bluebells are starting to poke through in the clearer areas, is this a sign of the milder winter?...
This is great Fergus....I have not been able to get down to the reserve for a while....