Visit report - 22 Jan 2011

Finally made it down to the reserve for the first time this year - Hooray!!

Strange day with weather and reserve strangely quiet (very little sound of the birds ), although birds were around :o)

One advantage of public transport is that you actually have time to do a little birdwatching whilst on the way to your destination

Despite the weather looking a little dodgyI took the 11:00am no 63 Bus to the reserve and managed to see the following birds before I actually arrived

Blackbirds, a Song Thrush, Carrion Crows, Magpie and Jackdaws, Collared dove and woodpidgeon wre everywhere and several Buzzards in the trees and fields on the roadsides. I also had a Sparrowhawk fly at low level alongside the bus for a few moments.

On arrival and whilst having a quick cuppa was surprised to see that the feeders were very quiet, with only the normal Mallard and Moorhens below, the sole bird on the feeders was a solitary Great Tit. After a cold night can only assume that the feeders were frozen.

Then went out onto the reserve proper, turning right at the rise and following the route normally used on the organised walks. Birds seen from the various blinds were Mallard, Coot, Moorehen, Tufted Duck and Gadwall,

As light was not great the camera remained mostly unused but dit take a couple of "atmosphere" shots and noticed a small flash of colour on this one

Check just left of centre sat on a reed stem - a Kingfisher :)

I did notice that the majority of the mallard appeared to be in pairs, so maybe spring is on the way.

Birds on the salt-marsh / Mudflats were numerous Shelduck, Curlew, and one large 300+ Dunlin flock. There was also a smaller flock of Knot (c.50), also present were Widgeon and Redshank at the eastern end, Several large parties of Linnets and smaller parties of Reed Buntings were also present.

Black Headed Gulls were everywhere LOL

There was also a Raven at the west end on the foreshore.

Back to the Centre to find that the Feeders were a little better with at least a party of Goldfinch on the Nyger.;)

back on the 15:35 Bus past a party of Redwing and Fieldfare as a nice finish to a good first day out this year