We had a good unoffcial WeBS count (Wetland Bird Survey) count this week. Bird numbers are still building and lots are being drawn in to the lagoon on Ashgrave. It can be quite tricky getting good views of the lagoon as its on the hill a few hundred metres out from the hide but it's definitely an area worth keeping an eye on. This lagoon has only been there for about a year as it used to be be kept dry by old land drains that ran across the field. These were dug up and severed last year though and then a robot was sent in to compact down the soil in the trench afterwards. Curlew bred by the lagoon earlier this year and with winter on it's way it's great seeing the wildfowl enjoying this large area of shallow water.
Lapwing 587 (12 Closes, 75 Greenaways, 500 Ashgrave)
Greylag geese 158 (158 Closes)
Moorhen 6 (3 Closes, 3 Reedbed)
Redshank 2 (2 Closes)
Canada geese 383 (2 Closes, 1 Flood, 380 Ashgrave)
Mallard 90 (3 Closes, 12 Greenaways, 46 Reedbed, 18 Flood, 5 Big Otmoor, 6 Ashgrave)
Snipe 2 (1 Closes, 1 Ashgrave)
Mute Swan 11 (2 Greenaways, 2 Reedbed, 3 Flood, 4 Big Otmoor)
Little egret 2 (1 Greenaways, 1 Flood)
Coot 5 (5 Reedbed)
Tufted duck 1 (1 Reedbed)
Shoveler 24 (3 Reedbed, 21 Ashgrave)
Cormorant 1 (1 Reedbed)
Teal 240 (146 Reedbed, 58 Flood, 26 Big Otmoor, 10 Ashgrave)
Wigeon 600 (41 Reedbed, 24 Flood, 8 Big Otmoor, 527 Ashgrave)
Gadwall 34 (11 Reedbed, 23 Ashgrave)
Grey heron 2 (1 Flood, 1 Big Otmoor)
Golden plover 14 (13 Big Otmoor, 1 Ashgrave)
Black-headed gull 46 (46 Ashgrave)
Lesser black-backed gull 1 (1 Ashgrave)
During the WeBS count we also came across a good example of a badger snuffle trail around the top of the reedbed bund, spotted some interesting looking fungi, found a leopard slug and saw a stonechat and a gold crest. Other recent sightings include hen harrier and barn owl seen yesterday evening (30th) and brambling seen this morning. There are big flocks of fieldfare and redwing roaming the moor and lots of mixed tit and finch flocks feeding along the hedgelines.