Yes it’s that time of the week again - the weekly sightings update and once again I'll start with the weather.
Since it snowed on Sunday (10th December), the temperature has remained mostly below zero. On Monday the water bodies around the reserve had frozen completely. This was an interesting start to the week, presenting one of the spectacles of winter … tracks in the snow. The trails around the reserve showed the variety of species including fox and small mammals (with their little feet and a faint line in the snow from their tail). There were bird prints large and small. Rabbit and Hare prints. There were prints scattered everywhere, which was amazing to see.
Hare prints by Tom Allen
Another spectacle of the wintry snap were the congregations of birds in the small areas of ice free water, which had hundreds of wildfowl gathered within them. The coots and moorhens were skating and sliding. From Haverton view point there was one small patch of water with hundreds of coot huddled together. Top Tank had 4 little grebes cuddled together alongside more coots. The main lake had swans, geese, wigeon, gadwall, teal, pintail and pochard in an area smaller than a car.
And finally, we have hundreds of thrushes, fieldfares especially. Hopefully there will be enough berries left for the waxwings !
Until next week, have a great week, and keep wildlife watching.
Tom