Good news, a pair of oystercatcher has returned to the reserve, probably the same pair as previous years, the female can be identified by her damaged foot. The male arrived about 2 weeks before the female which was first seen on the 13th.
Other irregular sightings were a barnacle goose that made a few appearances and a tight flock of waxwing that stayed briefly before flying off towards Hill Top golf course, but were subsequently seen again on the reserve on following days.
Numbers of goosander reached the highest ever recorded level of 93 (9th.) and the same day a snipe count produced 30 common snipe and 3 jack snipe . Good numbers of lapwing were also present with 73 counted on the 4th.
The regular winter ducks included 39 pochard, 18 shoveler, 13 wigeon, 48 tufted, 29 gadwall, 14 teal and mallard.
Other water birds on or around the lake included grey heron, which were often seen carrying nesting material in the direction of the heronry near Swan Pool, as well as a pair of goldeneye, great-crested grebe, cormorant and an occasional appearance of a green sandpiper. Among the 200 or so black-headed gulls were 7 herring gulls and a common gull.
Goldfinch were ever present and siskin flocks with small numbers of redpoll included were usually present. Around the reserve there were regular sightings of song thrush, jay, great-spotted woodpecker and buzzard. Birds seen in the feeders area were willow and coal tit, good numbers of bullfinch and great tit, reed bunting,
A large colony of house sparrow is well established in the hedge in front of the new semi-permanent office.
Over at Forge Mill farm flocks of 50+ redwing and similar numbers of fieldfare were seen.
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards