There have been several unusual sightings during the month including mediterranean gull, a pair of mandarin duck and 2 male pintail, all of which stayed around for several days and a little egret which only stayed a couple of hours. Also, a pair of goldeneye was joined by a second pair (20th.). A peregrine was seen flying over at least twice.
Jack snipe were still being seen regularly with as many as 33 common snipe (7th.) and an occasional water rail. The peak goosander count was 24 (24th.)
Numbers of blackbird and robin have increased, some of which are probably wintering visitors from the continent. Flocks of 50+ redwing and 50+ fieldfare were a regular sight flying over the reserve but only a few song and mistle thrushes were seen.
Other notable sightings around the reserve were small mixed flocks of siskin and redpoll, green sandpiper, grey wagtail, goldcrest, willow and coal tit, kingfisher, bullfinch, flocks of up to 30 goldfinch, great-spotted woodpecker, jay and reed bunting. There were daily sightings of kestrel, sparrowhawk and buzzard.
Wintering wildfowl on Forge Mill lake included around 30 teal, 30 shoveler, 40 wigeon, 10 pochard, 28 gadwall and a similar number of tufted. Also on the lake were about 10 cormorant, 2 little grebe and great-crested grebe and 250 coot. Common and herring gull were amongst the lesser-black-backed and more than two hundred black-headed gulls. Over 50 lapwing occupied the main island.
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards