Bird sightings report - January 2011

The freezing conditions in the early part of the month made access around the reserve quite difficult and limited bird sightings.

During the month numbers of goosander steadily increased to more than 40 and good numbers of wintering ducks included 28 gadwall, 30 teal, 40 mallard, 23 wigeon. 42 tufted, 27 pochard and 14 shoveler. Other water birds on or around the lake were a pair of goldeneye, great-crested grebe, grey heron, cormorant, 100+ coot and an occasional green sandpiper.

On the main island  a flock of about 25 starling were mixed in with more than 60 lapwing and also a large flock of goldfinch feeding on the cut-down teasel heads. A jack snipe was identified in amongst a small group of common snipe.

In the alders along the marsh path a mixed flock of more than 80 siskin and redpoll could often be sighted and flocks of 50+ redwing and similar amounts of fieldfare could often be seen flying over the reserve. Buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk were the usual raptor sightings.

Other passerines seen around the reserve included large numbers of greenfinch and great tit and smaller numbers of house sparrow, long-tailed tits, bullfinch and just a few mistle thrush, reed bunting and robin, a couple of willow tit and great-spotted woodpecker.

In a side road near to the reserve entrance a flock of more than 100 waxwing were located (17^th.).