January Sightings

Wintering ducks and other water birds were the main points of interest during the month including counts of 22 gadwall, 71 teal, 40 mallard, 26 wigeon. 51 tufted, 65 pochard, 14 shoveler. Also around the lake were 35 goosander, 3 goldeneye, 2 little grebe, grey heron, 6 mute swan and cormorant.

 About 20 common snipe could be seen in small groups along the south bank of the island or in the marsh and a water rail could occasionally be picked out in the reeds on the bank opposite the hide. There was a count of 77 lapwing on New Year’s Day.

 Some less frequent sightings included a peregrine falcon (14^th.), ring-necked parakeet (21^st.) and a yellow-legged gull (13^th.). Also among the hundreds of black-headed gulls were common, herring, a mediterranean and lesser black-backed gulls. Along the water’s edge a feeding grey wagtail was an occasional sighting as was the turquoise blue flash of a kingfisher.

 Small birds continually visiting the feeders were willow tit, marsh tit, coal tit, about 30 great tit, up to 14 bullfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, several robin and a few reed bunting. Other sightings around the reserve were jay, song thrush, 3 mistle thrush together, green woodpecker, small flocks of goldfinch, redwing, fieldfare, long-tailed tit, starling and a mixed flock of siskin and redpoll.

 Buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk were daily raptor sightings.

 Colin Sedgwick