There have been excellent and regular views of up to 3 jack snipe on the main island and on occasions at least a dozen common snipe in the same location.

 

More goosanders arrived during in the month along with other wintering migrants including numerous redwing, fieldfare, blackbird and wigeon.

 

Other interesting birds seen were a winter-plumaged Mediterranean gull, a drake mandarin duck, water rail, grey wagtail, willow tit, coal tit, kingfisher, mistle and song thrush, green woodpecker and jay.

 

Small birds were prevalent including flocks of goldfinch feeding off the teasel, robins singing again, dunnock, wren, greenfinch, bullfinch, reed bunting, several pied wagtails, as well as house sparrow and long-tailed, great and blue tits.

 

 A lingering swallow flew through (3rd.) and chiffchaff and blackcap were still around.

 

On the lake as well as the wigeon there were good numbers of gadwall, teal, shoveler, tufted, pochard and cormorant. Also great-crested and little grebe and grey heron were ever present.

 

Lapwing numbers are at 60+ and black-headed gull at 100+.

See you on the reserves,

Best regards,

Chris Edwards