Well even if it doesn't happen, the recent cold snap has certainly made a difference to the birds. Over the last few days, with cold easterly winds and snow , there has been a significant increase in winter migrants. With food hard to come by, normally shy species are turning up in strange places.
Over the weekend there has been upto 20 common snipe feeding in the small ditch that runs alongside the main path near the visitor centre. Being the only unfrozen water they have been showing well crouching down to hide rather than flying off. The same ditch has also hosted a jack snipe, at least 4 water rails and 3 woodcocks. Many of these woodcock have probably moved in from Scandinavia but ringing recoveries show that some of our wintering birds come from as far as Russia!
Other highlights from recent days has been the large movement of thrushes, skylarks and lapwings all escaping the cold weather on the continent. On Sunday a single woodlark was seen flying west and a long-eared owl was found roosting in an ivy-covered tree near the visitor centre (no sign today).
If the weather stay cold you maybe lucky and get an avian Christmas present - a waxwing feeding in your garden. I am hoping Santa will bring me a Ross's gull on the fresh marsh!
Happy Christmas and New Year
Paul