Latest Sightings
The cold snap has pushed some more migratory wildfowl from the continent. Pochard numbers are up to 24, up from single figures a month ago. They come to us to escape the harsher winters of Russia and Western Europe, their breeding grounds. Pochard are diving ducks, so feed on the grain deposited at the bottom of the mere during our wildfowl feeds. As for our other ducks, shelduck, wigeon, mallard and pintail can also be seen at the feeds.
Excitingly there has been reports of a male hen harrier. This hen harrier was born in 2020, so won’t quite have moulted into its full splendour but is nevertheless a very striking bird. 18 of our regular marsh harriers were counted earlier this week.
Whooper swan and pink footed geese numbers are still stable, but more are staying on the reserve during the day which gives our visitors a chance to see them.
A kingfisher was seen darting along the ditch parallel to the path towards Ron Barker this morning.
The feeders are very active, and the new log feeders at Janet Kear are very popular with the tits especially. Goldfinches, greenfinches and the occasional great spotted woodpecker can also be seen at the feeders. The white rump of a jay was seen on the woodland path between harrier hide and UU today.
On the reedbed the sharming of water rail (sounds like a squealing pig!) can be heard at every corner. Groups of snipe can be seen flying high in the over the reeds and there appear to be more and more tufted duck hanging around in the pools, probably pushed over from Europe and Iceland by the colder weather like the pochard and other wildfowl.
On Tuesday morning a barn owl was seen hunting in Bruce the bulls’ field next to Ron Barker.
Photo: Jay
