More Bewick's Swans
Rushy
A nice clear night resulting in several new Bewicks on the pond this morning, at least 72 around the site including 4 wild birds among the Mute and 10 captive Bewick's on swan lake. Pochard, Tufted and Pintail gathering here in the frosty conditions. A Little Stint was with 4 Dunlin on the central island.
South Lake
The scrape is all iced up but a great flock of waders waiting for the melt. The bulk were 900 Lapwing but also 150 Dunlin, 60 Black Tailed Godwit and 1 Ruff. There were 40 Pochard, 220 Teal and 11 Cormorant on the main lake.
Zeiss
Similar situation to the South Lake with 800 Lapwing, 150 Golden Plover, 150 Dunlin and 19 Ruff waiting for the ice to melt. Around 300 Teal were concentrated in the small areas of open water. A Cetti's showed well in-front of the hide.
Holden Tower and Walkway Hides
At least 3 Water rails performing well again from the Willow Hide and holes through the walls. The 47 White-Fronted Geese were on the Tack Piece with 300 Wigeon (the bulk of the Wigeon flock can be seen very distantly out on the estuary) More lapwing (300) were sitting around waiting for the ice to melt. There was a lovely group of Linnets, Meadow Pipit and 1 Water Pipit from the Holden Tower. Lots of migrant thrushes were in the Hawthorns, the usual Redwing and Fieldfare but also small groups of Migrant Song Thrushes and Blackbirds plus the resident Mistle Thrush defending the Mistletoe near the Holden Tower.
