Pair of Black-tailed Godwit dropped into the wader scrape
2 Black-tailed Godwit - flew on to scrape from the river a.m.
1 Jack Snipe - main lake island 21
1 Little Owl - entrance bank a.m.
2 Bittern - main lake N+S shores
2 Marsh Harrier - flew high over the wildside 1200hrs
6 Fieldfare - sheltered lagoon
1 Water Pipit - scrape
1 Chiffchaff - wildside
December bird highlights: Shelduck, Goldeneye, Bittern, Great White Egret, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Little Owl, Peregrine, Yellow-legged Gull, Brambling, Water Pipit, Skylark, Rock Pipit
Bitterns (up to 3 birds so far) can be found mostly on the main lake shores, particularly the north shore. The flooded wader scrape and marsh have plenty of feeding winter duck including Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal, as well as Jack Snipe, Snipe and Water Pipit. Also on the main lake there’s been occasional Yellow-legged Gull, hunting Peregrine, Water Rail, Snipe and Lapwing. Gadwall and Goldeneye can be found on the reservoir lagoon. Listen out for possible Bearded Tit in the reedbed; this species often appears during November/December. Alder and Birch trees across the reserve hold some mixed flocks of Goldfinch, Siskin and a few Redpoll.
