Today's sightings
Rushy Hide and Peng Observatory
Two Little Stints reported, one present at 0815am + 120 Dunlin, 200+ Lapwing, 50+ Bewick's Swan (70+ now on site or in the area) and 1000+ duck including Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Shelduck and Teal.
Tack Piece
Mostly frozen early morning, the only ice free area had 120 Wigeon and 200 Teal plus 240 Lapwing and 40 Dunlin the grassy bank. 20+ European White-fronted Geese fed here during the day as well as many of the Bewick's Swans with the thaw numbers of wildfowl and waders increased during the day.
South Lake
Very busy early morning until the Lapwing left to feed in the fields, 1894 were counted at 0930am but only three were present at 1130am! 55 Black-tailed Godwit, 8+ Ruff, 16 Snipe, 200 Dunlin and 70 Teal were also on the scrape, many of the waders headed to the floods and fields for the day. A single Oystercatcher was on the deep lake islands with 14 Cormorants.
Holden Tower
Six Song Thrush were on the grassy areas, a Mistle Thrush defended the mistletoe berries in the hedge. Out on the scrape a party of 4 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit and 2 Pied Wagtail fed. Two distant Roe Deer could be seen in the 50 Acre.
Zeiss Hide
Fairly quiet early on due to ice coverage, 14 Snipe counted but 30+ seen later. No later reports but it is likely that more birds arrived later with the thaw.
Please note that some work with the long reach excavator will be undertaken in this area on Monday/Tuesday. We are de-silting the channels either side of the Otter holt island, reducing some of the reed 'creep' that slows the water flow and possibly clearing some fishing channels for Bitterns (sadly none seen so far this winter). Some localised disturbance is possible. Apologies.
Decoy Boardwalk
A single Kingfisher seen near the pagoda.
Grounds
Three Redpoll and c40 Goldfinch feeding in the alder trees.
Kingfisher Hide
24 European White-fronted Geese, 60 Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, 8+ Ruff and 500 Teal on the flood, 4 Gadwall and 3 Shoveler in the channel.
Please note that some work with the long reach excavator will be undertaken in this area on Monday/Tuesday. We will be constructing an access bund for de-silting work in the Kingfisher pool, the bund will be planted with reeds. This project will also open the views to the Bottom New Piece field. Some localised disturbance is possible, apologies.
