WeBS count info for 15 January.
The monthly WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) count was rather disappointing for numbers, the drier winter has had an impact as well as the count following a freeze up which causes dispersal. The totals follow below as well as some highlights for the last two days.
Almost 11,000 wetland birds were counted, we are counting the gulls/gull roost tonight.
Little Grebe 5- including two from Kingfisher Hide and one on South Lake.
Great Crested Grebe-one on South Lake.
Cormorant- 7
Little Egret- 2
Grey Heron- 6
Mute Swan- 157
Bewick's Swan- 156 (151 roosted on the Rushy Pen, 5 in the grounds)
E. White-fronted Goose-142
Grey lag Goose-482 (likely to be a little duplication as birds moved about the site)
Canada Goose- 169
Barnacle Goose-181
Manadarin Duck- 3 (two on Tommy's Loopway among the captive birds and one on South Lake duck marsh from Hogarth Hide)
Shelduck- 214
Wigeon- 2279 (includes 1100 on the estuary as counted by M. Smart)
Gadwall-56
Teal-1648
Mallard-896
Pintail-279
Shoveler- 75
Pochard-161
Tufted Duck-457
Water Rail-2 (seen from Willow Hide)
Moorhen- 267
Coot- 114
Golden Plover- only 1 seen!
Lapwing- 2392
Knot- 3 (South Lake)
Little Stint- Rushy Pen
Dunlin-680
Ruff- 15 (Top New Piece/Bottom New Piece
Snipe- only three seen on the count (100's present last week)
Curlew- 17 (some heard heading inland to feed for the day)
Redshank- 3.
Two Peregrine Falcon, a female Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 3 Stonechat and a variety of commoner passerines were also seen.
