Wildlife sightings for 20th December 2017
1 Bittern - main lake N shore
4 Pintail - main lake
2 Shelduck - wader scrape
1 Siskin - South route
1 Fieldfare - South route
23 Redwing - entrance area
2 Stonechat - grazing marsh
1 Grey Wagtail - Otter enclosure
November/December bird highlights: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Snipe, Goldeneye, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Red Kite, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Linnet, Firecrest, Brambling, Skylark, Water Pipit, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Bearded Tit.
The grazing marsh is partly flooded, attracting good numbers of Wigeon and Shoveler, as well as Water Pipit. The fences around the marsh are a good spot for species like Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and occasional Skylark, while the muddier or tussocky parts of the marsh, main lake and wader scrape may have some waders (like Dunlin or Snipe).
Tree blocks with a good mix of Willows may hold some interesting Warbler species or Firecrest, often mixed in with more common Tits and Goldcrests. Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin and Redpoll continue to arrive for the winter ahead. The Fieldfares and Redwings are feeding on the Hawthorn, Dog Rose, Blackthorn and Guelder Rose across the site, while the Finch species favour the Silver Birch and Alder trees.
Up to 4 Bitterns can mostly be found on the main lake north, south or south-east shores. There was a Bearded Tit recorded early in November, not far from the Headley Hide, and there may be more sightings as it gets colder.
