Teal numbers increase with the cold weather
2 Jack Snipe and Bittern showing well on the main lake, with 250+ Teal recorded so far this morning
2 Bittern - main lake N shore, reservoir lagoon N shore
2 Jack Snipe - main lake island 21
7 Snipe - main lake, scrape
2 Shelduck - main lake
257 Teal - marsh, scrape, reservoir lagoon
9 Pintail - main lake, reservoir lagoon
1 Water Pipit - scrape
January bird highlights: Shelduck, Goldeneye, Bittern, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Little Owl, Peregrine, Red Kite, Kestrel, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Water Pipit, Kingfisher, Siskin.
Bitterns (up to 4 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. Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail and Reed Bunting can be seen and heard in any of the reedbed areas, particularly on the wildside west route.
Water voles: sightings from the south route Wildwalk bridge pool (in the Pond Sedge), and from Wildside ponds close to the Wildside entrance.
Fungi: Bark Bonnet, Beech Tarcrust, Beech Woodwort, Birch Polypore, Collared Earthstar, Field Blewitt, Green Elf Cup, Egg-shell Slime Mould, Conifer Mazegill, Coral Spot, Greyling Bracket, Oak Mazegill, Poplar Bells.
Early flowering plants: Hazel, Alder, Cock's-foot Grass, Winter Aconite, Red and White Dead-nettle, Early Crocus, Snowdrop.
