Wildlife sightings for 11th February 2015
2 Bittern - 1 showing well in SE corner of main lake, best seen from Peacock Tower. 1 flew around main lake, mobbed by gulls, and dropping into main reedbed
1 Shelduck - main lake
1 Snipe - marsh
2 Stonechat - marsh
January bird highlights: Shelduck, Bittern, Little Egret, Goosander, Peregrine, Pheasant, Woodcock, Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Stonechat.
Good numbers of wintering wildfowl are settling in for the winter ahead, many of which have migrated from as far east as Siberia to get here. The flooded grazing marsh in particular is attracting plenty of Teal that move back and forth from the river in line with the daily tides. Gadwall, grazing Wigeon and Shoveler also favour this habitat at this time of year, feeding on lots of seed leftover from the summer growth of Rushes, Bur-reeds, Loosestrifes, Fleabanes, Docks and grasses. Jack Snipe and Snipe will be probing the soft muddy edges for invertebrate food. The marsh also holds Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler and occasional Water Pipit and Bearded Tit.
