Wildlife sightings for 7th February 2014
1 Golden Plover - flew over in the rain a.m. possibly settling on the marsh
1 Caspian Gull 1st winter - reservoir lagoon shingle island a.m.
3 Shelduck - main lake
2 Chiffchaff - south route and sheltered lagoon
16 Redwing - world wetlands
3 Redpoll - wildside
January/early February bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Brambling, Rock Pipit, Bearded Tit.
2 Bitterns have been spotted this month, mostly on the north and south shores of the main lake, with movements into the main reedbed at dusk for roosting.
Redwing and Fieldfare have been roosting every evening around the sheltered lagoon and wildside. Most of the berries on the Hawthorn, Dog Rose, Holly, Rowan and Guelder Rose have been stripped now.
1-2 Jack Snipe are present still at the start of February, taking advantage of the flooded grazing marsh along with up to 12 Common Snipe. Teal numbers remain high, their favoured feeding grounds being the exposed mud on the wader scrape and the grazing marsh, particularly during high tide when large numbers leave the river to visit the reserve instead. Shovelers remain steady at 70-100 birds, again making use of the flooded grazing marsh for loafing, feeding and roosting.
Early flowering plants: Red Dead-Nettle, Blackthorn, Petty Spurge, Mouse-Ear, Yarrow.
