A farewell to 2020

Hard frosts prompting movements for many species.

We are now under Tier 4 restrictions but are able to remain open. We have had to close all the hides and all other indoor spaces but most of the grounds remain open so birding is restricted to what you are able to spot from the paths. We have moved the feeders from Kingfisher Hide to the Spinney and from Willow Hide to the Decoy/Pondzone area so that you can continue to see the commoner passerines and maybe a Water Rial. The Big Pen has the usual flock of wintering Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Coots and Moorhens with Shelduck and singles of other species dropping in. Otherwise eyes to the skies for overflying birds. We are working at re-opening some approaches to the hides after alternative open viewing facility's have been created so please keep an eye on the web site for more information on this.

A summary of bird sightings over the past few days, 29th December to 1st January

Geese

The Whitefronted flock has increased to 172 with an adult Pinkfoot among them. In hard weather they often change behavior and this time have been in the Tin Shed field where the grass is good quality and a little longer than some of the other fields. You can see glimpses of this field from near the entrance to the South Finger, enough to see the Pinkfoot this morning (1st)

Ducks

The Wigeon have moved out to the estuary and are feeding on areas of short grass salt-marsh. The other ducks have concentrated on the open water areas of the Rushy, South Lake and Long Ground Pool. Good mixture of most species, the South Lake has been particularly good with 275 Shoveler, 104 Pochard and 245 Tufted Duck among smaller numbers of Gadwall, Pintail and Teal. A Mandarin has been frequenting the Rushy feed.

Waders

Hanging on in good numbers with the Tack Piece the favoured area as a mixed flocks sits on the ice waiting for the midday thaw. All species here including, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Little Stint (1), Redshank, Ruff, Greenshank (1), Black Tailed Godwit and Curlew. However numbers have been dropping steadily as many chose to move further along their flyways or out onto the estuary to escape the frost. A thaw forecast over the next few days will see a return of at least some of these birds.

Others

The highlight has been 10 Cattle Egret roosting here with a couple of Little Egret.

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