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Coldest night of the year
Wednesday night saw temperatures drop to at least -10oC, leaving most of the reserve locked in ice this morning
Wednesday (yesterday) night saw temperatures drop to at least -10oC, leaving most of the reserve locked in ice this morning. Small pockets of open water remained on the Rushy in front of the Scott House, and on the deep lake at South Lake.
Rushy Hide / Peng Observatory
Most of the upper pond was frozen this morning, with a small area of open water in front of the Scott House and into the swan pipe. A big concentration of duck were here for the morning feed, including the first-winter drake Greater Scaup. So far today at least 76 Bewick's Swans have been identified, with 18 birds arriving yesterday including a new family with three cygnets, and six new birds arriving today including another new family with two cygnets, along with a couple of yearlings (one-year old birds).
South Lake
The small area of open water on the deep lake held over 1000 duck this morning including 492 Teal, 7 Wigeon and 19 Pintail plus good numbers of Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and a few Shelduck. A Bar-headed Goose was amongst the Greylag Geese. The Bittern was seen again this afternoon, showing again around the edge of the deep lake in the trees, fishing in the open water areas.
