2 February 2010
A good selection of birds today even if the weather made viewing less than pleasant at times.
The Green-Winged Teal showed from the Hale Hide this morning. Wildfowl counts included 195 Pochard, 38 Tufted Duck and a few Shoveler. Pink-footed Geese numbers were around 5-6000 also a single Barnacle with them.
Waders included 51 Ruff which was the largest count this winter, 1000+ Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, Common Snipe and a single Redshank.
Male Merlin was the pick of the raptors which also included 7 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Black-headed Gull numbers are starting to build with 1120 recorded today. A pair of Greater Black-backed Gull are still present along with a few Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Common Gull.
Stonechat can be seen out on the fence posts in open areas near Plover Field. Barn Owl hunting late into the morning at 10:40.