Today's sightings
South Lake
Female Ferruginous Duck (I did not have long to study it but it appears pure, we have had a couple of very convincing hybrids in the recent past as well as one previous genuine bird in 2002)
It was present from 3pm to dusk, was initially sleeping but made a couple of flights around the reserve. South and Lake and the Rushy were the only large areas of ice free water today.
Record digi-scoped shot
Shoveler 100+
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck/ Pochard- most of the local flock loafing here today
Kingfisher
Shelduck 40
Holden Tower
E White-fronted Goose 141
Pink-footed Goose 1 adult
Peregrine 2
Buzzard 3
Marsh Harrier 2
Little Stint 2
Tack Piece
Pools were frozen but a few waders present, one Little Stint was on the ice
Rushy
Whooper Swan 1 to 0830 at least and again from 4.56pm
Bewick's Swan 147
Mallard, Shelduck, Pintail, Teal, Lapwing in flocks
Redshank, c100 Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin around midday
Zeiss Hide
Lapwing, Snipe, Teal, Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Ruff formed a roost on the ice
Stonechat 1
Water Rail 2
Willow Hide
Water Rail all day on and off
