Whooper Swans
With the continuing mild (for the time of year) weather, the Swan count has remained low at just 750 birds, a sudden cold spell could change all this fairly quickly though.
Despite the wind and rain recent sightings have included at least 2 Merlin (Ad male & fem/imm), 2-3 Peregrine including one eating a female Teal, 5-7 Marsh Harrier which are giving some excellent views at times and the usual Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
A Barn Owl was out hunting before closing time yesterday, days of rain often force normally nocturnal Owls out to hunt earlier or even through the day at times.
The presumed hybrid gull which has been semi resident for a few years now on and off is still around, seemingly paired to a Lesser black-backed Gull, it's often one of only 2 black-backed Gulls on the Mere.
Occasional Golden Plovers have been seen recently in with the large Lapwing flock of late, also of course good numbers of Ruff doing the same at times. A few flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares can be seen most days, as well as our resident Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds.
