14 January Wetland Bird Survey and sightings for 16 January
The January 2024 WeBS count was affected by the cold and ice coverage, large numbers of birds have moved off the reserve (but not to the adjacent Severn) or dispersed across the fields inland. The following totals were counted.
24 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret (although ten roosted), 2 Cattle Egret, 2 Great Egret, 5 Grey Heron, 11 Crane, 155 Mute Swan, 116 Bewick's Swan, 206 Russian White-fronted Goose, 240 Greylag, 402 Canada Goose, 174 Barnacle Goose (one appears to have arrived with new Russian White-fronted Geese and is keeping very close company), Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 243 Shelduck, 1317 Wigeon, 45 Gadwall, 717 Teal, 564 Mallard, 118 Pintail, 220 Shoveler, 115 Pochard, 387 Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye (two males and one female on South Lake and grounds), 12 Water Rail, 68 Moorhen, 85 Coot, 2144 Golden Plover, 1 Grey Plover (Bottom New Piece), 1871 Lapwing, 3 Ringed Plover (Dumbles over high tide), 182 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Ruff, 468 Dunlin, 1 Spotted Redshank, 27 Redshank, 20 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 216 Black-headed Gull, 22 LBB Gull, 20 GBB Gull, 21 Herring Gull, 80 Common Gull.
+ Pink-footed, Ross's and Snow Goose, x2 Barnacle x Canada hybrids, Snow x Bar-headed Goose hybrid and two large domestic goose x Canada Goose hybrids.
Other sightings today 16 January 2024 include the following..
Dumbles from Estuary Tower
Pair of Ravens on carrion, Estuary Tower- juvenile DB Brent with the Canada Geese. 80 Pintail on the Severn, 390 Wigeon, 6 Pintail, 60 Teal on the scrape and 10+ Skylark
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Spotted Redshank still. 112 Bewick's Swans at dawn, 104 on Rushy and 8 Tack Piece but the latter moved to South Lake.
General
Two Marsh Harrier touring the reserve this morning.
Grounds
Great Crested Grebe in with the Eiders, Redpoll and Siskins feeding with Goldfinches in the Alder trees.
Willow Hide
Water Rail under the feeders.
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
The Barnacle Goose with at least 218 Russian White-fronted Geese.
Bottom New Piece
Grey Plover, 200 Golden Plover.
Top New Piece- 94 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Pintail, 79 Wigeon, 766 Teal, 2 Snipe, 4 Shoveler and 310 Lapwing
