Loads of Redwings and Skylarks today, also Woodlarks - at least 12, maybe more than 20 - Snipe everywhere, at least 3 Marsh Harriers, Raven, Great Grey Shrike, and my first Great White Egret for the area.
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Sunshine and snow on today’s walk out to Castle Water but almost a mini-blizzard on the way back! There was so much frenzied activity from the hundreds of ducks and geese that I could have stayed in the hide all morning, but after half an hour my toes were starting to freeze. As well as the wildfowl, highlights were a Green Sandpiper which flew up from an unfrozen ditch and came down by the River Brede, prolonged flight views of a Bittern and no fewer than 4 Marsh Harriers, and a close Water Rail - but no Smew. Yesterday there were 3 Rock Pipits along the river towards Northpoint, and waders on the saltings included 200+ Lapwing, 200+ Dunlin, 50+ Redshank and (less usually) 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Turnstone. Read the rest of this entry »
At dawn this morning there was surprisingly little ice in front of the Castle Water hide. Even so, there were some birds that seemed attracted to it…
Thought that it would be worth checking some of the fields that were planted this summer with cover crops. Interestingly the first held about six birds only. Meanwhile the second was full of birds with flocks of 250 Linnet, 120 Reed Bunting and 150 Stock Dove present. Other birds feeding in the field included 30 Wood Pigeon, 60 Chaffinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Snipe and 3 Yellowhammer.
