11 March 2011

Frosty start to the morning with bright sunshine, no wind of note, temp 4c, visit from 06.30 - 08.30.

Goosander numbers have been dropping rapidly over the week and this morning only 7 were present with 6 on the boating lake and a lone male on the main lake, the 2 Great Crested Grebes remain on the boating lake with another 3 0n the main lake, 4 Pied Wagtails on the grass bank looked like passage birds, on the main lake, the usual pair of Mute Swans, 41 Tufted Duck, just 3 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye and our resident Shoveler flew across to the boating lake, while walking through the nature reserve a single Jackdaw flew over calling as did a single Mistle Thrush, another Mistle Thrush was on the gas works and one by the top entrance, a single Willow Tit was by the boardwalk bridge with 4 by the top pool and 2 on the gas works, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was along the reserve side of the main lake, on the gas works 2 Stock Doves and 3 Collared Doves, back by the main lake and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew through north, a quick walk along the 'Avenue' for early Warblers was fruitless but I did pick up 3 Redwings.