28th December 2007

On arrival at the park there were 12 Mute Swans on the main lake. By the hedge at the labyrinth there were 4 Redwing on the ground feeding with a group of 10 Blackbirds.

A bit late getting to Kramer hide this morning but was treated to another Otter sighting. As I entered the hide an Otter was swimming away towards the reed beds. It circled the left hand reed bed before disappearing over to the left near the channel through to east Fingers. It may have been joined by a second just before it departed but not 100% sure about that.

Otter

Also had good views of a Water Rail which was directly in front of the hide although I didn't see it until it flew across to the large reed bed. At various times it was seen moving between the reed beds before it ended up over to the left where it worked along the reeds feeding before finally disappearing into the cover.

There were at least 7 Herons sheltering from the strong wind and 2 pairs of Gadwall. A number of Shoveller and Teal were also in evidence.

A quick scan of Kingsmead, on leaving Kramer hide, revealed 8 Moorhen as well as a handful of crows and 3 Magpies.

From the spit, on west Fingers

7 Teal (2f)
2 Shoveller (1f)
2 Mute Swans (pair)
2 Gadwall (1f) making 4 in total on the Finger lakes (2m2f)
4 Little Grebe
Heron
2 Canada Geese

on east Fingers

1 Little Grebe

Back at the main lake walking along the east end there were 3 Bullfinch and 1 Kingfisher.

At the main lake hide:

86 Pochard (8f)
1 Goosander
10 Tufted Ducks
43 Shoveller
8 Great Crested Grebe
28 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher

Goosander

Walking along path by the south side fishing swims I noticed the resident pair of Mute Swans were getting ready to mate again which they did and followed it up with the usual mating dance.

Mute Swans mating dance

Further along on the south side 2 Kingfishers flew along the path past me and continued along the south side of the lake. There was another Kingfisher in the south west corner.