Sunday 9th December

Another early start to beat the rain but also in the hope of seeing Otters again. Headed across the fields past the labyrinth to Fingers. Flushed a couple of Teal from the bank side reeds as I passed the Sedgewick seat.

On reaching Kramer hide there were a pair of Gadwall out in front of the hide, they were joined by another male. A single Mute Swan flew over the hide heading towards the sewerage farm. At around the same time as I sighted the Otters yesterday a single animal swam, left to right, in front of the hide. No hanging around today though as it just disappeared into the reeds by the channel through to east Fingers. A female Shoveller flew in. A couple of Heron were in the usual roosting place. A Cormorant came into the Kramer lake and caught a fish before departing. A flock of 14 Long Tailed Tits worked the area around the hide then flew to the trees in the middle island in front of the hide. With no sign of the Otter coming back I left the hide and headed down past east Fingers, round the crescent and onto the spit where I flushed a Kingfisher which flew across West fingers, down the second finger.

The resident Mute Swans were feeding on West Fingers at the main path end. As I walked down the spit a Cormorant flew from west Fingers. 3 male Bullfinch were working the trees along the spit. Only 5 Little Grebe today, all on west Fingers.

I headed back up the spit and around the main lake. A Little Egret was in the south east corner and 2 Kingfishers flew from the south east corner to the north side. Another male Bullfinch was in the trees near the beach end fishing swims. As I walked past the beach fishing swims 3 Herons were flushed from separate fishing swims.

At the hide there were 13 Pochard (3f), 3 male Tufted Ducks and a pair of Wigeon. Also 23 Shoveller, 5 Mute Swans (2 pair and a youngster). 26 Canada Geese flew over north. There were 4 Goosander again today split 3 and 1 although they all came together later. There were a lot of Mallard around the hide and a quick count totalled 62 including some hybrids. A single Coot came out of the reed bed to the right of the hide. 3 Canada Geese were on the lake. Great Crested Grebe numbered 33 and there were 27 Cormorant. A speed boat on the lake put up most of the Shoveller and the Wigeon. As I left the hide the hybrid Canada/Greylag Goose flew in.

Little Egret

Wigeon

A couple of Goosander images

At the Leat Pool a Kingfisher was calling and another male Bullfinch was in the trees nearby.

When I reached the south west corner another? Kingfisher was calling and a Heron was in one of the usual spots. Another well timed visit as the rain started just as I was leaving.