Saturday 23rd January 2010

A slight improvement in the weather this week although, amazingly, still some ice on west Fingers. Half a dozen Shoveler on here, a couple of Teal and a Great Crested Grebe. A few Reed Bunting calls from the Crescent reed bed. John had a Water Rail in there before I arrived. A Kestrel passed over the Crescent and the Beach before returning across the lake towards the Rough.

Little else of note on the Navigation Channel or along the Woodland Walk. Flushed the Shoveler as we rounded Fingers back towards the Steps.

On the main lake ~81 Mute Swans, single Black Swan, 23 Tufted Ducks, 27 Gadwall, 103 Pochard. Great Crested Grebes and Coot also present.

Little to note on Fenlake, DK had reported a Stonechat earlier in the week but it wasn't to be found today. A single Shoveler and a few BH Gulls were all we could make out on the lake.

7 Bullfinch at the VC seen while chatting to EN and EG who were trying to catch the local House Sparrows.