Saturday 26/01/2013

Still a lot of ice and snow around the park this morning making the going treacherous. DK and JA were already scanning the ducks on the main lake and had found a lovely male Pintail in the mix. Also plenty of Wigeon along with Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks, Pochards and a handful of Shoveler. I slipped and slid my way over to join them and as I watched the Pintail a couple of Teal flew in to join the party. Mute Swans and Coots were also present and I heard a Kingfisher call in the north west corner of the main lake and later on we had three in the south west corner!

Not much else to get excited about, a few Redwings and the odd Fieldfare about and quite a lot of Wildfowl on 100 Acre. The Collared Dove is still on the nest at the Kissing Gate and we saw another collecting nest material behind the Sailing club.

There was a single Great Crested Grebe on the river by the STW bridge which is quite unusual. It might be the one from the Finger Lakes which is still completely frozen over.

It's the next guided walk tomorrow so hopefully all the ice will melt with the rising temperature over night and the rain. Meet at the visitor centre at 9am.