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.

This week at Priory

17 Bewick's Swans. Flew off north Sunday 10th per DK.

There was an Oystercatcher on the ice on the main lake on Friday 15th per Tony P.

Saturday 16th:

A grim morning, very wet and a cold wind. The majority of the main lake was still frozen as was Fingers. At least 170 Mute Swans on arrival, quite a few movements in and out during the morning. Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler all present but tricky to count in the throng.

A single Little Grebe on the navigation channel. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers also seen.

Saturday 2nd January 2010

Another glorious morning albeit very cold. Main lake had a lot of ice coverage on the south side forcing much of the wildfowl to the north side which is quite unusual. Counts were difficult today as everything was very spread out but there were approx 51 Pochard, 18 Shoveler, 18 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal and a single red head Goldeneye. Mute Swans were keeping the south west corner ice free and numbered around the 100. There were also 20+ Cormorants. Kingfishers were easier to come by today with several contacts around Fingers.

3 Little Grebe had moved up the Navigation Channel to the turbulent waters of the flood channel just passed the join with the nav channel. It looked like hard work for them to maintain position let alone move upstream or hunt against the strong current. A 4th was seen further downstream, with 41 Canada Geese, a little later.

A Treecreeper was present in the usual Willows along the Navigation Channel.

While chatting to DK, around Fingers, a fine looking male Sparrowhawk passed overhead and took a close look at a nearby Blue Tit which was fortunate to make it any further into 2010!

Another Treecreeper was heard by the Rough as we headed towards the Steps.

Those were the highlights this morning.