Saturday, December 29, 2007

Saturday 29th December

Arrived early for another Otter stakeout. I was just in time to see the Crow and Jackdaw roost leave, and what a stunning sight. From the car park I looked towards Fingers and the sky was full of swirling black dots. I could not begin to estimate numbers as they were everywhere you looked, making use of the strong winds by tumbling about in the air. To my surprise as I walked across the new meadow towards fingers there were still significant numbers of, mostly Jackdaws, in the trees on the south side of the main lake and in the trees around the dead seat on Fingers. These birds hung around a little longer but left while I was in Kramer hide.

Very quiet at Kramer hide this morning, no appearances from the Otter(s). Just a few ducks, 4 Heron, Little Grebe and a Cormorant. A Kingfisher also put in an appearance.

Around the back of Fingers approaching the Sedgewick seat there were 2 pair of Gadwall.

On west Fingers there were 5 Little Grebe, 5 Teal (2f), 2 Shoveller (1f), a Great Crested Grebe and 6 Canada Geese. Also at least half a dozen Goldfinch over the Dead Seat and femal Bullfinch near the steps.

On east Fingers there were another 2 Little Grebe, a couple of Canadas and the resident Mute Swans.

As I walked around the main lake to the hide had a Kingfisher calling from the east side fishing swims. At the hide:

90 Pochard (7f)
8 Tufted Ducks all Males
50 Shoveller
10 Great Crested Grebe

A Muntjac ran across the path in front of me on Pressmead. 2 Kingfishers flew from the south side of the main lake towards the island. 2 pairs of Mute Swans were at the west side of the lake and 28 Cormorants sun bathed in front of the sailing club.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I was late up today. Not been down since Sunday. When I walked round Fingers there were - 10 Shoveler, 8 Herons, 2 Teal, pr swans, 6 Dabchicks, mostly on 'Lilypads' (west Fingers?) 75-80 Rooks on K/M, flock of LTT in the fenced flower meadow, pr Bullfinches and ca dozen Goldfinch by dead seat. Also Kingfisher. 2 Song Thrushes in the rough. E