Sunday 16th December

Another cold morning although with no wind early on it didn't seem as cold as yesterday. The wind was increasing through the morning though and was biting by the time I left. I took the main path route around to Kramer and it was almost a rerun of yesterday morning with the Little Egret on the north side of the main lake and Kingfisher(s) being flushed from the north side trees. The Little Egret was flushed by dog walkers but flew back to the north side a little further along the path. It flew off again as I got close and this time flew high to the North. I had flushed a Kingfisher prior to seeing the Little Egret, and did so again when I got adjacent to the steps. Probably the same bird. There were 3 Tufted Ducks circling the main lake and a quick count of the Shoveller numbered 21.

As I passed east fingers there were 3 Little and a Great Crested Grebe on the lake. Arriving at Kramer hide I noticed a ripple on the water and, on entering the hide, watched an Otter diving in the channel between the left reed bed and the smaller reed bed. That was the last I saw of it for about 20 minutes then 2 Moorhens flew up from 2 of the reed beds and perched in the trees. As I watched I noticed a stream of bubbles and a/the Otter appeared at the surface in almost the same place I had originally seen it. It dived again and came back up over on the left hand side before diving again and disappearing. Between the Otter sightings a couple of male Teal came through the gap from west fingers. One of the Teal had a dispute with a Moorhen.

After the Otter disappeared a female Shoveller and a pair of Gadwall were seen through the gap on west Fingers. 8 Shoveller circled overhead before dropping into west Fingers and small group of Teal flew across the gap. 2 Little Grebe appeared at the back of the left hand reed bed. A Muntjac walked around the reed bed in front, right, of the hide. A large Pike leaped clear of the water in front of the hide and another/same was seen again a little later as lunged after some poor unsuspecting prey. DK dropped in and while chatting a Sparrowhawk and a Magpie had a dispute in the dead tree by the channel through to east Fingers. As I was about to leave the hide a 3rd Little Grebe had joined the other 2.

As I headed up towards the Sedgewick seat there was a single female Shoveller tucked in around the back. Several Teal were heard calling.

From the dead seat there was a Great Crested Grebe which flew around to west Fingers but had disappeared, possibly to the main lake, by the time I got around to the spit. From the end of the spit there were 5 Little Grebe. A male Shoveller flew in to join a female, a pair of Gadwall, a male Teal, a pair of Mute Swans and a Grey Heron. 2 male Bullfinch by the life belt along the spit. Also had 2 more Kingfisher sightings along the main path between the steps and the spit.

Heading around the main lake another male Bullfinch was in the trees by the beach fishing swims and another Kingfisher. At the south east corner a ripple at the edge of the water caught my attention and it turned out to be a Mink. It kept tight to the bank as it headed in the direction of the hide.

At the main lake hide:

34 Pochard (5f)
6 Tufted (1f)
24 Cormorant
2 Canada Geese, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron on the shore in the closed section.
A pair of Mute Swans by the hide were driven off by the other pair which includes no. 500.
3 Teal flew low across the lake from the south west and dropped into the Finger lakes.

Didn't spot the red head Smew reported by DK and others :-(

Walked along the back river where a Cormorant was fishing up stream from the boat club moorings. 11 Canada Geese were grazing on the Fenlake side, and 2 others flew up stream.

Back by the main lake there was a Reed Bunting in the south west corner.

There were 30+ Great Crested Grebe on the main lake. Back at the car park 5 Mute Swans flew over and looked like they might drop in to the main lake but eventually gained more height and looked as if they continued on east.

Sat 15 Dec

A brisk walk around the main lake - summary of what was seen.
22 Cormorant, GCG (n/c), Tufted 12, Shoveler 15, Pochard 18, Water Rail (main hide), 2 Kingfisher, L.Egret looking for somewhere to land on south side but decided it wasn't a good idea to stand in the teeth of a stiff & cold E wind. Pressmead - 10 Siskin in the alders. Several Bullfinces "sighing". Also seen - a white "duck" in the distance, in front of the main hide; wasn't there when I got there. The Smew??? (found by DK next morning)

Saturday 15th December

Despite the lack of a visible frost on the ground, a very cold morning with a biting breeze. On arrival headed down the main path alongside the main lake. Flushed 2 Kingfishers and a Little Egret from the north side of the lake. The Little Egret departed east after doing a couple of fly pasts. 6 Tufted Ducks were circling high over the main lake. I continued around to Kramer hide in the hope of seeing Otters, a Great Crested Grebe was on east Fingers as I passed. On arrival at the hide it was very quiet with just a couple of Moorhen the only signs of life. I settled in and waited for some action. A little later a pair of Gadwall and a couple of Shoveller appeared through the gap to west Fingers. The Gadwall came through the gap and hung around in front of the hide for most of the time I was there. Another Great Crested Grebe was seen, through the gap, on west Fingers. A Little Grebe came through the channel from east Fingers and was seen over the back behind the reed beds. 50 Lapwing flew over heading south. A male Sparrowhawk flew in and perched in the trees above last years nest. 10 Teal flew over and dropped in to west Fingers. A male Teal swam into view from the right of the hide. A scan of the far edge of the lake revealed a Muntjac. It was given away by it's reflection in the water as it was hidden by tree. DK dropped by the hide and said he had put up the 10 Teal from round by the Sedgewick seat.

With no sign of any Otter action I departed the hide and continued around the Finger lakes. There were 35 Canada Geese on Kingsmead and 3 Cormorants in one of the trees by the back river.

A single Redwing was in the newly coppiced sheep pen. Three Gadwall and 2 Shoveller were seen on west Fingers from the dead seat. I continued around to the main path and headed down to the spit. From here it was clear that there were 2 Great Crested Grebe on the Finger lakes, one either side of the spit. A Kingfisher was flushed from the trees as I walked around the Crescent.

At the beach I counted 35 Great Crested Grebe in that corner of the main lake. There were 12 Mute Swans but 8 were chased off by one of the resident pairs. There were 2 male Bullfinch in the trees by the beach end fishing swims.

Resident Mute Swan (Ring No. 500)

One of the departing Mute Swans

At the main lake hide there were 18 Pochard, 12 Tufted Ducks, 20 Shoveller and 22 Cormorant.

At the south west corner of the lake another 4 Great Crested Grebe were seen. 2 Fieldfare flew over east as I reached the car park.