On this cold and wintry morning there were only nine of us, unusual, as our visits to this location normally bring out many members, but we were an enthusiastic group.  The Visitor Centre had been improved since our last visit and now has even larger windows from which to view the feeders and the lake beyond.  We took advantage of refreshments from the new café and as usual at this time of year the log-burning stove was alight and gave out welcome warmth.  Four different tits visited the feeders that hang on the trees close by – coal, blue, great and long-tailed – and we watched them and numerous other birds and also the antics of the grey squirrels. Beyond them the reservoir was clearly visible but most of the birds had decided to gather at the far side and we had difficulty in identifying them.

Leaving the warmth and walking through the woods to the nearest hide we had hoped to sight goldcrests, Europe’s smallest bird.  We had seen many on our last visit when they moved restlessly, twittering in the tree canopies, but even though they had been sighted recently, today we were unlucky.  Grey squirrels pranced amongst the fallen leaves gathering food and one in particular posed for Yvonne who captured it in this photo.

Birds in large numbers are always exciting to see and we came upon 50 Canada geese and a lone greylag grazing on a field nearby.  We visited all of the four hides and were rewarded with the sight of 200 wigeon, 50 lapwings and many other ducks, waders etc.

Birds: Great, Coal, Long-tailed & Blue Tits, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Redshank, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Moorhen, Little & Great-crested Grebes, Canada & Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull.

Other: Grey Squirrel

Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 14th –  Abberton Reservoir meet in the Visitor Centre 10.00

Diane Caulkett