Our visits to this location always bring out many members and this one was no exception with 14 of us meeting in the Visitor Centre.   Looking through the large windows we watched the numerous birds on the feeders hanging on the trees nearby.  Beyond them the reservoir was clearly visible and was teeming with birds.  In the far distance we counted a group of Coots numbering around 200.

Walking through the woods to the furthest hide our eyes were attracted upwards to small birds twittering, restlessly in the canopy.  With their constant movement it was hard to get clear views of them but we persisted and found them to be Europe’s smallest bird, the Goldcrest

There was much to see from the hides including a lone Black Swan, a single Ruff that wandered along the shoreline and numerous ducks and geese of many varieties. With the sunshine and mild weather a pair of Great-crested Grebes seemed to be confused and we saw them facing each other and doing a feeble version of their courting ritual.

Birds:, Great, Coal, Long-tailed & Blue Tits, Robin, Starling, Wren, Sparrow, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Stock Dove, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Goldeneye,  Shoveler, Moorhen, Coot, Little & Great-crested Grebe, Ruff, Canada, Greylag & Brent Geese, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Shelduck, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls.

Other: Grey Squirrel

Diane Caulkett