A rather underwhelming Westhay WeBS count today, the only increases from October were Shoveler up from 42 to 62 and Tufted Duck up from a single bird to 4. Widgeon numbers about the same at 79, but a very low count of Gadwall, only 89, (normally around 250). Couldn’t find a single Teal, nor were there any Pintail or Goosander. No sign of the Egyptian Geese, Ruddy Shelduck or Glossy Ibis on the adjacent farmland, only a large herd of Mute Swans and some small flocks of Lapwing. The Maize stubble to the south of the reserve was attracting, Starlings, Winter Thrushes, mixed Finch flocks, several Little Egrets and a pair of Stonechat. Four GW Egrets on Tealham Moor and three on the Reserve.

Weather wasn’t conducive to much viewing today, but there was a huge flock of mute swans in fields opposite westhay car park, with no sign of Egyptians or ruddy shelduck,  2 little egrets a bit further along road & a GWE on tealham.

No sign of Goosanders along London Drive this morning but new arrivals were a pair of Red Crested Pochards on 30 acre lake. Also large numbers of Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall and a single male Pintail.

Two female and one male Goosander at Westhay Moor this morning. I was surprised to see big flocks of Teal as well.

Must have had a senior moment when typing the first report - the Ruddy Shelduck was a girl and the Goosander was actually a scruffy looking boy, could be a pair of Goosander present because Peter Merrys post of the 15th reported a female.

An interesting and quite rewarding few hours this morning – on the way, Tealham/Tadham Moor a Kestrel eating a small Grass Snake on a gate post, several pairs of Stonechat, a late Whinchat, several Redwing, Linnets, Mipits and Skylarks, 3 GWE’s, and a dozen Little Egrets.
One the Farmland south of the Reserve and towards Godney well over a 100 Little Egrets in groups of varying sizes, about 100 Lapwing and a Pylon Peregrine.
The WeBS Count produced amongst other things :
Widgeon – 85
Gadwall – 207
Teal – 98
Goosander – 1 (female)
Pintail – 4 (all female)
Mallard – 81
Shoveler – 42
Tufted Duck – 1
Egyptian Goose – 6
Ruddy Shelduck – (male)
Coot - 32
Bittern – 1
Kingfisher – 1
The Egyptian Geese and Ruddy Shelduck flew in from the East in front of Island Hide at about 1120 and were later re-located by Jeff Hazell & Kay on London Drove Lake. First time a Ruddy Shelduck has been recorded at Westhay on a WeBS count.
There was a late party on 7 Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins feeding over the private fishing Lake and in front of Lake Hide at about 12 noon and later several more, (or the same) Swallows in front of the North Hide.
Although the Widgeon & Teal numbers seem small when compared with other sites on the Levels these are very high for Westhay this early in the season, usually less than 10 of both species, usually January before this many are present. Likewise Goosander and Pintail do not normally show up until January.
On the way home another treat in the form of a Red Kite overflying Littlemoor Farm on the outskirts of Mark, it was eating something on the wing with several attendant Crows mobbing and presumably trying to steal its meal. It eventually landed in a field, finished off the morsel then flew off in the general direction of Tealham.
Finally – report of a SE Owl at Catcott Lows this morning