Did the WeBS today – didn’t see the Ferruginous Duck but spoke to others who had earlier in the morning, apparently showing on and off in the far SW corner of 20 acre lake. This is the first of its kind at Westhay (on a WebS count day) since the WeBS started. Unsurprisingly most duck numbers down, still 60 Widgeon lingering and 8 Teal (all in front of Viridor) hopefully these are staying to breed. For the second month in a row 6 Pochard, this is good news as in recent years they are not usually present here in the breeding season.
The pair of Egyptian Geese are still around favouring the private Pond on the south side of Westhay Moor Drove between Oaks & Lewis Drove, this morning they were loafing on the East Bank.
90 Cattle Egrets in total. At 1015hrs, 76 of these were in a field holding a herd of black cattle to the south of Tripps Drove on Godney Moor, about 2 miles east of Westhay Moor reserve. At about 1130hrs the same flock flew in to rest in the Scots Pine trees behind the largest of the three lakes on the west side of Lewis Drove.
There was a strong boomer somewhere out in front of the North Hide, (continued booming throughout the midday period) and 3 different Marsh Harriers, two of which were females.
It seems the full contingent of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs & Willow Warblers are already back on territory. I heard 3 Willow Warblers and didn’t attempt to count the Blackcaps and Chiffs. There were also two Reed Warblers “new in” and singing in close proximity to one another on the east side of London Drove.
Finally lots of Peacocks on the wing, a couple of Brimstones and my first Orange Tip of the year on London Drove. 

I did the count yesterday – a bit of an Egret fest, the flooded wet meadows and pasture land were to the liking of the Little & Great Whites’ with record counts of 38 & 23 respectively, the 142 Cattle Egrets favouring several dryer locations.
Most duck numbers down from last month, Widgeon at 359 down from 564, Shoveler 29, (44), Teal 20, (29) Gadwall 75, (130) and Tufted 21, (88), however there were 6 Pochard dotted around, usually zero or ones & twos.
There were 16 GC Grebes, seemingly one pair to each significant water body. The only other interest being the pair of Egyptian Geese which have been around on and off throughout the winter and likely a new breeding species in the near future.   

I did the WeBS today (15/01). Very High Counts of several Duck Species by Westhay Standards, (but no Pintail). The Four Glossy Ibis were on their own, close to the road, in the field on the south side of Westhay Moor Drove just to the East of the junction of Lewis Drove. There was a female Goldeneye associating with a dozen Tufties on the small Lake, south side of Westhay Moor Drove, between Lewis Drove and the Reserve car park. Five Goosander on 20 acre Lake, 3 girls, two boys. Could “only” find 214 Cattle Egrets, they were well scattered around, 104 on various fields out on Godney Moor. I counted about 175 distant Golden Plover feeding with Fieldfare and circa 400 Lapwing in several fields to the South of the Reserve. The “Pylon Peregrine” was at home but not hungry, it would have been helpful for counting if it had engaged in a bit of Lapwing/Golden Plover stirring whilst I was around but it didn’t. 
Heard but didn’t see Beardies on London Drove where there were also 3 or 4 Siskin feeding in the Alders at the North end. There were a lot of Goldcrest and Chiffchaffs about, particularly on the path between Viridor Hide and London Drove where I also saw a Tree Creeper.
Scores were :
Canada Goose 106
Greylag 20
Mute Swan 186
Shoveler 266
Gadwall 421
Widgeon 620
Mallard 72
Teal 72
Tufted Duck 63
Goldeneye 1
Goosander 5
Water Rail 5
Moorhen 3
Little Grebe 4
GC Grebe 7
Lapwing 400+
Golden Plover 175+
Cormorant 20
Cattle Egret 214 (inc Godney Moor)
Grey Heron 4
GW Egret 5 (all within 50m of the North Drain)
Little Egret 3
Glossy Ibis 4