95% of the main water bodies frozen over so the birds were concentrated in various ice free pockets around the Reserve. All the private lakes at Lewis drove were completely frozen over, not a single bird to be seen there ! Most of the Herons, Swans & Geese had been displaced to surrounding farmland.
Mute Swan 159
Canada Goose 84
Widgeon 220
Gadwall 250
Teal 20
Mallard 67
Shoveler 111
Tufted Duck 38
Goosander 1 (m)
Cormorant 14
GW Egret 4
Cattle Egret 46
Little Egret 11
Water Rail 5 (heard)
Moorhen 3
Coot 75
Lapwing 243
Snipe 30
Black headed Gull 93
Herring Gull 20
Not a single GC or Little Grebe seen or heard, presume they have evacuated to somewhere with liquid water. The lone male Goosander was occupying a small unfrozen pool on 10 acre lake opposite the entrance to the North Hide. The Snipe together with a few Lapwing were all feeding in the large field opposite Oaks Drove, only actually visible when they took flight after something spooked them.
A flock of Black Headed gulls feeding in a field off North Chine Drove included one in Summer plumage, sporting a complete hood !
No Redpolls, Siskins or Reed Buntings to be found, the only other interesting bird I did see was what I’m fairly sure was a Goshawk.
A quick scout around Tealham Moor on the way home didn’t produce anything particularly exciting but lots, (at least 8) overwintering Stonechats plus some Skylarks, Mipits and a Kingfisher near the North Drain.