Great walk along the River Yeo (Ivel) this morning, birds were all on the north side of the river. 9 shellduck on one of the few remaining flooded fields by the bridge at Long Load. Single whooper swan with a group of 8 mute swans 2 fields further down. Ringed Osprey sitting on a fence post a few fields further down (possibly partially “29” on a blue ring. At least 10 common cranes on Wet Moor itself one of which was almost certainly “Wiz” (have seen him several times with an unringed partner in recent weeks.

As the size of of the flooded fields reduce the numbers of ducks etc become evident. Plenty of Shoveler, Pintail, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal. A few Swans, Cormorants, Cranes, Lapwings, Dunlin, Tufted ducks, Great, Little and Cattle Egrets plus 2 very wet Roe Deer bucks. Most of the waterfowl is distant but given that water has been on this moor since Oct it clearly has become home to so many.

Trying to count the birds was near impossible in the hour that I was there today due to a hunting Peregrine and Marsh Harriers. However the Black-tailed Godwits were slightly easier to count as they flew around in a flock - My guess would be ~300. Recent visits to Greylake and West Sedge Moor have yielded very few ducks in comparison.