A cold spell through December brought sub zero temperatures, mainly through the night, with some frosty mornings and clear blue skies. The end of the month brought some misty mornings and a bit of rain.
The cold days brought more birds onto the garden feeders, with the Grey Wagtail a daily visitor, sometimes up to three times a day.
My birding has been confined to Moor Green Lakes owing to other commitments, but nonetheless there have been some good counts of certain species.
On the 8th, twelve Greylag Geese, six Mandarin Duck (3 male, 3 female), and twenty Fieldfare were seen.
On the 16th, seven Redwing, twenty Siskin (some males looking in top condition), thirty three Snipe at East Fen marsh, although the water levels remain high. Three hundred and forty Lapwing were flocked together, resting at the gravel bank, a very good count for this time of year, forty three Common Gull were resting and preening together at the main lake and forty Pied Wagtail were at the sewage farm, foraging for small flies, which included two Grey Wagtails.
Unfortunately as yet, there is still no sign of either the male Goldeneye and male and female Smew returning to the lakes, but there is still time yet, fingers crossed.
Lastly, for those that celebrate it, I wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.
The cold days brought more birds onto the garden feeders, with the Grey Wagtail a daily visitor, sometimes up to three times a day.
My birding has been confined to Moor Green Lakes owing to other commitments, but nonetheless there have been some good counts of certain species.
On the 8th, twelve Greylag Geese, six Mandarin Duck (3 male, 3 female), and twenty Fieldfare were seen.
On the 16th, seven Redwing, twenty Siskin (some males looking in top condition), thirty three Snipe at East Fen marsh, although the water levels remain high. Three hundred and forty Lapwing were flocked together, resting at the gravel bank, a very good count for this time of year, forty three Common Gull were resting and preening together at the main lake and forty Pied Wagtail were at the sewage farm, foraging for small flies, which included two Grey Wagtails.
Unfortunately as yet, there is still no sign of either the male Goldeneye and male and female Smew returning to the lakes, but there is still time yet, fingers crossed.
Lastly, for those that celebrate it, I wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.
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