It was WEBS count day today and a very wet one with heavy sleet/snow at times and much of the lakes surface covered in ice. Water levels were high on the lake and river with very little of the spit on the south lake actually showing above water. On the Spit there were 7 Lapwing, 8 Canada Geese, 24 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans and surprise Oystercatcher. Hopefully the Oyc is back to breed again this year. As I was checking out the spit a female Sparrowhawk flew past, braving the conditions.
On my way around the lake I flushed a couple of Meadow Pipits and a Snipe from the long grass between the lake and the river. A couple of Grey Herons were also on site as were around 13 Black-headed Gulls. Quite a few larger Gulls were seen passing over the site (SW) but visibility was too poor for any ID's. A third Mute Swan was seen on the north lake and 12 Fieldfare flushed from a river side bush at the north end of the site.
2 more Mute Swans were seen on the river along with a single Moorhen but, with the river in flood, conditions were unfavourable for much else. Some of the Mallard had moved from the lakes to the river and 11 Cormorants were seen to leave the river in a single group.
Another 2 Mute Swans passed over following the river north, but did not drop in. Then 19 Cormorants flew over following the river south, these almost certainly included the 14 seen earlier on the lake/river.
As the snow increased it was time to leave and get back home to the warm!
BTO Wetland Bird Survey Homepage
Box End Park
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