February 23rd.

A quick visit this morning, overcast damp south west breeze.
Viewed from the car park at 8-30, still 82 Wigeon feeding at the western end off the main pool, also 3 Goosanders (1 drake & 2 redheads), 15 Pochard and 12 cormorant. A grey Wagtail was in front of the car park along the shore, and 27 Fieldfare flew north east.
(S Seal).

February 22nd.

South west wind 4/5 , overcast but mild, 13-30 to 14-45.
The resent cold snap has braught a few more Wigeon back onto the reservoir with 82 feeding around the main pool . Other wildfowl numbers are down with just 18 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck,
45 Coot, 33 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 2 Greylag, 3 G C Grebe and 4 Little Grebe. A steady stroll around i saw very little, 3 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll were still feeding low down along the northern bank, also 4 Coal Tits and 3 Goldcrest and 7 L T Tits. Kingfisher again by the waterfall and Green Woodpecker feeding on the short grass at the back of the small pool, 2 Gt S Woodpeckers by the fishing cottage and a Mistle Thrush on the lawn. Along Bixhill Lane 144 Lapwing , 2 R L Partridge, 2 Song Thrush and a Linnet. By the Horse Paddocks a Tree Sparrow and 12 Chaffinch but no sign of any Redwing.
(S Seal).

Recent Highlights.

Some recent records from this small reservoir.
Apr 01......Red-necked Grebe .
Sept 02.....Spotted Redshank .
Apr 03......Little Gull (9x adults) , Sandwich Tern , Bar-tailed Godwit .
Sept 04.....Grey Plover .
Jan 05.......Water Pipit .
Feb 05......Whooper Swan (15x birds) .
Mar 05......Brent Goose .
Apr 05......Waxwing (58x birds) , Garganey (drake) .
May 05......Little Tern , Arctic Tern (140x birds) .
Oct 05.......Leach,s Petrel , Red-breasted Merganser .
Nov 05.....Grey Phalarope , Arctic Skua .
Apr 06......Common Scoter ( 8x birds) .
May 06.....Whimbrel .
Aug 06......Wood Sandpiper (2x birds) .
Sept 06.....Black-necked Grebe (2x birds) .
Dec 06......Leach,s Petrel .
Sept 07.....Grey Phalarope .
(S Seal).

February 17th.

Freezing conditions with overnight tempratures down to -7 the main pool was 95per cent frozen over, with the small pool completly frozen. Still a small group of 12 Wigeon feed around the small pool, and 18 Pochard and a pair of Goosanders found the only piece of water on the main pool. Two Snipe were between the two pools and 4 Grey Wagtails by the car park, along Bixell Lane 100+ Redwing and 1 Tree Sparrow around the horse paddock.
(BLK).

February 15th.

A stroll around the pond late afternoon, a cold north east breeze and overcast conditions, more like February now. Water levels are still dropping along with the duck numbers, Pochard down to 26 now but still 6 Wigeon hanging on. A Willow Tit was a nice find feeding around the main car park, and a Grey Wagtail along the shore. Wildfowl counts were 32 Tufted Duck, 63 Mallard, 67 Coot, 11 G C Grebe, 13 Little Grebe,and a female Ruddy Duck. Along the far side 15 Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls in the alders, along with 5 Goldcrest and 3 Coal Tit.A Buzzard drifted east/west and a Green Woody was around the small pool, 5 male Bullfinches along the stream and a Kingfisher by the waterfall, 3 Red-legged Partridges were along Bixell Lane also a Mistle Thrush and 12 Linnet.Around the horse paddocks were 2 Tree Sparrows, 14 Redwing and several Goldfinch and Chaffinch, good numbers of Gulls were flying in before i left mainly Black headed but 18 Common Gull and 47 L B B Gulls were noted, and just before dusk 16 Goosanders flew in from the west (4 males).
(S Seal).

February 13th.

Goosander (Redhead).....Photo (Midland Bird Images).

18 Goosanders came into roost this evening, 5 adult drakes, 2 sub-adult drakes and 11 redheads.
These birds feed during the day on the nearby rivers Tame and Blyth, and also can be found on Ladywalk NR, they then use Shustoke Res to roost. Goosanders are winter visitors to the regions larger lakes and reservoirs, and are very mobile frequently moving from one water to another. Numbers are greatest during hard weather, with influxes coming from the southern North Sea coasts, especially the Netherlands.
(S Seal).

February 10th.

Dunnock (Midland Bird Images).

Siskin (Midland Bird Images).

A late afternoon visit with clear skies and a warm day, is it realy February. Nothing different on the duck front still 35 Pochard and the 6 wigeon on the small pool, 2 Gt Spotted woodpeckers along the river, 18 Sikins still in the alders, a Grey Wagtail in front of the car park.The only other birds of note were 2 Tree Sparrows around the horse stables and 4 Red-legged Partridge along bixell lane, also 27 Redwing and 13 Fieldfare, 2 Buzzards and 7 Goosanders came into roost at 17-10 (3 males).
(S Seal).