A Late Winter Surprise

Highlights of the morning were a male Tufted Duck walking about on the Picnic Area with a pair of Mallard at 6am - don't see them out of the water too often! Yet another male Shelduck was on the lake near the Peninsula between 6am and 7am, but it could not be relocated after 7:30am. An odd looking Greylag Goose was amongst the flock - a larger domestic-type hybrid with a white blaze on its bill - similar to that on a White-fronted Goose. Several Chiffchaff were present, as was a singing male Blackcap between the Peninsula and Wooden Footbridge, and another Willow Warbler on the Railway Embankment near the Double Gates.

A male Reed Bunting was singing in the hedgerow at the entrance to Peninsula and attracted the attention of a female. A female and two male Bullfinch were also nearby. From the end of the Peninsula between one and four Snipe were seen lurking on the far bank, but were very elusive. A couple of Kingfisher were calling as they flew around the island to the north, and a Pied Wagtail was on Mud Island.

Heading back to the main site, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was in one of the oaks next to Broad Valley Stables. A male Kestrel was perched in a silver birch at the entrance to Bestwood Quarry, and flew off over the back of the hillside. The most surprising find of the morning was a rather late group of ten Lesser Redpoll feeding together as they moved through the silver birch plantation. I managed some great scope views, but only got poor record shots. Two Linnet were at the top of the hillside, as was a singing male Yellowhammer, and a Sparrowhawk flew over towards Bramley Wood.