First Ringing Recovery

A nice early visit to the Mill Lakes this morning produced a few winter visitors still about with two Teal, three Pochard, a small Siskin flock, and three or four Lesser Redpoll at the entrance to the Peninsula. Also present were a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, three Cormorant in the usual tree, including one juvenile, and a single Grey Heron. A Water Rail was seen from the end of the Peninsula running across Grassy Bank into the reeds. It was still present an hour later, when it showed well whilst preening itself for a few minutes. At least six Common Snipe were on Mud Island, and a BTO ringed Coot was photographed feeding on the Peninsula. Details from the ring recovery scheme revealed that it was a female that had been ringed in 2000 when it hatched at the Mill Lakes.

Also of note were three established Song Thrush territories, a pair of Mistle Thrush on the Mill Lakes Picnic Area, a pair of Bullfinch along the Sustrans path, and two "singing" Jay at Bestwood Quarry.