Well, the flooding may have subsided and the Derwent is back in its banks, but there seemed to be no respite from the rain over a lunchtime visit. The Natural England end of the reserve still limited to the viewing platform only as the disturbance from the construction work continues. A scan from here revealed a single Stock Dove on its own, not associating with the sparse number of Woodpigeons around and a Little Gull in winter plumage, dwarfed by the LBB and BH around it. Plenty of Wigeon, Shoveler and Tufties, the odd Teal and Mute Swan to finish things off here. Some singing from the Dunnocks and some menace from the Magpies.
At the YWT site, I could finally drive into he car park after what must have been three months of flooding. Good to see a variety of birds on the newly drained grassland including Curlew, Lapwing, Carrion Crow and Pheasant. A scout about from the first hide revealed more Shoveler, a really good number in fact, probably more than 20. A few Tufties, several pairs of Teal, more Wigeon and a few pairs of Canada and Greylag, although no Egyptian today. Plenty of Coot and a few Mute Swans sleeping in the vegetation and that was about it on the water.
The riverside path and surrounding trees held Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin and that sure sign of spring, Chiffchaff! Get the sunscreen ready...
No comments:
Post a Comment