Jack frost

An icy wind has brought in the winter waders.  A further inspection of dung on Hempholme Meadows revealed a habitat first - jack snipe nearly trodden on by Martin Hodges.  A little later a common snipe was also flushed but unlike its cousin not waiting until the last possible second before flying - perhaps it was the same as which had flown over the car park calling that morning.  Whilst not recorded on the reserve, 2 woodcock on the trip home shows there must have been an influx over the previous night.

Another species enjoying the ever deepening pools of the meadow were the mute swans - 12 in number:

This buzzard was over the Hempholme Hide:

And Pete Drury recorded our old friend the 'osprey' on Thursday - a long term resident buzzard with a white underside, slatey back, and even grey eyestripe which has caught out many over the years.  A couple of marsh harriers over too in the week.

In the woodlands there are still masses of goldcrests 'wot you lookin' at?':

Likewise at least two jays there today - likely more - perhaps fighting over the acorn?  Lesser redpoll, siskin and willow tit all recorded too, with a blackcap seen a couple of times in the week.  Five crossbill were also in the reserve car park first thing this morning, and a nice bookend were five little egrets flying south at dusk logged by Jess.  Presumably these are flying in to roost at Watton NR?  The pits here have held two pink-footed geese and a peregrine in recent days.  Green sandpiper on South Marsh West today, and mediterranean gull on the D res roost.

 

   The otter walk today for the Robert Fuller Gallery turned up plenty of tracks and trails but predictably no sightings.  We did manage this water rail on the trail camera however: