Standingholme fields:
South Marsh East by HVWG:
Most of the reservoirs are now clear of ice though that didn’t stop the early gulls doing their best to command a piece of remaining ‘berg for the night. Watton has a small pool open which is now home again to the smew:
And some spectacular goldeneye:
This peregrine was watching proceedings from the pylon behind the pits:
With grey heron looking for some open water by HVWG yesterday:
Reed buntings are showing very well at the moment feeding on the reeds below South Marsh West ‘L’ hide:
And for HVWG:
Also on the marsh were 3 water rail squealing and a woodock. There are some great tracks to look at – this looked like a classic otter slide – but closer inspection revealed it was the fox that was having equal fun:
The snow is thawing fairly rapidly which must be welcome news for the barn owls:
A distant short eared was also over Struncheonhill too:
The feeders are a great place to pick up a variety of species – great spot:
Greenfinches still abundant here:
Long tailed tit and dunnock:
And I snapped these chaffinches:
…with a view a quip about there being no… but hang on... a winter mega appeared; brambling – extremely thin on the ground this winter – compared to a regular 27 last year. However I believe our flock of one still makes us one of the biggest in E Yorks!:
Rarer sighting for sighting than bittern, smew and cattle egret this year let alone run of the mill iceland and glaucous gulls… A trip to top up the D woods feeders revealed fieldfare:
And plenty of siskin:
By HVWG too:
And this is the key to tracking down chattering but easily overlooked lesser redpoll feeding on larch and alder cones - at least 6 today:
Richard Sears managed a little egret in the dyke near Angram Farm today – but there has been much conjecture on what has happened to the cattle egret in these conditions? – however a couple of our talented regulars managed this snap yesterday…
