Mild, cloudy, light airs - Perfect weather for counting birds, being calm and dry with good light. The monthly WeBS count at Lade and Kerton wetlands produced low numbers of ducks now that Friday`s flock of c400 Teal had moved on. The highlights were five Goldeneyes and a single drake Pintail, while only Pochard, Tufted Duck and Coot reached three figures. Also noted two Buzzards, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and several Meadow Pipits. Called in at the reserve where the Boulderwall fields held the usual feral geese but little else. However, Burrowes was stacked out with large gulls, Cormorants, common ducks (including two Goldeneyes and four Pintails) and Lapwings, plus the wintering Great Northern Diver in front of Coward hide, two Kingfishers and at least five Great White Egrets scattered around the margins. At Cockles Bridge the field opposite hosted the regular pair of Whooper Swans amongst the Mutes.
This afternoon I joined Chris for the harrier count out on Walland Marsh where 16 Marsh Harriers came to roost along with a stunning adult male Hen Harrier. Also noted from our watchpoint: c100 Fieldfares, 57 Corn Buntings, 50 Linnets, hundreds of flighty Lapwings, 10 Snipe, two Buzzards, three Kestrels and several calling Golden Plovers, Water Rails and Cetti`s Warblers. On the walk back to the car in the dark the Bewick`s Swan flock left Midley, wooping loudly, as they flew to roost on the reservoir
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