On 2nd January the Great Northern Diver has a good right eye.
On 16th January, the diver looks like it has lost its right eye, although it could just be asleep? Seems to have moved on now, last seen on the reserve on Thursday 22nd January.
In the willows near the Pines, a couple of Firecrests were in the company of several Goldcrests and a couple of Chiffchaffs within a roving Tit flock.
The flock of Bewick's Swans remain on Walland Marsh with Nadine the neck-tagged female from north-east Europe.
A large flock of c.1,300 Fieldfare at Hawthorn Corner on Walland Marsh was an impressive recent surprise. Where did they come from? Another 200 flew up from around Coldharbour Farm.
Compared to the winter of 2024/2025 the number of Goldeneye on the reserve is far fewer this winter. The maximum I have seen is six.
Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Dengemarsh. After a gap of a couple of weeks, a flock appeared at Beaconsfield on Walland.
Always a treat to see, numbers of Jack Snipe being found on the reserve is less than last winter. Without thermal cameras it is likely that we wouldn't be finding them at all. The great aspect of looking for them with thermal cameras is that we don't flush them.
During the strong winds earlier in the month several hundred Lapwings attempted to roost on the islands at Burrowes Pit.
Never a common bird on the reserve, but recently there have been upto four Pintail making use of ARC and Burrowes Pits.
It can be difficult to record Snipe on the reserve but the islands at New Excavations have become a good place to see them. There are nine in this photo.
Snipe
On ARC, the anti-mammal fencing is used by resting duck as an anchor. Previously I have seen Wigeon making use of it and this time mostly Teal.
