Nothing better than a beautiful day on my favourite local reserve. The marshes were showing well today with lots of birds, despite it being mainly frozen. Star birds were the BEAN GEESE on the summer flood mixed in with a large flock of GREYLAG and BARNACLE GEESE, as well as two WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. I'm not sure how many were present as I didn't have my scope with me but there were at least three. These birds are extremely rare winter visitors with only two regular wintering grounds in the UK (the nearest to here is in the Norfolk Broads). It's been a long time since I've seen any, the last time at Tophill Low, when I lived in Hull.
There were good amounts of water on the reserve but it was mainly frozen, with both the Reservoir and the Winter Flood both frozen over. The permanent lagoon had unfrozen areas and attracted maybe a thousand birds all mainly asleep on the islands.
Today I arrived by train, then a half hour walk to the marshes reserve, along the river wall, passed the Managed Retreat until the path arrives at Loompit Lake before heading back to the station, the route a rough circle, that's about six miles long, although the last bit's a bit boring as it is mainly farmland.
Loompit Lake was also frozen over apart from the northern, area, which the cormorants use, and attracted the normal lake birds there (COOT, TUFTED DUCK, etc.).
The river Orwell, was unfrozen, and as a result attracted waders, at a low density, but considering the extent of the mudflats meant there were lots of birds in total. There were good numbers of BRENT GEESE; REDSHANK were the commonest waders, but there were good numbers of other birds.
Smaller birds included a pair of BULLFINCHES on the approach to Trimley Marshes, and another towards Loompit Lake. A ROCK PIPIT was on the river wall, and a STONECHAT along the Managed Retreat. A cheeky LITTLE OWL was also seen by the Managed Retreat, seen in flight.
So, all in all a good day, saw as much as I expected to see and rewarded with some decent sightings.
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