5-11 January
Four Scaup are now present on the reservoir, showing either in the vicinity of Savages Creek or on the opposite side of the water off the lagoons. They occasionally mix with the Aythya flock in Valley Creek. The first Brambling of the year was at Hill Farm on 10 January, a leftover from last year. Up to four Mandarin have added a splash of colour to proceedings, usually hanging about in Dudney Creek. A pair bred locally last year, and the increase to four is probably a result of that. Diving duck numbers are still pretty good, though Goldeneye are decreasing, and Goosander have barely reached half a dozen.
Several Bar-tailed Godwits were a fantastic find by Colin Addington on 9 January, but they unfortunately flew off. There are at least three Dunlin on site, along with small numbers of Redshank.
Late news from New Years Eve is that the Bearded Tit which had been heard in the lagoons earlier in the month had made a re-appearance, so it will be worth looking out for.
4 January
The Gull roost contained 6 Little Gulls ( 5 x adults 1 x 2CY) 12000+ Black-headed Gulls (including one albino), adult Mediterranean Gull, 5000+ Common Gulls, 100+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 400+ Herring Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 200+ Great Black-backed Gulls, also 8 Goosander (5 males). (All sightings Steve Cooper)1-2 January
The year started quietly, with numbers of Aythya ducks down from the end of last year, though 443 Pochard is still a good count. At least one Scaup , an immature female, is still on the reservoir. There has been up to three Scaup present in recent weeks, with two adult females accompanying the younger bird. The bird present was seen off Savages Hide in the northwestern corner of the reservoir.
6 Pintail were new for the winter, along with 4 Goosander, 4 Mandarin, a single Chiffchaff and a Buzzard. (All sightings Mark Hawkes and Mark Piercey).
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