Tuesday 26th March 2013

Today's sightings included the following;

Mute Swan - 3 on the River Stell and a pair on Alan's Pool.
Canada Geese - 78 on the A1 flashes with more at Low Hardwick.
Shelduck - a pair on Castle Lake and 3 more on Stoneybeck Lake.
Pintail - a pair on Castle Lake, later seen flying towards the A1 flashes (south).
Shoveler - a pair on the A1 flashes and a single drake on Castle Lake.
Pochard - apart from birds on Castle Lake and Stoneybeck Lake, four were also on Alan's Pool.
Goldeneye - five including one drake on Castle Lake.
Goosander - a pair flew onto Castle Lake late morning (pictured below).

Great Crested Grebe - at least three on Castle Lake.
Cormorant - one on Castle Lake.
Grey Heron - two were at the Moto-x pools, Low Hardwick.
Common Buzzard - two together at Low Hardwick.
Kestrel - one distant bird at Low Hardwick.
Oystercatcher - 23 were frequenting Castle Lake and the A1 flashes with two more at Stoneybeck Lake.
Golden Plover - a flock of 150 including many in summer plumage were in a field at Low Hardwick.

Lapwing - at least fifty at Castle Lake.
Snipe - two at Castle Lake.
Curlew - c150 moving between Castle Lake, the A1 flashes and Low Hardwick.
Redshank - 11 birds seen at various locations.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - one at Low Hardwick.
Meadow Pipit - birds starting to return to breeding areas with 5+ at Low Hardwick.

Fieldfare - 15 feeding near the Castle Lake hide and another six at Low Hardwick.