Welney Sightings - 30/12/2019
Due to high water levels on the Ouse Washes the largest number of birds to see are diving ducks in the day (including scaup) and swans from dusk. Lady Fen is providing the greater variety of birds, great views from the visitor centre.
The Ouse Washes are currently providing an essential role as a flood relief area. The high water levels on the reserve are protecting tens of thousands of hectares of farmland and thousands of homes in towns and villages, all along the River Great Ouse. The depth of the water on the reserve is resulting in fantastic numbers of diving ducks during the day - particularly pochard, with tufted ducks in amongst the flock. The swans that have been feeding out in the fields throughout the day are returning to the reserve at dusk, gliding down onto the water in front of the main hide. Good numbers of swans can be seen at the floodlit feeds on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lady Fen is providing a greater variety of birds, with the best views from the visitor centre and carpark. If you arrive before the centre opens at 10am, bring a hot drink and from the car park you can enjoy watching the swans flying out. During the day enjoy watching flocks of wigeon, lapwing and golden plover, as well as highlights including pintail, shoveler, teal, shelduck, great white egret.
Today's Sightings:
Bewick's swan
Whooper swan
Mute swan
Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Little grebe
Mallard
Scaup
Pintail
Pochard
Wigeon
Teal
Tufted duck
Greylag goose
Moorhen
Coot
Crane x16
Little egret
Redshank
Snipe
Lapwing
Golden plover
Goldcrest - car park
Reed bunting
Stonechat
Tree sparrow
House sparrow
Robin
Goldfinch
Blue tit
Blackbird
Collared dove
Wood pigeon
Magpie
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Barn owl
Short-eared owl
Kestrel
Buzzard
Marsh harrier
