Bittern bonanza in the morning sun
2 Bittern showing very well this frosty morning on the main lake and the reservoir lagoon.
2 Bittern - main lake N shore (WWF/Dulverton Hides), reservoir lagoon (Peacock Tower)
5 Pintail - wader scrape, main lake, sheltered lagoon
4 Snipe - grazing marsh
1 Water pipit - grazing marsh
1 Kestrel - high over the South route
3 Shelduck - actively displaying over main lake, wader scrape, grazing marsh
January bird highlights: Jack Snipe, Brent Goose, Bittern, Goldeneye, Yellow-legged Gull, Water Rail, Water Pipit, Siskin, Chiffchaff. Colour-ringed gulls recorded recently include a Norwegian Common Gull and a Danish Black-headed Gull.
Amphibians: Smooth Newt found on 20th December (not usually seen until the spring).
Early flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Cowslip, Ragwort, Daisy, Winter Aconite, Snowdrop, Hazel.
Insects: Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Red Admiral.