Green Sandpiper spotted over the main lake
Also a Bittern on the N shore of the reservoir lagoon, watched from both Peacock Tower and Wildside Hide, and a Skylark in the Overflow Car Park
1 Green Sandpiper - flying high over main lake (12.50). May have dropped on to reserve.
1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon N shore
2 Water Pipit - marsh
1 Skylark - flew up out of overflow car park heading NW
17 Redwing - wildside, entrance area
80 Shoveler - site count
1 Chiffchaff - wildside
January bird highlights: Jack Snipe, Brent Goose, Bittern, Goldeneye, Yellow-legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Water Rail, Water Pipit, Siskin, Chiffchaff. Colour-ringed gulls recorded recently include a Norwegian Common Gull and a Danish Black-headed Gull.
Early flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Cowslip, Ragwort, Daisy, Winter Aconite, Snowdrop, Hazel, Primrose, Stinking Hellebore, Butcher's Broom, Gorse, Early Crocus.
Insects: (January) Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Red Admiral, Non-biting Midge species.