First signs of spring at the pits

 Goosander (Main Pit)

 Oystercatcher (Main Pit)

 Great Crested Grebe (main pit)

Lapwing on flash flood

Whist we haven't recorded any superstars at the pits the last couple of weeks has certainly given us more interest. 15 Goosander started February well whilst our first Oystercatcher returned on Monday 4th. Sunday 10th was a good morning with an adult Caspain & Greater Black-backed Gull both being recorded on the main pit. Our first Green Sandpiper was also noted on Pophills but there has been no sign since. 

The gull roosts are very unpredictable with as many as 400 gulls there on one night whilst the following  night there can be none. A male Tawny Owl was picked up by Mark on one of these evenings.

This Saturday I managed to add two new birds to our patch year list with a Kingfisher on the far lagoons and a Great Crested Grebe on the main pit. Other sighting from Saturday included 6 Little Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 9 Mute Swans, 364 Greylag, 74 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 95 Teal, 420 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 10 Pochard (14 Sunday), 71 Tufted Duck, 135 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 3 Oystercatcher (including a pair copulating), 4 Lapwing, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 LBBG, 2 Herring Gull, 600 Woodpigeon, 20 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 20 Redwing, 200 Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 3 Reed Bunting and 4 Bullfinch. 

I wrapped up the weekend by walking around the Wyre Forest with Mrs D where we had a fly past from a Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay and Crossbills mostly in flight.