Kicking Off

Sunday 2nd January

Highlight was probably on the East Warwick, where I saw a Redshank (someone else saw two), a male pintail (I guess the one that turned up in December) and two female Goosander. There was also a single female Wigeon on the Lockwood.

Along the No 1 channel I saw two Water Rail, which was a bit of a surprise and on No 5 there were four Shelduck and then 6 Ring-necked Parakeets in the trees by the houses at the south end.

A lot more Goldeneye present, I counted 12 on the Lockwood (just one male and, what I think was a juvenile), then a pair on the West Warwick and a female on No 5, so 15 in all. Counting up the Duck round the waters, I reckoned there were 150 Teal, 84 Gadwall and 45 Shoveler.

Continuing with Wader sightings; there was one Green Sandpiper in the channel NE of Lockwood, but then later two flew around over No 5, calling, so maybe three in total. Flushed one Snipe from the edge of West Warwick, and saw a Lapwing fly N over Low Maynard.

Also saw a Goldcrest in the bushes on the E side of No 1, a Redwing in the trees at Low Maynard, and saw two Skylark fly NW over East Warwick.

Pete L