Reservoir Logs - April 2026 round-up

 

             The first Slavonian Grebe since 2018 was April's rarest sighting @samodonnell25.bsky.social

          Slavonian Grebe, Spoonbill and Little Terns were among the highlights of an excellent April. The month also saw Osprey, Garganey and Common Redstart, which hasn't been recorded for two years, added to the year list as well as most of the expected waders and summer visitors. 

                                 The Osprey, unusually, circled slowly over the Wetlands @Harringaybirder 

          In all,  97 species were seen across the month which was the same as last year. But with 24 additions to the year list, the running total of 123 is only bettered by 2018's remarkable and rarity-rich 126. Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe and Black Redstart are three of the likely birds still missing along with Hobby which should be seen in May. 

                        London's first Whinchat of the year graced the Wetlands @chris-farthing.bsky.social

                  

            After a near three month stay on its favoured bank at the north end of High Maynard, the White-fronted Geese finally discovered its migratory urges with the last sighting on April 24th. The first - and perhaps only - Garganey of the year was a female found by DaD on No 1 late on the 26th. More obliging and definitely more colourful was a stunning Slavonian Grebe in near full breeding plumage which spent all of the 13th on Lockwood.  It's the first at the Wetlands since another one-day bird in November 2018 which itself was the first for five years. 

                     The Slavonian Grebe hung around all day for its admirers @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

 

        Osprey is just about annual at the Wetlands but birds in Spring usually power their way north to get to their breeding grounds. This was not the case with the female found and photographed by PG on the 27th which circled leisurely over the reservoirs before moving south. 

                               Osprey getting the usual friendly Walthamstow welcome @Harringaybirder

       Red Kites were seen on at least six days, just like last year, but the six across the 26th was a high count. A Buzzard was also seen on the same day in good passage conditions with sightings on two more dates. A second Great White Egret of the year was seen on the 10th. Spoonbill remain scarce visitors at the Wetlands with the bird seen briefly by TR, PR and TG on the 28th around No 1 island the first since the astonishing flock of 11 in September 2023.  

                                      Oystercatchers were regular in April @samodonnell25.bsky.social

      Ten species of waders were seen across the month - the same as in both 2024 and 2025 - with Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover all new for the year. Oystercatchers were seen on the 8th and then regularly from the 20th with two on several days, suggesting they may be trying to breed nearby. The only Lapwing was seen on the 19th. 

               Ringed (above) and Little Ringed Plovers were on Lockwood @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       In recent years Little Ringed Plover seem to be getting scarcer and it has been the same again this Spring with just one brief sighting on Lockwood on the 11th. Lockwood also held a tamer Ringed Plover which stayed around for several hours on the 26th and the first of two Whimbrel on the 11th with a second flying over on the 22nd. 

                                 Three Dunlin braved the Sunday crowds @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social 

       Dunlin, usually one of commoner passage waders, were late this year but a flock of three turned up on the 26th to make up for the delay. Common Sandpiper passage continued throughout April, building to a peak count of 17 on the last day of the month.  The 30th also saw a Green Sandpiper on High Maynard with two more on Lockwood on the 22nd and one on the 27th. The only Redshank was one on the 7th which was one less sighting than Greenshank with records on both the 22nd and 30th. The surprise was that neither species of godwit has yet been seen with Bar-tails in particular turning up reliably in early Spring in recent years. 

    

               This breeding plumage Redshank was the only record @samodonnell25. bsky.social 

     

       An immature Yellow-legged Gull was seen on both the 10th and 11th The first Common Tern of the year was on the 12th - a day earlier than last year - with around a dozen back by the 21st.  Let's hope they have more success than last year's disastrous breeding season. Three Little Terns - the first  since 2021 - flew south through the reservoirs on the 25th while SD photographed two Black Terns flying high in the opposite direction next day. 

  

                                            Two Black Terns passed over high @samodonnell25.bsky.social

          A Cuckoo was heard by MLP and DiD on the early date of the 19th around the 123 reservoirs but seemed to pass through quickly, Swifts were also early with the first on the 11th - nine days before last year's first bird- with local birds screaming around the reservoirs from the 19th,  Just like last year, the first Swallow was seen on the 2nd with 20 feeding over the reservoirs on the 11th before continuing north. House Martins, which breed on the neighbouring filter beds, were two days later than last year with the first sighting on the 11th, 

                                   Swifts arrived back in numbers by the end of the month @MLP

       Willow Warbler passage continued in the first half of the month but, with largely fine conditions, numbers were not high. Our breeding warblers were remarkably consistent in their arrival dates withe the first Sedge Warbler on the 2nd (1st last year), Reed Warbler on the 7th (8th) and Common Whitethroat on the 8th, the same date as both 2025 & 2024. Only Lesser Whitethroat, four days earlier on the 18th, bucked the trend although GI picked up a very early for the reservoirs Garden Warbler which can take until the late summer to see some years. 

                      A sublime Whinchat posed for two days on West Warwick @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Common Redstart has become so scarce at the reservoirs - except for the unwary trusting Merlin to identify its call from Chaffinch - that the female found around No 5 by ML on the 23rd was the first since 2023.  There is no more beautiful British bird than a Spring male Whinchat so it was a delight that the bird found by CF on West Warwick, the first in London this year, on the 12th stayed for two days. A second made a much briefer stay on the same reservoir on the 27th. 

                                                  Wheatear passage was light @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       

          The dry, bright conditions were ideal for Wheatears to continue migrating without stopping which helps explain why four on the 18th was the highest daily count. But there was a better showing from Yellow Wagtails which perhaps may be more affected by the northerly winds. After the first on the 6th, ten days later than last year, birds were seen or heard on at least six days eight on the 25th the highest total.

 

 DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

March 2026 round-up

                               This Mediterranean Gull was one of 12 new birds for the year pic@samodonnell25.bsky.social       

        Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit and the continuing, and increasingly tame, White-fronted Goose were among the highlights of a pretty predictable March. Twelve species - without anything too out-of-the-ordinary - were added to the year list including the first summer visitors in Sand Martin, Wheatear and Willow Warbler. 

                           .................as were this pair of Red-crested Pochard @samodonnell25.bsky.social

            The additions also included Redshank and Oystercatcher which might normally have been expected before March as well as Avocet, which in recent years has become a regular visitor. Red-crested Pochard, Great White Egret, Rook and Mediterranean Gull, which are more irregular but usually annual, were also recorded. Across March 89 species were seen - three less than last year - while the annual total so far stands 99, the same as in 2024 but five behind 2025. 

   The White-fronted Goose showed no sign of wanting to leave for good@samodonnell25.bsky.social

      The Wetlands may have been one of the last sites to attract a visitor fron this winter's mini-invasion of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK but, unlike most which have already returned east, our immature seems in no hurry to depart. It remained faithful to the grass banks of Lockwood and High Maynard throughout the month and is now almost as tame as the accompanying Greylags and Canada Geese. The flock of Barnacle Geese also remain with at least two pairs continuing to show signs that they will attempt to breed. 

    

                           The long-staying Scaup finally left mid-March @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

       The same is true of Shelduck with several pairs around the site.  A pair of Red-crested Pochard joined the Sunday crowds on the 22nd. If the past is any guide, their one-day appearance may again be the only record of the year. The female Scaup stayed on West Warwick until at least the 20th. Having been found at the end of January, it is the longest stay by the species in recent years. The wintering Goldeneye may have departed as early as the 6th with just a one-day record, perhaps a bird passing through, on the 16th.  

                                                 Marsh Harrier over high in the gloom @samodonnell.bsky.social 

        March is always a good month for birds of prey and scarcer corvids. Single Red Kites were seen on five days with two on the 14th and 29th. Two Buzzards were also seen on the 26th with lone birds on three other days. SD picked up the first - and perhaps only - Marsh Harrier of the year on the 8th, the exact same day as he did in 2025. Jackdaws were regular while Rooks were seen on at least three days. 

                                             The second Curlew of the year was again on Lockwood @LolBodini

       The same consistency was also shown by Avocets wth five flying south on the 18th, the same date as the first sighting last year. They were among the seven wader species recorded with the first Redshank on the 6th and Oystercatcher on the 9th, both later than is often the case. The 9th also saw the only Green Sandpiper of the month while LB picked up the second Curlew of the year on Lockwood on the 25th.  Two Common Sandpipers were seen into April while the numbers of Common Snipe roosting on the East Warwick island dwindled away as the month went on.   

                                 Two Great White Egrets passed over high @samodonell25.bsky.social

           The only Mediterranean Gull of the year so far was an adult over Low Maynard on the 1st while the first two Great White Egrets flew through on the 22nd, three days earlier than the first record last year. Both species were picked up and photographed by SD. Little Egrets and particularly Grey Herons are already well into their breeding cycle. 

              Another indication that Spring has arrived is the appearance of the first summer visitors.  The first Sand Martins were seen on the 7th - three days earlier than last year - while the first Wheatear was on the 13th, eight days ahead of 2025, It can often be quite a wait for more to come but not this year with single Wheatears on the 16th, 25th, 26th and 30th and two on the 24th, 28th and 29th. 

              It was a good month for Wheatears at the Wetlands @sameodonnell25.bsky.social

        Blackcap song was a familiar sound by the end of the month but we had to wait until the 28th - three days later than last year - to hear the first Willow Warbler. A singing Siberian Chiffchaff was found by CF on the 22nd and remained until the 24th at least. The wintering pair of Firecrest stayed until the middle of the month. 

                 Single Skylarks passed through on the first and last day of the month while the first Rock Pipit made a brief appearance on the 7th. Both Redpoll and Siskin were more regular than is often the case with Redpoll recorded on at least three days and Siskin on six including a flock of 10 on the15th.

                                     A Redpoll showed well by the entrance pic @DD

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - February 2026 round-up

 

                The White-front spent early mornings around Lockwood pic @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social 

       A long-staying White-fronted Goose - the first to land at the Wetlands for five years - enlivened what was, as usual, a pretty dull month. February also saw the more expected Skylark, Buzzard, Wigeon and an early Curlew added to the year list while the Scaup and Firecrests continued their stays. Across February, 80 species were seen with the five additions taking the year list to 86 which, in a remarkable show of consistency, is one more than last year but one behind 2024. 

          Barnacle Geese look as if they may breed again pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

         

        The Barnacle Goose flock began to prepare for the breeding season with at least one pair showing interest again in the No 5 islands. It had looked as if the Wetlands was going to miss out on the big influx of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK this winter. The omission was put right when a 1W bird was found early on the 11th feeding on the grassy banks of Lockwood with Canada Geese and Greylags. It continued to be seen regularly but only early mornings always in the same area for the rest of the month,  

                   White-front showing small size and dainty pink bill pic@davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

      The first Wigeon of the year was picked out by FSJ flying over No 4/5 on the 20th. The 1W female Scaup remained all month at the south end of West Warwick. The highest daily count of Goldeneye crept up to four although more than four different birds were seen across the month. Just like January, there was only one record of Goosander although this time it was a female briefly over Lockwood on the 2nd. 

                                   The female Scaup with accompanying Tufted Ducks pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Single Red Kites were seen on three days with the first and sole Buzzard of the year so far on the 2nd. Four species of wader were recorded - one more than last year - but only the Curlew which came off Lockwood early on the 24th was at all unexpected. A single Lapwing was  seen on the 1st with a flock of five on both the 13th & 15th. Two Common Sandpipers remained all month largely on High Maynard while as many as six Common Snipe continued to roost inside the East Warwick island where the removal of vegetation has made viewing much easier than in the past.

                   

                  The East Warwick Snipe were not often as showy pic @MLP 

       The Wetland's breeding gulls were already back on territory by the end of the month with Lesser black-backed and Herring Gulls pairing up on the islands and dozens of Black-heads noisily staking claims on the Lockwood rafts. They again helped attract scarcer species with a Yellow-legged Gull on the 16th and a 1W Caspian Gull on the 23rd,. 

                                         East Warwick attracted this young Caspian Gull pic @AW

            Our celebrity Kingfishers are already showing signs of breeding as well with plenty of courtship chasing. There is no sign, however, of Ravens nesting in the immediate surroundings although a pair were seen on pylons just outside the Wetlands on several days but only early in the month. The odd Jackdaw was also seen passing over.  

       Skylarks bookended the month with the first of the year on the 1st and a second on the 28th. They are among the first signs that Spring migration is underway as is an increase in the number of Stonechats. The first passage birds away from West Warwick were seen on the 25th - a week later than the last two years - with at least five scattered around the site and six on the 27th. 

                    The Firecrest pair have spent the winter on West Warwick pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

        The wintering pair of Firecrests continued to be seen occasionally on West Warwick with what may have been a separate bird by the Engine House on the 21st. There was no pick up in the small number of wintering thrushes with just the odd Redwing and Fieldfare. A Redpoll on the 26th and 28th in silver birch around the main carpark.        

                           A single Redpoll was around the car park at the month’s end pic @SJN 

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - January 2026 round-up

 

                         Once regular, this Scaup was the first for two years pic @chris-farthing.bsky.social 

        A fly-over Great Northern Diver, Scaup and Woodcock were the highlights of the first month of 2026. After a determined team effort saw 66 species counted on New Year's Day, January’s total  reached 82 - two more than last year but one behind 2024. 

       The Barnacle Goose flock remained all month, roosting overnight on the south side and feeding largely on the playing fields. Shelduck continued to be slow to return but four birds were back by the 25th.   

                       The Scaup stuck to the south end of West Warwick pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

           The reservoirs were once a regular site in London for Scaup, helped by a drake which wintered on No 4 until 2023. But they have become much scarcer recently with a male for just two days in 2024 and no sightings at all last year. So the 1W female found by CF on the 30th on West Warwick was welcome particularly as it stayed into February. 

                          A trio of drake Goldeneye graced the Wetlands pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

          Goosander are also getting scarcer with the only record a brief visit by a drake to Lockwood on the 22nd while the peak count of Goldeneye was at most four on the 31st. When this monthly round-up began in 2017, the highest count for Goldeneye in January was 13 and six for Goosander.

   The first Great Northern Diver since 2024 sadly didn't stop pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

      A Great Northern Diver was watched and photographed by SD circling the Wetlands on the 25th.  It is only the second record since 2013 and was perhaps the winterer from KGV reservoirs five miles further north up the Lea Valley. Red Kites also drifted down the valley with singles on the 2nd and 10th. 

                          A cold snap saw a good passage of Lapwing  pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Five species of waders were seen including a good cold weather passage of Lapwing. Around 25 were counted in the 4th, 170 next day and still 87 on the 6th followed by singles on the 23rd & 29th. Having waited almost two years for a Woodcock, SD had the second in consecutive months at the south end of No 3 on the 11th although, unusually, it proved too fast for his camera trigger finger. 

      Up to six Common Snipe could be seen roosting in the 'doughnut' in the middle of East Warwick island across the month. At least two Common Sandpipers are wintering, mainly on High Maynard.  High water levels in the flood relief channel saw a Green Sandpiper again pushed onto Lockwood on the 10th.     

                                         A smart Caspian Gull was seen regularly early in January pic @MD 

      A 1W Caspian Gull was picked out by RE on High Maynard on the 2nd and was seen occasionally until the 16th. Two days later, a young Yellow-legged Gull was found on Lockwood. By the end of January, Black-headed Gulls were already gathering around the Lockwood rafts ready for the breeding season. Ravens, once almost mythical at the Wetlands, continue to make regular visits with a single over on the 8th and two on the 19th. 

       Another species becoming more regular, if very much on the opposite side of the size spectrum, is  Firecrest. A single was found by GJ at the south end of West Warwick on the 30th with two next day. They seem from the ringed male to be the same pair recorded in the same area in November. West Warwick was also the favourite haunt of up to three Stonechats. 

               Two Redpoll made brief appearances early in the month pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

      A female Blackcap , again likely to be the same bird seen last month, was around the car park boardwalk on the 2nd. Winter thrushes continue to be scarce although a flock of 20+ Redwing fed occasionally in the berry bushes by the Engine House and 17 Fieldfare passed over on the 25th. There were also a few records of winter finches with Redpoll on at least three days including one caught on the 19th and Siskins recorded occasionally in very small numbers including on the 1st, 6th and 10th.

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - December 2025 round-up

 

            These Bewick’s Swans were an early Xmas present pic @samodonell25.bsky.social 

      A Christmas Eve visit from two Bewick’s Swans -  the first record for 12 years - was the stand-out record of December. The month, which finished well after a very slow start, also saw two fly-over White-fronted Geese and the only Woodcock of the year as well as the re-appearance of the Ravens and unseasonal Little Gulls and Common Whitethroat. 

        In all, 81 species were seen across December, two less than in 2024. The three additions to the annual list means it finished on 148, again two short of  last year's record but still the second highest ever total. Scoter and Common Redstart - both for the second year running - Mandarin, Scaup, Short-eared Owl and Ring Ouzel were among the species missed which might have been expected. But there was plenty to enjoy in 2025 including Red-necked Grebe, Ruff, Honey-Buzzard, Hoopoe, Bittern and Yellow-browed Warbler along with successful breeding by Little Owls and remarkable passage of both Brent Geese and Bar-tailed Godwits. 

                   Two fly-over White-fronts were part of a mini-invasion pic @samodonell25.bsky.social

       Our flock of 14 Barnacle Geese continued to roost on the reservoirs and feed on the neighbouring playing fields. But they were eclipsed by two White-fronted Geese , well picked up by SD after they had been seen flying south high over at nearby KGV reservoirs on the 30th. They are the first record of White-fronts since 2020 when, during a similar influx from Europe, a single bird spent several weeks on the reservoirs.  

                              Bewick’s Swans flying in to  East Warwick pic@samodonnell25.bsky.social

       The White-fronts were part of a cold weather movement of wildfowl into the UK in late December which also saw an early Christmas present with the arrival of two Bewick’s Swans arrive on the 24th. They were watched flying in by SD mid-morning before landing on East Warwick where they stayed all day, drawing in a stream of birders to enjoy a true London rarity. They are the first at the Wetlands since 2013 and seem to be the first to have landed this century. Individual Bewick’s can be identified by the pattern of yellow on their bills so we know that they continued on to the WWT reserve at Slimbridge 120 miles to the west where they had arrived by Boxing Day. 

        Fewer Wigeon than usual were seen despite the cold weather pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

        By the end of December, several Shelduck might normally have been expected back at the Wetlands from their post-breeding moult but the only record was one on the 20th. Wigeon were also scarcer than usual, with just singles on the 23rd and 31st and a pair on the 30th. Goldeneye numbers, too, were down with two drakes on the 19th, 22nd and 27th the highest count. This was better than Goosander with no records at all over December when, even a decade ago, there would have been regular sightings across the month. 

          Goldeneye were also down but this drake was approachable pic @chris-farthing.bsky.social 

     Great White Egrets were seen early morning on the 27th and 29th, perhaps emerging from the Little Egret roost on the south side. The only Buzzard was on Christmas Eve although others were seen heading towards the Wetlands from Walthamstow Marsh. 

                 Up to three Snipe roosted in the East Warwick island pic @Ivorh.bsky.social

      Five species of waders were seen with the best a Woodcock which came off the grass side of Lockwood on the 12th, the only record of the year. Up to three Common Snipe were seen regularly in the East Warwick island while at least two - and perhaps three - Common Sandpiper are wintering at the Wetlands with a single Green Sandpiper seen on the 21st. The cold weather saw two Lapwing arrive on the 23rd before at least 100, including a flock of 66, passing over next day.  

            An adult Little Gull was a double bonus on Christmas Eve pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       In a remarkable co-incidence, a Little Gull which is normally a Spring bird was found for the second consecutive Christmas Eve at the Wetlands. As remarkable, it was being watched by SD when he saw the Bewick’s fly in, the second month in a row that two rarities were spotted by the same person from the same place at the same time following CF's Bittern/Yellow-browed Warbler double in November. More evidence of how far birds travel to the Wetlands came in a Common Gull rung in Bremen in Germany. 

        Ravens, whose regular appearances have been one of the highlights of the year, returned after an absence of a few weeks with a single on the 17th and a pair on both the 19th and 24th. Kingfishers continued to show well with many sightings on the Coppermill both north and south of the main road. 

                      A December Common Whitethroat is highly unusual pic @samodonnell.bsky.social

        There was a better showing than normal from warblers with a Common Whitethroat, the first winter record since 2012, photographed by SD on the 13th. Single Blackcaps, usually rare at the Wetlands in winter, were seen on the 11th and 30th and two on the 5th. 'Siberian' Chiffchaffs were also regular with two caught on the 3rd.  

         It continues to be a poor winter for Redwing and Fieldfare with numbers feeding on the berries remaining in the low single figures. Three Stonechats continue to winter, usually on West Warwick, while single Siskin were seen on the 6th and 14th with a pair of Redpoll at the Sensory Garden on the 24th. Up to six Reed Buntings could be seen feeding on the seed heads in No 1 reed bed on calm days throughout the month. 

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social

Reservoir Logs - November 2025 round-up

 

                                          The Bittern enjoying the sun after a freezing night pic @DD           

      November brought a showy Bittern , the first since 2012, the fourth ever Yellow-browed Warbler and a remarkable one-day passage of Brent Geese. Both the Bittern and Yellow-browed were found on the same morning from the same spot by the same observer - CF - to rescue what had been, up to then, a pretty dull month.  In all, 84 species were seen across November, four fewer than than last year while the two additions mean the annual total so far stands at 145 compared to 2024's record 147.   

                          The Yellow-browed remained into December pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social 

       Brent Goose are annual at the reservoirs but usually just single birds which drop in for a brief time during migration to rest. So the flocks picked up high going south down the Lea Valley on the 16th were very unusual. The first grouping of 70+ over the Wetlands were seen by LB to be followed by more following the same track over the next 90 minutes. As different flocks were seen by different observers, it is difficult to say the number of birds involved but it is possible that as many as 200 Brents passed over the reservoirs.  

                         Brent flocks headed south over the Wetlands pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social

       It was a slow month for ducks. A single Shelduck made a one-day appearance on the 19th. The young drake Goldeneye, which first arrived in late October, stayed around until the 8th but no others were seen. Goosander are no longer regular visitors with the only records on the 12th and 13th while, unusually, no Wigeon were seen at all. 

                                The Bittern put on a good show early morning @chris-farthing.bsky.social                                                               

       There have been plenty of discussions in recent years about the probability that Bittern - not seen since 2012 - are passing through the Wetlands undetected. Discussions always centred on the No 1 reedbed which is where CF was rewarded for regularly scanning the reeds when he found one sunning itself out in the open on the 21st. It caused considerable excitement among birders, LWT staff and visitors as it stayed in full view for a couple of hours before disappearing back into the reeds. It partially re-emerged in the late afternoon but was not seen again. Great White Egrets continued their late run with records on both the 8th and 18th. 

                  Two Great Egrets visited the reservoirs in November pic@ samodonnell25.bsky.social

       Only four species of waders were seen - three down on last year's total. The most unusual record was the second Grey Plover of the year which made a brief stop on High Maynard on the 19th during the cold snap. The same conditions also saw two additional Common Sandpipers join the wintering bird on the 17th & 18th  while as many as 34 Lapwing arrived the same morning as the Brent passage on the 16th. Pairs were also seen on the 17th, 21st and 27th with another on the 13th. Roosting Common Snipe were seen regularly in the pond in the middle of the East Warwick island across the month.

                                         Lapwing arrived during the cold snap pic@samodonnell25.bsky.social 

       Birds of prey, apart from regular appearances by the local Peregrines, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels, were scarce with just a single Buzzard on the 17th and Red Kite on the 28th.  A Rook, which remains very uncommon at the Wetlands, was seen by SD on the 21st while the largest number of Jackdaws was a flock of 25 going west on the 16th. Wood Pigeons also passed over in good numbers in the first half of the month with an estimated 1000+ going south on the 5th. Passage was also seen with Skylarks on the 8th, 9th and 12th. 

                    The Yellow-browed very occasionally showed well pic @samodonnell25@bsky.social 

        The first Yellow-browed Warbler was only seen at the Wetlands in October 2020 with just two more records, including one caught by the ringing team, last year. CF heard the fourth calling near the Dragonfly Pond on the 21st as he was watching the Bittern he had found just an hour before. Unlike the Bittern, the Yellow-browed was reported until the end of the month although remaining elusive and easier to hear than see. Two Firecrest were seen on the 1st including presumably a bird rung in October with a Siberian Chiffchaff the next day. Both male and female Blackcaps, which usually go missing in the winter months, were reported occasionally.

                                         Firecrest are becoming more regular pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social  

       Stonechats are again wintering with a maximum count of five on the 7th. Winter thrushes remain scarce. The odd one was seen bird feeding around the reservoirs but the highest count of Redwing was 15 on the 5th with 25 Fieldfare on the 22nd. Nor was it a particularly good month for winter finches with four Redpoll on the 10th and a single on the 16th with the only Siskin a fly-over on the 28th.  

DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social