A brief visit today. George was on duty in reception, and gratefully accepted the several newspapers I had taken with me. He told me that Ian was out with a group at the Ousefleet end of the reserve, so I decided to start at the other end.
First and Townend lagoons were still frozen, but Singleton was ice free, 2 mute swans, 25 mallards, 20 gadwall and three tufted ducks were on the water feeding. A couple of marsh harriers flew over.
As I walked towards Reedling hide I could hear bearded tits "pinging" and just after passing the footpath crossroads I saw two in the bottom of the reeds. From Reedling hide I could see more ducks and a group of snipe.
A marsh harrier flew over, but they did not move.
Marshland lagoon had no birds on it at all, even though about half of the water is ice free. I could see a barn owl in the box. I walked along the path to Ousefleet and on the way could hear the noise of pink footed geese. I stopped at the 5 bar gate and looked across the grazing marsh. A flock of about 20 fieldfares were busily looking for food in the short grass.
In the pony enclosure were several greylag geese and a single pink footed goose. A little further to its left was a single barnacle goose.
Then I heard the noise of the pink feet as they took to the air.
I though that a peregrine may have disturbed them, but then I saw a couple walking their dog.
From Ousefleet hide I saw 17 shelducks.
I went back to reception and told George about the barnacle goose. As we were chatting we both saw a Merlin fly along the ditch in front of reception. As I passed the bird feeder I saw my first tree sparrows of the year. A pleasant couple of hours and 5 new birds on my year list.
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