Linacre Reservoir - 6th February 2011

A blustery hour and a half walk around the reservoirs this morning produced one "first" for the year, namely Bullfinch and a great sight of 2 Cormorants, the second record this year. The Cormorants were perched on the raft on the top reservoir whilst the Bullfinch, a male, was sat calling quietly in a tree by the bottom reservoir.

Male Bullfinch

1 Goosander, a female, flew onto the middle reservoir, whilst other waterfowl were also present in average numbers; Mallard (53), Mandarin (18), Little Grebe (1), Coot (13), Moorhen (14), Tufted Duck (12), Grey Heron (1), and just a single Black-headed Gull!

Tufted Duck

Early signs of Spring were evident with Hazel catkins out and a few woodland birds e.g. Great Tit and Robin starting to sing.

Hazel catkins by the middle reservoir