Record Cormorant numbers and first Pied Wagtail of 2014

No ringing on Sunday, so instead, I went for a quick walk around Linacre. Nothing stunning to report, but numbers of water birds had started to pick up and included a new record number of Cormorants and my first Pied Wagtail of 2014.

I started my walk at the bottom reservoir, where I spotted a solitary Grey Heron fishing on the south side of the water. There were also a few Tufted Ducks, and a couple of Mallards. The first of 2 Grey Wagtails also flew over.

Arriving at the middle reservoir the bird numbers started to increase, and included a flock of 20+ Mallards. By the end of the morning I had counted a total of 76 Mallards, which is pretty good going for this time of the year.  Coots and Moorhens were in good numbers too, with 12 and 9 respectively.

16 Mandarin Ducks made an appearance on the top reservoir, along with 8 Cormorants, which included 7 juvenile birds. This is the highest ever count since my recording began in 2006. Also here, was the first Pied Wagtail of the year, and a few more "Tufties", taking the day's total to 14.

Gulls don't normally arrive at Linacre until October, so 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over to the North was noteworthy.

The woodland was quiet, except for several singing Robins and Wrens, and a lovely mixed tit flock made up of Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits.