Next stop the mere to try for some more flight shots and also to photograph some ducks doing their courtship displays. Whooper swan numbers were quite low. I expect they were out feeding in the fields as I think it is still too early for them to leave yet. Duck numbers were also low today and I think they may well be on the move. Counts of teal and pintail in particular where well down. Wigeon were the dominant duck around today alongside the shelduck. Shelducks were very vocal and were displaying aggressively with regular bouts of fighting breaking out amongst the males. Small numbers of gadwall and pochard were also seen as well as lapwings, cormorants, a grey heron and a single ringed plover. A hunting female sparrow hawk also put in an appearance scaring up the birds and making them very edgy indeed.

On the park there are many signs of spring breaking through. Small birds in the park included good numbers of chaffinch, goldfinch, robins, as well as gold crest and siskin which where calling very loudly from the alder trees they were feeding in.

On the park there are many signs of spring breaking through. Ducks are in their finest breeding plumage and several speies, including golden eye and marbled teal could be watched actively courting. I also saw one or two moorhens sat on nests though I don’t think any of them have eggs yet. I also kept a look out for any Hawaiian geese on nests as they are one of the earliest to raise their young and I saw them sitting in February last year but I didn’t spot any today. The cape barren goose female was sat on her nest with the male aggressively defending her. By early afternoon the winds were really biting and clouds were rolling in so I did not linger. Hopefully next time I visit spring will be in full swing.