It’s been a while since I have visited Witches Oak, having last visited on bat surveys, it was nice to walk round the site in daylight. It started as a cool sunny morning but clouded over as time went on. 8 degrees with a very slight breeze. First indications were that bird numbers had increased since I last visited during early summer although they were very flighty. Whilst counting on Lake 12 the Great White Egret emerged from the Reeds. Although I tried to get closer for a good photo the flighty ducks startled it and it took off
Bird Count for Phase II only as follows: 70 Coot. 140 Tufted duck. 35 Teal. 6 Gadwall. 16 Canada Geese. 15 Shoveler. 50 widgeon. 5 Great crested grebe (2 of which looked like juveniles) 4 Little Grebe. 1 Water Rail. 47 Lapwing. 2 Moorhen. 4 Grey Heron. 4 Cormorant. 1 Snipe. 1 Kingfisher. 1 Great White Egret. 20 Black headed gull. 2 Mute swan. 3 Goosander (2 on meander on river) other birds heard/sighted blackbird, redwings. Blue Tit, Long tail tit families, Reed buntings. 3 Cetti's calling