Wettest Winter on Record

Well the wettest winter on record has severely curtailed my birding,as I think its stupid getting
soaking wet with a dodgy knee. Just a few visits to Maple Lodge and Stockers Lake with my old
mate Paul Lewis.

The Cackling Goose has been present on and off over the last 2 months,also a Bittern has
showed to some briefly.However I have been priveliged to see Water Rail on two occasions.

Here's the rail channel not not HS2 ,it can be good for Bittern and Water Rail.
Meanwhile Stockers has produced distant Little Owl and a variety of duck,but
not I hasten to add the numbers and variety produced in colder winters.

A single female Goldeneye distant in good light from the Shoveler hide on Stockers
also a number of Gadwall including a superb male.

Walking between Bury GP and Stockers produced Great Crested Grebes at close quarters.

Just off the path a Little Egret hunts the flooded meadows for food in a corner of the lake.

Finally back to Maple Lodge yesterday I thought Spring had sprung when numbers of
Snow  drops sparkled in the afternoon sunshine.

Lewis and I spent some time in the Rotunda hide and saw Water Rail and a number
of Reed buntings also the explosive call of Cetti's Warbler was close.

Today Moor Park golf course was closed but not to 200 fieldfare 50 Redwing 2 Egyptian geese
and overhead four Whooper Swans and finally the regular Ring necks.