Yesterday I was there and saw the following birds: 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwing, 3 Mute Swans, 14 Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 12 Tufted Ducks, 3 Shoveler, 35 Greylag Geese, 200 Black Headed Gulls, 3 Jackdaws, 1 Carrion Crow, 2 Stock Doves and 10 Coot.

Three Mute Swans was not good news for the male who thought he had bagged a wife, he was constantly trying to drive the incomer away.

Three Shoveler duck, however, I thought was good news. Shoveler lay in late March or early April and so it meant that we probably have a Shoveler on eggs somewhere nearby.

The Red Crested Pochard was on his own and so that could mean that his wife was sitting on eggs, there have certainly been pairs of Red Crested Pochard on the nature reserve for the past 3 or 4 weeks and I assumed that they had been looking for a nest site. The male swam close to the hide and I was able to get this photo of it. They really are colourful birds.

Our Nature Reserve is open to the public. For location details visit our Wildlife on the Farm page.