Although absolutely freezing today, generally the reserve has had a springlike feel at times over the last 2 weeks. Chaffinches, great tits, song thrushes, goldcrests and treecreepers, amongst others, have all been singing, and great spotted woodpeckers are drumming from the big oaks all over the site. Lapwings are not exactly displaying yet, but the males are already 'fronting-up' to each other in their usual pre-breeding season manner. The female peregrine is still present - on Saturday morning around 10am, I witnessed two dramatic but unsuccessful hunts launched from her favourite tree at the hanger. The first was an attempt to intercept a distant flock of teal that were heading in to the north brooks, and the second was a more typical low dash across the brooks to ambush a moorhen.
Crossbills continue their noisy presence on/over the heath - they seem to particularly favour the Corsican pines just south of 'the clump' and many have been heard singing in recent days. Up to 27 white-fronted geese and occasionally 1 pink-footed goose have been regularly using the brooks - they are often with large flocks of Canada and greylag geese. The water rail is still showing well from the main visitor centre window, and 2 firecrests are still present in the trees next to Fattengates courtyard.