The reserve was exceptionally busy yesterday; bright blue skies and sunshine all the way, although it was blustery and colder than of late. Our bird sightings have been fairly consistent over the Christmas and New Year period. The large flock of around 500 Fieldfares are still feeding on the meadow on Sandy Ridge, with starlings, redwings, mistle thrush and a few finches mixed in with them. Ravens and buzzards were both in the air and a couple of lesser redpoll's are using the niger feeders at the hide.On top of these birds,our regular array of Lodge goodies, goldcrest, great spotted and green woodpecker, jay, woodcock, sparrowhawk, kestrel and even a few fly-over lesser black back and herring gulls, made their way on to birders New Year lists over the break. We had a report of a red admiral in the gardens and several vistors are telling us about unseasonal plants they have in their gardens- I had a bumblebee in my garden on the 28th December!
A very Happy and healthy New Year to you from The Lodge.