Trip reports
Birdwalk at Fishers Green, Lee Valley, on 11th January 2009.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
The first was seen twice by one of the small group before the rest of us arrived, spotted in the area of the Bittern Hide, the second being seen from the Hide in the reeds close to it. Frustratingly, this was not seen by the party, although present in the Hide. We can therefore vouch for the fact that the elusive birds were present if, as is normal, you were in the right place at the right time!
The water fowl were concentrated in the open stretches of the lakes. The normal Mallard, Wigeon and Gadwall were joined by smaller numbers of Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted duck. Good views were had of a pair of Goosander and of two male and three female Red Breasted Mergansers. Great Crested grebe and Little Grebe were also present and two Smew were about, but not seen by us.
Mute Swan, Greylag and Canada geese. were joined by good numbers of Moorhen and Coot, in association with a Heron a Common Sandpiper and a small number of Cormorant.
Disappointingly, there was not a Finch to be seen and only two Reed Buntings were of any special note during our walk. The only raptor was a single Kestrel being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. Two Fieldfares were feeding with several Blackbirds and, as is usual here, a good population of Robins kept us under surveillance.
Our bird count was 31 and we all enjoyed the slow stroll through his very pleasant area in excellent viewing conditions.