interlopers!

present on site today, some welcome, some not . . .

the pair of little grebes are back, I assume it's the same two.
Here's one of them, they are staying close together compared to previous seasons.

there were about 10 collared doves on the feeder today, nothing else got near while they mobbed the perches.

one of the four ring-necked parakeets seen today, if this lot get a hold in the area, things may never be the same!

Let sleeping snakes lie..

I nearly stepped on this grass snake that was
basking in the morning sunshine on the entrance

drive. A group of ramblers arrived at the same

and were thrilled to share this sighting with us.

This must now be the most photographed snake

in England! It eventually became camera shy

and slithered slowly away into the adjacent grass.

Perhaps it had only just come out of hibernation

as this occurs in March/April?

Cold weather visitors

The continuing cold weather is making the Reserve more interesting for bird sightings every day. On Wednesday we had:
4 pairs of Gadwalls
I Tufted Duck - female
3 Shovelers -2 males and 1 female
1 pair of Teal
Bullfinches
Large flocks of Siskin
2 Red Kite flew over
Pair of Brambling