Monday sightings

Pete Lambert wrote today:

Disturbed a green woodpecker from the edge of the east channel at WM East as I arrived today. It flew into trees at WM East. Four gadwall in the channel north of the East Bridge, 3 males, one female. Walking along by the West channel, again heard ‘gip’ calls that sounded like water rail but didn’t see it. 2 redwings high W calling as I waited for a glimpse of the water rail. Sparrowhawk west over Lee Navigation as I walked down the towpath and 2 egyptian geese at the Centre (Droopy pair).

Nothing much on Clendish Marsh but 7 siskins flew NE at 08.47 calling, then 3 fieldfares went high W -without calling. Reached WM West where there was a grey wagtail on the concrete in Pymmes Brook by the path to Northumberland Park Station. Stopped there as I heard longtailed tits calling – found a goldcrest there and heard a chiffchaff calling behind me, but then heard a bullfinch calling from the trees at the channel. It flew up and went north a little way – a female bullfinch – but then flew off E still calling. Given the few records we get here, it’s likely this is the same female seen first just over a week ago.

Walking S from the Chalk Bridge I saw 3 little grebes on the Navigation and 2 in the channel as well. A single reed bunting flew NE calling over WMEast as I left – don’t seem to be many of these around at the moment on the Marsh. Finally as I walked out to Blackhorse Lane, a female goosander flew S by the side of the Lockwood Reservoir and came down at High Maynard Reservoir.

DMC