A range of unfortunate events meant that on a cold February morning only three ornithology group members were free to travel to Staveley. The 19th of February started cold, dull and damp and whilst the temperature rose slightly during the day the dull and damp remained! Despite this we had a good day with nearly all the usual suspects seen! We had good views of Goldeneye, Teal, Lapwing, Shoveler, Gadwall, Little Egret and Shelduck and a fleeting glimpse of a Great Egret on the East Lagoon. On the return walk to the car park we had managed a total of 36 species and were still hoping to make it 40!
Marsh Tit
A magpie kindly gave us 37 and then as we turned onto the Willow Wood path, we had the great pleasure of seeing a Gold Crest, a Treecreeper and best of all a Marsh Tit! An inauspicious start had turned into good days ‘birding’ with 40 species seen.
Leader Cynthia Colley.
