If you visited Brent Reservoir on 28th February 1956, you probably would have seen 144 smew. Today seeing one very smart male smew on Heronry South on Paxton Pits Nature Reserve made me very chuffed. It was even better as it counted towards the last water bird count (WEBs) for this season. The bird is now counted as a scarce visitor to Britain. During the festive period at the end of 2023, it was estimated that as few as 58 individuals were present, which is less than half of the population estimation of 130 in 2019.
Other notable birds on the WEBs count was a scaup on Diddington Pit, 3 goosanders on Island South and an avocet on Washout Pit.
I remarked, as we walked around counting birds, how smart the birds are looking. The green in the mallards seem to glisten in the steady rain. The blue of the kingfisher stood out as well as it flew up Heronry North. Also, there were plenty of geese around including an Egyptian goose. A bird that I cannot decide whether it looks smarter in breeding plumage or not is the cormorant with its greyish white neck feathers. They look as if breeding has aged them! The latest count of 20 nests is very disappointing in the trees of heronry South. Is this because of Avian flu? If it is, let’s hope they have a good breeding year.
The sounds of spring are with us. The oystercatchers are back “peeping” overhead. The song thrushes that disappeared are thrashing out their repeating song. There are certainly lots of great and blue tits around as well.
The lower meadow behind the Visitor Centre stays flooded, which is useful in several respects. The new hedge, we planted recently, will not need watering and it has been attracting all sorts of birds including one of my favourite birds, the shoveler. I think they are quite comical as they follow each other round in a circle drawing up their food from below. The hedge should look very pretty in the years to come with 9 different native species in it, such as bird cherry, spindle and hazel.
On sunnier days the insects are starting to emerge. Brimstone butterflies are on the wing. It is worth a look at Grainne’s mound to see if any early mining bees are flying. Also look out for bee-flies. I haven’s seen one yet. Have you?
It is also soon the season of dragonflies and damselflies. I look forward to my first large red damselfly or will the Hairy dragonfly be that extra early? Nature does keep us guessing. That is part of the fun of it.
Best wishes
Ann Thomas
P.s. Answers for my last blog- chiffchaff has the top number of breeding territories on the reserve (2023), whereas 20 years ago it was the chaffinch.