With overnight temperatures dropping to -8 degrees the reservoir is now 90% frozen. The juvenile Glaucous Gull roosted again and showed very well from the Andrew Chappell hide from 4.30pm. An adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls also roosted. 8 Pintail (3 drakes) were at the west end also 15 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 22 Pochard and 12 GC Grebe were counted. The Little Egret was still present. A Water Rail was showing well from the Scott hide late afternoon, also a Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe and a Green Woodpecker were noted.

After more overnight sub zero temperatures it was no surprise to see the reservoir 40% frozen. This evening we were finally rewarded with a juvenile Glaucous Gull sat on the ice from 5.15pm. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 145 Tufted Duck, 19 Pochard, 2 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 236 Wigeon, 595 Teal and 9 Shoveler were counted. The Little Egret remains on the north shore and 4 Dunlin were at the west end.

The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also 2 Pintail, 3 Shelduck, 141 Wigeon, 100 Gadwall, 120 Tufted Duck, 8 Pochard 982 Coot, 240 Canada Geese, 148 Greylag Geese and 21 Mute Swan were counted. 3 Dunlin dropped in this afternoon. A Woodcock flew past the Scott hide at dusk. The Little Egret was still on the north shore. Another very large gull roost this evening with a constant stream of gulls flying in from the west. The hoped for Glaucous Gull that was at Priorslee, couldn’t be found and if it is roosting at Belvide, it’s coming in under the cover of darkness.

A female Red-breasted Merganser circled the reservoir a couple of times at 3.25pm before flying off to the west. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also 2 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 141 Wigeon and 7 GC Grebe were noted. The Little Egret remains on the north shore. An adult Peregrine was seen this afternoon. 12 probable Dunlin flew through at midday. Another large gull roost this evening but only 3 Yellow-legged Gulls were of note.

A reminder that there will be a work party this Sunday. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.

The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, favouring the north end of the dam off the fishing club car park. The Little Egret remains on the north shore also the Oystercatcher was still present. A Green Woodpecker was on the north shore this afternoon. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted but there was no sign of the anticipated Iceland Gull that was seen at Priorslee this afternoon.

The first Oystercatcher of the year dropped in this morning. The 1st winter drake Scaup was the only other bird of note.

A male Brambling at the woodland feeding station was the first of the year. 40+ Siskin were along the Gazebo bay. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 2 Shelduck, 134 Tufted Duck and 92 Gadwall were noted. The Little Egret remains on the north shore and a Green Sandpiper was on the dam wall. A 2nd winter and 4th winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. The Water Rail was seen briefly from the Scott hide this morning.

Don’t forget there is a work party tomorrow morning if you can lend a hand. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am.

The Little Egret was still present today, also seen were the 1st winter drake Scaup and an adult male Peregrine. A Water Rail was seen in front of the Scott hide early afternoon, 19 Pochard were present and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted.

The Little Egret was still present. 27 Golden Plover were at the west end. The gull roost held 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 2500 LBB Gulls and 20+ GBB Gulls.

Another reminder that there will be a work party this Sunday. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand. Wellingtons are recommended.

A smart adult male Caspian Gull (photo) was at the west end this afternoon and stayed to roost. This is the first record since November 2010. An adult Yellow-legged Gull also roosted. A pair of Pintail were new arrivals, the 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 2 Shelduck were noted. 925 Lapwing and 8 Golden Plover were at the west end.

The 1st winter Kittiwake was still present ranging from the Scott hide and dam. It appeared to be unwell. The 1st winter drake Scaup was again present also 2 Shelduck and 189 Greylag Geese were noted. The gull roost was hampered when a thick blanket of mist appeared. A single Yellow-legged Gull was the best on offer.

A notice to permit holders. There will be a work party this Sunday 29th Jan. Clearance of the Shingle Islands is on the agenda as the water level is rising rapidly. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.

A 1st winter Kittiwake roosted from 4.14pm and is the 3rd bird already this month. Also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults and a 2nd winter. The Little Egret remains on the north shore. 2 Water Rail were in front of the Scott hide. 2 Shelduck were noted.

The 1st winter drake Scaup reappeared again. The Little Egret was at the west end this morning, also a single adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Shelduck were noted.

The Little Egret was present this morning only. A large influx of Aythya ducks this morning with 245 Tufted Duck and 22 Pochard dropping in, 2 Shelduck and 162 Greylag Geese were noted.. An adult male Peregrine was present this afternoon. An adult and 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. A Woodcock flew over the Scott hide at dusk.

Due to the miserable conditions, I went up for the last hour for the gull roost after the rain had cleared. Another large roost including 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, 5000 LBB Gulls, 6 GBB Gulls and 86 Herring Gull. 28 Tufted Duck and 12 Pochard were also noted.

Another large gull roost this evening but only an adult Mediterranean Gull and 5 Yellow-legged Gulls were worthy of note. The Little Egret was again present and an immature Peregrine was seen this morning. 2 Shelduck were also present.

An impressive gull roost this evening with an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 5000 LBB Gulls, 9 GBB Gulls 50+ Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 6000 BH Gulls.The Little Egret was again on the north shore. A Green Sandpiper was along the spill weir this afternoon. Wigeon have increased to 156, also 2 Shelduck were present.

A 1st winter drake Scaup was new for the year and very likely to be the same bird that was present at the back end of last year. A single Meadow Pipit at the west end was also new for the year. The Little Egret was still on the north shore. A Green Sandpiper was seen by the west marsh, also 7 Snipe were noted. 6 Goosander dropped in late afternoon. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults and a 2nd winter.

An adult Whooper Swan was a new arrival. It was present until 3.50pm when it flew off north east. The Little Egret remains on the north shore. A small increase in wildfowl today with 138 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler 22 Pochard, 2 Goosander and 3 Shelduck noted. At least 12 Snipe were at the west end. An adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted. A Green Sandpiper was heard calling at dusk.

The highlight of today’s WeBS count were 13 White-fronted Geese (photo by Martin Oliver) that flew over high to the south west at 12.13pm. Also 5 Shelduck, 1 male Goosander, 410 Teal, 96 Wigeon, 93 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 187 Mallard, 16 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 113 Goldeneye, 11 GC Grebe, 835 Coot, 215 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag Geese, 21 Mute Swan and 4 Grey Heron. The Little Egret was on the north shore from 2pm. The Woodcock again flew over the spill weir at 5.05pm. The Little Owl was showing at box 86, also a Kingfisher and 4 Siskin were along the Gazebo bay.

The temperature at 0815 was reading -6 degrees. Overall pretty quiet. The Little Egret was still present. 12 Siskin (photo by Martyn Pitt) along the Gazebo bay was new for the year, also new was a Green Woodpecker and a Yellowhammer. A Water Rail was seen from the Scott hide. 4 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults, 4th winter and a 1st winter. The Little Owl; was showing at box 86.

The adult Mediterranaean Gull roosted again this evening. The Little Egret roosted in a willow Tree on the north side. 2 Shelduck and 5 Snipe were noted. The Woodcock flew over the spill weir at 5.06pm.

An adult Kittiwake dropped into the roost briefly, also 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. The Little Egret was at the west end. A Woodcock flew over the spill weir at 5.06pm. A single Golden Plover and immature Pergrine were noted. 3 Shelduck were present.

The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted also 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and a single Common Gull. The Little Egret remains on the north shore. 37 Pochard dropped in this afternoon, also 4 Shelduck, 82 Gadwall and 107 Wigeon were counted.

The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted again also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls including 1 adult and a sub adult. The Little Egret was on the north shore from late afternoon. 9 Golden Plover and 648 Lapwing were at the west end. Shelduck have increased to 4 also 14 GC Grebe were noted. 3 Willow Tit were near the Gazebo hide.