Bolton Ings - New Years Day 2015

Although the temperature was 10c this morning the paths were still icy which made walking tricky, skies were cloudy but the weather was dry. The western pond was 90% frozen and the eastern pond 80% frozen at first but the wind increased and the ice retreated to 50% when I left. The new year got off to a good start with 14 Goldeneye (3 drakes, 2 imm drakes and 9 females) on the western pond along with a pair of Stonechats. A tight flock of Shoveler were feeding furiously and when I got the chance to count them there were 112, a great count. A Little Egret appeared and flew towards Old Moor. Full List :- Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 1, Cormorant 1, Mute Swan 15, Grey Lag Goose 3, Little Grebe 2, Mallard 40, Teal 7, Gadwall 5, Shoveler 112, Tufted Duck 9, Pochard 12, Goldeneye 14, Goosander 1, Coot 72, Moorhen 8, Lapwing 25, Black Headed Gull 158, Common Gull 34, LBB Gull 1, Herring Gull 5, Sparrowhawk 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Stonechat pair, Grey Wagtail 1, Fieldfare c100, Redwing c30.