I arrived at Old Moor at 07.20 on Saturday morning, 4 Little Egrets left the roost between 07.25 & 07.45 and 40+ Goosanders were on the Wader Scrape before quickly departing. On the Mere were a pair of Goldeneye and a Great Crested Grebe, a Barn Owl was hunting on the Reedbeds.
After breakfast in the Old Moor Cafe I had a walk onto Bolton Ings, from the hide the Eastern Pool was 90% frozen over. On the small area of open water were 8 Goldeneye (1 drake, 1 imm drake and 6 females), 19 Common Gulls were stood on the ice and the pair of Stonechats were in the reeds.
Later on I visited the Reedbeds hoping to see/hear Bittern, no luck with the Bittern but did see 1 Water Rail and hear a further 2, in the Willows on the Willow Pool I could see 1 Cormorant and 2 Little Egrets.
This morning I arrived late on Bolton Ings (11.00 am) for the WeBS count, more ice than yesterday with a very small area of open water on the Eastern Pool, had a walk to the Western Pool which was about 80% ice. Highlights were few today with the icy conditions, only 2 Goldeneye and Shoveler down to just 2. Not surprisingly no Grebes and only 1 Pochard. At 13.15 I was alerted to c90 Pink Footed Geese flying North West. Full list :- Grey Heron 2, Mute Swan 8, Pink Footed Goose c90, Cormorant 1, Mallard 55, Teal 24, Gadwall 26, Shoveler 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 10, Goldeneye pair, Coot 52, Moorhen 1, Snipe 5, Black Headed Gull 242, Common Gull 29, Kestrel 1, Sparrowhawk 2, Green Woodpecker 2.
Back at Old Moor and sat in the sun on the cafe balcony having a cuppa with the "boys", 2 Buzzards were up over Bolton Tip and another 1 passed overhead.
Later on 46 Goosanders roosted on the Wader Scrape/Mere, 4 Cormorants and 1 Little Egret were in the Willows and 2 Barn Owls were hunting. A noticeable increase in Black Headed Gulls today and they have started their early spring routine of departing down river (to Lakeside?) rather than heading towards Wintersett.
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