December WeBS count

Joined Greg Adams for the monthly WeBS count at Stithians this Saturday 6th Dec, accompanied also by Samuel Perfect. The weather was kind enough, although mostly overcast. We took our time, and enjoyed some good birds, although some were a bit (or very) distant, due at least in part to the shoreline being a long way out, especially from the main hide ...

Waterfowl/water birds  -

172 Canada Geese
75 Mallard
3 Pochard
6 Goldeneye
43 Tufted Duck
41 Wigeon
38 Little Grebe
1 Slavonian Grebe
14  Teal
27 Coot
1 Moorhen
1 Water Rail
4 Grey Heron
4 Little Egret
9 Snipe
28 Curlew
139 Lapwing
1 Golden Plover
221 Black-headed Gull
64 Herring Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
8 Common Gull
5 Mediterranean Gull
1 Kingfisher

Additionally -

2 Raven
2+ Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Reed Bunting
1 Chiffchaff
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

And at the feeders, species seen included-

Chaffinch
Blue tit
Great Tit
Dunnock
and Robin, in addition to the aforementioned Water Rail.

with other odd passerine/non-passerines seen throughout.

Mammalian highlight was a nice Red Fox, passing through the fields on the west side of the lake, seemingly leaving the Curlew it was passing through strangely unperturbed.

A couple of dog walkers walking the shoreline didn't enter the nature reserve, although their dogs did - including to fetch a ball thrown for them into the reserve, putting all the Lapwing and many of the other birds up.

Distant record shot of the Slavonian Grebe ...

Water Rail below the feeders.