An early-morning visit to Woolston Eyes with Owen Parsons and Dan Brown offered the promise of another highlight: a male Ferruginous Duck that had been present throughout the week. Opinion among local birders suggested this was likely the same returning individual that had wintered on the reserve the previous year.
We arrived at 8:30am, joining more than thirty birdwatchers spread across the reserve, all scanning diligently in the hope of relocating the bird. Despite sustained effort and plenty of collective experience on site, the duck failed to show during our visit.
While the headline species remained elusive, Woolston Eyes more than compensated. A circuit of the reserve revealed clear signs that spring had arrived. Chiffchaffs and Willow Tits were in full song, their calls carrying across the paths and lagoons, and a Common Toad was encountered crossing the footpath — a welcome reminder of the season’s wider natural rhythms.
One of the undoubted highlights was the return of one of my favourite species, the Black-necked Grebe. This elegant bird has become a regular breeder at the reserve, and no fewer than eleven individuals were present, offering excellent views and raising hopes for another successful breeding season.
Additional notable species recorded during the morning included:
Jay
Lapwing
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Brambling
Although the Ferruginous Duck remained stubbornly out of sight, it was nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable morning’s birding — a reminder that even when a target species fails to appear, time spent in a well-watched reserve at the turning of the seasons is rarely unrewarding.
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