Middleton Lakes

Friday 10th February 2011
The pools at the southern end of the reserve were all frozen but there were areas of ice free water at the northern end and on Dosthill N.R. My first circuit of the wetland trail produced very little There were a pair of Stonechat on posts along the main track, Great spot Woodpecker drumming and a Green Woodpecker calling. In the sheep field were about 20 Yellowhammers. From the feeding station a Raven could be seen and heard but that was about it. After a sausage and egg sandwich at the cafe it was back to work. The Raven was now being mobbed by a couple of Rooks as it attempted to overfly the Rookery. I teamed up with Geoff Williams briefly and we picked up the Pintail flying in and then out of the North pit. A couple of Little Egrets were seen and a Cetti's warbler heard, all at the North end. Roll on the Spring.