Warnham (8 January 2024)

Twenty one people came to Warnham Nature Reserve this time. It was much colder than last year’s visit plus we experienced several light snow showers.

Just a few days before our planned visit we’d wondered if we might have to cancel as the Reserve had been severely flooded by heavy rainfall but fortunately the water had receded in time.

The millpond was still very much in flood so there were not many ducks to be seen – Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot and a pair of Mute Swans.

Moving on to the Bullfinch Screen there were plenty of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinch and Redwing feeding. It was lovely to have close views of the Redwing as you can see from the photo.

It is the Woodpecker Hide where the action usually occurs and it certainly was today. Whilst watching the Coal Tits, Nuthatches, Robins, Siskin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Buntings and Pheasants to name but a few, a stunning male Bullfinch arrived and gave everyone wonderful views as it gorged on the plentiful food provided. We were also treated to visits to a feeder by a Marsh Tit, but it proved to be more of a challenge for the photographers. Marsh Tits don’t hang around on feeders – a grab and go bird!

Hard to drag ourselves away from the Hide but once a snow shower stopped we continued our walk around the Reserve.

We looked hard for any birds feeding high up in Alders hoping for Redpoll but today they eluded us. Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbird were feeding on ivy covered trees and Nuthatch were seen and heard.

A Grey Wagtail was seen busily feeding in one of the muddy flooded areas and as we wandered through the woodland area, Goldcrest were spotted high up. Care was taken walking on the boardwalks as they were quite slippery. It was clear that the flood waters had been rushing over them in previous days.

Heading towards the Visitor Centre to have lunch we stopped briefly at the feeding stations where there were several ‘plump’ squirrels. They clearly benefit from the food supply too.

Almost a year to the day, we’d enjoyed a sunny day and had sat outside having lunch lapping up the sun’s rays. This time we all crowded inside the café which was lovely and warm.

Some people left after lunch but others couldn’t resist another quick look at the feeders before heading off. Birds seen by a few but not by all of us included a pair of Bullfinches, Little Egret and a Little Grebe.
Final total for species seen or heard was 42.

by Sandra Hucks