The beginning of February has felt a little like the start of the breeding season at the lakes with many of ducks displaying, some birds starting to sing and others checking out nest sites.
On the lakes, look out for many ducks including shelduck, wigeon, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, teal, gadwall. Many of these display and pair up here before either nesting here or heading back to their summer home further north. Also on the lakes look out for snipe and lapwing.
Around the trails, our resident birds are thinking about the breeding season. Listen out for woodpeckers drumming and song thrush singing. Blue tits and great tits are also checking out nest sites. We also have quite a few siskin and some redpoll around at the moment.
Update on the 18th February
February has continued the way it began. Quite settled and mild for this time of year. Our resident birds continue to think about the breeding season with lots of singing birds and water birds displaying (like above),
Some birds have returned to the lakes a few weeks early with oystercatchers and great crested grebes being seen - these normally don't make an appearance until early March. Skylarks have also started singing over Sayer's Breck.
This past week we have seen our first butterfly of the week with brimstone on the wing during the warmest and sunniest of days.
Updated on the 3rd March
Well February did continue on the way it began - being very dry and sunny at times.
The last few days of March saw the arrival of a female pintail on the Eastern Lakes and finally brambling in front of the centre.