15th February 2009 [Reg The Birder]

I also visited the lakes on Sunday 15 February 2009, arriving at Terry's Pool at around 9:15am having made my way through a very muddy New Fallings Coppice. Terry's Pool held one grey heron, plus some long-tailed tit, a song thrush, several mallard, one male goosander and three tufted duck. A few black-headed gulls perched on the ice were checked for scarcer species to no avail.

Two greenfinches were noted in the trees that divide Terry's Pool and Engine Pool, and a cormorant flew over. Seconds later, a flock of about half a dozen small birds headed northwest from the approximate direction of Windmill Pool. At least one of the birds was a siskin, as I suspect the rest of the flock were. A couple of pied wagtail were spotted as I headed down the path towards Windmill Pool. In total, I estimated that there were about 10 great crested grebes on Engine Pool. A herring gull was heard, but only seen fleetingly.

The path around Windmill Pool was especially muddy, particularly on the area bordering Warren Farm. A single greylag goose flew in from the south, accompanied by a Canada goose, but neither were located later on. A couple of redwings were seen in the grounds of Warren Farm. There were probably a further 10 great crested grebes on Windmill Pool, plus more mallards, tufted ducks and black-headed gulls. Sailing commenced at around 9:30am, which inevitably caused some disturbance to the wildlife.

There was no sign of any common gulls, shoveler or pochard as reported recently. The muddy paths around Windmill Pool made any semblance of good fieldcraft difficult, but I didn't see or hear any water rail.

As I left the lakes, I noted at least 10 meadow pipits in Manor Farm's paddocks, and three nuthatches further down the road on the left hand side.

Travelling home, the fields adjacent to Earlswood Station held a mixed flock of redwing and fieldfare, consisting of at least 100 birds. Earlier in the morning, a common buzzard had been spotted in this general area. Further redwings were also in the fields of Langabeer Farm, along with two mistle thrush.

Other sightings consisted of common passerines, corvids and the occasional moorhen or coot.