It took awhile to count them as it was still dark when I arrived and though I could hear them I couldn't see them. Eventually the sun came up and I managed to count 33 drakes and 30 ducks.
Other surprises were 3 Skylarks with two singing above the fields and a Cormorant that landed on the pool and started fishing, but gave up after a couple of minutes and then flew off.
Other water birds were 2 Little Grebes, 3 Gadwall with a pair & a lone drake, and there was also a solitary drake Mallard.
On the Farm Pool the Mute Swans were still present and the pen has an orange plastic ring on its left leg which I hadn't noticed before. So one for me to check.
Some fly-bys this morning were 3 Buzzards, 1 Red Kite and a small flock of winter thrushes with 5 Fieldfare and 12 Redwing.
Here are a few images taken in very low-light and a video from this mornings visit between 6:50am - 8:30am.
The Orange Ring on the Mute Swan. Hopefully more info on this to come.
A very quick visit by a Cormorant. Not many fish in the Reserve Pool.
Just a few of the Teal here this morning.
They are extremely busy ducks
A quick glimpse of a Jay and then it was gone!
A Redwing in the morning sun.
This Buzzard stopped for a pose and then was off.
A Red Kite passes by
Birds recorded were: 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 1 drake Mallard, 3 Gadwall (2m, 1f), 63 Teal (33m, 30f), 1 Red Kite, 3 Buzzard, 5 Pheasant, 1 Moorhen, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 10 Collared Dove, 3 Skylark, 5 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 2 Jay, 5 Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.