The first Birdwatching Group visit of 2026 was almost cancelled due to the miserable cold and wet weather forecast, but a small group of our intrepid bird watchers braved the elements and visited both the Layer Breton Causeway and the EWT Abberton Reservoir site.
Although it stayed dry during the visit, it remained cold with significant areas of water still under ice.
“The Layer Breton Causeway was the most productive location and there we saw some birds we haven’t seen before, which was a treat. Our highlights were the Smew which showed up just in front of us, and the Bewick’s swan which we spotted from the Island Hide. We also saw a flock of Fieldfares (identified by a helpful birder).”
The identified species list was as follows:
Smew
Pied wagtail
Lapwing
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Moorhen
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Egyptian Goose
Mallard
Fieldfare
Mute Swan
Bewick’s Swan
Shoveler
Teal
Great Crested Grebe
Pochard
Goosander
Herring Gull
Crow
Many thanks to Jane S for her visit report and compiling the species list.