Back to the patch

My first visit to Collingham and Besthorpe for over two weeks produced one new species for my Patchwork Challenge list in the form of a Lesser Black-backed Gull on Mons Pool, where there were also 5 Little Egrets (3 roosting on the main island), a male Goosander which circled the site before flying north, and at least 2 pairs of Shelduck. Nearby, at least 370 Fieldfare and 25+ Redwing were in the field to the west.

3 Little Egrets roosting at Mons Pool

Collingham was relatively quiet, and water levels remain very high - not boding well for spring wader passage...  A big flock of Wigeon on Ferry Lane Lake contained 8 Pintail (4 pairs), whilst the Whooper Swan was still in with the Mute Swans (numbering 69 today) in the field to the west. Despite the limited bird excitement, it was a beautiful afternoon to be out.