Some more decent weather got me out for another walk to High Eske this afternoon. Fewer birds than yesterday but that probably reflects the lower level of activity associated with the afternoon compared to the morning. However, on the walk to the lake I did see a single Swallow flying north along the river and on the grassy flood defences the Meadow Pipit flock had increased to 15 birds.

In the river itself, some clumps of floating vegetation attracted 23 Moorhens to pick food items from the mass of weeds.

Arriving at the lake revealed that since my visit yesterday, quite a number of wildfowl had arrived. Hoards of Greylag Geese were joined by a group of 7 Pink-footed Geese, giving me a rare chance to observe this species at close range – most of my sightings of this species have been rather distant as they feed in fields or flight views. Whilst watching the geese a whistling sound alerted me to the fact that some Wigeon had arrived, and I counted 22 of this species.

The duck flock had increased in size since yesterday with 128 Mallard, 54 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler and 2 male Pochard as well as the female Goldeneye and the Wigeon. Yesterday’s army of Cormorants was still present and had increased to 26 birds and 13 Great Crested Grebes were also cruising around the lake.

A group of around 70 Black-headed Gulls were swimming around in the water with just one Common Gull, but there was no Little Gull today despite searching for it. However, a flock of 74 Lapwings flew overhead having been flushed from a nearby field and 2 Snipe came into the lake edge from the west.

Not much else was to be found apart from a flock of around 20 Goldfinches and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and with just 1 Small White butterfly I was reduced to taking close-up photos of Red Clover.