Donna Nook and the Res,02.01.11....

Grey seal pup,Donna Nook NNR.

Donna Nook,dawn.

A very tame Robin at Donna Nook.

A visit to these two sites today with Chris,saw a few good birds being seen,but it was hard work!.The best of what we saw at Donna,after some serious effort walking all the way south to quad 3 and then out to the tide edge included the resident Hooded Crow,which was roughly out from the car park at Stonebridge with his Carrion buddies.This is the first one i have seen for many a year,with the species certainly not being as common a winter visitor into Linc's as they used to be.The other highlights included a flock of 33 Snow Bunting which showed nicely near the Seal colony,with a single bird being seen later on,a single flyover Lapland Bunting and a single Ruff.After this poor return for all the effort,we made our way to the reservoir at Covenham,which we scoured for any rare grebes,duck etc,but only managed 8 Goosander,4 dapper drakes and 4 redhead's.There were good numbers of wildfowl present,but it seems the bad weather has not brought anything of note in.Other species observed included a single Common Buzzard and 2 adult Whooper Swan on adjacent farmland,34 Goldeneye,173 Wigeon,5 Dunlin and 72 Great-crested Grebe on the res and a flock of 128 Pinkies passing south.Mammal sightings today comprised of at least 15 Grey Seal pup's along the beach as we walked south at Donna,yet to join the colony out at the tide edge.A good day,in some decent weather for a change.