Broadwater Gravel Pit

A morning visit in dull but very mild conditions produced the following species:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret (2), Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose (2), Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal (25), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (7), Goosander (5), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (2), Water Rail (7), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (34), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-necked Parakeet (5), Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker (2),  Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare (9), Song Thrush, Redwing (15), Cetti’s Warbler (6), Common Chiffchaff (3), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (2), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin (c60), Common Bullfinch (4).
Along the Broadwater stretch of the River Colne a total of seven Water Rail responded to call recordings.
At the north end five Goosander including four male were present on the Colne behind Blackjacks Lock and adjacent the causeway that seperates Broadwater and Troy Mill Gravel Pit.