Sixteen of us met at Cossington Meadows on a cold, grey afternoon for a walk that focused on birds, but also recorded a variety of lichens as well as a leaf mine and a fungus.

We set off clockwise from the entrance, walking along the river past the scrapes, which were very full of water after the recent flooding. At the first there were a variety of ducks and other water birds, including a fine male Pintail (Anas acuta). A flock of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) flew in, accompanied by a single Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis).

Male Pintail (Anas acuta) (Photo: John Tinning)

Both Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) were on the scrapes, and were caught together by John Tinning in the photo below.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) (Photo: John Tinning)

Several Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and five Goosanders (Mergus merganser) flew overhead, while two Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and a Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) were in trees on the other side of the river. As we turned east towards Tern Pool, a Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) was singing from the reedbed.

Tern Pool was busy with Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) and a single male Pochard (Aythya farina) asleep on the water. The birds on the Upper Marsh pool included a Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) and a single Common Gull (Larus canus) among a flock of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).  The total count of bird species at the end of the walk was 41.

As well as the birds, Hazel Graves and Peter Smith recorded a plant gall, a leaf mine, ten lichens and three fungi.  Lesser Celandine (Ficaria vernae) was seen in flower.

Erythricium aurantiacum, a lichenicolous fungus (Photo: Peter Smith)

A full report will be published in the Spring 2024 newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo of Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis) at top: John Tinning