A Winter's Morning at Lackford Lakes

31st December 2025

A cold winter's morning at Lackford Lakes and highly appropriate I should be welcomed by a Robin.

I headed straight for Bernard's Hide hoping for some action on or around the Kingfisher Pool, although Kingfishers have be absent from here for a couple of years now. Because of the mild winter we have been experiencing up to now, the last thing I was expecting was for ther Kingfisher Pool to be frozen over, so no action here!!!

Luckily the Slough was still ice-free and held a good number of wildfowl, particularly Shoveler and Teal.

Also good number of Lapwings which were roosting inbetween feeds.

There was also a drake Shelduck feeding fairly close in, looking rather immaculate in its breeding plumage.

And although there were no Snipe around the icy Kingfisher Pool, I did manage to find just one out on the Lapwing island.

Now on to the "Magic Log" where seed is put down to attract the woodland birds. Unfortunately since my last visit a large tree has fallen down and is now lying across the log, restricting the view slightly. Apart from the usual Blue and Great Tits, a Coal Tit was making the most of the free food.

And then a most welcome guest was this Nuthatch which I could photograph all day.

But the biggest surprise today, and nothing to do with the log, was this Tree Creeper which suddenly appeared in the trees above my head, and is the first Tree Creeper I have photographed for several years.

Well, what a great way to end the morning.

Now off to Lakenheath Fen, so WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!