I went in January and had a great time but didn't write down the numbers of the birds. Anyway this is what i saw:

Great crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada goose
Shelduck
wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Goosander
Ruddy duck
sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Pheasant (at feeding station)
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing
Black headed gull
Common Gull
Herring gull
Great black-backed gull
Woodpigeon
Long-eared owl
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Chiffchaff
Long-tailed tit
Willow tit
Coal tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Tree sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Bullfinch

A total of 43 species!

Have been trying to keep it a secret but I just can't hold it in any longer - I love Fairburn Ings! Have spent many, many happy times here over recent years - I am really, really surprised nobody else seems to have mentioned it on the "Out of County" forum before! It reminds in some small ways of Piethorne - a vast area to explore, a good range of habitats, great if you like birding out in the open - which I do - (but there are several hides for those who like them) - just one very important difference from Piethorne....... there are always some interesting birds to look at!! Yesterday afternoon (12/3), two Little Egrets - one of which had coloured leg rings "fitted" above the "knees" - left leg plastic red ring marked U, right leg plastic yellow ring marked Z. Excitedly returned to the visitors centre to report it..... only to be told that they already new about it and that it was ringed in Norfolk last year. Oh well! Also Chiffchaff seen - first for me this year. This morning (13/3) - terrific views of a Green Sandpiper, also a Water Rail, a Buzzard plus plenty of ducks to look at in the spring sunshine. For those who haven't visited before - up to 5 Long-eared Owls have been showing excellently throughout the winter and been very well watched. For those who want to learn or refresh their warbler skills (or just enjoy the sights and sounds) a visit on a May morning should fairly easily allow you to catch up with 9 species in a relatively small area - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.... oh and possibly Wood Warbler if you are very, very lucky! The RSPB (which manages Fairburn) is just negotiating with the local council to take over and run another bird reserve, on another very large tract of wetlands nearby - this will become St Aidans - in which I understand they hope to have a habitat - reedbed (which is largely absent at Fairburn) to attract reedbed specialists - Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Bearded Tit. The only downside to Fairburn Ings? - the vast majority of birders who visit there are just way too friendly!!! - sometimes there is too much chat and not enough time to watch birds!!!! Time for me to move house to an area where they are "spoilt" for birds? Good luck to all those who visit. Cheers, Bill.