so now I am worried, could the birds have done me in, hmm I don't think so. Or is the water too black from maybe the trees decaying?
Leaves will definitely stain your water dark. Oak leaves are especially potent, and it doesn't take many to stain the water. The dark water prevents light penetration, which suppresses plankton bloom, which interrupts the food chain.
I think your initial stocking will take a while to show up. Feeding your fish will concentrate them, and give you an idea of what you have. It also makes them easy to catch and assess their growth.
Birds usually don't fare too well in dark or muddy water. They must be finding something to eat, or they would leave.
