21,000
Big arrival of Pink-footed Geese over the weekend. Today's dawn count produced 21,000 Pink-footed Geese, an awesome sight and sound. Recommend combining your visit with one of the late Wednesday and Saturday openings in October to catch these birds coming into roost. Saying that big numbers 10,000+ tend to fly in from midday onward.
In among the Pink-footed Geese today a single adult Greenland White-fronted Goose again.
Seven Whooper Swan in today joining the 4 over summering birds.
On the wader front Pectoral Sandpiper present but can be elusive on Woodend Marsh, 2 Avocet, the first for c.8 weeks, 400+ Lapwing, 25+ Ruff, 100+ Snipe, 3 Dunlin and 5 Black-tailed Godwit.
Raptors; 2+ Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzard, Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel.
Two Kingfisher present.
Listen out for Yellow-browed Warbler. Not that one has been heard here but with such an extraordinary influx into the UK and today over on the west coast, we are in for a chance of recording this noisy siberian jem on the reserve.
As usual it should be possible to see at least 50 species of bird in a day without too much effort, although a telescope is very useful from most of the hides.
If you are visiting the reserve, pop in to the in focus shop (next to the Discovery Hide) where we have a full list of birds, and should be able to point you in the right direction to get the most out of your visit.
