A Long-Eared Owl and high Teal numbers

The week started with 475 Teal on the Folly pond, before we were then treated to several close encounters with a Long-Eared Owl.

This week started with our folly pond almost obscured by teal, numbering 475. We have got used to seeing about 80 on our reserve ponds recently, and so this was another big increase. One of our volunteers has also had two close encounters on different days with a long-eared owl along the drive to saltcot hide. We're keeping our eyes peeled, and are hoping that it continues to delight us with its piercing orange eyes and comical tufts. The week has also seen more regular lapwing sightings, a large salon of 67 curlews, and some solo waders have popped in for a feed too, namely a black-tailed godwit and a common greenshank.

Photo credit: Alex Hillier

As well as this week's highlights, you are likely to see the following on the reserve:

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