Wildlife sightings
Continuing wet weather has created new feeding opportunities for increasing Snipe numbers. Around 40 were roosting and feeding in front of the Lapwing hide at the beginning of the week. Teal numbers are low with many dispersing throughout the valley and Shoveler have completely disappeared. Several Little grebes around the reserve with Kingfishers continuing to show well most days. A high count of 8 Little egrets now coming to roost to the right of the Ramsar hide each evening as well as 200 plus Pied wagtails coming into the reedbed. A walkround on Tuesday provided an early sighting of a Tawny owl flying low across the reedbed and a Soprano pipistrelle flying around the jetty area of Wetlands discovery. Bird of the moment is the Water rail which seems to be in good numbers this autumn with sightings in most suitable areas of the reserve. First Siskin of the Autumn seen out on wetlands discovery feeding with Goldfinches on the Alders.
