Wildlife sightings for 17th November 2011
1 Bittern - main lake, observed from Headley Hide 1 Shelduck - main lake 1 Pintail - male, main lake 35 Wigeon - marsh, sheltered lagoon 11 Common Snipe - grazing marsh and scrape [...]
1 Bittern - main lake, observed from Headley Hide
1 Shelduck - main lake
1 Pintail - male, main lake
35 Wigeon - marsh, sheltered lagoon
11 Common Snipe - grazing marsh and scrape
1 Jack Snipe - right hand side of marsh channel, flushed up by Magpie
1 Peregrine - flew fast and low over reservoir lagoon, most birds didn't go up as it had passed them before they realised it!
1 Caspian Gull - 1st-winter bird, main lake
2 Stonechat - male and female, marsh, using fox fence to perch
Additional sightings from yesterday:
1 Bittern - both sides of WWF hide, later flew to roost in the reedbed channel nearest the Wildside hide
7 Snipe - flew S/SW to roost at dusk
2 Yellow-legged Gull - 1st- and 2nd-winter birds, main lake
1 Caspian Gull - 1st-winter bird, main lake
Results of a moth-trapping session on Friday 11th November:
Large Wainscot 5
Feathered Thorn 1
Light-brown Apple moth 1
Ypsolopha ustella 1
Brick 1
The Large Wainscot, incidentally, is a wetland moth species, whose larvae feed on Common Reed. Although one of the commoner wetland Wainscot species in the UK, it is still, nonetheless, a UK BAP priority species. If the weather stays mild, this species might continue to be recorded through to end November.
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Dunlin, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Short-eared Owl, Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Mealy Redpoll.
Autumn migration continues with the chance of a range of spotting unusual waders, Warblers, Pipits and other passerines anywhere on the reserve.
Skylarks, Redwing, Fieldfare, Meadow Pipits and migrant Blackbird and Song Thrush are moving westwards on a daily basis. Some will drop into the hedges and scrub blocks which are laden with Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Rosehip fruit.
The grazing marsh is good for Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit and grazing Wigeon. Jack Snipe are currently preferring to feed along the right-hand side of the main marsh channel.
Look out for a real rarity like a Yellow-browed Warbler that tend to follow the mixed Tit flocks around.
Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch and Redpoll are feeding amongst the tall Alder and Birch trees.
Flocks of wintering duck have settled on the reserve with Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal all on the increase.
The first Bitterns (2) arrived mid-October and can be found on the main lake, sheltered lagoon reed fringes, or the main reedbed at present.
