Wildlife sightings for 29th November 2017
1 Great White Egret - main lake 1455hrs
1 Bittern - main lake N shore
2 Pintail - grazing marsh
7 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape
14 Fieldfare - entrance lake
83 Gadwall - main lake, reservoir lagoon, wader scrape
95 Wigeon - grazing marsh, main lake
2 Shelduck - scrape
1 Grey Wagtail - Otter enclosure
200 Starling - flew into reedbeds to roost at dusk
40+ Redwing - flew W p.m.
November bird highlights: Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Snipe, Little Egret, Red Kite, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Linnet, Firecrest, Brambling, Skylark, Water Pipit, Bullfinch.
Migrants are still dropping in or passing through during November – any species is possible but look out for Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare in numbers. The fences around the marsh are a good spot for some of these passerines (like Stonechat), while the muddier parts of the marsh, main lake and wader scrape may have some waders (like Dunlin or Snipe). Tree blocks with a good mix of Willows may hold some interesting Warbler species or Firecrest, often mixed in with more common Tits and Goldcrests. Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler continue to arrive for the winter ahead. The first Redpolls and Siskins arrived early in October, followed by the first Redwings. The Fieldfares and Redwings are feeding on the Hawthorn, Dog Rose, Blackthorn and Guelder Rose across the site.
