Wildlife sightings for 7th November 2011
1 Short-eared Owl - over main lake and then flew E, mobbed by crows and starlings 1 Pintail - female, main lake 1 Peregrine - bathing in the main lake, then flew to hospital 1 Sparrowhawk [...]
1 Short-eared Owl - over main lake and then flew E, mobbed by crows and starlings
1 Pintail - female, main lake
1 Peregrine - bathing in the main lake, then flew to hospital
1 Sparrowhawk - world wetlands, harrassing Fieldfare
1 Kestrel
6 Black-tailed Godwit - over grazing marsh at 10:40 a.m.
1 Redshank - main lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1st winter, main lake
c. 600 Woodpigeon
1 Rock Pipit - calling from main lake
61 Redwing - flew NW
14 Fieldfare - world wetlands
24 Song Thrush - continental birds, flew N
2 Stonechat - male and female, marsh
200 Starling - flew W
1 Siskin - flew W
1 Lesser Redpoll - flew SW
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Skylark, 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.
Late Wheatear might be found on the short, grazed grass banks on the marsh along with Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Rock and Water Pipit.
Look out for a real rarity like a Yellow-browed Warbler that tend to follow the Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit flocks around.
Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch and Redpoll are feeding amongst the tall Alder and Birch trees.
Jack Snipe has been spotted several times on the scrape or marsh on the edges of long vegetation.
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 and sheltered lagoon reed fringes at present.
