Evening roost of harriers, egrets and wagtails
Heavy rains and high winds were lashing last Sunday when Warden Suzi Lanaway attempted the monthly Harrier Survey. Hoping for better results I watched the reedbeds this Monday. While waiting for the marsh harriers to come in I saw 100+ pied wagtails gather and go down into the reeds to roost. A sparrow hawk was around watching the wags as well. I also noticed a kestrel, tucked up for the night in the eaves over the Visitor Centre gallery windows to the right. Before it got too dark to see I counted three marsh harriers come in.
I also noticed a small flock of redwings come in and settle into the scrub. At Ramsar hide I watched nine to ten little egrets arrived as a flock – also known as a congregation or a wedge. Five to six lapwing are also roosting here over night
Earlier in the daylight I spotted two chiff chaffs, flocked up with some long-tailed tits and two goldcrests all moving through the hedgerow. There bullfinches also drew my attention, along the long path and on the Tranquil Trail. At the feeders near the Stag Beetle pile in the Wood Loop I spotted two marsh tits on the feeders. Green woodpeckers and great spotted woodpeckers are also appearing around the site.
From the Ramsar hide I saw five wigeon on the water and 29 shovelers. At Sand Martin hide two kingfishers shot by giving, each other chase. We flushed a jack snipe again while still working on the wet grasslands.
On the Arun Riverlife lagoon and along the ditches by the reedbed we have all been spotting four to six little grebes (see photo) around. I spotted the giant pike again and the eel that was sticking out of his mouth is no more!
