Cetti's warbler, Hen harrier & named swans

A recent highlight here was that a Cetti's warbler was heard from the Sir Peter Scott trail. This is one of only a handful of sightings for this species in the region.

Cetti's warblers are rich chestnut-brown above and grey below, with a pale throat. They have a long, often cocked, tail. Best recognised by their bubbling song. Cetti's Warbler is unique amongst British birds, laying bright red eggs and having only ten tail feathers.

We’re still getting flocks of finches moving through the Peter Scott Trail, particularly Siskin and Goldfinch at the moment as they feed on the Alder, also numbers of Yellowhammer seem to be building with plenty of Blackbirds seen down the Saltcot loaning. We are seeing plenty waders with Lapwing over 100 at times, 30-80 Black tailed godwit on the Folly pond and Common snipe, Golden plover & Curlew sometimes seen as well. Shelduck have also started to make an appearance on the Folly as well.

Ducks are in high numbers with 600-700 Teal on the site, 200-300 Wigeon, 100 Shoveler, 130 Mallard, 20 Tufted duck, and a small number of Pintail and Gadwall. Our swans seem to be increasing also usually ranging from 70-100 individuals. Please see the table below for the list of named Whooper swans that have returned.

14th November

Sir Peter Scott trail

• Cetti's warbler
• Greenfinch
• Siskin

Paddocks

• 4 Yellowhammer
• 2 Goldcrest
• 3 Bullfinch

15th November

Folly pond & field

• Snipe
• Sparrowhawk
• Pintail
• Lapwing

17th November

Folly pond & field

• Wigeon
• Teal
• Northern shoveler
• Lapwing
• Snipe
• Whooper swans
• Barnacle geese

Newfield hide

• Barnacle geese

19th November

Peter Scott trail

• Siskin

Back pond

• Teal
• Moorhen
• Mute swans
• Whooper swans

Folly pond

• Teal
• Wigeon
• Northern shoveler
• Whooper swans
• Mute swans

Saltcot observatory

• Barnacle geese
• Greylag goose
• Roe deer
• Hen harrier pair

20th November

Peter Scott trail

• Bullfinch
• Treecreeper
• Siskin

Folly pond

• 1 Black tailed godwit
• 1 Snipe
• 3 Redshank
• 1 Pintail
• 1 Oystercatcher
• 2 Shelduck

Saltcot observatory

• 2 Peregrine falcons
• 1 Merlin
• 1 Buzzard
• 1 Kestrel
• 9 Stonechat
• 3 Little egret
• 1 Great white egret

Whooper pond

• 1 Little grebe
• 103 Whooper swans

Avenues

• 8 Yellowhammers

Avenue tower

• Female Hen harrier
• 5 Pintail

Corner field

• 33 Curlew
• 1000s Barnacle geese

Named Whooper swan returners

Swan Name	Colour Ring	First Seen	Associates
Sigurd Swan	ZPY	11/10/2022
Rosie	ZND	12/10/2022
Janice	ZNU	12/10/2022
Solway Annie	YFF	12/10/2022
Aspen	ZJH	13/10/2022	Wowsie and 5 cygnets
Wowsie	YHV	16/10/2022	Aspen and 5 cygnets
Eric Anthony	YFB	16/10/2022	Elsie Barbra and 5 cygnets
Elsie Barbra	Metal ring ZY2626	16/10/2022	Eric Anthony and 5 cygnets
Beatrice	ZLA	19/10/2022	Unringed partner and 4 cygnets. This is ZLA’s first brood!
Handel	ZLS	20/10/2022
Hendrik	ZJS	24/10/2022	Wampool and 3 cygnets
Wampool	ZHV	24/10/2022	Hendrik and 3 cygnets
	Metal Ring XY2583	25/10/2022
Atty	Metal ring ZY2429	28/10/2022
Snoopy	ZJZ	05/11/2022	Unringed adult and 2 cygnets
	ALY	05/11/2022	Metal ring and 2 cygnets
	ZNL	05/11/2022
Rowena Two	ZNC	07/11/2022	Lucky Linda
Sugar Baby	ZSB	07/11/2022
	ZLB	08/11/2022
Lucky Linda	ZNP	08/11/2022	Rowena Two
Ava-Grace	ZVC	08/11/2022
Odette	YTF	12/11/2022	Unringed adult and 2 cygnets
Nado	ZJN	12/11/2022
Lanrigg	ZNJ	12/11/2022
	TBV	12/11/2022
Chris	XLL	12/11/2022
Keith John	ZLP	13/11/2022	ZNB
	ZNB	13/11/2022	Keith John ZLP
Blessing	ZJB	14/11/2022
	ZLD	14/11/2022
	ZPV	14/11/2022
	ZNS	14/11/2022
Bernard	XLJ	14/11/2022

Feature photograph by Andrew Bluett

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