Wildlife sightings for 29th November 2012
2 Pintail - resr lagoon
1 Shelduck - resr lagoon
1 Peregrine - along river and over sheltered lagoon
1 Skylark - flew W
30 Redwing - flew SW
1 Mealy Redpoll - flew from wildside towards world wetlands (not with Lesser Redpolls at the time)
10 Lesser Redpoll - south route, wildside as well flying W+SW
4 Siskin - south route
10 Cetti's Warbler - site count
Small flock of Redpoll heard in world wetlands
Recent bird highlights: Great White Egret, Bittern, Little Egret, Peregrine, Jack Snipe, Oystercatcher, Caspian Gull, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Waxwing, Stonechat, Firecrest, Brambling, Mealy Redpoll, Crossbill.
More wintering birds are arriving with increasing numbers of wildfowl being the main event. There’s still a good chance of finding a rarity particularly amongst the passerines; Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest are a good during November. Check through any mixed Tit flocks for late or over-wintering Chiffchaff and other possible Warbler species.
Skylarks, Finches and Thrushes can all be observed flying through with some settling on the reserve to rest up or feed. Siskins and Redpolls numbers have been good through October and early November with occasional Mealy Redpoll also around. Look out for further Water Pipit and Rock Pipit on the flooded edges of the marsh and scrape.
The first wintering Bittern arrived October 21st and frequented the main reedbed, sheltered lagoon and main lake reed fringes to start with.
