Wildlife sightings for 2nd December 2012
1 Woodcock - flew NE over wildside
2 Bittern - main lake (including one bird flying across the lake)
1 Peregrine - flew from the tall red crane SW towards wildside
6 Siskin - south route, entrance (with Goldfinches) + 3 flew SW
2 Stonechat - marsh
5 Redpoll - sheltered lagoon, wildside
4 Fieldfare - resr lagoon N shore
2 Chiffchaff - wildside
Recent bird highlights: Great White Egret, Bittern, Little Egret, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Caspian Gull, Rock Pipit, Waxwing, Stonechat, Firecrest, Brambling, Mealy Redpoll.
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 bet. 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.
