Autumn action
The most exciting bird of the last 2 days would have to be the probable Black necked Grebe that was seen briefly yesterday in flight, with another report today of a Grebe that wasn't a Little or Great crested and from the description yesterday everything fits with a Black necked Grebe. Hopefully it will get pinned down later today or tomorrow. Other excitment today was in the form of a fem/imm Whinchat out on the reserve boundary, which is the first record of the year!
More signs of autumn was the count of 95 Pink footed Geese which were around the reserve today, daily increases of this species should be the norm for the next few months, building upto 20,000 plus with any luck!
Other sightings included 5 Little Grebe, at least 3 Marsh Harrier, 9 Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and 5 Kestrel. Wader numbers are creeping up with now 35 Ruff, 32 Black tailed Godwit and at least 40 Snipe. More signs of wader migration were the single Dunlin, 5 Redshank and Curlew along with at least 1 Green Sandpiper. Wildfowl numbers are on the increase with at least 1,100 Teal now present, 9 Shoveler and 27 Gadwall.
