Short-eared Owl
Mostly raining today but the Mere did look nice after a frosty start yesterday.
We are running out of time to add new species to the year list but a late afternoon Short-eared Owl is new for the year bringing the year list onto 146, which is approximately 12 species down on an average year.
Plenty of winter fare as we approach the end of the year. Whooper Swan numbers are hovering around the 1000 mark, lower than some years at this point probably as a result of the mild condition which have predominated up until recently. This is also reflected in the lack of rare/scarce geese seen on the reserve, assuming that a Bar-headed Goose seen today on the Mere hasn't flown in from the Tibetan Plateau...
Some large gatherings of Lapwing with 1000+ birds, 30+ Ruff, a few Black-tailed Godwit, double figure Snipe and yesterday a Redshank.
Not the best of days for raptor viewing but 3 or 4 damp Buzzard were seen, 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk. Yesterday Barn Owl late on from the Ron Barker Hide and Kingfisher from there today.
The feeding station are getting busier with more Reed Bunting visiting. No Brambling reported yet. Double figure Redwing this morning along the Nature Trail.
At least 60 species of wild bird currently on the reserve.
