Little Owl new for the year.
Some weather today making viewing difficult but also bringing in the possibility of some new arrivals from the coast. Unexpectedly a Little Owl was seen this morning in the entrance of a nest box in the Doehyles cattle barn. If the visibility is reasonable it can be scoped from the United Utilities Hide.
Some counts from the previous day - 960 Whooper Swan, 4700 Pink-footed Geese, 450 Greylag, 9 Canada Geese, 700 Wigeon, 1100 Teal, 1270 Mallard, 150 Pintail, 21 Shoveler, 23 Tufted, 10 Pochard, 130 Coot, 160 Moorhen, 800+ Lapwing, 30+ Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Common Snipes.
A Merlin was the highlight of yesterday's raptors. No sightings of the juvenile Hen Harrier which was one of this years satellite tagged birds. The bird apparently was tracked just North of the reserve so maybe present in the area. Two of it's siblings mysteriously went missing over grouse moors earlier in the autumn. Hopefully this bird will fair better given that it is only one of a handful of Hen Harrier born in England in recent years.
